Is it just my thoughts, or are 4wders their own worst enemies?

[Pickle]

Dunno what 4x4 was trying to point out. What we were discussing was not about driving on closed tracks etc. It was about an erratic driver in a comp vehicle that nearly collided head on with me on a blind corner due to his speed on a High Country Track. I tracked down the sponsor and got a message put out to the driver......and got an apology from him a week later.
Dave

 

[4X4]

Dunno what 4x4 was trying to point out. What we were discussing was not about driving on closed tracks etc. It was about an erratic driver in a comp vehicle that nearly collided head on with me on a blind corner due to his speed on a High Country Track. I tracked down the sponsor and got a message put out to the driver......and got an apology from him a week later.
Dave

I was referring to the attitude of this forum.

Sorry to hear of your incident.

Snip

Point i'm trying to make is that as a reasonably new member here, havent really seen that mentality on this forum...yet. Must admit, that the popularity of this site has increased drematically over the last few months & I hope this site doesnt go the way of many other 4wd forums.... Snip

Cheers
allanmac

 

[Pickle]

I was referring to the attitude of this forum.

Sorry to hear of your incident.

Cheers 4x4...a misunderstanding .
Dave

 

[Grey Ghost]

We try to keep the forum light hearted, and while it is not the most technical site around, it remains one of the more enjoyable. A lot goes on behind the scenes to keep the need for flame suits etc out of this forum.

Cheers Rossco

And that's why our house renovations are 2 1/2 years behind schedule...

 

[allanmac]

Without Bullshitting in anyone's pocket, although we the Moderators and admin do a lot to keep this site a pleasure for all I think it's only fitting that each and every person here also get some credit for the forum. I feel it is one of the best forums around and thank all for making it exactly that.

Totally agree Grumpy & I think the majority of people who are members of this forum are prepared to go that extra yard to at least try to influence those who dont know any better to change their attitudes to ensure we have places to go to in the future & just as importantly, try to at least get the general public to reconsider their opinions that all 4wders arent hoons/rednecks etc.

This forum is a refreshing change from many others & is good to hear that the mods will continue to do what is necessary to keep it this way....

 

[Bainsy]

I believe it is because they see the comp rigs and want to have a vehicle that looks tough too, and try to emulate what they do, little do they know that these vehicles are not road worthy,

it really annoys me that people just assume that because im 24, have big tyres, big lift, roll cage and what not, assume im a hoon? or that i try to emulate what comp trucks do? or that my truck is not road worthy? (four wheel driving is usually done OFF road yeah?) mine is as un-road worthy as engineers will let it. there is a fine line between roadworthy and not roadworthy. we have never had a 4wd come into our workshop for a roadworthy and pass first test, even bog stock 4wd's that are lucky to be over 12 months old wont.

dont judge a book by its cover!

 

[Traveller]

Remember to not take every remark personally people!

Perhaps also when directing remarks-ask yourself- would I like that said about me

 

[4X4]

Remember to not take every remark personally people!

Perhaps also when directing remarks-ask yourself- would I like that said about me

Arhh soo Grasshopper!

 

[Bainsy]

Remember to not take every remark personally people!

Perhaps also when directing remarks-ask yourself- would I like that said about me

sorry jok, it's so hard not to bite at times... its just that i fall into that catagory and just want to point out its not always the case.

 

[boxerjohn]

always a chain saw

 

[tappets]

I think generalisation of all drivers of comp trucks and more modified 4x4s is called for in one way but not another . blame can be pointed at any driver of any 4x4 ,trail bike rider etc etc etc
from experiences living out the back of valencia creek -wombat area for a few years -the biggest 4x4 hoon problem we had came from the more standard type in particular members of a large 4x4 club from the inner suburbs whom owned a small property out that way - they were not the comp truck type .
many a local complained again and again , the final straw came when they saw it fit to go on private property being a local business to dump there rubbish .
so lets not be to general in who we all point the finger at i think just my two bits on hooning -rubbish dumping

 

[Grey Ghost]

Funny that, you even flick a smoke butt out the window in inner suburbia those same litter bugs will scream blue murder, but it's all ok in someone else's backyard.

 

[frosty]

Depending on the state, in Qld they are trailered, yes they are registered, BUT they are not roadworthy, they are only registered so that they can get insurance for themselves, and so the event organiser can get insurance.

I know of a little Jimny that's still registered and Legal. Has to be to compete. It's actually more legal than mine, to be perfectly honest??

Not ALL Comp trucks are rear steer with hydrolics and half a hilux cab on top.

 

[Bainsy]

comp trucks dont have to be modified either.

 

[WILDTI]

There is all types of categories of "comp trucks"

 

[allanmac]

Bainsy, dont take the comments personally, but it is the perception that most people get & the fact is that it is those who do drive the 'comp/highly modified' vehicles who are the ones giving 4wders a bad name. Yes, I agree there are some who may not fit into that category, but in my experience have not seen too many, as everytime I see the inappropriate behaviour it is always from those type of vehicles. Unfortunately that is a fact.

Much like comments that it is the standard vehicles who chew up tracks. for the life of me, cant see how those running 31's can make such huge ruts, but again most who drive the big rigs tend to blame the standard vehicles for all the damage to tracks....

Must agree with croozer, as by the letter of the law any comp/heavily modded vehicle is unroadworthy; engineered or not. Why do so many put on their little tyres if they have to go out on the blacktop?; they know their vehicle is unroadworthy running 35's etc.

Doesnt really matter, point is to try to change the attitudes of those 4wders who wreck it for all of us, whether they drive standard vehicles or heavily modded vehicles.

 

[rexy]

Agree with a lot of what has been said, havent had much problems with other campers but I understand that some of the more popular spots have a lot of trouble with noise and poor behaviour etc. We tend to try and get a little further away when camping personally.

The 2 wheel drive until you cant anymore is an interesting one, I think alot of people slip into this habit as their confidence grows, mate of mine recently nearly did himself in doing exactly this. Driving up a steep incline in 2wd, he lost traction right at the top of the track and slid backwards for 10-15 metres, one wheel went off the track and luckily he came to a stop before rolling which would have been next had he slid much further. He was the last vechile in the convoy and the pitch in his voice over the uhf was enough to know that he needed help quickly. He is not what I consider a hoon at all, his truck is close to standard and he is not a donuts or tyre smoking kind of guy. That night around the fire we asked why he had not been in 4wd and he told us that he had not used 4wd for the whole trip? He was probably the most experienced driver on the trip but I think the fact that he is a single bloke has a lot to do with it, it is just him in the vechile and so there is no concsience sitting in the passenger seat or in my case both back seats also. Think he learnt a lesson that day that he hadnt learnt in 20 odd years of 4wdn.

 

[allanmac]

The 'drive as far as you can in 2wd' is something I cannot understand at all... We have a 4wd, so why not use it??? Having in 4wd whether high range or low gives better traction, more control & spreads the load over the driveline more evenly.

Was taught many years ago to go into 4wdH as soon as I get on gravel roads & have always done so. Am sure many here will have been told exactly the same thing. I often put the paj in 4H when driving on wet bitumen rds for the reasons I mentioned earlier. If 4wd wasnt an advantage on gravel rds, why are all rally cars 4wd; better traction/ control etc.

Rexy, hope your mate learnt something from it...

Am interested in hearing other peoples views, as we all have an opinion of this & too me it is another thing that has changed over the years

 

[Offrdn60]

Bainsy, dont take the comments personally, but it is the perception that most people get & the fact is that it is those who do drive the 'comp/highly modified' vehicles who are the ones giving 4wders a bad name. Yes, I agree there are some who may not fit into that category, but in my experience have not seen too many, as everytime I see the inappropriate behaviour it is always from those type of vehicles. Unfortunately that is a fact.

Much like comments that it is the standard vehicles who chew up tracks. for the life of me, cant see how those running 31's can make such huge ruts, but again most who drive the big rigs tend to blame the standard vehicles for all the damage to tracks....

Must agree with croozer, as by the letter of the law any comp/heavily modded vehicle is unroadworthy; engineered or not. Why do so many put on their little tyres if they have to go out on the blacktop?; they know their vehicle is unroadworthy running 35's etc.

Doesnt really matter, point is to try to change the attitudes of those 4wders who wreck it for all of us, whether they drive standard vehicles or heavily modded vehicles.

They Run "little" tyres so they dont wear out their other tyres.

 

[bmurray2250]

Most of the time with standard (or close too) 4x4 dig ruts because of tyre pressures are incorrect or the track they pick the wrong track for their vehicle. People with good knowledge general do little damage to the track. You can't stop the idiots and they are there in bikes, cars, 4by's etc.