Sorry if I wake you...

Slartibartfast

Slartibartfast

4x4 Earth Contributer
Looks like this thread has been dormant for over 5 years!

Anyway, I've been looking for an expedition to go on and have come across a couple of clubs in/around the ACT.
One (Southern Tablelands 4WD Club Inc) seems fairly active but I must say I find there admission requirements rather daunting.

They require an upfront payment of over $300 to become a member (and an additional $100 each year after that) along with a multi-day "Basic Driving Training" course before you're allowed to join on a trip. I get why clubs have membership dues and (possibly) why a minimum level of proficiency would be required but $300+ seems excessive, and requiring multiple days of training to do a simple day trip feels like a big ask. Can anyone vouch for weather this club is worth it?

I guess I would be willing to go through it all if I believed it to be worth while but needing to do all that to possibly find they are not a group I would what to wheel with is rather off putting...
 
L

LongRoad2Go

Well-Known Member
Maybe attend a few of their monthly meetings to get a handle on the types of people they are - do the rounds and chat with a few to see if they fit your needs, often a Club is composed of sub-groups - some people you may share interests with, others not.

The costs do sound high, but it is the ACT ;)

Maybe try searching for other Clubs:

4wdnow.com

Club Directory

Find the right club for you.
4wdnow.com 4wdnow.com
 
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smitty_r51

smitty_r51

Well-Known Member
They are usually on a stand at the quenbeyan show... I have never managed a full conversation with them at one of them and managed to get any real indication of what the club gains me.
 
Slartibartfast

Slartibartfast

4x4 Earth Contributer
Yeah, and it might be worth it all in the end but it's a lot to go through to find out. It's the three day "beginner" course (which necessitates taking time off work) that really gets me. They justify their price by saying they offer this course but I don't even want to do the course in the first place and the fact that it's a requirement is actually more of a hinderance than an enticement. Also, if it's being run by club members shouldn't it be free anyhow? Anyway, I did actually email them and ask if I could come along on a day trip or two before deciding if I wanted to join and was told their rules don't allow it.

Honestly, from the outside it looks like such a bureaucratic quagmire that it kind of seems like they'll all just sit in a circle congratulating themselves on how responsible they are. But who knows. Perhaps they're all a bunch of awesome guys the likes of which I would only wish I had gotten to know sooner. It's kind of impossible to tell, I just wish it didn't cost $330 and require a multi-day "Basic Driving" course to find out. I guess that's why I'm asking here.

Is anyone on this forum a member and would you say it's worth going through the process?
 
Slartibartfast

Slartibartfast

4x4 Earth Contributer
There is also the "A.C.T 4 Wheel Drive Club" who don't seem as active but do seem more accessible. Perhaps I'll go to one of their meetings.
 
Slartibartfast

Slartibartfast

4x4 Earth Contributer
It's a shame the community here isn't as active as it used to be. It was actually this forum alone that completely got me into wheeling a few years ago but it seems activity has largely fallen away now:
 
Slartibartfast

Slartibartfast

4x4 Earth Contributer
Yeah, I'm sure the course is fine. It's more the amount of faffing about you have to do before you can even find out if you'll like it.

I guess I'll just do it, it just shits me. It will probably take 6 months or more as they only offer the course a given times of the year and I already missed the "pre-course" meeting for the latest one so can't go this time. Also I can't readily just take days off work. All this to join in on a simple day trip in the Brindabellas, just to McIntire's hut for lunch and back. It seems excessive.

I get why they do it, it's just that the barrier to entry is very high to anyone who just wats to check it out.
 
discomatt

discomatt

Well-Known Member
I would just go to some club meeting’s and get a feel of the members and trips they do.
You will soon know if you want to attend more events and spend time in the bush with them
 
Albynsw

Albynsw

Well-Known Member
See if you can attend a meeting of a couple of clubs that take your fancy, if you find the right tribe it can ,lead to some great friendships and adventures
The other aspect apart from gaining hands on knowledge is advice on what to buy both for your vehicle and camping gear
There is so much stuff for sale these days that you don’t need so a bit of non biased feedback can save you a lot of money with needless purchases
 
Slartibartfast

Slartibartfast

4x4 Earth Contributer
I'm pretty well set up as it is and really don't need any more gear. As it is I'm actually relatively experienced at wheeling having done several week long expeditions in the past. Of course there's always more to learn but I just wanted to get out an join a crew for a day trip rather than spend months attending meetings, researching who I'm willing to commit to etc. I get that seems to be what is required, and you know, that is what I'm doing, I just peeved about there being soooo much overhead.

That's what was so good about this community in particular. Trips would be posted and those interested would come along, simple. I hate to be one of those whingers who says "Things just aren't what they use to be" but you know...
 
discomatt

discomatt

Well-Known Member
Check out 4wdtrip.com pretty quiet since covid, sadly that experience change a lot of things in society, the way people think about socialising is one of them.
Anyway check out the site, there are a few trips every now and then, used to be every weekend but the forum side of the platform is dead, anyone can post a trip and get people to join
 
B

boobook

Well-Known Member
Slartibartfast said:
Thanks @boobook.
Are you saying you're familiar with the Tablelands club in particular and that it is worth the rigmarole, or are you just saying that 4WD courses in general are worth it?
Click to expand...


I'm not familiar with that club. I am saying a 4wd course in general is worth while. about 10 years ago I had been actively 4wding for over 30 years and wanted to do a sand course with 4WD vic. The pre-requisite was an introductory course. I thought that would be a waste of time but It turns out I learned quite a few few things. Mind you, I was lucky enough to have Robert Pepper as my instructor. He also taught me some great things with towing of road, and the sand couse was fantastic.

I highly recommend that any 4wder does a course.
 
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Hoyks

Hoyks

Well-Known Member
I think one of those clubs have a sizeable property that they use for camping and 4x4 training, so your $$ may be going to maintenance and access to that asset.
But I can't remember which one.
 
Slartibartfast

Slartibartfast

4x4 Earth Contributer
Hoyks said:
I think one of those clubs have a sizeable property that they use for camping and 4x4 training, so your $$ may be going to maintenance and access to that asset.
But I can't remember which one.
Click to expand...
Actually that does sound familiar, and I think it is this one.

They do start their Basic Driving course from "Braidwood Street, Bredbo NSW, Australia", so that may be close to their property.
 
FranksnBeans

FranksnBeans

Well-Known Member
They own two properties in NSW I believe. I had a good chat to them at one of the 4wd shows in Sydney a few years back. Seemed like good folk. They too have a mandatory introductory course which is, from what I've heard, very informative. They also offer advanced 4wding courses along with specialist courses in recoveries etc.

I planned on joining but the schedules for their courses never matched my available weekends at the time so I never got around to it. They're quite active, have a monthly or quarterly magazine that's included in your membership and members have free access to their properties for camping and 4wding. You don't need to own a Toyota to be a member.
 
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