Team Offroad ....
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 12:22 pm
Each and every one of us have a completely different 4x4 history.
This thread is NOT aimed at the long time experts ! Rather it is a pointer for those newer to the 4x4 game ..
Me journey reads something like this:
- 15 years old we were living on a plot outside Stellenbosch ... nice slippery clay when wet .... had to bring the Isuzu 4x2 langbak, with ZERO load on those back wheel, back home a few times when my mom just could not get that suzie up those slippery slopes ..
- bought my Suzuki Jimny on my 40th birthday ... NO smart comments !
- The sale included a 4x4 training session .... for one reason or another this training kept on being moved out ...
- 16 December 2008 we did Two Oceans with a small group - three vehicle driven by first timers. Renier (SAUK) brought radios and gave us a 30 second lesson before we set off onto the trail. At the first obstacle he stopped and showed us the lines, then demonstrated as he drove through it .... This day was VERY nice to get the BASICS under the belt - EXCEPT, heading to Boomslang there was a little steep downhill section - as I hit the brakes the Jimny starts sliding sideways ! Super slow motion !! And then I remember watching Andrew St Pierre White - let go of the brakes and clutch and let the engine do the braking, keeping the wheels turning, THUS maintaining control. THANKS Andrew !!
- A week later we went on holiday and did a few more trails, including Bojaankop .... just shear dumb luck I did not break the Jimny on that trip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- I then applied a LOT more pressure on Suzuki and 5 months later got to do the training. WOW !! Truly opened my eyes to a whole new world !!
- since then I have grabbed every opportunity to attend different training sessions with different trainers - each has their strengths and weekneses ... mostly because of the time constraints of each session.
Now jump ahead to November 2014 .... I hear Thys, Team Offroad, is doing a training session. And I join the team on Sunday to take some photos. But I am jumping the gun here ....
Thys, Team Offroad, presents RANGE of 4x4 training courses.
This particular one a two day course, with unit standard accreditation:
- Saturday - the theory of 4x4 ..... if you ask "What theory?" - well then YOU need to attend
types of drive - 4x2 vs 4x4 ....
HR vs LR ...
the three diffs, and the benefits of the different locks ...
- Sunday - With the basics in place the team meets on Sunday.
This is a 4x4 DRIVING course, yet the various recovery methods and tools are discussed in detail .... VERY handy session BEFORE you spend a fortune on equipment !! Just the saving on not buying silly stuff will pay your two day course !!
PS - this is NOT a recovery course. Simply not enough time in one weekend to cover 4x4 basics, driving and recovery into a single course.
Thys DOES have the experience to help each driver with HIS\HER 4x4 - once again, if you ask why this would make any difference, PLEASE attend training ! Each and every model is slightly unique, even the Hilux and Fortuner are DRASTICALLY different in its drive setup - with different benefits and hindrances ....
Thys gets down and dirty to help owners with THEIR vehicles !
Then it is time to deflate and head out on the trail ....
This thread is NOT aimed at the long time experts ! Rather it is a pointer for those newer to the 4x4 game ..
Me journey reads something like this:
- 15 years old we were living on a plot outside Stellenbosch ... nice slippery clay when wet .... had to bring the Isuzu 4x2 langbak, with ZERO load on those back wheel, back home a few times when my mom just could not get that suzie up those slippery slopes ..
- bought my Suzuki Jimny on my 40th birthday ... NO smart comments !
- The sale included a 4x4 training session .... for one reason or another this training kept on being moved out ...
- 16 December 2008 we did Two Oceans with a small group - three vehicle driven by first timers. Renier (SAUK) brought radios and gave us a 30 second lesson before we set off onto the trail. At the first obstacle he stopped and showed us the lines, then demonstrated as he drove through it .... This day was VERY nice to get the BASICS under the belt - EXCEPT, heading to Boomslang there was a little steep downhill section - as I hit the brakes the Jimny starts sliding sideways ! Super slow motion !! And then I remember watching Andrew St Pierre White - let go of the brakes and clutch and let the engine do the braking, keeping the wheels turning, THUS maintaining control. THANKS Andrew !!
- A week later we went on holiday and did a few more trails, including Bojaankop .... just shear dumb luck I did not break the Jimny on that trip !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- I then applied a LOT more pressure on Suzuki and 5 months later got to do the training. WOW !! Truly opened my eyes to a whole new world !!
- since then I have grabbed every opportunity to attend different training sessions with different trainers - each has their strengths and weekneses ... mostly because of the time constraints of each session.
Now jump ahead to November 2014 .... I hear Thys, Team Offroad, is doing a training session. And I join the team on Sunday to take some photos. But I am jumping the gun here ....
Thys, Team Offroad, presents RANGE of 4x4 training courses.
This particular one a two day course, with unit standard accreditation:
- Saturday - the theory of 4x4 ..... if you ask "What theory?" - well then YOU need to attend
types of drive - 4x2 vs 4x4 ....
HR vs LR ...
the three diffs, and the benefits of the different locks ...
- Sunday - With the basics in place the team meets on Sunday.
This is a 4x4 DRIVING course, yet the various recovery methods and tools are discussed in detail .... VERY handy session BEFORE you spend a fortune on equipment !! Just the saving on not buying silly stuff will pay your two day course !!
PS - this is NOT a recovery course. Simply not enough time in one weekend to cover 4x4 basics, driving and recovery into a single course.
Thys DOES have the experience to help each driver with HIS\HER 4x4 - once again, if you ask why this would make any difference, PLEASE attend training ! Each and every model is slightly unique, even the Hilux and Fortuner are DRASTICALLY different in its drive setup - with different benefits and hindrances ....
Thys gets down and dirty to help owners with THEIR vehicles !
Then it is time to deflate and head out on the trail ....