Hilux 4x4 Forum

How does the grading of an obstacle work and who decide the grading?
We’ve been on one of the 4x4 trails over the weekend and after finishing most of the trail saw that each obstacle was marked on the map with a grading. We drove down a grade 5 which wasn’t that challenging, the biggest danger was the, I think black mamba, that was of course laying at the most difficult part of the decent. It moved away quickly, but I was not willing to go closer to inspect the rocks better, decided on my line from far away.

Some of the obstacles was a grade 2 but you needed at least 4” lift to clear the rocks. Reading the map was a grading 7, because any resemblance between the map and the track was pure coincidence.

So does the grading means it’s dangerous and you’re gone die? Or
Its technically difficult and you need lots of experience? Or
You need high ground clearance? Or
You going to damage your vechile? Or
All of the above.

There is no standardised grading system, leaving it up to trail owners to grade their own trails according to their own criteria. That leaves the grading of trails open to misinterpretation. We dont have many grade5 trails around although most trail owners would indicate that their trails are indeed Gr5 (or at least contains some obstacles that are that).

Most gradings AFAIK are made 'loosely' by trail owners, sometimes in collaboration with experienced drivers. I think the criteria is taken as a general degree of difficulty for a standard off-road vehicle with a driver of moderate experience. I don't pay too much mind to gradings and at best regard it as a general indication.

Thanks

Just be aware that too much grading will flatten the obstacles all together!

Mr_B wrote:Just be aware that too much grading will flatten the obstacles all together!

making them accessable for Fords, Tata's, land Rovers and the likes...

No use gagging yourself... you already said it!

ThysdJ wrote:

Mr_B wrote:Just be aware that too much grading will flatten the obstacles all together!

making them accessable for Fords, Tata's, land Rovers and the likes...

Now that's just plain degrading!

If you have no body damage, it's not a grade 5

Grading is more of a warning than a yardstick

I googled this:-
http://www.minwater.co.za/4x4.php


1: Very easy. Suitable for inexperienced drivers in 4x4's without low range and 4x2's with diff lock.
2: Easy to moderate. Some experience and a 4x4 recommended.
3: Moderate. Experience and low range recommended.
4: Difficult. Experience and low range imperative; recovery equipment and diff lock recommended.
5: Very difficult. Loads of experience, a serious 4x4 and recovery equipment imperative; diff locks strongly recommended.