Posts tagged with “Advice for first time 4×4 driving”
4×4 Course for beginners
[Also in Afrikaans @ https://pgjonker.co.za/?p=134]
[Published in Leisure Wheels, July 2010]
After visiting Epupa Falls with my Venture some years ago I decided that maybe I should get myself a four wheel drive vehicle, just to make up for my lack of skills and confidence when the roads get less than civilised.
I subsequently managed to find myself an ex car rental Mazda Magnum double cab with the 3.4-liter petrol engine. OK, have 4×4, will drive, just not quite sure how to go about doing so. I realised that I still lacked the confidence to attempt anything more challenging that a sidewalk. Shortly thereafter my friend Frikkie invited me to join him on a beginners’ 4×4 course at Tierkloof, outside Rawsonville. This is my story.
Twelve wannabee 4×4 fundi’s depart from Worcester under leadership of Phil, who will be our instructor for the day. At Tierkloof we make ourselves comfortable underneath a lapa and listen to Phil, who explains the basic theory of off-road driving.
One of Phil’s comments that I found recordable was his opinion that you do not get bad 4×4 vehicles. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, to which the driver should adapt. Horses for courses. I liked this, given the perception of some drivers that things always go right with only their brand of vehicles. Apart from my Mazda and one Colt bakkie there were only Toyotas on this course.
After the talk Phil instructs us to let down our tyres. Phil favours the theory that flat tyres work best also on rocky terrain, as the tyres then respond like a balloon to indents, rather than to be damaged by sharp rocks. Frikkie and I form the rearguard. I prefer to watch and learn from other people’s mistakes.
The route is rather rocky. It is set in a beautiful environment, with a fantastic view over the Brandvlei dam. My passenger, Christo, will take pictures with my camera, given that I will be driving.
Early on the route we encounter our first difficult stretch, which entails a rocky and uneven ascent in the form of an “S”. Eish, it is just dust, stones and rubber! Only on my third attempt, after being advised by Phil to engage my diff lock, could I manage. Rather amazing the difference that the rear diff-lock made.
Additional to the absence of a centre diff on my bakkie, it then requires three wheels to spin at the same time before you will stall to a halt. Or that’s more or less how I understand it.
In the meantime Christo has taken some splendid pictures with my camera, only for me to remember that the film for the camera (a pre-digital era Ricoh) is still in the camera bag. Oeps! I insert the film. The pictures should come out a lot better now.
The route renders a variety of driving conditions, giving good exposure to different techniques. When we reach the top, we stop and relax, with sponsored drinks being shared. There is a marked absence of any alcoholic refreshments, which I thought was rather fitting for the occasion.
We proceed again. Shortly thereafter we come to a split in the road. The board says: “Experienced Drivers” with an arrow pointing to the right. I want to aim for the sissy route to the left, but realise that I will be causing virgin tracks on that piece of road. So I turn right. Off to the gallows you go, boet. This brings us to Diepkloof.
In winter this would be a river, but now it is a dry ravine, with very steep banks. From this side the descent is hard sand. Phil positions himself to indicate to drivers which line to take. Because of some axle twisters, the vehicles invariably end up with a front wheel in a hole, with the rear of the vehicles protruding upwards at peculiar angles. Rather impressive, a bit like a Great Dane doing his thing against a tree, you know.
On the other side the very steep ascent requires a slow endeavour in low range second gear. However, adrenalin seems to get the better of some of the drivers and they charge up the bank with screaming engines and spinning wheels. The first two vehicles take the incorrect line, do a bit of a hop & skip, and narrowly miss a bush standing nearby, minding its own business. Phil places a rock as a marker to improve the aim of the next drivers. Keep right of the rock, he instructs.
Eventually it’s my turn. I get in my bakkie, ref the engine, spit through the window, put my camel behind my ear. Then I wind down the window, spit again, this time through the open window. I remove the camel from behind my ear, put it out and put the camel behind my other ear that has not been burnt yet. Then I grab the door with my right elbow……
No, I’m very sorry. I’m lying through my teeth. It did not go exactly like that.
It was more, like, you know, sort of, after slipping away to answer Mother Nature’s rather nervous call, it is my turn. My mouth is dry. Very dry. My hands and knees are shaking. This is, of course, not a bad thing. Given the absence of ABS brakes my shaking right leg works perfectly for cadence braking.
I just do exactly what Phil says. He’s supposed to know what he’s doing, and I decide to simply put my faith blindly in his expertise. Eventually I get down the bank, up with the bank at the other end with the big six grumbling reassuringly, it’s like music. Piece of cake. I nogals felt like a pro, admittedly not due to any particular skills on my side. Arriving on the other side I’m reluctant to let go of my steering wheel. As long as I can clutch the wheel no-one can see the tremor in my hands.
The last difficult leg is a sandy ascent that starts off with a sharp turn to the right, preventing you from picking up a great deal of speed. The very simple principle of letting your tyres down is illustrated sufficiently by the fact that the two vehicles that did not let their tyres down …