Information for New Club Members Welcome to our Club. We trust you will enjoy our activities and camaraderie, and we very much look forward to your contribution.
The Club Motto: “Living the Adventure!” encapsulates our Club ethos and activities.
Trips and activities: Apart from monthly meetings the Club enjoys many activities led by Club members and others. These include social events; day, weekend and longer trips; community activities; and so on. Detailed information on activities is provided to members via the TrackChat newsletter, email and at Club meetings. Participants are required to observe the Code of Ethics and Activity Rules, and promote a positive image of the Club. High standards of safety and behaviour are expected. Visitors/non-members attending trips and driving their own vehicle must apply for Temporary membership. The form is on the web site.
Meetings: Club meetings are held at 7.30pm on the third Tuesday of each month at the Wagga Wagga RSL Club. Committee meetings are held the first week of each month. Visitors are welcome at Club meetings, and Club members are welcome to attend Committee meetings.
Insurance: During official Club activities, members are covered by insurance arranged through 4WD Australia, the national association of 4WD Clubs. To be covered ALL participants (members and visitors) MUST be recorded on the attendance register for each activity.
Newsletter: The Club newsletter TrackChat is published each month. It is emailed to members and is also available on the Club web site.
All official Club documents and forms (password required for access) including the Constitution and By-Laws & Policies.
Hints and tips on 4WDriving.
Facebook Page: The Club’s Facebook page is used for public communication. Contributions by members are welcome. There is also a PRIVATE Facebook page for Club members only.
Quarry Training Area: The Club Quarry Training Area (QTA) is available for use by Club members. The web site has information on policies of use and how to access the key. Members require approval before access is granted. The QTA is also used by a range of other community organisations with Club approval.
Training and skills development: The Club provides a wide range of formal and informal training and skills development programs including a Welcome to the Club workshop (recommended for new members), accredited Basic 4WD training (optional) and accredited Advanced 4WD training (optional).
Awards: Each year Club awards (including Club Person of the Year) are presented at the end of year Christmas Party and Club Awards Night.
Club shirts, jumpers etc: These are available from Hunters Newsagency, Fitzmaurice St, Wagga Wagga.
Club equipment: The Club has a range of equipment which is available for use by members. See the Equipment Officer.
Do your homework so that you know what you are getting yourself into. Check with the Trip Leader.
Make sure your vehicle and skill levels are adequate for the expected level of difficulty. Activity Information Sheets detail what is required. The trip grading / level of difficulty is based on the skills expected of a driver who has basic 4WD driving skills. A person completing the Club’s driver training course or equivalent, or has extensive experience would have the required level of competence for a Grade 3 (moderate) trip.
For a Grade 3 (moderate) trip, you require a vehicle with good All Terrain tyres, good ground clearance, low range capability (or a crawler gear), proper rated recovery points front and rear, and basic recovery gear i.e. a quality snatch strap (suggest 8,500 kg breaking strain); a sturdy bag or canvas to drape over the snatch strap during recovery for safety in case the strap breaks; and two rated bow shackles that will fit the recovery points on your vehicle – eg 4.75 tonne rating. Club members are expected to use their own recovery equipment if they get stuck.
For a Grade 4 (difficult) trip, you require good All Terrain or Mud Terrain tyres and raised suspension and for a Grade 5 (very difficult) trip, you also require a vehicle with electronic traction control or diff locks, and good recovery gear (e.g. a winch).
Check your vehicle and make sure it is well serviced and everything works. If in doubt seek advice.
The Activity Information Sheet will also list any items of personal gear you require plus any safety issues etc.
A few days before the trip, confirm with the Trip Leader that you will be attending.
Take adequate water and food supplies for the trip (suggest morning and afternoon tea and lunch for a day trip), plus an emergency supply in case you get stranded. Keep alcohol for around the camp fire at night.
Have adequate fuel for the expected journey or distance to the next refuel point. – allow a safety margin.
Take your wallet, drivers licence, mobile phone and any essential medications.
Ideally have an up to date Emergency Health information booklet or sheet in the glove box (available from the Club).
Take suitable clothing. Weather can change quickly especially in the mountains so it is wise to cater for all conditions. Even if it is hot at low altitudes it can get very cold in the mountains and can rain at any time.
Wear closed in footwear – the ground underfoot is often rough or slippery, and a cut foot or stubbed toe etc can be a problem on a trip.
Wear adequate sun protection – e.g. hat and sunscreen.
Take toilet paper for emergencies in the bush. Remember ALL human waste must be buried!
Take all rubbish home.
Take a folding chair so that you are comfortable during lunch stops, long delays or around the campfire.
Carry a first aid kit and first aid manual (and knowledge to use it) in case …..
Make sure your jack will lift the vehicle, can be used on rough ground and will fit under the vehicle with a flat tyre. Practice using it on rough ground. Include a jacking plate (e.g. thick ply) to put under the jack to stop it sinking in soft ground. A high lift jack is not necessary. A good hydraulic bottle jack may be best.
Check that your wheel brace (for removing wheel nuts when changing tyres) is good quality and works.
Carry a long handled shovel for clearing under a bogged vehicle, digging a toilet hole & working camp fires.
Sturdy leather gloves are advised to protect hands during recovery operations, collecting firewood, changing wheels, and around the fire etc.
You need a UHF radio for convoy communications. Channel 10 is the designated off road channel. A good quality 5 watt hand held could be used but a wired in unit is better.
Carry a basic tool kit of spanners, screw drivers etc suitable for your vehicle. Include tapes, glues etc and a fire extinguisher of a type suitable for electrical or fuel fires.
If possible carry a tyre air pressure gauge and good quality heavy duty compressor able to pump up 4WD tyres. It is good to adjust tyre pressure to suit the driving conditions and it is best not to rely on other people. Make sure the gear is readily accessible.
Ideally carry navigation aids – e.g. maps of the area, GPS, compass, etc to know where you are going – and how to find your way home again.
Carry a small tarp for crawling under vehicles, radiator blind for deep water crossings, emergency shelter etc.
Do not carry too much – weight is your enemy. Be careful with packing – heavy items forward and low in the vehicle and well secured so that they do not fly around on rough tracks or in accidents.
If you are unsure about anything, ask an experienced club member.
Have a desire for adventure, a sense of fun, a caring attitude towards others and the environment, patience and tolerance. Remember our Code of Ethics, Trip Rules and Tread Lightly. Plan for the worst. Hope for the best …. and take what comes. It is all part of Living the Adventure!