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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: brettc on October 25, 2011, 08:49:15 PM

Title: 4wd club
Post by: brettc on October 25, 2011, 08:49:15 PM
Hello everyone
i've been thinking of joining a 4wd club for a while but would like an opinion or 2 on which club and why. firstly i live in the newcastle area and needs to be family orientated and camper trailer friendly. i'm interested in weekends away or longer trips with like minded people. any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Brett
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: Pete_R on October 25, 2011, 09:36:44 PM
Hi Brett. Do you want a vehicle specific club for the type of 4wd you drive or just a general club?
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: Bird on October 25, 2011, 09:50:48 PM
My recommendation to anybody looking for a club is take your time.

Go to 2 general meetings with each club...   See what the people are like. See what vibe you get. Some are full of relics that love politics, and motions, and points of order etc... others are more interested in 4wding/camping/travelling..

Then go on at least 1 trip with each of them to make sure they aren't drunks, or swingers or stoner hillbillies. You get the drift.

Also look into what you get for your money. Some clubs represent great value for money with driver training included in membership, others charge you up the wazoo for it. The amount some clubs in this country charge should get you your own acre to keep.

Good luck.
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: DeLuxHiLux on October 25, 2011, 10:06:57 PM
. Some clubs represent great value for money with driver training included in membership, others charge you up the wazoo for it. The amount some clubs in this country charge should get you your own acre to keep.


Or charge you a membership and then for the COMPULSORY club driver training, even if you have been driving 4x4's for 20 years or have qualifications from somewhere else.... :(

Some of them have an over  inflated sense of their own self importance, while others are good family oriented clubs. I must admit to leeting  my membership of my Service Organisation affiliated club lapse due to my own lack of ability to participate, and didnt see the point of paying membership for something i never use, but no other reason. Clubs can be a great place to make friends, organise trips and general good times. I hope you find a good one in your area!!!
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: Burnsy on October 25, 2011, 10:21:08 PM
Then go on at least 1 trip with each of them to make sure they aren't drunks, or swingers or stoner hillbillies.

Lost you got the details of that club ;D
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: Bird on October 25, 2011, 10:26:29 PM
Quote from: DeLuxHiLux
Or charge you a membership and then for the COMPULSORY club driver training, even if you have been driving 4x4's for 20 years or have qualifications from somewhere else.... :(
Yep you are right.

But in their defence, I've seen people who tell you that they have been wheeling since your grandpappy were an itch in his daddys pants yet you wouldn't let them in your passengers seat. I've also seen *trained* people that are the same.

What is the solution?

It all comes down to safety of all members in the end... If someone has to do training again, stiff Shit for them. I'd rather see someone prove to me that he can do what he suggests than find a shackle going thru my forehead. Most people dont have an issue with it.
Also sadly it is insurance rules for some clubs (not all go with the 4wd association insurance). Most clubs include the training in their membership..

These days recognised qualifications elsewhere if they are accredited training courses should get you past... but I bet it wont save you the $$$ on the membership.

Quote
Some of them have an over  inflated sense of their owen self importance, while others are good family oriented clubs.
Agree 500%!!!!!! Or small groups of people may have their own agenda... like a club property they are setting up to suit themselves with the everyones money...

Thus why I suggest trying many clubs and to go to more than one event too.
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: Bird on October 25, 2011, 10:29:57 PM
Quote from: Burnsy
Lost you got the details of that club ;D
Yes I do... you'd be suprised how much tag team goes on in it....
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4797517831_826b8f0af7.jpg)
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: DeLuxHiLux on October 25, 2011, 10:35:58 PM
Lost...... Exactly!!!

It's one thing however to make someone sit through seemingly endless "theory" when a recognition officer could evaluate someone on what they can actually do etc by watching and observing their skills. It's in the way they go about it i suppose. Such is the the landscape now where everyone is sh!t scared of getting sued 5 ways to Sunday that it's all a bit over the top really, and common sense has no place in the modern world :(


Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: RichardW on October 26, 2011, 04:54:34 AM
Brett,
You can have a look here:
http://www.4wdnsw-act.asn.au/club_search.php (http://www.4wdnsw-act.asn.au/club_search.php)
Select Hunter  in the second box and click on Region
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: WilSurf on October 26, 2011, 10:30:12 AM
We are club members for almost 5 years and we love it.
It is a family orientated club with all sorts of vehicles, we even had a Jeep. :-)
We do day trips, weekends away and long holiday trips: CSR, Israelite Bay, Lake Eyre.
The problem we find now is that everyone is so busy personally that the same people is coming for a trip, some you won't see at all: too busy.
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: Gunna Do on October 26, 2011, 10:48:33 AM
Brett,
You can have a look here:
http://www.4wdnsw-act.asn.au/club_search.php (http://www.4wdnsw-act.asn.au/club_search.php)
Select Hunter  in the second box and click on Region


Ah, finally someone answered the question of the OP rather than ranting on about the pro and cons of clubs.
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: Bird on October 26, 2011, 11:53:40 AM
Ah, finally someone answered the question of the OP rather than ranting on about the pro and cons of clubs.
Im fairly sure he would have found that with 5 seconds and google.. maybe he was asking for personal thoughts on the clubs in the area
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: Silvo on October 26, 2011, 12:02:08 PM
this is why we need a "karma" system
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: WilSurf on October 26, 2011, 12:27:17 PM
I could have given mine, but as he isn't in WA that wouldn't have helped him.
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: brettc on October 26, 2011, 04:10:57 PM
Hi Brett. Do you want a vehicle specific club for the type of 4wd you drive or just a general club?

Hi Pete
I drive a prado which is basically standard except for a couple of things ( many on the wish list ) so probably a general club would be the best bet. i'm not into hard core stuff but would tackle medium grade tracks. i have looked at couple on the web but might go to a couple of meetings before i decide.

Thanks Brett                                     
Title: Re: 4wd club
Post by: brettc on October 26, 2011, 04:15:23 PM
Hello everyone
i've been thinking of joining a 4wd club for a while but would like an opinion or 2 on which club and why. firstly i live in the newcastle area and needs to be family orientated and camper trailer friendly. i'm interested in weekends away or longer trips with like minded people. any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Brett
Thanks to everyone who replied, i have looked at a couple of clubs but need to attend meetings first. As always the info put forward by members has been very helpful and i have taken all those points to help make a decision.

Thanks again
Brett