What training covers
Training is the cheapest upgrade there is. It costs less than a bumper, weighs nothing, and works on every vehicle you will ever own.
Common courses
- 01Driving: line choice, throttle and brake control, airing down, spotting
- 02Recovery: safe rigging, winching and kinetic recovery
- 03Field repair: tires, fluids, electrical faults and improvised fixes
- 04Navigation and communication
- 05Wilderness first aid
How to choose a course
Small classes and real terrain.
- 01Ask about class size and how much time you spend driving rather than watching.
- 02Ask whether you train in your own vehicle. You should.
- 03Ask about the instructors' certification and how long they have been teaching.
- 04Ask what terrain the course uses, and what to bring.
Why it is worth it
A trained driver breaks less, gets stuck less and recovers more safely. Most vehicle damage on the trail comes from speed and poor line choice, and most recovery injuries come from rigging that someone guessed at.
Questions people ask
I have driven dirt roads for years. Is a course worth it?
Most experienced drivers say the recovery day alone was worth it. Rigging a winch pull safely is not something to work out for the first time when you are stuck.
Do I need a built vehicle to attend?
No. Most introductory courses are designed for stock four-wheel-drive vehicles, and learning what a stock vehicle can do is the point.