TRIPS

Trip Ratings

SCENIC	Bitumen or gravel surfaces, no 4WD, lookouts, vantage points of local area and their points of interest.
EASY	Off road on formed tracks, mostly 2WD, slight inclines/declines and side slopes, basic low-level creek crossings.
MEDIUM	Off road, bush terrain, 4WD, medium inclines/declines, possible low range, medium side slopes, medium creek crossings (knee height), minor recovery (towing/snatching).
HARD	Off road, rough terrain, steep inclines/declines, steep side slopes, rough creek crossings, recovery (possible winching, snatching, towing).
EXTREME	Off road, very rough terrain, very steep inclines/declines, very steep side slopes, rough deep creek crossings, recovery (quite possible advanced winching, snatching, towing).

Trip Procedure

Observe and obey all Main Roads Department and local traffic regulations.
No vehicle shall pass the Trip Leader except in an emergency.
Each driver is responsible for the vehicle behind.
All vehicles must wait at each intersection clearly indicating their direction of travel until the tailing vehicle reaches that intersection and can observe the next stage of route.
Should you become separated from the convoy, pull to the side if the road and wait for a member of the trip to return. (DO NOT PROCEED ANY FURTHER)
Each driver shall travel at a safe distance behind the leading vehicle at all times. In doing so all drivers shall endeavour to keep the tailing vehicle in site to ensure a smooth running convoy.
The vehicle directly behind the trip Leader shall open any gates and allow the remainder of the convoy to pass before leaving the gate as found and rejoining the convoy in front of Tail-end Charlie.
In difficult areas (Eg: Water Crossings, Steep Hills) use common sense and observe convoy rules. One vehicle to traverse the area at a time preferably being called through by the Trip Leader.
Any vehicle leaving the convoy for any reason shall wave past the remainder of the convoy and inform Tail-End Charlie of their intention.

Trip Ettiquette

Name and contact number must appear on trip sign-on sheet
You must contact the trip leader if you are not going, going to be late or have left early on a trip as soon as you know.(some trips have limited numbers).
Every reasonable effort will be made to contact late arrivals to meeting places but trips will depart with out you if you are not contactable by the number supplied on the sign on sheet.

The Buddy System

The buddy system has been designed to help show how easy it really is to lead a trip.

Any trip leader can be approached by a member of the club and ask if they would like a ‘buddy’ on their trip. The trip leader and ‘buddy’ work together on the organization, layout, rating of the trip, leading and tail ending.

You don’t have to be an experienced 4 wheel driver to lead a trip, if you have a place you love to go you could approach a friend in the club who has run trip before and suggest to them that you could buddy up or co-lead a trip, you set the rating, you make the time.

Once you’ve led a trip you’ll never go back to following someone else.

For more information about procedures, forms and ideas for trip destinations, contact one of your trip committee members.

Trip Reports

Destinations

Clarence River Wilderness Lodge	Brooms Head
Sundown National Park	Fraser Island
LandCruiser Mountain Park	Gordon Country
Bellthorpe State Forrest	Bigriggen
Rover Park	Kenilworth State Forrest
Mt Mee State Forest	Stradbroke Island
Levuka	Girraween National Park
Neurum Creek	Inskip Point
Moreton Island	The Springs

4WD Code of Ethics

(Produced with the permission of the Australian National Four Wheel Drive Council
in the interests of promoting responsible Four-Wheel-Drive-Touring)

Obey the laws and regulations for Recreational Vehicles that apply to public lands.
Respect our flora and fauna. Stop and look but never disturb.
Keep to formed vehicle tracks.
Keep the environment clean. Carry your own and any other rubbish out.
Keep your vehicle mechanically sound and clean to reduce the environmental impact.
Adopt minimal impact camping and driving practices.
Seek permission before driving on private land.
Do not disturb livestock or watering points, leave gates as found.
Take adequate water, food, fuel, basic spares and a first aid kit on trips.
In remote areas travel with another vehicle and have Royal Flying Doctor Service, or equivalent, radio contact.
Enjoy your recreation and respect the rights of others.
Plan ahead and lodge trip details with a responsible person.
Support four-wheel drive touring as a responsible and legitimate family recreational activity. Consider joining an affiliated four-wheel drive Club.

THIS CODE SUPPORTS THE NATIONAL RECREATIONAL VEHICLE POLICY AND IS VALUABLE ONLY IF YOU OBSERVE IT