4WD Training

This is Off-Road Safety Academy's two-day beginning 4WD course.
(More advanced drivers will find it useful as well or your money back!)

Want to learn more about your 4-Wheel Drive vehicle? Want to improve your off-road driving skills? Interested in keeping
you and your loved ones safe while off-roading? Off-Road Safety Academy™ will safely teach you in one weekend what it
​takes most people years to learn on their own.
Course Goal – The goal of this course is to put you on a path to safely and ecologically off-road alone. Although it is always best to off-road with other vehicles, this is not always possible or desired. Upon completion of this course you begin to understand the limitations of your vehicle and your driving skills allowing you to intelligently choose excursions and trails to match your capabilities.
Prerequisite: None (Except a desire to learn and have FUN!) Length of Course: Two days; 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

Course Curriculum:
Day One - 1/2 day Knowledge Development (classroom). During lunch you'll get an overview of remote electronic communications, map use, and off-road survival and bushcraft. Afternoon: 1/2 day "Getting to Know Your Vehicle (Priority Customization for your Vehicle)," Tire Repair 101, 4WD Gearing, Beginning Hill Climbing.
Day Two - Airing Down and Inflating Tires, Driving a Level Rocky Trail and Spotting, Driving in Sand and Use of Sand Ladders, Methods of Lifting Your Vehicle Off the Ground (Hi-Lift Jack, Bottle/Scissor Jacks, Inflatable Jack), Changing a tire on soft and uneven terrain, Winching 101 with Powered Winches and Hi-Lift Jack, Proper Use of Kinetic Energy ("Yank") Straps, Off-Camber Driving, Electronic Traction Control and Locker Use (for those that have these features), Trail Driving.
Target Audience: All off-road drivers that want to learn the basics of four-wheeling in relative safety and comfort. This course is for the owners of any new or used 4-Wheel Drive vehicle (e.g., Jeeps, Explorers, Hummers, Land Rovers, Xterras, Land Cruisers, Pathfinders, trucks, etc.). Even inexperienced owners of highly modified off-road vehicles are welcome at this course. The curriculum is primarily designed for novice off-road drivers owning stock or slightly modified 4-Wheel Drive vehicles. During this course, you'll begin to learn how to off-road on your own and launch adventure expeditions in relative safety and comfort.

Vehicle Requirements: Any reliable 4-Wheel Drive SUV, SUT or trucks with:

• 2-speed 4WD transfer case (must be able to shift into a 4-Low gearing)
• Street legal
• Full-size spare tire
• Full tank of gas
• Seat belts for all passengers
• Vehicle in excellent working condition, no fluid leaks, etc

Use of Instructor Equipment: During this course you will be introduced to essential off-road equipment. You will not need to own or bring equipment other than what is listed.

This is course teaches you the primary skills from my book "The Total Approach to Getting Unstuck Off Road - 4WD Self Recovery & Vehicle-Assisted Recovery."

Prerequisite: Completion of Discovery Course or proven basic off-roading experience. Length of Course: Two days. Target Audience: Those individuals that have either completed the Discovery course or can demonstrate basic off-roading knowledge and skills. Vehicle Requirements: Any reliable 4WD SUV, SUT or trucks with

• 2-speed 4WD transfer case (must have 4-Low gearing)
• Street legal vehicle in excellent working condition, no fluid leaks
• Frame-mounted recovery points front and rear
• Full-size spare tire with Stock and HiLift Jack
• Roll bar or hard top
• Fire extinguisher
• Seat belts for all passengers

Equipment & Accessories "Nice-to-Haves:” This is a list of equipment that will help you take full advantage of the training in this course. However, you are not required to have any or all of this equipment to enroll in the course. The Instructor will have all of this equipment, allowing you hands-on training. Instructor has multiple makes and models of recovery equipment for you to try.

• Hi-Lift Jack and Accessories – JackMate, Off-Road Base Plate, Off-Road Kit, Bumper Lift
• X-Jack Inflatable Jack
• Vehicle-mounted winch
• Various winch accessories (see my book for list)
• Traction Boards and/or Bridging Ladders
• Polyester Tow Rope/Strap
• Kinetic Energy Rope/Strap

What You'll Learn in this Two-Day Course:

Recovery Courses Curriculum Day 1

• No Embarrassment in Getting Stuck
• Six Types of Off-Road Recovery Under Two Categories
• First Actions After Getting Stuck & Choosing the lowest energy recovery method/strategy
• STOPA – Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist Overview
• Winch Utility
• Choosing an Anchor – Vehicle, Ground Anchor, Tree, Boulder
• Danger at Overloaded Anchor Points
• In-Field Powered Winching
• Winch Accessories
• Self-Recovery Powered Winch Rigging Set-Ups
• Hand Winching to the Rear
• Vehicle-Assisted Winch Rigging Set-Ups

Recovery Courses Curriculum Day 2

• Advanced In-Field Tire Repair
• Valve Stem Repair
• Repairing Sidewall Tears – Small & Large
• Seating Beads
• In-Field Welding
• Mobile Battery Jumps, Fire Extinguishing on Trail
• Self-Recovery Traction Extraction
• Airing down tires
• Use of MaxTrax and Bridging Ladders
• Vehicle-Assisted Kinetic Energy Recovery and Towing Disabled Vehicle