COURSE LOCATION

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. This course is taught assuming you may travel off-road SOLO (no other vehicles with you), REMOTE, and INTERNATIONAL. This is the worst possible off-roading context. If you are taught to this level, then you'll be more ready to challenge yourself with different terrains, environments, and situations. 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 the capabilities of your vehicle and your off-roading knowledge and skill.
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, Sprinters, trucks, etc.). Even experienced 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.

Price: $720.00 per person

This is course teaches you the primary skills from the book "The Total Approach to Getting Unstuck Off Road - 4WD Self Recovery & Vehicle-Assisted Recovery."
Prerequisite. None, except reading of the books "The Total Approach to Getting Unstuck Off Road - 4WD Self Recovery & Vehicle-Assisted Recovery" and "Raising Your 4WD Vehicle Off-Road & In Field Tire Repair."

Length of Course. Two days.
Target Audience. All off-roaders. It is recommended (not required) that enrollees complete the Discovery course prior to taking this course.
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. 

Equipment & Accessory "Nice-to-Haves.” This is a list of equipment that will help you take full advantage of the training in this course. However, if you do not have this equipment please do not purchase for the course. Bob will show you the very best equipment you'll want to purchase. You are not required to have any or all of this equipment to enroll in the course.

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
• Seating Beads
• Self-Recovery Traction Extraction
• Airing down tires
• Use of MaxTrax and Bridging Ladders
• Advanced Winch Rigging Scenarios
• Vehicle-Assisted Kinetic Energy Recovery and Towing Disabled Vehicle

Price: $720.00 per person