Advanced Certificate Course
Although not requiring any prior knowledge, this comprehensive two-day course exceeds various industry standards for basic and advanced driver training. It is suitable for novices as well as experienced 4WD operators, and can involve soft-roaders to 4WD trucks. Standard vehicles with standard tyres are acceptable, but modified vehicles with extensive recovery equipment can also be taken to their limits in controlled situations.
The course involves entertaining and interactive presentations of four wheel drive vehicle operation, engineering and recovery techniques. It comprises classroom theory and practical exercises, with detailed notes, an assessment quiz and plenty of fun.
Theory sessions give an understanding of the basic engineering and technology involved in modern 4WD vehicles and recovery equipment. Discussion sessions are based around real-life experiences (including analysis of accidents and rescues) sharing knowledge on coping with challenging situations, as well as exposing fictional ‘4WD folk-lore’. Driving sessions allow participants to practice particular techniques taught in the course, taking vehicles to their limits safely. Hands-on winching and snatch recovery exercises, as well as an equipment ‘show and tell’ are included.
This course is run as a residential weekend at our training facility, Mountain Rivers Tourist Park in Rawson (self-cater motel style accommodation), only 2 hours from Melbourne, with field exercises on steep, rugged tracks around Walhalla, and simulated desert conditions in south Gippsland. Terrain includes one of the biggest river crossings in Victoria and our favourite big sand hill climb. Pricing is per particaipant, with non-participating partners/friends/family members welcome to sit in on everything for a small additional fee. Motel accommodation (discounted) and Saturday night pub meal together are additional. Partners are encouraged and accompanied children can attend free of charge. Optional Friday night arrival (total two nights’ accommodation) enables a more relaxed start on Saturday morning with a holiday atmosphere. Gift vouchers also are available for purchase online.
Booking Calendar
Please select from the highlighted dates below to book online
Topics covered include:
Getting the right gear:
- low range and ground clearance
- AWD performance
- suspension systems
- part-time and full-time 4WD
- differentials and locks
- ABS brakes, stability and traction control
- auto transmissions and smart diffs
- free wheel hubs
- tyre patterns, sizes and pressures
- traction fundamentals
- simple mechanical checks and spares
- petrol, diesel, LPG and turbo engine characteristics
- 4WD maintainability
- snatch strap safety and tow point integrity
- winches, snatch blocks and recovery loads
- vehicle jacks
- wheel chains
- CB radios, GPS and satellite communications
- roof racks and trailers.
Tackling tough trails:
- mountain climbing and signs of trouble
- washaways, rock ledges and boulders
- forward and reverse hill starts
- slippery descents
- fording rivers
- silt protection
- rocks, holes and slippery banks
- engine fans and ignition
- snorkels and waterproofing
- deep water recoveries
- oil seals and breathers
- wet brakes
- mud and snow
- momentum and gravity
- ruts and bog holes
- south side of the mountain
- black ice and alpine parking
- sand: power, gears and tyre pressures
- salt water and beach hazards
- fallen trees
- avoiding duco scratches and stone chips
- potholes and suspension
- reverse gear risks
- environment
- tents, camping gear and fridges
- packing, luggage and water.
Touring Tips:
- Fallen trees
- How not to scratch the duco
- How bad accidents happen
- Tents and camping gear
- Packing and water
Corporate Training
We’ve done training for organisations involved in: Forestry, mining, fire-fighting, land management, remote area telecommunications, local government, environmental projects, archaeology, geological drilling and outdoor education. Often these courses are adapted for client special requirements, including levels of prior experience.
Occupational health and safety considerations in our litigation-conscious society suggest that employees need to be equipped with the best skills available. For this reason our certificate courses are highly regarded within the 4WD industry, having been constantly updated over 20+ years of presentation. They are conducted by a certificate IV workplace trainer/assessor with over 50 years’ 4WD experience, together with a trainer with prior service in an Australian Army Recovery Unit. Detailed training notes are included in the course and successful participants are issued with a certificate outlining these competencies. The classroom venue can be your premises or our training facility.
Staff/trainee ratios ensure personalized tuition, usually with a minimum of three and maximum of eight participants in each course. The training is done on your vehicles, but rental vehicles may be available if required.
Special Courses
Special courses have been tailored to client needs including crashed vehicle recoveries, winching, jacking, diff lock and wheel chain applications. These have included:
- Latrobe Valley Brown Coal Mine 4×4 Competency, and
- ATV* Competency, carried out at our test track facility at Rawson. (*Yamaha Rhino vehicles can be provided for this).
- Terrain Response electronics-equipped vehicles (eg. Land Rover, in conjunction with ‘Green Oval Experience’)
