Tiffster
07-16-2003, 05:16 PM
By John Murdock
With several years of experience with the Red Rock 4Wheelers Easter Jeep Safari, some of which I served as an official; one Jeep Jamboree; several years with the Southwest Fourwheel Drive Assoc. with my membership club being the New Mexico 4Wheelers; and now as a charter member, trail leader and trail follower with the FMCA4Wheelers which typically have 100 to 200 Jeeps (Wranglers & Cherokees) at our rallies, I feel that I am qualified to make these observations. Anyone else that has (qualified) experience please feel free to jump in with any of your observations.
I can never remember any members of my club having any animosity regarding LWB vs SWB Jeeps. When we run a trail together, we are ALL together. Each type vehicle has its strong points as well as weak points on different obstickles. We help each other out when needed without regard as to what type vehicle it is. I will say that some trails are better suited to certain type vehicles. This is something that needs to be addressed before the trail ride begins, along with whether or not all the vehicles are adequetly equipped to do a particular trail. A trailrider should not expect others to babysit them completely through a trail that they are not properly equipped or experienced enough to do. That is why Jeep Jamboree and others have certain equipment requirements for running trails.
Before the trail ride begins it should be understood (and accepted) who the leader will be.
The leaders responsibility is to know the trail, and make sure that he leads only as fast as the rest of the group can keep up with. Allow for periodical 10-100 (pottie) breaks. The leader should also see to it that knowone is personally left on the trail after all possible attempts has been made to do a trail repair. Unless the broken party feels comfortable being left behind with a friend to catch up later or someone else can go for help if needed. Usually they will offer this if they feel that way.
It is the owners ultimate responsibility to get his vehicle off the trail along with whatever friends help he can solicit. Most of the larger, better organized runs leader will pull over to the side at the end of the trail and wait for the last rider to make it off the trail and use the time to air up if desired. His responsibility is over when the last trailrider is off the trail.
If large enough, there should be designated gunners/helpers spaced out in the lineup. Midgunner as well as Tailgunner. These gunners usually are wheelers that have wheeling & mechical experience that can help out (when requested). Lets face it, not all of us are mechanics. Never be afraid to ask for help if you feel you need it, but if you are afraid to get a little dirty then maybe you should find another sport.
When the group is approaching an obstickle the leader should announce that obstical on the CB. Riders should remember that some help comes from other observers over the CB radio, so please don't clown around on the CB when it is needed for spotting purposes.
It is all trail riders responsibility to try and keep up with the person in front, but it is a bigger responsibility to wait up after obsticals for the person behind you in the event some help is needed. This waiting rule is designed to work forward all the way to the leader.
This also applies to turns in the trail or anytime you loose site of the person behind. If there are those having a hard time keeping up (with an honest effort) then they should request that the leader slow down a little. Rockcrawling is not a race. A GOOD leader will honor this request.
All wheelers should learn what "Tread Lightly" means. It is very much encouraged that you should pickup trash along the trail. Some wheelers are their own and our worst enemy. Wheelers should always stay on designated trails and not take shortcuts which tend to cut more ruts and give the tree huggers more ammo to use against us.
I'm sure I have probably left out some good/sound info., so lets hear some others experienced views. These are some of my experiences and opinions. For what that is worth.
With several years of experience with the Red Rock 4Wheelers Easter Jeep Safari, some of which I served as an official; one Jeep Jamboree; several years with the Southwest Fourwheel Drive Assoc. with my membership club being the New Mexico 4Wheelers; and now as a charter member, trail leader and trail follower with the FMCA4Wheelers which typically have 100 to 200 Jeeps (Wranglers & Cherokees) at our rallies, I feel that I am qualified to make these observations. Anyone else that has (qualified) experience please feel free to jump in with any of your observations.
I can never remember any members of my club having any animosity regarding LWB vs SWB Jeeps. When we run a trail together, we are ALL together. Each type vehicle has its strong points as well as weak points on different obstickles. We help each other out when needed without regard as to what type vehicle it is. I will say that some trails are better suited to certain type vehicles. This is something that needs to be addressed before the trail ride begins, along with whether or not all the vehicles are adequetly equipped to do a particular trail. A trailrider should not expect others to babysit them completely through a trail that they are not properly equipped or experienced enough to do. That is why Jeep Jamboree and others have certain equipment requirements for running trails.
Before the trail ride begins it should be understood (and accepted) who the leader will be.
The leaders responsibility is to know the trail, and make sure that he leads only as fast as the rest of the group can keep up with. Allow for periodical 10-100 (pottie) breaks. The leader should also see to it that knowone is personally left on the trail after all possible attempts has been made to do a trail repair. Unless the broken party feels comfortable being left behind with a friend to catch up later or someone else can go for help if needed. Usually they will offer this if they feel that way.
It is the owners ultimate responsibility to get his vehicle off the trail along with whatever friends help he can solicit. Most of the larger, better organized runs leader will pull over to the side at the end of the trail and wait for the last rider to make it off the trail and use the time to air up if desired. His responsibility is over when the last trailrider is off the trail.
If large enough, there should be designated gunners/helpers spaced out in the lineup. Midgunner as well as Tailgunner. These gunners usually are wheelers that have wheeling & mechical experience that can help out (when requested). Lets face it, not all of us are mechanics. Never be afraid to ask for help if you feel you need it, but if you are afraid to get a little dirty then maybe you should find another sport.
When the group is approaching an obstickle the leader should announce that obstical on the CB. Riders should remember that some help comes from other observers over the CB radio, so please don't clown around on the CB when it is needed for spotting purposes.
It is all trail riders responsibility to try and keep up with the person in front, but it is a bigger responsibility to wait up after obsticals for the person behind you in the event some help is needed. This waiting rule is designed to work forward all the way to the leader.
This also applies to turns in the trail or anytime you loose site of the person behind. If there are those having a hard time keeping up (with an honest effort) then they should request that the leader slow down a little. Rockcrawling is not a race. A GOOD leader will honor this request.
All wheelers should learn what "Tread Lightly" means. It is very much encouraged that you should pickup trash along the trail. Some wheelers are their own and our worst enemy. Wheelers should always stay on designated trails and not take shortcuts which tend to cut more ruts and give the tree huggers more ammo to use against us.
I'm sure I have probably left out some good/sound info., so lets hear some others experienced views. These are some of my experiences and opinions. For what that is worth.