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4x4 Driving Skills

Classes build on your existing experience and your 4x4 setup

Classes meet in Big Bear Lake/Cougar Buttes. After a short drive to the trail head, tires are aired down and several exercises are explained for the drive to our training area. All of our classes offer one on one training. In the Basic Off Road class, the instructor will ride with you to coach you over the varied terrain. In the other classes we offer more advanced training to further develop your driving skills. All of the training courses consists of hill climbs, descents, ruts, bumps, rock crawling and side slopes. Each class is designed with your experience and setup in mind.

BASIC OFF ROAD DRIVING TRAINING

1-on-1 training | Maximum 3 vehicles with one MASTER TRAINER per vehicle

What You Will Experience​

  • Vehicle Control Use

  • Optimum Tire Pressures

  • How Sway Bars Work

  • Axle Articulation

  • Vehicle Right of Way & Rules of the Road

  • Gaining Ground Clearance

  • Tire Placement

  • Finding Traction

  • Driving in Ruts and Bumps

  • Keeping the Vehicle Stable

  • Using a Spotter

  • Choosing the Optimum Vehicle Path

  • Climbing and Descending Hills

  • Rock Crawling Basics

  • Using the Brakes

  • Controlling Wheelspin

  • Keeping Trails Open

  • Trail Difficulty

  • Communications

Vehicle Requirements

  • 4 wheel drive Jeep, SUV or truck with a transfer case (not AWD)

  • Off road (All terrain or mud terrain) tires minimum 31 inch diameter

  • Stock ground clearance or lifted - no lowered vehicles!

​

  6-7 hours | $549 per vehicle (Multiple Vehicle Discount Available)

Gift Certificates Available!

WINCHING & BASIC VEHICLE RECOVERY CLINIC

1-on-1 training | Maximum 3 vehicles with one MASTER TRAINER per vehicle

What You Will Experience​

  • Situation Assessment

  • Recovery Gear Inventory

  • Creating a Recovery Plan

  • Designating the person in charge

  • Towing a disabled vehicle

  • Using a kinetic "Yanker" strap

  • Using a Hi-Lift jack

  • Changing or repairing a flat tire

  • Using extraction board and traction aids

  • Altering tire pressure for more traction or more ground clearance

  • Road building to get unstuck

  • WINCHING

    • Winching safety​

    • Estimating winching loads

    • Winch pulling power​

    • Winch line angles

    • Winching the same vehicle

    • Winching other vehicles

    • Winching anchor points

    • Using a snatch block or recovery ring

    • Winch lines - synthetic vs. steel

    • Using ground anchors

    • Respooling winch line

Vehicle Requirements

  • 4 wheel drive Jeep, SUV or truck with a transfer case (not AWD)

  • Off road (All terrain or mud terrain) tires minimum 31 inch diameter

  • Stock ground clearance or lifted - no lowered vehicles!

​

  5-6 hours | $549 per vehicle (Multiple Vehicle Discount Available)

Gift Certificates Available!

INTRODUCTION TO ROCK CRAWLING

1-on-1 training | Maximum 2 vehicles with one MASTER TRAINER per vehicle. Two support vehicles. This Training Program Uses Black Diamond Trails in Big Bear Lake, California or Cougar Buttes, California.

What You Will Experience​

  • Using the Controls

  • Optimum Tire Pressures

  • Axle Articulation

  • Using a Spotter

  • Choosing the Optimum Vehicle Path

  • Optimizing Ground Clearance

  • Using Lockers

  • Controlling Wheelspin

  • Climbing Rock Ledges

  • Descending Rock Ledges

  • Climbing Undercut Rock Obstacles

  • "BUMPING" Up Obstacles

Vehicle Requirements

  • 4 wheel drive Jeep, SUV or truck with a transfer case (not AWD)

  • off road (All terrain or mud terrain) tires minimum 35 inch diameter minimum

  • 2 inch or greater lift

  • At least one axle locker

  • Rock Sliders

  • Skid plates

  • Tow points

​

  6-7 hours | $549 per vehicle (Multiple Vehicle Discount Available)

Gift Certificates Available!

INTRODUCTION TO OVERLANDING

1-on-1 training | Maximum 3 vehicles with one MASTER TRAINER per vehicle

What You Will Experience​

  • Vehicle Control Use

  • Optimum Tire Pressures

  • How Sway Bars Work

  • Axle Articulation

  • Vehicle Right of Way & Rules of the Road

  • Gaining Ground Clearance

  • Tire Placement

  • Finding Traction

  • Driving in Ruts and Bumps

  • Keeping the Vehicle Stable

  • Using a Spotter

  • Choosing the Optimum Vehicle Path

  • Climbing and Descending Hills

  • Rock Crawling Basics

  • Using the Brakes

  • Controlling Wheelspin

  • Keeping Trails Open

  • Trail Difficulty

  • Communications

  • Compensating for heavier loads

  • Driving in uneven terrain with a roof rack and/or roof top tent

  • Minimum gear requirements for a 1-2 day overland experience

  • Trailer towing

  • Gear storage options

  • Dispersed camping

Vehicle Requirements

  • 4 wheel drive Jeep, SUV or truck with a transfer case (not AWD)

  • Off road (All terrain or mud terrain) tires minimum 31 inch diameter

  • Stock ground clearance or lifted - no lowered vehicles!

​

  5-6 hours | $549 per vehicle (Multiple Vehicle Discount Available)

Gift Certificates Available!

Contact

For information on custom training programs, testing and events, contact Bill Stephens at bill.trails411@gmail.com

Find Us on Amazon

Books and publications on everything you need to know on various jeep models, overlanding, and basic driver skills.

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