Thinking of going off-road? Well, Barry McCall has some advice for you.
If you're not one of those yuppies whose closest shave with off-road driving in your 4x4 is parking on the kerb, there are a few things worth considering when buying such a vehicle for the first time.
These include the difference in performance between a four-wheel-drive and two-wheel-drive vehicle, and the very profound difference between off-road and road driving.
This is why training is so important - even for experienced road drivers. Driving off-road presents a lot of challenges - driving through mud, on steep inclines, over bumps, through water, sand and so on. All these pose risks: not just of getting the vehicle stuck but of actually tipping over if the driver is not careful.
Many companies with staff who need to drive off-road on a regular basis have invested in specialist training courses for staff in an effort to minimise accidents.
Quest Off Road Driving offers specialist driving courses for both the weekend off-roader and the professional. At the basic level the company offers a one day introductory course at its 1,500 acre base in Aughrim, Co Wicklow.
"We have a fleet of 30 ex-Army Land Rovers for our customers use," says Oran Masterson of Quest. "Fully qualified instructors guide them throughout the day, which begins in our training area where each person is given off-road driving tuition and basic safety instruction.
"Accompanied by a qualified instructor, they are taught the skills of off-road driving. This training gives them the preparation and confidence required to tackle the challenges of driving off-road."
The object of the company's two day specialist course is to reduce accidents with injury and damage to vehicles and equipment. Although safety is the main objective, the course is also designed to place emphasis on technique.
This course is provided with the Health and Safety Authority guidelines in mind and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act of 1989. There is a minimum of theory, with the emphasis on practical tuition. A certificate is issued to each participant on successful completion of an exam.
Course content includes an introduction to the vehicle's capabilities, controls and instruments; reading the ground - soft, boggy, sandy, rutted, rough; ground clearance - approach and departure angles, recommended tyre pressures, grip; steering, clutch control and gear selection - auto, manual, centre differential, two-wheel/four-wheel drive, starting in gear, reversing; slopes - gear selection, starting, stopping, ascending, descending; side slopes, wading, fording; towing - trailers on and off-road; and recovery - towing, jacking and winching.
With companies using these courses to improve the safety of their staff it is probably a good idea for private 4x4 owners to think about taking one as well.