Trip Grading
Trip Grading
For trips in the Club’s calendar a grading system of levels 1 to 6 is used to assist members in deciding which trips they would most enjoy and which grade suits the driver’s level of skill, vehicle and experience. This system of grading is a guide only. The grade assigned to a trip may change due to weather conditions, and the trip leader should be consulted in such circumstances. The trip leader has the right to deny a request from a driver who is considered not to have the necessary level of skill in four wheel driving, or whose vehicle is deemed inadequate.
| Southern Tablelands 4WD Club Trip Grading (Dry Weather) V2.0 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 |
Grade 2 |
Grade 3 |
Grade 4 |
Grade 5 |
Grade 6 |
|
| Terrain |
TAR ROADS & VERY EASY GRAVEL Tar roads or very easy gravel or clay topped type dirt roads. Some high range 4WD driving and no low range driving. |
EASY GRAVEL/DIRT ROADS May include some corrugations and small obstacles. High range 4WD driving likely and some easy low range driving possible. |
EASY TO MODERATE OFFROAD TRACKS Including bush tracks and riverbeds, wet clay and grass. Some moderate water crossings. River crossings would normally have well-constructed entry and exit points. Some steeper hills and banks (possible cross-axle-ing). Trips may include desert type driving on made tracks in areas of moderate remoteness. |
MODERATE TO DIFFICULT TERRAIN Including rocky creek and riverbeds, bush tracks, wet clay and grass, or long sand driving. May also include tracks with deteriorating surfaces, ruts, rocky outcrops, moderate staircases and rock ledges, or muddy sections (possible cross axle-ing). Challenging banks and long hill ascents and descents. May include deep water crossings, may have some degraded entry and exit points. Trips may include remote areas driving (eg outback desert country) with little to no outside recovery support. |
VERY DIFFICULT TERRAIN Some technically difficult and challenging terrain. Overgrown bush tracks etc. May include deep water crossings, may have degraded entry and exit points. Vehicles will be travelling over difficult terrain steep ascents and descents possibly requiring winching. Significant ruts, rock ledges and staircases can be expected. |
EXTREME TERRAIN Very steep banks and hills. Severe rock ledges and staircases can be expected. May include deep water crossings, may have degraded or non-existing entry and exit points. |
| Track Building |
NOT REQUIRED |
NOT REQUIRED |
MAY BE REQUIRED |
POSSIBLY REQUIRED For less capable vehicles. |
LIKELY REQUIRED For All vehicles. |
DEFINITELY REQUIRED May include extensive and complex track building. |
| Vehicle Preparation |
AWD, SOFT-ROAD 4WD, UNMODIFIED 4WD. |
UNMODIFIED 4WD |
4WD WITH BASIC MODIFICATIONS Essential – Rated recovery points on front and rear of vehicle. – UHF radio. Recommended for most club trips at Grade 3 and above: – Traction boards. – Increased ground clearance. – All-terrain tyres. – Snorkel. |
4WD WITH SOME MODIFICATIONS Essential – as for Grade 3. Recommended – Increased ground clearance and better approach and departure angles. – Traction boards. – Body protection especially for sills. – Snorkel. Some trips may require long range fuel tanks and remote area safety equipment such as PLBs and Satellite phones. |
MODIFIED 4WD VEHICLES. Essential – as for Grade 4. Recommended depending on the trip: – Increased ground clearance and better approach and departure angles. – Traction boards. – Sill and under-body protection. – Snorkel. – Locking differential(s). – Winch. – Aggressive (mud-terrain) tyres. The trip leader will advise the recommended vehicle preparation in the trip notes. |
HEAVILY MODIFIED 4WDS Essential – as for Grade 5. Strongly recommended As for Grade 5, with a winch and specialised recovery gear mandatory. |
| Potential Damage |
UNLIKELY |
NEGLIGIBLE |
MINOR DAMAGE Brush marks and scratches possible, also possible tyre and body damage. |
POSSIBLE DAMAGE As for Grade 3, including damage to sills and front and rear ends. |
PROBABLE DAMAGE. As for Grade 4, including body and mechanical damage, especially to CVs and drive train. |
HIGHLY PROBABLE DAMAGE Body damage from rocks and banks. Mechanical breakages common – CVs, axles, rims etc. |
| Expected Level of Driver Skill and Experience |
LITTLE EXPERIENCE Suitable for any licensed driver. Basic driving skills and ability to read road surfaces and judge effect upon traction and braking. |
SOME EXPERIENCE Suitable for any licensed driver. Knowledge of vehicle and selecting high/low range 4WD. Basic driving skills and ability to read road surfaces and judge effect upon traction and braking. |
SOME EXPERIENCE Knowledge of vehicle and selecting high/low range 4WD. Experience at driving on low range tracks. Stall recovery technique may be required. |
EXPERIENCED Completed at least three Grade 3 level trips. Ability to judge appropriate speed and momentum for obstacles will be needed. As for Grade 3 with increasing need for accurate wheel placement, being in the right gear, selecting the right line, and maintaining the correct speed and momentum. Drivers must be competent with stall-recovery technique on steep terrain. |
VERY EXPERIENCED Completed at least three Grade 4 level trips. As for Grade 4, plus significant experience and excellent vehicle control skills, including when to use and not use locking differentials. Basic & Intermediate winching techniques. |
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE Extensive 4WDing experience over a number of years including Grade 4 & 5 trips. As for Grade 5 and must know how to winch and recover vehicles in very steep terrain and complex environments. Careful and deliberate selection of the best/appropriate line will be required. |
| Driver Training |
NIL |
NIL |
COMPLETED BASIC DRIVER TRAINING |
COMPLETED BASIC DRIVER TRAINING Depending on the trip the Trip Leader may specify other courses that require completion for that specific trip. |
COMPLETED BASIC DRIVER TRAINING. Depending on the trip the Trip Leader may specify other courses that require completion for that specific trip. |
MUST HAVE COMPLETED BASIC DRIVER TRAINING AND INTERMEDIATE WINCHING & RECOVERY COURSE, Strongly Recommended to have completed the Advanced Driver Training Course. Depending on the trip the Trip Leader may specify the completion of other courses. |
| Line Selection |
STAY IN YOUR LANE |
STAY IN LANE AND AVOID POT-HOLES |
CAREFUL LINE SELECTION |
CAREFUL LINE SELECTION Careful and deliberate selection of the best/appropriate line will be required. Possible use of spotter. |
VERY CAREFUL LINE SELECTION Careful and deliberate selection of the best/appropriate line will be required. Probable use of spotter. |
ADVANCED LINE SELECTION Careful and deliberate selection of the best/appropriate line will be required. Definite use of spotter. |
| Likelihood of a Recovery |
NOT LIKELY |
NOT LIKELY |
POSSIBLE Possible (but not likely) use of basic recovery techniques. |
POSSIBLE Possible use of simple recovery techniques (for example possible use of winch). |
PROBABLE Probable use of complex recovery techniques. |
DEFINITE Complex advanced recoveries, including redirection, righting the vehicle, slingshot, etc. |
| Recovery Equipment |
NO REQUIREMENT |
NO REQUIREMENT |
BASIC RECOVERY EQUIPMENT |
APPROPRIATE RECOVERY GEAR FOR EXPECTED TERRAIN (And other equipment as specified by the trip leader). |
APPROPRIATE RECOVERY GEAR FOR EXPECTED TERRAIN (And other equipment as specified by the trip leader). |
APPROPRIATE RECOVERY GEAR FOR EXPECTED TERRAIN (And other equipment as specified by the trip leader). |
