Jackie and I have just completed Vic Widman's (GreatDivideTours) two-day training course. If I was forced to choose one word to describe the experience I would choose "fantastic"!
We arrived on Tuesday late afternoon and setup the BT for the night. All very clean and modern facilities are provided as well as electricity for the BT.
Day One - Wednesday - was centered around the towing vehicle, in our case an F250 fully loaded with a boat on top! We climbed hills and went down hills I didn't believe possible. Everything was done in the various 4WD ranges so that we could experience the differences between high and low range, and then we did it again with the rear lockers. The lockers definitely made a difference in traction; however, if you do not have them I would not let that be the deciding factor in doing the course.
Day One also included lunch and dinner (steak and sausages).
Day Two - Thursday - was towing the BT day! At 21' with an extended drawbar and an F250 we were the longest and highest rig to tackle their hills. Dave, Vic's brother-in-law couldn't do enough to make the experience as safe and sane experience. Aside from being very knowledgeable in all aspects of 4WDrving, he very expertly modified the course to suit the size of our rig.
A freeway wasn't constructed! Just enough room so that we could with a minimum or backing to get around the turn do it safely. He didn't eliminate the challenges; he made them safe for our size rig.
The Effie in low range and first gear climbed the hills with the BT without a problem.
Eventually we arrived at a large field where we practiced/fine tuned our backing skills into tight caravan bays like might be encountered in a caravan park.
Then it was back to base camp for lunch (breakfast had been served too!).
After lunch we headed for the sand. We definitely learned the difference between driving with mountain inflated tires (I had reduced the tires to 40 fronts and 50 rears). Half way across the sand we had almost buried the exhaust pipe. Deflation to 20psi on all tires, driving back and forward a few inches at a time until we created a runway, and off we went across the rest of the training area and back to the other side without a problem.
The course officially ended at the sand area and that night we camped just a few hundred meters from the sand. It was beautiful!
Ladies: Jackie did almost all of the driving that I did and rightly earned her competency certificate too.
Guys: Many of you have had a lot of experience driving your 4WDs all over Australia including thousands of Ks in the desert and on the corrugations. I do not know; however I doubt that many of you have put your vehicles through the types of terrains and over the rocks that you will encounter during the course.
If this interests you, guess what?
Vic is going to provide a
BOG mid-week training special. Even though the cost is going up to $450 per rig for two persons including all training and meals, the
BOG special will be $400 per rig/two persons, during the week (Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday) and there needs to be a minimum of 3/maximum of 4 BTs to setup the course.
If what I have written interests you (see posted pictures), get together with your mates and put together 3/4 BTs and contact Vic Widman at 02 9913 1395 or email him at vwidma1@bigpond.net.au. Check out his website www.4wd.net.au.
Happy trainings and travels!
Jay
