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6 7 Reasons Why Your Spouse
Should Learn to Drive Off Road

Driving Class

Four wheeling is often viewed as a man’s world. For the most part it is. Women are increasingly joining our hobby, however. Some of these women are single, but others are introduced to the hobby by a husband or friend.

In either case, it’s always best for her to take an off-road driving course. And if you haven’t taken a course, I encourage you to join her. It can be a fun and rewarding experience for you both.


Here are some good reasons to consider enrolling your better half in a 4WD training course.



  1. She can be a back-up driver: If something happens to you, your wife could drive out. Chances are, the training course will teach her how to overcome most of the challenges she’ll face on trails. Even if you’re out cold, she should be able to drive you out or at least get you to an extraction point.

  2. Building confidence: Learning to drive off-road entails mastering new skills. It involves unusual terrain, special driving techniques, and different equipment, like standard transmissions. Experiencing all these while under the watchful guidance of a trained instructor builds confidence.

  3. Better all-around driver: Off-road skills are put to use in the city during bad weather, such as a snowstorm or heavy rain. In the aftermath of an earthquake or tornado, there could be sinkholes or debris in the roadway. Drivers need to negotiate around those obstacles. That’s standard procedure in four wheeling. Someone who has taken a 4WD course is better able to handle these difficult and stressful situations.

  4. Additional spotter: The best spotters are also good drivers. Having gone through a 4WD course, your wife will be able to read the trail as well as you, providing you a valuable second set of eyes.
    One catch, guys: If your wife starts to enjoy off-road driving, you may end up the spotter. But that’s OK, right? On the other hand, your wife may still just want to sit and enjoy the ride. Encourage her to get behind the wheel on occasion to keep her skills sharp.

    Wait - one more catch: You may end up buying another 4 wheel drive vehicle just for her!

  5. An extra driver to spell you: Driving off-road, as you know, is very demanding. Fatigue can set in after just a few hours. It’s a comforting to know that a skilled driver can take over if needed.

  6. Companionship on the trails: Fishing buddies are great, but you can’t beat having your spouse along. You experience the adventure together, share great memories, and really bond while outdoors.

    7. One of my readers, Louise, sent me two additional suggestions. They are good, and I'd like to share them with you."

  7. Valuable Team Member: When your spouse is able to drive a vehicle off-road by herself she becomes an important member of a team that may be assembled to aid another driver. Consider this situation: You and your wife are sharing driving. Another driver is solo, gets injured and is unable to drive his vehicle; he might even need to be removed from the scene for medical care. Because your travel companion knows how to drive off road, one of you can take charge of the injured person’s vehicle while the other continues to drive your vehicle.


  8. Keeper of the Extra Keys! Regardless of who you are travelling with and whether or not they have learned how to drive off-road you should each have a set of keys to the vehicle. While you lock the vehicle to keep all your stuff safe it also inconveniences your travel companion to access their belongings. They may need access to the vehicle at any time for a comfort item, to get out of the weather, extra clothing, water, food or medical/emergency supplies for you or someone else. With their own set of keys for the duration of the trip they can freely do this without the inconvenience of having to find you each time they want access. Consider this situation: You are away from the vehicle which you have locked. You slip, fall and become injured and need to be removed from the scene for medical treatment. With the one set of keys in your pocket, and you away for medical treatment no one can access your vehicle to drive it for you or for your travel companion to access their own items.
You both now share a new common interest, which can open a world of possibilities for you. Sitting around the house one day wondering what to do? Go off road!

Four wheel driving is more than just learning how to drive the trails. It’s also about enjoying the great outdoors with family. Enrolling your spouse in a 4WD training course builds her skills and confidence, and helps her better enjoy your outdoor adventures together. Sign her up today , and start planning your next off-road adventure.

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Related Articles from Badlands Off-road Adventures

Did you miss the previous articles?
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Recent Calendar Changes & Upcoming Events


Monache Meadows

We have moved the Customer Appreciation Event to September 30, 2012.

Look for a schedule of Getting Started off-Road Driving Clinics in the San Diego area starting in later this year. More next month.

For July we have scheduled:
  • Rocks - 2 dates 7-7 & 7-21 so you can get at least one in before the Rubicon
  • Sand 7-28
  • Winch 7-29
  • Advanced Beginner (aka picking lines) 7-15
  • Getting Started 7-14

August:
  • The BIG trip for August is the Rubicon trail trip. It is only about 5 weeks away - August 13. There is still time to sign up and get in a rock clinic too. Details on the Rubicon Trip
  • There will be a Getting Started Clinic and an Advanced Clinic also.
  • Check out the flyer below on the TDS raffel Jeep
  • See volunteer opportunities at Bickel Open air Museum below
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Wilderness Advanced First Aid Course 2012

We just completed the 2012 Wilderness Advanced First Aid clinic. The feedback from the class was outstanding. The class will be offered again June 7 - 10, 2013. Put in for those 2 vacations days (Friday & Monday) now for next year.
WFA Clinic Example

The Wilderness Advanced First Aid clinic will provide you with skills, knowledge and training to handle life threatening medical emergencies and allows you to be better prepared to protect your family in an emergency. Wilderness Advanced First Aid is a four day immersion into general medical concepts and Basic Life Support skills. This course teaches what to do with a medical emergency when help is miles away and calling 911 isn’t an option. If you plan to become a Wilderness First Responder, this is the first 4 days of the 8 day Wilderness First Response course. You can take the second 4 days at a later time (within 3 years).

" The Wilderness First Aid was one of the MOST USEFULL clinics I have ever attended, due in large part to the effort you and Josh put in to make it all possible. "
Joe de Kehoe

Note - this is a four day class and you must be at least 18 years old. If you are interested follow these links.

More Details...


You can register directly at http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#WAFA
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Rocks Clinic July 21 2012

If you are thinking of doing the Rubicon Trail with us in August, you should sign up now for both the Rock Clinic and the Rubicon Trip. We have scheduled a Rock session in July in advance of the Rubicon trip. BTW you can sign up even if you are not going on the Rubicon.
Rocks Clinic Example

The Class will be in Johnson Valley. This is an introduction to Rock crawling but it is not on "baby" rocks. We take out time and stress careful wheel placement. We use spotters for difficult sections. You learn by inspecting the obstacle and predicting the line; by watching others try their line; by experiencing it yourself; and by the coaching. We recommend you repeat the training several times. You will be much more relaxed the second time over the same obstacles and you will pick up on little details missed the first time. More Details...


You can register directly at http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#Rocks
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TDS Sweepstakes Vehicle

TDS Sweep Stakes

http://TDS4x4.com/jeep/
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Volunteer at the Bickel Camp

Bickel Camp

Friends of last Chance Canyon are looking for additional volunteers to help by camping at the Bickel Camp.

Bickel Camp is a museum in the desert preserved in context with the help of volunteers and the BLM. Located in Last Chance Canyon below famed Burro Schmidt's Tunnel, Bickel Camp is mostly intact because of the help from volunteers. Friends of last Chance Canyon (http://www.tflcc.org) is a non-profit formed to help preserve Bickel Camp and other cabins and artifacts within last Chance Canyon.

Want to spend a week or a weekend in the desert? They are always looking for volunteers to help by camping on site (with or without docent responsibilities). It's fun! And you'll be helping to preserve our California Mining History. There is a motor home on site, a porta-potty and support from volunteers with water and other supplies. Contact Charlie Hattendorf through the website above so you can be scheduled in!

For more information about the Bickel Camp check out Bill Gann's web site.

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Sand Clinic July 28, 2012

Sand Clinic
If you have been waiting for the next Sand Driving Clinic, put it on your calendar for July 28th and sign up now. This day-long clinic will expose you to a variety of driving conditions and levels of difficulty. Driving on sand is challenging and different than dirt, so we’ll progress slowly as you learn the proper techniques. As your confidence grows, you will master increasingly more challenging dunes. Along the way you will be exposed to the beauty of SVRA and the thrill of the windswept dunes. This is a rare opportunity to cruise the only beach in California open to vehicles.
More details...



Register for the Sand Clinic using this link.

http://4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#Sand

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Winch Clinic July 29, 2012


Winch Class Example

This one day clinic starts with the basics. If you are considering installing a powered winch on your vehicle, or have one already but need training to learn how to get the best from it and do it safely, you need to take this class. The one day course covers: safety related issues, basic operation of the winch, simple and complex riggings, stuck assessment, winch capability, and minimizing environmental impact. This is a hands on class. By the end of the day you will be safely rigging some complex recoveries. More Details...


You can register directly at http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#Winch
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Advanced Beginner Clinic July 15


Next month we will run the Advanced beginner again. If you missed it in the past, sign up.
Rocks Clinic Example

The clinic is held in the El Paso Mountains near Mojave CA. The goal is to help you get a "better feel" for tire placement and to visualize the obstacles as they move into your blind zone. You will gain more behind the wheel experience combined with picking lines. The difficulty level is one step higher than the basic class and you can expect some pin striping. More Details...


You can register directly at http://www.4x4training.com/calendar/calendar.php#Basic2
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Getting Started Off-road Driving Clinic July 14, 2012


Getting Started Off-Road Clinic

The clinic is held in Hungry Valley State Vehicle Recreation Area near Gorman CA. This clinic is specifically designed to meet the needs of novice off-highway drivers or someone with a bit of experience who is looking for a more complete understanding. This is a one-day session. The session includes classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. More Details...


You can register directly here
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I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President
Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-613-5473
http://www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
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Want To Use This Article In Your Magazine, E-Zine, Club Newsletter Or Web Site? You are welcome to use it anytime, just be sure to include the following author/copyright information: Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult terrain and adverse driving conditions. Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill.

Copyright 2012, Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Inc.





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