MEMBER'S of club's

I'm looking at joining a club, got it narrowed down to a choice of three at the moment and will probably join two of them. I've been out with guys from two of them and they are a good bunch of people, very helpful and the training provided and trip look good.
One is The Breakaways, got a couple of mates in it, the other is Yorke Peninsula, which is a bit far away but I know lots of people (EO forumites) who are members.

Some clubs are GREAT..

Some Clubs are absolute CHIT, and all tangled in webs of power, arguing, live by the book 1000%, constitutions and bollox, and just down right crap!

Ive been in the Nissan club in NSW and in Vic, both are very good. The Vic version is more older people than the NSW one. Both run numerous trips of vairying lengths, one even takes a Yota out to roll on trips too.. (sorry TO couldnt help it)..

Go to as many meetings, events, and maybe even a few trips with clubs before deciding to join, you will really get a good feel for them.

Some clubs wont allow you on trips until your a full member though :(

IMHO Clubs rock.

I've been a member of three car clubs - two of them 4WD.

I was president of one 4WD club and am now webmaster for the Sydney Jeep Club and on the committee.

I was Branch Chairman of the Saab Car Club of Australia and National Vice President and on the board.

I've really enjoyed being with like-minded people and am very active on the touring and event fronts. It's fantastic to share opinions and ideas - and there are many other similar attractions for me being with a club.

One thing that peeves me off are people that join a club purely to get a discount at a camping store of accessory outlet - not to mention insurance.

Join for the right reasons (first) and the others are cream.

I'd reccomment it... but that's me. :)

I would have thought: either you're a club type 4WD/bush type person or you're not.

I'm not. I would hate the idea of doing many of my trips into the bush with others, much of the reason I go there is to get away from other people.

Having said that: in a month I shall be heading bush with a few guys I know. We do this once a year or less - they are good trips but there is no leader, there is no "training", there is no formality - just a few mates spending a little time together and it's good - but I don't want to do it too often.

YMMV – there is no right or wrong here.

Mike Harding

I'm in the Toyota Landcrusier Club (Vic) and love it.
700 members and so far all I have traveled or mixed with have been bloody great people.
All age groups and all mix well.

I also go with a few mate's from this Forum and also by myself.
It's all different and it all works for me based on whats happening at the time.
I have done a number of great trips with TLC in the last year and had a ball.
Got a heap set up for the next few months also.

You don't have to do all the club stuff all the time that's up to you, a lot of guys in our club travel together on there own non club sanctioned trips.

I alway have been of the belief that with clubs "You only get out of them what you put in", If you partake in the activities that the club offers then I'm sure you will get a lot out of it.

I'm in a club

Regardless of what is said on this forum, you will have to make up your own mind.

My opinion is that by being a member of a club gives you very cheap training, excellent companionship with people who are doing the same things that you enjoy, idea sharing when on trips, security when in remote areas, access to some areas others can't get, etc, etc.

I hope the info shared by the forum helps you to come to a positive decision.

Geoff.

I am a memeber of the Townsville and District 4WD Club, and I don't mind saying so here. I have to say that I would join a club again no questions asked. Great people, great times, access to fantastic tracks. Yes politics can be a problem in clubs, but hey so can it be in a family. My wife and I travel alone quite a bit, but we definitely enjoy club trips.

You have to accept that people are different, let them be!!! Accept everyone as they are, it isn't such a big deal that not everyone sees the world as you do.

Can't fault club life..I'd do it again

Hi Peter
We are members of the Wagga 4wd Club and they are brilliant. We were a bit iffy at 1st, you know what some clubs can be like. But they made us feel so welcome and we have been on some great trips that you would never go on if you were on your own. I like the saftey in numbers business when you are out 4wding and its good to know that the leaders are experienced at 4wd and know what and not what to do. Our club often holds activity days and training days for the not so expeienced, and that is very helpful. Also like this forum you get some damn good ideas on different things for your 4wd and camping gear. Go along and sit in on a couple of meeting and you will soon know what the club is like. Anything like our club and you will not be dissapointed.
Karen

Peter, I'm a member of the Riverland 4WD Club and I agree with all the positive comments above. Friendly people with like minded interests, better access to their knowledge, fun and a sense of belonging.
We don't have political differences or cliches within the club and we all enjoy what we love doing best.

Big clubs IMHO have heaps of rules, are very political & as numbers on the good trips are limited they are often booked out before they're printed in the newsletter. All the trips will have lots of cars so expect the delays that come with large convoys. On the plus side many big clubs have their own properties & with the wealth of knowlege in the group are great for training. They often tackle many of the big remote area trips or have sections that specialize in winch challenges or the like.
Clubs with under 50 members are more personel & allow you to know everyone. They have smaller trip convoys which you can often book into the week before.
The other option is to go on reader weekends with groups like Ex Oz, Westprint or LCOOL (landcruiser owners online). They have few if any rules & are are great social outings.
I'd recommend joining a group & suggest you ring up the club secretary's and ask what type of driving they do then read their newsletters to see if that club match's what you'd like to do with your 4x4.
The friendships & experiences will last a life time.
Cheers Craig.............
www.lcool.org

Peter,
We've been travelling for 2 years and are heading back to Tas to settle. Can't wait to catch up with the old club again. It's good to do your own touring but is also great to do some trips with others. All the positive comments so far apply for me too. Give it a try.
Cheers
Dougie

Hi Greendog, well I am not in a 4WD club. The closest being 30 mins drive away. The major reason has been touched on above, you get out of a club what you put in. Being as I travel around a lot for work and am away from home on ad-hoc soirees I couldnt commit to being at meetings all the time, nor to club events.

That is one benefit I have found from ExplorOz, we have gatherings here, trips, meeting together at events such as 4WD shows, and if I can get along I do, and if I cant well I don't feel that I am not contributing, as we all can here on this site.

That said, if I were closer and more settled I would be in a club, as said above there are pro's and cons, one major one is the insurance side of things as well as the access to areas closed off to non-club members. The latter one irks me as it implies that non-club members are irresponsible environment wreckers. I accept that club membership can help sort that out sadly.

Training is cheaper thru clubs too but I have undertaken training as well as what I have learnt myself from experienced 4WD'ers and from doing myself.

You make friends however you tackle this, I hjave made some great friends here and have value their friednship, advice, counsel and tisspaking enormously.

Peter
Have been in TLCC (Qld) for many years. Can highly recommend joining a club. Someone reckoned that you should look for one with less than 50 members - can't agree with that. Ours has many more than 50 and we have no problem getting onto trips. The bigger the more varied the trips are likely to be because there's only ever a certain small minority that actually runs trips. Go along to a meeting or two before committing yourself - that will give you an idea of how they operate, how friendly they are, how many trips they run etc.

Peter,

Ive thought about the same as well. Have been to 3 clubs and were all different. One didnt encourage families, all couples with grown up kids, at least they were honest and seemed like decent folks.
The next were a big club, once again they were nice enough but didnt offer the kind off trips I was after.
The third were just a pack of loonies, no interest in helping newies, more interested in selling merchandise, they did have good trips though, pity.
Ill keep sniffing around.
Dean

I think it just depends on the Club.

I was a member of the Local Jeep club , but not currently. great guys , just wasn't working for me. They were more into rock crawling day trips.

Thats OK , I'll look elsewhere. There are a few internet 4wd Clubs coming online.

Hi,
Try the Mount Lofty Rangers.
They meet every month on the second Monday so the next meeting is on the 14 of Feb at the Blackwood Football Club Rooms 7.30 Pm
Great bunch of people.