Clubs

Dave,

I'm just part of EO.

The site can generate a discount on most items you just have to word it correctly LOL

Cheers Kev

Join a club but don't expect to get along with everyone in it. They are good to do as you say , meet new people go, go places together and the like, but not all will want to do all the things that clubs do, you don't have to go on every run or camping trip but it sure beats going everywhere on your own and you learn about all sorts of places you didn't even know existed.
Cheers.

Hi Dave

Yep I'm in one in Victoria that doesn't do a lot and it would be good if everyone was in a club, even nominally as its numbers that count in the effort to keep the bush resource available and some cost very little.

Robin Miller

I'm in two 4WD clubs and do trips outside the club as well. It can get political however you can generally find a group of like minded people if you look around.

I am a member of the Dubbo 4wd Club.
Our club has an outing most weekends including one or two long trips per year.
There are enough members so that one does not have to go on a trip if it does not suit. The club also has in house Driver Training that equips members with the basic knowledge to ensure a safe and enjoyable outing.
Trips vary from Picnic type outings to heavy 4wd driving. We even have kids days and ladies days among many other types of fun stuff.
Some trips are caravan and camper van friendly as well.
IMHO All in all most who like 4w driving would gain from being in a club.

G'day Dave,
I am in the Nissan Patrol Club of NSW and ACT.
I have done the training and gone to a few meetings but being a shift worker makes it hard to go on trips as they are generally geared towards mon-fri workers, which is fair enough i guess.

i plan to get either more involved soon or find a more localised club.

I have done a couple of loner trips Darling Run and out to Innamincka but find the weekend trips with mates to be more enjoyable with the radio banter and heads ups of upcoming hazards from those in the lead. Some potential benefits of club membership are product discounts, company, access to tracks otherwise forbidden to the common man as you mention in your post.

I spent 10 years in clubs and left 20 years ago, never to return.

Got sick and tired of the bleep heads.

These days most 4x4 clubs consist of a bunch of old farts....reject 4wd-ers of the 70's and 80's....lol.

I do my own thing and take selected friends with me sometimes.

Cheers

g'day dave,
i have been a member of 2 clubs and have enjoyed the experience. most clubs offer what you want in your question as well as driver training, which we can all learn from. as with any club situation sometimes you find great mates, other times people that dont take your fancy but thats life, get out and enjoy. most clubs let you experience before you join so you can generally get the feel.
remember that all clubs have smarties and know all gurus just like this one.

regards peter

I wouldnt bother really. Im in one of the "BIGGEST" in the state, and they struggle to run 1 trip a month for your $100 a year. Save the bux, its enough for food and fuel for a day trip with friends.

I'm in the Albury Wodonga club and have been a member for about 12 years now an dhave had a ball. I would recommend it to anyone to be a part of one.

4x4alburywodonga.com

I'm with Groucho Marx ....I wouldn't want to join any club that would have me as a member.

.

Thanks for all the imput guys, very different opinions!
I guess it does come down to personal choice, what suits and what doesnt.
Im only 33, the missus and a 13 month old rugrat, Does this class me as an Old Fart these days since I post on EO?

Well, out of the 14 members in our little club (Yorke Peninsula 4WD Club), there are 7 EO members. (MuddyDoh, Pesty, Brew69,Lucy, Out'n'about David, AussieChef and me)

We all get along well (even though some of them drive Toyotas).

We were a member of Logan Districts (Brisbane) for quite a while but moved to Mitsubishi a few years ago and most of the members are older than us but thats OK.

I like going on club trips because there are other people to talk to around the campfire and if hubby wants to go off driving with the boys then the girls can relax, read, gossip, etc.

Our membership fees are a pretty good deal as they have a really well stocked library with books, DVDs, maps, etc as well as run social and 4wding trips a couple of times each month to lots of interesting places that I would never know about any other way.

Definately can recommend it but certainly clubs are not for everyone and just like any purchase you need to shop around and fine one with similar ideals to yourself

Depends what you want?

I can't imagine a worse time in the bush than being in a convoy of 12 4WDs all chattering over UHF CB (except "The Leader" may exercise some control there) and going places someone else thinks I should and then sitting around a communal camp fire in the evening whilst discussing GPS' and 4WDs - and, of course, you must do a "Training Course" before they'll allow you to risk their lives due to your bad 4WDing... ah... the freedom of the bush....

Mike Harding

[But that's just me :)]

We're proud members of the Gold Coast 4WD Club.

Wouldn't have it any other way, but it's obviously not for everyone.

Cheers

Brian

Hows it going Dave,

Prevoiusly my Wife and I went 4WDing and camping on our own , had ourselves set up to be self sufficient for a couple of weeks. We decided to go around Oz , we did a 4wd course and upgraded our vehicle and equipment. We had no major problem.

We now have a 15 month old , while he likes camping , after an afternoon 4wd trip from camp we realised that a small mistake that may be an inconvenience normally, could be life threatening for a baby .

I am considering joining a club just so that we can go on trips and not be alone , a big turn around for us. I work for a reasonably large company and have come to realise that you definitely cant get along with everyone . The difference , I hope , is that at least everyone in the club would like the same thing .

On ANZAC Day we went for a day out with some other EO members , this was our first experience at going driving with a group , I think everyone that went had a good time .

As for being young at heart , you just have to pick a good log on name at the beginning !

Regards.

YoungHealthyVirileGLENN