4×4 OFF ROAD DRIVER TRAINING

We provide professional 4×4 off-road driver training to suit people of all abilities and experience, and for all purposes. Rather than adhere to a pre-determined syllabus which may or may not work for you, our training is tailored to meet your individual requirements and address any specific challenges you face.

Whether your engineers require the skills and HSE-compliant certification to drive on project sites, or you want the knowledge, techniques and confidence for a safe and unforgettable overland adventure, we are here to help.

Our Training

Our training experience and the terrain used is as wide-ranging as you might hope it to be, from the Royal Estate at Windsor through to the wadis and sands of the Middle East, and most types of ground in-between. With our senior instructor having full UK security clearance, we’re able to work in sensitive locations too.

We can also help if you need training in more extreme off-road driving. Our instructors trained Charlie Boorman and the production crew of The Long Way Down, the televised off-road adventure with Ewan MacGregor back in 2007, and have since prepared many other drivers for their own challenging overland expeditions around the world.

Who benefits from professional off road training?

  • Anyone who uses a 4×4 vehicle off-road as part of their work duties, and must therefore comply with Health & Safety legislation as well as understand how to safely use their vehicle to best advantage.
  • Recreational 4×4 drivers who want to increase their understanding, skill, safety and enjoyment of using their vehicle off-road; especially if considering an overland adventure, for example.

4×4 Professional Competence Off Road Driving Courses

Intensive, highly practical and hands-on training designed to meet your objectives and comply with Duty of Care obligations for at-work drivers.

  • Duration: Typically 1 day
  • Capacity: Typically 2 drivers

This is a fully customisable course, delivered by Lantra qualified 4×4 trainers, tailored to your precise requirements without needing to follow a prescribed syllabus that may or may not work for you.

The driving principles are the same as for Lantra Awards courses, to equip participants with the skills to remain safe whilst also avoiding damage to vehicles or the ground driven on.

Following an initial theory session to introduce the basics of safe off-road driving, emphasis is on practical skills and typically covers:

  • Recognising and understanding the various types of 4×4 drivetrain; their capabilities and limitations
  • Recognising and understanding the limitations of various tyre designs
  • Preparation of vehicle for driving off-road
  • Assessing the ground to be driven on
  • How, when and why to use transfer gearboxes (and what can go wrong if used incorrectly)
  • How, when and why to use traction aids as fitted to trainees’ vehicles, i.e. differential locks and/or electronic traction control
  • Weight distribution and weight transfer, and how these effect traction
  • Correct use of gears, clutch, throttle, brakes & steering
  • Avoiding transmission wind-up
  • Avoiding damage to the vehicle, and minimising damage to the terrain
  • Principles of off road driving
  • Safe procedures (and what can otherwise go wrong)
  • Decision making & assessment of hazards
  • Negotiating mud and grass fields, where traction may be compromised
  • Optimising ground clearance and route selection; and understanding vehicle design limitations caused by approach, departure and ramp break-over angles
  • Safe operation on rough terrain and steep slopes
  • Crossing deep ruts, ridges, ditches and articulations
  • Climbing and descending hills
  • Failed hill climb recovery techniques (following lack of power, or lack of traction)
  • Traversing side slopes
  • Negotiating water
  • Self-recovery techniques
  • Assisted recovery techniques (theory)
  • Re-joining the highway

These courses provide drivers with the same skills and competence as Lantra 4×4 courses, with additional time allocated to practical training tailored to your specific requirements.

Courses culminate in a practical assessment of each driver, supported by a written appraisal. Successful participants receive a certificate of competence, valid for 3 years, plus detailed Course Notes to support the training.

Training Locations

For truly varied off road terrain, from mild through to extreme and to suit all requirements, we predominantly use Millbrook Proving Ground, near Bedford, which has 100 acres of properly engineered and cultivated off road facilities.

We have a second training location in Yorkshire, in and around a former quarry.

Training can also be delivered on clients’ project sites or other appropriate locations, whether in the UK or overseas.

Vehicles

For direct relevance and maximum benefit, all training is delivered in clients’ vehicles. With various types of 4 wheel drive systems utilised on modern 4×4s (selectable, permanent and auto-engaging) and with each type requiring specific considerations in safe operation, using your own vehicle is ideal for utmost benefit from your 4×4’s technology and traction aids; plus understanding your specific vehicle’s capabilities and limitations.

Prices

Course prices vary depending on the training venue used, so please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

To discover more about the best 4×4 off-road driver training solution for you, call +44 (0) 1953 889 333 or use the button to get in touch by email.
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