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A recent wheeling experience left me a little disappointed and I wanted to share some thoughts on etiquette and safety on the trail in general in hopes that it resonates with anyone that doesn't already know the what or why behind these. I'm being intentionally vague about the when and where, because I'm not trying to call anyone out here... if you think this applies to you, then read and give it some thought. If not, then feel free to either add your thoughts on ways we can be safe and friendly on the trail, or just ignore my rambling :)
- When wheeling in a large group, always nominate a lead and a tail gunner, both of whom have CB's that work and understand and fully appreciate the rules of trail safety.
- Regardless of your place in the group, always be sure you know the vehicle behind you is still with the group. If each person watches the one behind them, it creates a chain where everyone can stay together.
- Leave a safe amount of space between Jeeps, even when you're stopped. You never know when something will go wrong and someone will start rolling or sliding backwards
- Be sure the vehicle in front of you has cleared the obstacle before you attempt it. Don't sit at the bottom of a hill while someone is going up, definitely don't start up it until they're clear, and don't start down a hill until the Jeep in front of you is clear of the bottom. One slip or loss of control can be a bad time for both Jeeps involved.
- If you're leading a large group, be aware of the capabilities of everyone in the group. Everyone wants a challenge, but don't take someone who is really nervous or has small kids with them up a 3 diamond trail unless you're sure there is a bypass for the tougher obstacles.
- The trail is no place for impatience. If you're in a rush and can't handle waiting for the people in front of you to clear the obstacles, run with smaller groups, or maybe sell your Jeep and go buy a sport bike so you can go fast.
- Try to pick groups that match your skill level.
And one bonus thing: try to pack out more than you packed in. I've seen a lot of trash on the trails lately. If everyone picks up at least two things that aren't theirs on each trip, the trails will be spotless in no time!
Oh, and don't EVER drink and wheel!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
- When wheeling in a large group, always nominate a lead and a tail gunner, both of whom have CB's that work and understand and fully appreciate the rules of trail safety.
- Regardless of your place in the group, always be sure you know the vehicle behind you is still with the group. If each person watches the one behind them, it creates a chain where everyone can stay together.
- Leave a safe amount of space between Jeeps, even when you're stopped. You never know when something will go wrong and someone will start rolling or sliding backwards
- Be sure the vehicle in front of you has cleared the obstacle before you attempt it. Don't sit at the bottom of a hill while someone is going up, definitely don't start up it until they're clear, and don't start down a hill until the Jeep in front of you is clear of the bottom. One slip or loss of control can be a bad time for both Jeeps involved.
- If you're leading a large group, be aware of the capabilities of everyone in the group. Everyone wants a challenge, but don't take someone who is really nervous or has small kids with them up a 3 diamond trail unless you're sure there is a bypass for the tougher obstacles.
- The trail is no place for impatience. If you're in a rush and can't handle waiting for the people in front of you to clear the obstacles, run with smaller groups, or maybe sell your Jeep and go buy a sport bike so you can go fast.
- Try to pick groups that match your skill level.
And one bonus thing: try to pack out more than you packed in. I've seen a lot of trash on the trails lately. If everyone picks up at least two things that aren't theirs on each trip, the trails will be spotless in no time!
Oh, and don't EVER drink and wheel!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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