Nickname: OGJON

Place you call Home: Newcastle NSW, Australia – in the foot hills of the Watagans

Years Driving Off-Road: 3

How did you get into 4X4’s: I’ve always loved adventure

What was your first 4X4: Softroader X-TRAIL, then a Vitara as my first real 4wd

What’s the best off-road trip you’ve been on: 2 yrs ago took my wife and my sister up to the Flinders for a few days

What’s your dream off-road destination: Going up the cape to the tip of Australia.

What advice would you give a newbie to 4X4ing: Buy a small cheap 4wd, like a Suzuki, easy to maintain cheap to run buckets of fun.

What’s currently in your garage: Wish I had a garage, but I currently have 3 4bys in the driveway. My Terracan, half a Range Rover & half a vitara (it’s a crawler hybrid that I’m working on).

What’s the scariest moment you’ve had off-road: Drove off the side of the track on my first outing with the vitara was balancing on 2 wheels.

From hard core rock crawlers, to tourers, to the average weekender, your 4X4 journey must start somewhere — here are some hints and tips to help get your off roading journey started…

Set yourself a budget around 5 to 10 thousand, it’ll be plenty to get your first 4wd ready to hit the tracks. Then of course decide what you will mainly be driving on eg. Sand, mud/dirt, road. Making this decision is fairly important as it will effect the modifications you’ll want to do to your 4wd.

Once you’ve saved the cash, and determined the environment, it’s time to look for a 4wd. There are a wide variety of 4wd’s to choose from all of which have there good and bad points. You’ll want to get something that will last and have a good reputation as a 4wd — one that will be able to carry all your gear and family members and friends.

Don’t let the excitement get to you, shop around and make sure you look at a number of 4wd. I’d say a least 10. Once you’ve found a 4wd that looks the goods, get a 4wd enthusiast or 4wd mechanic to have a look over it. Note: a 4wd mechanic, not an everyday mechanic, as they’ll know the specific faults and problems that occur with 4wd’s. Once it’s been given the all clear and you’re happy with it, make the purchase.

It’s time now to put your new 4wd into it’s element. Ideally you’d grab a friend with a 4X4 and hit the tracks — even stock vehicles a loads of fun off-road. See what she can do as a stock vehicle, and start to understand what your preferred driving style is. I can pretty much guarantee that your 4X4 is more capable, than you are as a driver when you lock in those front hubs for the first time.

You’ll want your first off-road excursion to be one to remember, so to avoid any ’stuck in the middle of nowhere’ scenarios, I’d take a friend with a 4×4 along or go out for a club meet. They’ll help you get the most from your 4wd and pull you out of a bog if you get carried away (which is easier than you might think)…

Once you’ve gone out for a couple of runs you’ll start to feel a need deep down to improve the off-road performance of your 4wd. It’s then that you’ll know for sure that 4×4 Fever has struck and the real fun is about to begin…

Pretty much the first thing almost everyone does is get some tyres to suit the terrain which you mainly drive on. It can make the world of difference to your 4wd’s capability. There are a wide variety of sizes, styles, and brands on the market. Do your homework, ask lots of questions, and you’ll be over the moon with the performance gains you’ll get from a new set of rubber…

There are literally thousands of other mods you can do your 4wd, so you need to decide what else you’ll need to make your vehicle do everything you want it to. If you use tracks that have big rocks and ruts everywhere you may want a suspension lift to give you more ground clearance. If you often 4wd alone a UHF radio is a very good idea in case you get stuck and are out of mobile phone range. You might also a winch (hand winch or chassis mounted winch) they are a great piece of gear and can pull you out of any sticky situations you may come across (albeit expensive).

Mods or no Mods, with your own off-road chariot, as your skills develop, if you see a track that looks good, or a beautiful remote hideaway, you’ll be able to go there with confidence.

And remember — when the 4X4 Fever bites, it never lets go (although we are working on a cure).

So get down and dirty off the beaten track!

Nickname: Gib

Place you call Home: Perth WA, Australia

Years Driving Off-Road: 2

How did you get into 4X4’s: A mate of mine took me out, the next weekend I bought a fourbie.

What was your first 4X4:Nissan Navara

What’s the best off-road trip you’ve been on:Kalbarri via Lancelin, Wedge and Cervantes, up the Murchison River and back again.

What’s your dream off-road destination: Cape York or an around Australia trip.

What advice would you give a newbie to 4X4ing: Do your research before choosing a 4wd, and learn by getting out there.

What else do you do when not off-road: I study architecture at UWA and design houses for a living.

What’s currently in your garage: My SWB Landcruiser.

What’s the scariest moment you’ve had off-road: Almost rolled it twice and flooded my car in a water crossing.

Nickname: Mav

Place you call Home: Albury NSW, Australia

Years Driving Off-Road: 11

How did you get into 4X4’s: Parents, then friends. I like the outdoors so it was a logical to get to those places.

What was your first 4X4: A Ford Maverick, LWB, 4.2 diesel

What’s the best off-road trip you’ve been on: Victorias Alpine High Country, when we lived in Sydney traveled from Tom Groggin (between Khancoban and Jindibyne) through Omeo, Whyhalla, Wonnangatta and Mt Sterling.

What’s your dream off-road destination: The Cape and Kimberly’s.

What advice would you give a newbie to 4X4ing: Get as much experience as possible before doing any modifications. That way you learn to drive rather than having the assistance of aids. Picking lines and knowing your vehicle and the environment you’ll get most place, even a standard car can be up on the tracks with the big rigs. I’ve been there and done that.

What else do you do when not off-road: Outdoor recreation, abseiling, camping. Picnics anything outdoors or a night a movie and good food, I like to cook.

What’s currently in your garage: A workbench, parts, camping gear and beer fridge.

What’s the scariest moment you’ve had off-road: At the starting line of my first comp waiting to compete. Especially when my parents still owned the vehicle.

Nickname: Tils

Place you call Home: Lilydale, Victoria, Australia

Years Driving Off-Road: 10+

How did you get into 4X4’s: I guess you could say I was born to it. As long as I can remember my parents always had a 4X4 in the garage. We’ve just about traveled to every inch of Australia from Tasmania to the Tip of Queensland. I guess you could say that off-roadings in my blood.

What was your first 4X4: A single cab 1984 Toyota Hilux. And didn’t I give her a thrashing

What’s the best off-road trip you’ve been on: I’d have to say Fraser Island in Queensland. The sand driving and the crystal clear water was simply amazing.

What’s your dream off-road destination: Honestly I’d love to got back to Fraser.

What advice would you give a newbie to 4X4ing: I’d say go and join a club. Immerse yourself with like minded people and you’re sure to have fun. Maybe start out with the odd day trip before you embark on a greater journey and be sure to bring the family with you. It’s also important to ask a lot of questions. There are a lot of amazing people you meet off-road, most of who are more than willing to lend a hand or give you some pointers…

What else do you do when not off-road: I’m a Marking Manager for an on-line media company.

What’s currently in your garage: I’ve got a C4 Corvette as well as my 60 Series Landcruiser

What’s the scariest moment you’ve had off-road: There’s been a few, but I’d have to say when I say my mate in my rear-vision mirror tumbling down a mountain after sliding off the road. Luckily he was alright, the Hilux was a mess though.