4x4 response groups uk

[dazza]

[th4neuk]

Cheers Daz really looking forward to it.

Had the joy of pulling an ML out of a ditch on friday night near Swanland vet. £40k merc versus old fronty. Fronty wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

Alan

[richardshall]

I would like to join the response group but im not sure if ive got enough experience, do you have to go on any courses ect and if so who pays for them. Also do you have to have any special kit. Ive noticed that there is one around Worcester area but im not sure if theres one by me (around Birmingham / Sandwell)
if anyone has any info it would be appreciated.
Thanks
Rich

[th4neuk]

The stuff they have said is all on the website (follow the link in Dazza post.

It seems you only need basic kit and a willingness to help to start off with. Reading the stuff on the site training courses are run and some seem to be free and others you pay for? Guess it depends where they are run.

Dunno how often you are called out but seems a worthwhile cause.

And £10 per year is bugger all really!

[yaki]

One of the guys from the 4x4 Response Wales Gwent group drove up to help out the North Yorks & Lincs 4x4 Response gang as we have been fairly quiet.

Kit list for most of the groups is fairly basic and if you go laning you should already have most of it. When I joined 4x4 Response Wales I needed to buy a compass and paper OS maps for the Gwent area, the rest I already had.

Training costs do vary, in Wales we try to do as much as possible for free, if we have to pay it is only to cover the cost of the event as there is usually site fees etc to pay.

Above all a willingness to help is what is required

[richardshall]

Ive just had a look at the hereford 4x4 response website, looks good. The picture on there is all Land Rovers.. Need to get some frontys in there lol
http://www.herefordshire4x4response.org.uk/

[gregster]

I went to one of the SouthEast 4x4 Response Group meets earlier this year and gotta say I was pretty impressed with their organisation and their members...

I would have probably joined if it hadnt been for one of their members that I couldnt be trusted not to maim....

Good bunch though other than that and seem to keep busy doing stuff when it snows and floods...and they get paid a mileage allowance which helps towards the running cost of the truck

I still have an issue with providing councils that waste millions, with a cheap alternative to properly equipping the emergency services, and the idea of chaufferring surgeons around who earn £100K+ a year cos they choose to live in remote mansions, buy silly cars and pretend 4x4's with no consideration for the fact it might snow!
I just kinda begrudge using my 4x4 that I sometimes struggle to keep on the road, to help people like that choose to spend more on golf club membership than the purchase cost and running cost of our trucks, when they could easily have a sensible car for when it gets bad...

That being said a lot of good gets done by 4x4 response, and they are everyone's no.1 when it snows...until it thaws then everyone goes back to be being the spawn of the devil who are solely responsible for global warming and everything bad in the world....as are all us 4x4 owners!

Its just in my opinion that 4x4 response shouldnt really be needed if people looked out for their neighbours and maybe people stopped sl4gging off 4x4's and realised that having one if they lived somewhere remote would be a good plan...

However that wont happen...cos people in the main jut look out for themselves these days sadly...so its probably a good thing that 4x4 response is there to get meals on wheels out, ferry the surgeons and nurses around and fill that void..

[richardshall]

[bushwacker]

hi ya well said that man, my wife works for the local NHS trust, and as you say the cars them consultants drive, no good for snow and ice, last year an ambulance got stuck on a hill in the snow, in an emergency i offerd to give it a tow ,the driver said thanks but no thanks as i was not regesterd to do so, RED TAPE KILLS .........pete

[yaki]

[yaki]

[richardshall]

[richardshall]

Does anyone know if there is a 4x4 response group closer to Dudley / Birmingham area other than the Worcester group.
I dont mind travelling to help at all, just wondered if i would be going to a group further away rather than one more local
Thanks
Rich

[gregster]

try the link below rich, I think that is the uptodate list of groups,
http://www.4x4response.info/?pid=map

[gregster]

actually this link is better...[url]

http://www.4x4response.info/?pid=groupregister[/url]

[richardshall]

[Road Hog]

Pssssssssssssttttttttttttttttt ............. http://westmids4x4response.co.uk/forum/index.php ...