4x4 response

[john656]

I'm thinking of joining but...I'm not the most experianced off road driver, i think i have the basics down but just wondered if this would be a problem/hinderance if i joined, or weather i would be welcomed with open arms. I also appreciate that its not all off road driving but i was just curious about this.
I've had a quick look on their website but not filled any boxes and im asking here first as i know that some of you are members.

Regds

John

[kizz81]

Hello,
im not a member of any simply because when theres extreme weather im normally out in it any way,
my advice would be join up i think they do training courses,
otherwise i would quite happily come out with you and give some tips as im sure many people would

cheers kieran

[lambert]

i was a member for a while and as a social grroup it is brilliant. however i had a nagging doubt in my mind which i can only attribute to concerrns that for all the earstwhile good intentions of those involved it is an ammature voulantry organisation doing jobs of a potentialy life saving level of seriousness and yet the proffesionalism on show somehow left me worried.

[topless matt]

Im a member in the norfolk brance, and we clocked up over 1500 miles during the bad weather this year.
It is not very hard, most of the time you will just be transproting people down roads where they cannot get a car, i think in the last 2 years we have only had one call out where there has been a stuck ambulance and it was on a piece of lawn that they had driven onto in the middle of lowestoft"!

[Disco Matt]

So long as you're happy with a bit of snow and ice (and the odd bit of water) then you'll be fine. Your role will basically be helping user bodies when weather conditions make it impossible for them to carry out their regular duties using their normal vehicles - this could be driving district nurses around because their Fiesta doesn't like snow, or delivering meals on wheels because the van's stuck in the depot.

[Saffy]

I'd still like to know how the organisation weeds out the walts that do it just for the flashing orange light, hi viz jacket, walkie talkie and emergency response stickers on vehicle? Cave rescue, cliff/sea rescue associations, RAYNET etc all get their share of them.

[Disco Matt]

Unrelated (and I understand what you mean), but I've seen the term before - what's a "walt"? Guessing it's short for Walter Mitty?

I think the main way of avoiding them is through the training events. A well-run group will spot them rapidly and then quietly ensure that they're never in a position where they can cause mayhem (easiest way to do this is to send double crews to all shouts and pair them up with one of your most sensible members).

I think the fact that the 4x4R concept is still an up and coming one (as opposed to established groups like Mountain Rescue) probably helps, as there's no instant social cachet from being a member which people like that crave.

[V8MoneyPit]

You inevitably get people joining up that do it for the 'buzz'. But they rarely last the distance.

To address another point raised earlier, the people on call outs are rarely directly involved in life or death situations. The important stuff is dealt with by the emergency services. The 4x4R personnel are there purely in a support role and are directed by the emergency coordinator.

[Lucy1978]

I'm in the Peak team.  It's fairly small at teh moment so not too many people who are doing it just for hte flashing lights etc (incidently non of which are fitted to my vehicles, nor will they be)  You do hear stories of the goings on, on the national forum, I've not bothered registering as there seem to be too many people overestimating tehir own importance and talking of stealth orange strobes behind frond grills and that kind of thing.

Find you local group, go along to a meeting or two and judge them for your self.

[J.D.]

I founded Hants and Berks 4x4 Respomnse nearly three years ago now, and we get our fair share of idiots comign to assessment and training days. They are normally fairly easy to spot. if you get stuck on a training day and can't direct someone in to find you, then enough said.

Havign said that, we do get a lot of genuine people who leave because of the idiots hoorahing everywhere.

[littlepow]

Nearly joined a Norfolk team a few years back - but the sight of 2 110's in full day glo reflective livery with EMERGENCY RESCUE VEHICLE blazened all over it and with more flashing/strobe nights than an  80's disco dance hall. Kind of made me run away quickly. They even seem to go every where wearing reflective road worker style coats with emergency rescue team on the back.

[Saffy]

what's a "walt"? Guessing it's short for Walter Mitty?

The name Walter Mitty and the derivative word "Mittyesque"[5] have entered the English language, denoting an ineffectual person who spends more time in heroic daydreams than paying attention to the real world, or more seriously, one who intentionally attempts to mislead or convince others that he is something that he is not.

There was recent case of some chap who faked a past career in the military as a medical doctor, totally convinced people all around him and managed to get then get married based on that story and gained a position in the TA causing serious harm from dangerous treatment and mis-diagnosis's.

[Disco Matt]

Nearly joined a Norfolk team a few years back - but the sight of 2 110's in full day glo reflective livery with EMERGENCY RESCUE VEHICLE blazened all over it and with more flashing/strobe nights than an  80's disco dance hall. Kind of made me run away quickly. They even seem to go every where wearing reflective road worker style coats with emergency rescue team on the back.

I know that at national level the use of the words "emergency" or "rescue" is discouraged - it isn't what 4x4R is about. Thing is, the national network has no real control over individual groups (nor does it claim to have). They make suggestions for best practice which individual groups are then free to take up or ignore, depending on whether they agree. If that group had decided that they wanted EMERGENCY RESCUE all over their clothing and trucks then that's entirely their own choice - assuming organisations in that area are willing to work with them then they're free to do whatever they want.

It isn't even a requirement to join the national network (although there are benefits in doing so), if you want to set up the Norfolk Rambler Recovery Unit (not sure why you'd want to, but hypothetically! :lol: ) then providing you're properly insured and can talk your way in with organisations who want your help then there's nothing stopping you.

What I'm getting at is that you'll get a wide variety of groups, with the prevailing attitudes usually coming from the handful of founder members who formed the first committee and set the constitution/policies. Have a look at your local one before you decide whether you want to be involved or not.

[Mutz]

Nearly joined a Norfolk team a few years back - but the sight of 2 110's in full day glo reflective livery with EMERGENCY RESCUE VEHICLE blazened all over it and with more flashing/strobe nights than an  80's disco dance hall. Kind of made me run away quickly. They even seem to go every where wearing reflective road worker style coats with emergency rescue team on the back.

I have been a Norfolk 4x4R member for about 7 years, and there was several 110's none of which match your description! I dont recall any reflective stickers on any vehicle in the group & certainly not Emergency Rescue on them. The Hi Viz vests or jackets only have 4x4RESPONSE on them and HI Viz gear is advisable to wear when on any form of exercise including green laning & training. Health and saftey and all that.

Perhaps some other Norfolk members can recall these vehicles?  Can you recall any Topless Matt?

And for the original post, you only have to be competent with your vehicle and only do what you are comfortable doing, no one expects you to go beyond you or your vehicle's limit.

[lee celtic]

I signed up for the 4x4R net a couple of years ago and got no reply but a few hellos.. then the site went down ..

I signed up again and again the site went down.. There semed to be a lot of in house bickering amongst the guys running it as to who was doing / running what so never bothered again..

I just offered my services to the local Doc's surgery instead and have done a few runs for them delivering drugs and o2 during bad weather..

it helps that my misses works there though..lol

[V8MoneyPit]

A couple of points....

Norfolk & Suffolk 4x4 Response was the first formal group that evolved into the national network we now see. As said elsewhere, the words 'Emergency' or 'Rescue' are not used since that is left to the emergency services and would be misleading. The active members are issued with '4x4 Response' vehicle stickers (about 10" long) and a Hi-viz jacket as Mutz describes.

Personally, I have carried Hi-viz vests in the car for years. I think it's an important part of your breakdown kit. Never mind any formal use.

[topless matt]

Agree with steve and mutz.
Never seen any 110s in our group with that livery, we only have 4x4 reponse stickers in orange which are fairly small.

[aaron]

I joined the Norfolk branch and went on some very well executed green lane and driver training days! If my 4x4 hadn't of needed to be replaced by a van i would still be an active member too!

[andycwb]

I'm thinking of joining but...I'm not the most experianced off road driver, i think i have the basics down but just wondered if this would be a problem/hinderance if i joined, or weather i would be welcomed with open arms. I also appreciate that its not all off road driving but i was just curious about this.
I've had a quick look on their website but not filled any boxes and im asking here first as i know that some of you are members.

Regds

John

John, if it's any encouragement, you are the kind of person we (speaking for Hants and Berks, anyway) want in 4x4 response.  We don't need everyone to be expert drivers.   As long as you know what difflock is for and can drive on wet grass without getting stuck you'll definitely be an asset.   

Yes, it does attract the people who think a hi-vis jacket is a fashion statement.   So does any emergency volunteer group the world over.

But if you want to make more of a contribution than towing your neighbours out of a snowdrift, then please sign up and get involved in some of the training days and other events that the groups organise.  The groups do vary around the country - some are 4x4 clubs that happen to do 4x4 response, others (like us) are focussed on the response work.

[john656]

The only reason i was looking into it was because of last winter, floods and snow. I live on the side of the malvern hills and as the second part of the name sugests its hilly almost everywhere. I got out in it and realised there wasnt really anywhere i couldnt get/go so recovering and taking people places wouldnt be a problem. However, as im able to i'd be expected to be in work which is why i am slightly reserved about joining although on the website it did say that it shouldnt be a problem as there are other member that could assist... however ive never seen a 4x4 response sticker in any vehicles around here (i appreciate that they wouldnt all have them).
I am still reading and watching so keep comments comming.

[Mutz]

You would only need to be active in your spare time, no one would expect you to give up work to help out on a voluntary basis.

Check out the National website for a group close to you, or if you already have their address get in touch with them direct, they will be pleased to hear from you.

Graham

[Llanigraham]

John there is a Worcester Group and a Hereford Group, that I'm sure would be grateful for your help.

[mass199]

Yep Hereford group meets at Credenhill, 2nd thursday of the month same time as the Land Rover club, not joined though it's just not my scene.

[M6GKX]

It seems there isn't a West Midlands one that is accessible online at the moment but I guess I should take it carefully for now. I'm in Raynet. I got my radio licence last year and used to do a lot of events with a particular youth organisation, and like radio stuff anyway.

I don't like to have garish stickers all over the car proclaiming such things so having 'temporary' stickers and the like is good for me.  I don't have an amber strobe but was actually intending on getting some suitable LED marker lights for the car so I don't flatten the battery when I leave the LR at the side of the road at night wandering off and taking photographs  :roll: :roll: :-# Not that I've done that before.  :^o

At the moment there are a few events I am planning to goto over the next 6 weeks to get more experience but I don't often get weekends off, work a variety of days and hours but can plan for weeks in advance, if I'm careful.

I, er, I do carry a HiVis vest in the car though, mostly because if I pop into work in the car for any reason when out of uniform I need HiVis to get on/off site 

But for other things, I'll help where I can :o

[Saffy]

I'm in Raynet.

Amateurs can be a funny bunch of social rejects at the best of times, RAYNET appears to be where you can sometimes bag yourself a prime example of a walt   :)
I bet some people are members of RAYNET, 4x4response and X-AREA RESCUE ASSOCIATION (like SARA - Severn Area Rescue) and I wonder what they do when all 3 call at once for their services.  
Tongue in cheek bashing aside... SARA used to get bleepers and good employers where expected to release staff when a shout went out, I'm wondering if 4x4 response members have arranged for such dispensation with their company bosses?

[M6GKX]

I can see your point Saffy but I doubt my bosses would release me. If I have the time and money available for resources I'd volunteer my time but there are a lot of times when this just isn't possible.

I'm not into the HF side yet and I'm still into photography, greenlaning and computers so everything will get a chunk out of my life :D

And it mostly keeps me out of mischief :D :D :D

[andycwb]

I'm in Raynet.

Amateurs can be a funny bunch of social rejects at the best of times, RAYNET appears to be where you can sometimes bag yourself a prime example of a walt   :)
I bet some people are members of RAYNET, 4x4response and X-AREA RESCUE ASSOCIATION (like SARA - Severn Area Rescue) and I wonder what they do when all 3 call at once for their services.  
Tongue in cheek bashing aside... SARA used to get bleepers and good employers where expected to release staff when a shout went out, I'm wondering if 4x4 response members have arranged for such dispensation with their company bosses?

Some regions (Wessex is one) provide a formal letter than can be used to request that you be released if needed.  In my own situation I have a certain amount of flexibility about when I work so I can juggle actual paid work and 4x4 response as needed.  Given that my boss is 3,500 miles away, I can pretty much come and ago - and work from home - as I please anyway.

Being both a member of RAYNET and 4x4 Response could lead to conflicts - I think two's the limit.