How to drive in a 4X4 Convoy
Written by Robert Pepper
Offroad travelling is best done in groups for safety and fun , and that means driving with other people . This is known as a convoy . Every trip leader has their own style , so this isn ’ t prescriptive . But it does serve as a guide with a few simple things to consider so everything runs smoothly .
The first suggestion is keeping the group together . There ’ s two methods for keeping the group together :
� Check behind – At every corner each person checks the car behind has positively seen them turn . This may involve waiting . If everyone does this then nobody gets lost .
� Second to last – At each corner the car behind the leader stops , everyone overtakes him and the car takes up the rear of the convoy , or sometimes becomes the penultimate car because of a fixed Tail End Charlie .
The “ check behind ” method is by far the most popular , but second to last can make for a nice variation .
Then there ’ s just a few things to remember : Do
� Use some form of radio for inter-car communication . � Wait for the person behind at junctions if that ’ s the convoy process chosen . It ’ s your responsibility to do so .
Forget the guy in front , he should wait for you .
�
�
�
�
�
Inform the leader if you wish to stop . Particularly on any high-speed sections . It doesn ’ t take long for the convoy to disappear out of sight . Put your ego away . Every so often you make mistakes . I still to this day regularly forget that the person behind may be slower and thus don ’ t mark junctions for them . Don ’ t try and hide it . Run your headlights on low beam . You ’ re far , far more visible to others in dusty conditions Try and synchronise fuel , toilet and other stops with the rest of the convoy . Be on time when everyone is trying to leave . Keeping others waiting is rude , and then just before you come back someone decides to dash to the toilet , someone else sees that and before you know it everyone is out of the car and needs herding again before the convoy can move off . If dusty , put the aircon on recycle and turn the fan up . This helps prevent dust ingress . If you stop while heading downwind let the dust disperse before you open the door and ruin all that hard work .
Do Not �
�
Follow too close . I address this to all males , especially those less than 30 years old . I think the reason they attempt to slipstream the car in front is to demonstrate how fast they could drive given the chance , or their car control skill . Well , nobody ’ s impressed so cut it out as you just look like a complete gonad . The correct distance is at least two seconds outside the dust cloud , and sufficiently far back that you can focus on , and see the track in front without worrying about whether the guy in front is braking . Sometimes that ’ s as much as 30 seconds behind the car in front , and sometimes you need to come to a complete halt to let the dust settle . Hog the radio . Personally , I love banter and chatter on the radio in a convoy and encourage it on my trips . But sometimes things get serious and the airwaves need to be cleared . Even if you ’ re chatting , a long monologue means others can ’ t get in . There ’ s an art to chatting on the CB , and that includes airing your laugh if you find something funny as otherwise the joker thinks things have fallen flat ! However , some trip leaders are very much focused on using the radio for essentials only . Each to their own , but I reckon that ’ s booooring .