Basic Preparation for Off-road Driving

Here are a few basic tips to ensure that everyone is suitably prepared to a minimum standard to undertake greenlaning trips and other activities with NSLRC. The below information is provided to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants.

Basic Equipment

o A working High/Low range gear box with a working Difflock
(If your pride and joy has never been off road, then it is not uncommon that the difflock is seized - Plenty of WD40 usually does the trick)
o Good all terrain or mud terrain pattern tyres
o Proper heavy duty recovery points, front and rear. Jate ings or similar. Standard Land Rover tow and lashing point are not sufficient
o Heavy duty tow rope and D shackes
o Spade or Shovel
o First aid kit
o Waterproofs and spare warm clothes

Greenlaning Code of Conduct

We follow the Green Lane Association (GLASS) Codes of Conduct (available on www.glass-uk.org ) the basics of which are:

o Drive sensibly in the countryside
o Stick to the defined Byway or track
o Be courteous to all other countryside users
o Take ALL your litter home with you

Meeting points

o Please arrive at the meeting point on time, or early, with a sufficient fuel, food and drink for the day ahead.
o Let the trip organiser know ASAP if you can't make it or think you may be late.

Convoy rules

o Keep the driver behind in view at all times, don't worry about the driver in front, they will be following these rules.
o If you can't see the driver behind, stop when it is safe to do so, and wait for them to catch up. In this way any problems will be transmitted to the group leader.
o When you come to a junction where the road or track splits, do not take the turning until the driver behind can see in which direction you travel. This prevents following vehicles getting lost.
o If you get stopped by traffic lights, oncoming traffic or for any other reasons, after other members of the group have passed through, the group leader will be aware of this and will slow or stop the convoy until you and those behind you rejoin.

Basic preparation

If it squeaking, leaking, smoking, rattling or knocking - please fix before the trip
Check the engine oil and coolant levels
Check the windscreen wipers and washers
Check the brake and clutch fluid levels
Check lights
Check tyre condition and pressures
Off road Insurance cover
Breakdown cover

Other useful items

Tool Kit
Bow saw or Chain saw
Pick axe
Tirfor Winch
High lift jack
Sand ladders
Map
Snorkel and raised beathers
CB Radio
GPS and Multimap Software