How would you rate your wheeling expertise?

[blown4runner]

I was thinking and became curious to know how people rate themselves as far all around capabilities off road. I've noticed that you meet people who think they wheel better than they can and people who underestimate their wheeling skills. I was just curious how the majority of people on here see themselves. These are my guild lines as they may vary slightly depending on wheeling type and terrain. I tried to cover the entire spectrum...

n00b - gets excited when the tires touch dirt, carries no tools or spare parts, has little to no mechanical experience (ie: can't change CV axle). Does not carry emergency kits, supplies or recovery gear for in unexpected trouble (including extra water and blankets).

novice - has a general understanding of basic wheeling concepts (ie: how to pick a line). Carries minimal tools and spare parts, has basic mechanical knowledge (can fix the basic common failure components) and carries some type of emergency kit/supplies/recovery gear. Requires being spotted on most obstacles. Knows about groups such as the Blue Ribbon Coalition and local foundations that fight to keep our public lands open to the public.

intermediate - has a pretty good understanding of their own vehicle's limits and capabilities, can pick a line and successfully complete it, needs minimal spotting. Carries a wide variety of spare parts and the tools required to fix failures both common and unique to their rig. Carries emergency kits/supplies/recovery gear to cover several extra unexpected days/nights out on the trail. Knows about groups such as the Blue Ribbon Coalition and local foundations that fight to keep our public lands open to the public, participates in at least one work weekend, cleanup, etc to better the trails each year.

expert - has full understanding of rig's limits and capabilities (ie: the rig's roll over point), always picks correct lines, does not need a spotter in most cases. Carries a wide variety of spare parts and the tools (including welders and other uncommon trail tools) required to fix failures both common and unique to their rig. Carries emergency kits/supplies/recovery gear to cover several extra unexpected days/nights out on the trail. Knows about groups such as the Blue Ribbon Coalition and local foundations that fight to keep our public lands open to the public and is a member of at least one. Participates in at least one work weekend, cleanup, etc to better the trails each year and is aware and participates in current affairs associated with trail closures.

pro - has all the criteria for expert skill rating plus given the opportunity and funds to get a foot in the door you think you could take on the best on the pro circuit

[Mr Tacomi]

I do O.K., much better at the end of the season than the beginning, which tells me I need to get out more! Kinda the same as I am at skiing... always decent enough to get down whatever is in front of me, but if I practiced more often, I'm sure I'd be cutting moguls like a pro...

[DavidTaylor9]

Its kinda rock crawling specific but i translated it to desert. And i do pretty damn good in the VW Manx that my uncle cant do in his jeep rubi in 4x4.

[GatorTaco]

I voted Noob, just because I havent been many times, and when I have it's still Florida wheelin, which usually isn't much. BUT, I will always have a set of tools, jacks, tow straps, etc. on me, and knowledge enough to always be able to get myself home. Though this past week I went out twice bymyself and got stuck both times, and both times were between 3 and 5 oclock in the morning lol.

I guess if I would have read your descriptions earlier, I would say novice-intermediate.

[swanky868]

I would probably say I'm more in the middle of novice and intermediate.

[WallyP226]

Good question for discussion.

There is some latitude for interpretation in each of the categories.

I believe I fit in the intermediate category pretty well.

I carry a fair amount of tools, spare bolts, and parts, for a nearly stock truck. Mostly because I often go solo with the family and I want to reduce my risk of getting stuck. It would be fair to say that I rarily get surprised or get in over my head.


Well aware that I really have no business on extreme stuff by myself with a relativly stock truck.

Wally

[ShowStop]

I voted intermediate. I'm usually really good at picking lines and spotting for others. I know the limits of my vehicle, although I often choose not to push it all the way to the limit. I'm usually well prepared with supplies and tools, but don't carry too many spare parts. I've got plenty more to learn from the SAS and rock buggy crowd, but I don't wheel with those people too often to be able to learn more.

[SAR_Squid79]

For the level of trails that I'm used to, I would say that I'm part Intermediate, part Expert...

I would be comfortable being a trail leader on just about any trail I've ever done. I'm pretty good at knowing where my truck can go and where it can't. I would need almost no spotting, and usually spot pretty well for others. I would say that I am more than intermediate with recovery knowlege. I could probably fix just about anything on an IFS rig that didn't need welding.

BUT - on the Rubicon, or Dusy, or Fordyce, or the Hammers - I would be outside my comfort zone, and probably be more of a Novice. The hardest (most technical) trail I've ever done is Moab Rim. I'm a very conservative wheeler by nature, and in extreme terrain like the trails I listed above, I would probably want a spotter pretty often, and I'd probably need to follow others' lines. But even there, I could fix my own rig (if it didn't need welding), and recover myself and others.

[keepitonall4s]

Here in Ok we have a little of everything. You could be wheelin through the mud and then have to navigate some rocks. Most of my expertise is in the mud and in that sense i would say i am near expert. but on the rocks i am closer to novice.

[Rodge]

I feel I'm between Novice and Intermidiate. I have no mechanical knowledge but I don't need to be spotted over most obstacles. I'm learning the mechanics though. Luckily for me I have someone that was nice enough to step up and be my mentor, and I'm a quick learner.

I need to learn though, because when my rig breaks I need to fix it!

[itsmeagain5789]

novice maybe intermediate, im pretty mechanical, and if i cant do it, i'll figure out how. i carry most of the necesary recovery stuff. i do prefer to be spotted over some obstacles.

[Taco4Takoma]

I was thinking novice at first. I do carry recovery gear, and emergency things. But, until I BREAK things on the trail. I will consider myself a noob.

[04trdtaco]

i voted intermediate i need spotted sometimes but i carry tools, straps, emergency things. and if i break it i fix it.

[JOEPRUNC]

I'm a noobie...especially after last week out at Fordyce. I went with my buddie and we didn't have SH!T in his truck not even a damb spare or jack?!?!? Never doing that again!!

But when I'm in my truck have atleast water/food (the girl gets grumpy without food), FirstAid, tools, and some recovery gear...no spare parts though. I did quite a bit of mud and sand in my old Silverado so I'd say I'm probably novice there.

Rocks I'm a Noob for sure.

Fireroads I'm a bloody expert .................did I just write that???
I think work is getting to me today.

So overall I'd still say I have a lot of learning to do. Still a

[Wes]

You forgot a class:

Retard: Always knows the right line to take but always gets distracted and misses it.

[Trail Gator]

Somewhere inbetween n00b and novice. I can pick a line fairly well but don't have much in the way of recovery gear/emergency gear or a lot of tech. But thats why I'm here so it works out I guess.

[briansc33]

Nic, you forgot one choice...... Degenerate!

Has all the criteria of expert, but... Sometimes have been known to flounder like a noob, drinks like a fish, known to roll their junk for fun, alcohol tolerance of an elephant, willing to travel thousands of miles just to 'wheel for a couple days or less, willing to drop everything but family (work etc,) to go 'wheelin at the drop of a hat, and has also been spotted wearing womens lingerie

[LarryS]

You forgot

Smokes like a chiminy
Has survived days on Red Bull and jerky

[blown4runner]

I would say there is probably a heavy rock crawling influence in the description, but that is what I am most familiar with. I tried to leave the descriptions vague enough so that they could be used for other variations of off roading types.

As for running some of the hardest trails in the country, that was not necessarily my goal. There are plenty of people who enjoy being at 3" with IFS and go damn good at the trails they run. Hell, every year I've run the Rubicon there has been at least one guy who runs it in an mildly modified IFS rig all the way through. Goes back to the whole phrase '90% driver 10% rig'. I also included recovery gear, supplies and at least a basic emergency kit because I believe being self sufficient on the trail is a huge issue that many people aren't aware of. Most of us never use these things, and if we do they are to help someone else... but never the less they are important things to have.

Originally Posted by briansc33

Nic, you forgot one choice...... Degenerate!

Has all the criteria of expert, but... Sometimes have been known to flounder like a noob, drinks like a fish, known to roll their junk for fun, alcohol tolerance of an elephant, willing to travel thousands of miles just to 'wheel for a couple days or less, willing to drop everything but family (work etc,) to go 'wheelin at the drop of a hat, and has also been spotted wearing womens lingerie

You guys are definitely a class of your own... I had a blast wheeling with your club not a club If I can take care of a few things, might try to make it down south to run some of the Hammer's trails... I suppose its time to step it up a notch

Actually I have been thinking about this since we got off the Rubicon. I know we had talked about actual experience versus perceived experience and it just had me thinking. You guys are definitely awesome wheelers. And as a whole we had a good group this year, no one needed constant spotting, everyone was prepared and we had very little carnage, the trip went very smoothly compared to other years... and it was rather relieving to be free of unprepared, in over their head asshats (ie: yellow FJ gnomes)

[briansc33]

Originally Posted by Wes

You forgot a class:

Retard: Always knows the right line to take but always gets distracted and misses it.

Good call!! I fall into that class quite often..

Originally Posted by LarryS

You forgot

Smokes like a chiminy
Has survived days on Red Bull and jerky

How could I have been so thoughtless. Let it be known that not any jerky will suffice.. It must be teriyaky!



Seriously though, this is a great topic. It's interesting to see how people rate themselves.... Seeing as there are a lot of webwheelers around lately. So lets here it folks!

[briansc33]

Originally Posted by blown4runner

I also included recovery gear, supplies and at least a basic emergency kit because I believe being self sufficient on the trail is a huge issue that many people aren't aware of. Most of us never use these things, and if we do they are to help someone else... but never the less they are important things to have.



And as a whole we had a good group this year, no one needed constant spotting, everyone was prepared and we had very little carnage, the trip went very smoothly compared to other years... and it was rather relieving to be free of unprepared, in over their head asshats (ie: yellow FJ gnomes)

Being prepared is the #1 rule IMO!

We did have an awesome group! Great bunch of 'wheelers that I would consider most (if not all) 'experts'

[LarryS]

Where does supporting groups such as BRC,FOTR, etc.. fall in to the equation?
I feel that is very important in this discussion as I'm sure most do.

[blown4runner]

Originally Posted by briansc33

Being prepared is the #1 rule IMO!

We did have an awesome group! Great bunch of 'wheelers that I would consider most (if not all) 'experts'

haha... expert. I think I consider myself to be somewhere on the low end of intermediate, as I still have much to learn [insert young grasshopper voice]

Originally Posted by LarryS

Where does supporting groups such as BRC,FOTR, etc.. fall in to the equation?
I feel that is very important in this discussion as I'm sure most do.

shit, crap, whore... I suck. I will edit post. These things are very important... as showing no concern will only lead to no place to wheel. Thanks Larry!

[LarryS]

Troofff

[Taco Eric]

I think I'm intermediate... However, even though I've been Wheelin since I was 16 and I'm now 33. I still get excited when My tires touch the dirt so I guess I'm a noob?

[The Boy]

idk, i put expert on accident, i do know my own limits, my rigs limits, and normally choose the correct route...

do bring tools with me, including some not so ordinary items... but im still intermediate, not old enough for pro or expert...

[TacoDell]

But my rig says... tough luck to that...

Limited to ifs... I think I can say I'm good enough to get 'er done...

so is this a noob move or that of an expert ?



You decide...

If you say noob... it is because...

1. You're a noob...

2. You're like the rest of those girls squealing in the background...

3. You're a pussy...

[sunnyslopetaco]

When it comes to wheeling , u need to use ur head and put down some of those beers. I voted intermediate cause i know the capabilities of my truck and using common sense always gets ya further , if i'm on a trail with others and there is some harder shit that i know my truck can't do i will simply take a bypass . I have seen a many broken down trucks on the trails due to guys thinking too much of their rigs and bam, something always goes wrong. But u also gotta have some juevos to test ur truck , and it's capabilities , trust me my tacoma has surprised me so much . U also have to put in perspective that if someone else is riding wit ya u r responsible for their well being and it's on ur hands, to deliver them jus the way they got there ( on their 2 feet hopefully ) carry all the parts u think ya might need, water , food , tools, straps, emergency kits , clothing , spare tire is always a biggy . Overall have fun and think smart listen to the elders in the group who know what's up , because u never know if that hill might be ur last one!

[ajordan1975]

I would probably say I'm intermediate. I fall right in line w/ that description. However I still get those noob feelings everytime I arive at a park, and i still make mistakes..... I'm human.

[LarryS]

Originally Posted by TacoDell

But my rig says... tough luck to that...

Limited to ifs... I think I can say I'm good enough to get 'er done...

so is this a noob move or that of an expert ?



You decide...

If you say noob... it is because...

1. You're a noob...

2. You're like the rest of those girls squealing in the background...

3. You're a pussy...

I'll say noob because:
The rig wasn't even close to going over and the driver hit the gas to save it and then continued to flail all the way to the bottom. Was that you?