Convincing partners to learn to drive a 4wd

[Cap]

My wife isnt really the 'vehicle fanatic' type, not even close. Whilst she like driving the tdi, she has at this stage not taken really any interest (mainly due to time constraints too) in learning the art of 4wd.

I told her that she really needs to know how to use the disco, its controls and what they do. For example, she has NO IDEA about the 'other lever thiggy' - so no idea about high/low and CDL. In fact, she didnt even realise the that wipers had an intermittant setting! :eek:

Shes keen on touring, but is not fussed if theres actual 4wd involved or not - which is the touring bit im interested in. I told her for safety's sake, if I was unable to drive and we were in the bush, she should know what to do.

So how did you encourage/manipulate/threaten/plead your partner to take an interest in 4wd and actually learn to drive one?

Cheers,

Carlos

[Scouse]

So how did you encourage/manipulate/threaten/plead your partner to take an interest in 4wd and actually learn to drive one?

I gave up.
Mrs Scouse now has her own Range Rover so I go off in mine with Little Scouse.


The bonus is that I now have fun 4wding & don't get the 'you're NOT going up there' routine :).

[solmanic]

Go out bush with her and fake a heart attack...:wasntme:

[spudboy]

As per this thread: http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/76069-marital-harmony-got-some-training.html I got my missus to come out on a LR club training day.

She was really good once she got the hang of it and a bit of confidence.

But still, you have to face the fact that for most girls, cars have almost zero fascination :(

[solmanic]

I got my missus to come out on a LR club training day.

She was really good once she got the hang of it and a bit of confidence

X2

Never underestimate the effects of off-road exhilaration and achievement. A safe, learning environment is a good place to start. And just be aware, you may not be the best person to teach her either. Sometimes it is better to let a total stranger (ie. someone she is not used to arguing with) do the instructing. ;)

[Cap]

Yeah I figured that maybe I am not the best person for the job. Need to look into this further, as mentioned, a 4wd course perhaps?

[olbod]

Tell her that it's proberly just as well, because being a female, there is
no way that she could learn to drive a 4x4 !!!

Then duck and remember the Golden Rule : BE STRONG AND DO AS YOUR TOLD.

[Chops]

Well, I read the other forum and had a good laugh,,, (being divorced twice over,, I think I have a really goooooood sense of humour,, :eek: )

It is a rather serious problem though,, we do dumb things when we go out sometimes, :angel: and the need to have another driver is paramount I think,,

That said,, let them, or get them to learn,,, but then tell them to stay away from the drivers seat,,, it'll be mine all mine,,,:Rolling:

Heres one reason why they need to learn. This happened to a mate of mine up in Wanangatta,,, Fortuneatly we had a spare bloke to drive his car out, but he had never driven a 4x4 before,,,(he now has one,,:D )

And remember,,, 000 works anywhere, any time,,,(thanks for the save guys)

[yyeessno]

jeepers! What happened there, chops?

[Chops]

jeepers! What happened there, chops?

In the morning he tried to get the fire started while we were out getting more wood,,,(we rocked up after 4am straight from work, so time to sleep at that point, :eek: )

He grabbed the wrong can, Petrol instead of Diesel, and it blew up in his face basically,, He didnt feel any heat from the embers of the previous nights fire, and woompo,,:rulez::firedevil::bangin::nazibanned:

Accidents happen,,,this guy is even with the SES,,,:confused: WTF,,,

So the theory behind all this, is,, it is good to have your loved ones being able to drive, and take control of a sometimes bad situation,,,,with all guys trips,,there are usually passengers that can help, but when your out there as a couple,,,she may have to do it,,,

[Cap]

Thats exactly what im thinking Chops, thanks for the post.

[Rudolf]

Go out bush with her and fake a heart attack...:wasntme:

Wont work with my wife.
She's a nurse that Knows CPR quite well.
She will have me up and going in no time.:angel:

[isuzurover]

Carlos - sounds similar to my wife when we first met. Not interested in cars/vehicles/landies, but loved camping and the outdoors. Loved touring, but was a bit scared in the serious stuff.

She learnt to drive the 110, and the IIA on road (despite the lack of power steering) - and now really enjoys driving them. She also likes the extra cred she gets at work from the old crusty bosses by driving a 1968 x-mil landrover ;)

Her first drive offroad (many years ago), I stopped the IIA in 1st low on a downward facing hill with the rear locker engaged (with a reasonably uphill climb, etc in front). changed drivers, took the handbrake off, and told her to take her feet off everything, turn the key, and hold the steering wheel straight. The landie crawled down the hill, through the washouts at the bottom, and up the other side with ease.

Once she had confidence in the capabilities of the vehicle, she was a lot better.

These days she is quite a good driver offroad, (and knows what ALL 3 levers do on the IIA) but still prefers if I drive. Which doesn't bother me ;)

[Chucaro]

After 41 years married perhaps I have the luck of convincing her to learn to use the EPIRB :angel:

[waynep]

Get into a 4WD club and go on a few trips with them. ( preferably mild family type ones to start)
She'll like the social aspect, talking to other women etc, and the impression that there's some experts there, she'll see other women enjoying the offoad stuff and may get the 4Wd bug too.

Worked for me anyway.

[alien]

Took SHWBO out in the old maveric, yes i've seen the light:D(bloods turned green:p).
First hill decent on her own was 1st gear and neutral in the transfer box, her comments "gee that was quick":spudnikwhat:.
She now wants to learn how to drive a real 4x4:whistling:.

Mates wife won't drive either, she's been told to do all river crossing checks as he might roll his ankle;)

Cheers.

[TheLowRanger]

Have always talked to the mrs about learning to drive the 4wd, but she was never very keen at all. Until about 15 months ago when I shattered my wrist up at Cape Leveque and, although she didn't drive me in to Broome (friends we were with did the driving), she did have to drive back up there to get all our camping gear. On the way up she had some of our friends in the car, but on the way back down it was just her and the 2 little fellas. Hence to say she is now a little more curious about how all the 4wd systems work in different scenarios.

[Cap]

Mates wife won't drive either, she's been told to do all river crossing checks as he might roll his ankle;)

LOL, thats a good way to do it, tell her "drive" or get out and get your feet muddy/wet :)

Its a hard one for me as she doesnt understand the 4wd bit. Enjoys the 4wd if it leads to a place of interest... but 4wd for the sake she wont come.

It will take time, but she has already mentioned that she will learn, although it may be summer before she actually starts.

[scarry]

Enjoys the 4wd if it leads to a place of interest... but 4wd for the sake she wont come.



X2
My wife is the same.The Disco is her daily driver as i have the work van,so she is confident & familiar with it.She has actually done a fare bit of 4wding,& beach work,but one thing that really scares her are dirt roads.She hates the way the car slides,if your not careful.I recon its great,so i get to drive.

As for going for a play in the mud,well there's no hope of getting her to come.

As for going through a creek bonnet depth to get somewhere,no problem,she will drive through,while i take the pics,& get wet walking through first....

[markyc]

My good lady will drive the Fender but not on her own as it's a bit bigger than her excel and she needs help when parking. Wait until she gets her first wave, that'll change everything!

[Landy Lady]

Sorry guys but there are some of us out there that are addicted:D Hubby let me drive his patrol a couple of times and didnt like sharing too much so I bought myself my own 4wd. It now costs us a fortune when we go to 4wd parks but it is soooooo worth it.

Jodie

[JDNSW]

My wife never blinked, just drove the 2a when necessary when we got it - only needed about two lessons on double declutching, and of course drove the 110 as a matter of course when we got it.

Only problem was that as her health deteriorated she could not lift a wheel when she had a flat when by herself, and finally had to give up driving the 2a when she got too weak for no P/S.

My sister (much older than I am) has no problems driving either vehicle (she thinks the 2a is too hard to get into with her replacement hip, and thinks the 110 is too noisy as well as hard to get into, but drives her son's Hilux without comment, but prefers not to drive tractors), I don't know what the problem is!

John

[steveG]

After I joined the LROCV I booked both of us into the basic driver training (without asking her first).
We did the theory night, then on the day when we arrived at the training site I got the "no way - I'm not going up there" comment as we drove along the access road.
There were a few other ladies on the same course, and by the end of the day they had all driven every section.

We went to a club trials day recently. She wasn't going to drive but decided to have go when we got there, and was most peaved that we had to leave early and she ended up with a poor result despite doing VERY well on the first couple of courses (we scored max points for the ones we missed).

To me the key is to get into a training situation where there are other women with the same skill level and a trainer/instructor that's not yourself.

Steve

[Chops]

My good lady will drive the Fender but not on her own as it's a bit bigger than her excel and she needs help when parking. Wait until she gets her first wave, that'll change everything!

hehe,,,theres a little job for a few of us,,,have to line up a drive-by one day and blitz her with waves,,lol

:cool:

[willem]

I'm not having any problems getting my wife to drive the P38a! She a very good driver and has driven my Rangies since I started with them about 6 or 7 years ago.

Willem

[Randylandy]

When my girl and I first met 3 years ago she had never been in a 4x4 and was quite horrified if I even left the seal.

These days I have to hide the keys (and my latest 4x4 mags) as she will go off mud plugging and camping by herself when I'm away working.

Last week I was working in Narrogin WA not far from where we live and she came up for the weekend. When I got back from work she was all bubbly and buzzing and procedded to tell me how she just went out and flew a glider that afternoon. If you knew my girl you will know how far out her shell she has come out of her comfort zone and I am so proud of her but I think I have created a monster:twisted:.

The method I used was to include her in every thing and have a vehicle she is comfortable in. We have a jeep wrangler and a D1 disco both automatic. Also joining a club and going with others builds confidence and the most important thing of all have fun.

[clean32]

i flunked it,

we were camping beside a farm, the lady of the estate drove over in a S3 tray back and offered tea and scones and time for the young one to chase the chickens around, ( really nice salt of the earth types)

any way, Lady and SWMBO pack up the young one head off in the S3 to look at some Lambs, 3 hours latter they return with SWMBO behind the wheel. had problems getting her out from that seat ever since. but she has become a much better driver for it.