Tips for 4X4 convoy etiquette

[Paul#25]

I found this post on Pat Callinan's 4X4 Adventure website. https://mr4x4.com.au/top-10-tips-for-4x ... ter+%23297

For guys that haven't got any convoy driving experience it gives some new info and for the "old hands" it can be a bit of a refresher.

Top 10 tips for 4X4 convoy etiquette
ByWes Whitworth•January 24, 2020

We often head away on trips, in convoy, with our mates and everyone will usually have a different on how it should work. Here’s everything you need to know about 4X4 convoy etiquette.

Convoy etiquette is one of those things we don’t think about, until we’re in convoy and everyone has their idea on what do to, and it generally goes belly up pretty quickly. Someone’s pulling up for lunch at 11:30 am, you’re not sure who the last vehicle is, you don’t know if it’s left or right at the next turn, you’re climbing a hill with someone’s bullbar just about touching your towbar, and things are getting frustrating quickly.

We thought it was time to lay out some ground rules we’ve been following for years, in the hope that you and your group of mates or club can benefit from a few lessons we’ve had to learn the hard way.

Have a way of communicating
If you can’t chat with those in your group, you’re going to have problems. If you’re taking a new four-wheel driver on a trip, and they’ve not organised comms, or their UHF is on the fritz, it’s best to put them in the middle of the group. So if anything happens, tail-end Charlie can pick them up and radio forward. That is also true for the leader to radio back any oncoming vehicles, and how many. Use comms; it will help keep your group safe.

Have a leader or person-on-point
Generally whoever organises the trip, or has the least vague idea of where you’re heading should probably be the leader. They get to be up the front of the convoy, dictate the speed, and are generally the one with the most responsibility. They’ve got navigation and comms sorted, and it’s someone to blame if you all end up hopelessly lost – this is where the adventure starts.

Have a tail-end Charlie
Tail-end Charlie is the last person in convoy. They’ll need to have comms, and they’re the person the leader can contact to make sure that everyone has turned at the right spot or made it through an obstacle.

Mark your corners
If you come to an intersection, you want to mark your corners. That means that you will want to wait at the corner, until you have the four-wheel-drive behind you in sight, and they see which way you turn. After direction changes, often the leader will go slow until whoever is on tail-end Charlie duties calls up that they have made the turn, allowing the group to close up again after a long run.

Give a bit of room
On harder trails, especially when a climb is involved, give the vehicle in front of you a bit of space. The last thing they’ll need when trying to negotiate a wombat-holed, off-cambered, near-vertical climb is the four-wheel-drive behind them trying to push them up a hill. Especially if they need to reverse back and have another go at an obstacle. It’s easier to reverse one four-wheel-drive down a tight track, than five trying to do it in concert. Synchronised reversing anyone?

Leave a bit of room, too
The above also rings true for water crossings, and muddy holes. It’s better to have one stuck four-wheel-drive than two. Or three. If someone is going to get stuck, it’s easier to recover a vehicle from solid ground; if you’re halfway across a crossing and the vehicle in front gets stuck and stops, this means you too must give up your momentum, and probably get stuck. It also allows you to pick a better line.

Back off
If you’re in a transport stage, and you’re barrelling down the Peninsula Development Road, back off a touch. This keeps your vision clear of dust, and also stops your engine and cab sucking in a gutful of dust from whoever is in front of you. Safety is paramount, and often part of the reason we travel in groups.

Shut the bloody gate
Lead vehicle opens gates, tail-end Charlie shuts them – this shouldn’t be news to anyone. If you travel through a gate or fence line, make sure you leave them how you found them.

Call obstacles and oncoming
Especially so on the PDR and on more remote outback roads, call any obstacles you see. The PDR is notorious for dust holes that usually have a 30cm lip on each end, and run for 20 metres. If you see one, call it out. Same for aggressive causeways and rocks, or in some cases boulders on the road. If you are at the front, and there’s another convoy or even single vehicles heading the other way; announce them – “four oncoming vehicles – last vehicle white Triton” that way, everyone knows the last vehicle oncoming is a white Triton.

Have fun
The most crucial point is to have fun. If we’re in convoy, chances are we’re with mates, or on a tag-along. You’re out touring and exploring this great country of ours, enjoy it. If someone is missing a bit of etiquette with their convoy procedure, when you pull up for a break, have a yarn and talk the ideas through. No one wants to be the one person who upsets the apple cart.

[AndreasR]

A few additions if I may.

Switch lights on when on gravel or off road to increase visibility to vehicle front and back.
Stay in the order that you set out in. Reduces confusion in the convoy.
Leave enough space between vehicles in convoy for faster moving traffic to overtake one vehicle at a time.

[KurtG]

I will also add: when the convoy moves, each driver EFFING moves too.

Too many times have I seen the convoy become kilometers long because certain drivers are unable to listen to an instruction, are scratching their ass or are retarded. It wastes time and causes Manny lots of stress!


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Flex is overrated

[Paul#25]

My introduction to convoy driving was on the Mountain Passes tour. There I saw first hand how excited / stressed Manny gets with convoy driving.
After that experience I'd add that the convoy speed by the leader gets adjusted so that the slowest vehicle / driver gets accommodated. I'm obviously not advocating dawdling along at a walking pace but more taking vehicle limits as well as driver experience into consideration.
We also found out the value of good clear radio communication on that trip.

[KurtG]

Paul, trust me when I say this. If the leader has to adjust speed for the slowest vehicle in the convoy, the convoy would not move. Trust me.

If you don’t “pull” the convoy along (safely of course) nothing happens.


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Flex is overrated

[HenriSteyn]

I agree with Kurt.

One of my experiences was the round trip to the Brewery near Rustenburg at last years AGM.

Some guys simply would not keep up no matter how big the gap got. And nobody up front was really racing at all.

I just had to forget about them and leave them behind.

It is simply courteous to keep the guy in front of you in sight as well as the guy behind you.

[Paul#25]

I do agree with both Kurt and Henri, that is why I said "within reason". I was thinking more along the lines of the leader doing his best "Sarel vd Merwe" rally stage impersonation along a dusty mountain road at a speed that could be dangerous for less experienced drivers.

[AndreasR]

Well said Henri.

Courtesy

Sadly lacking in most convoys.

Be ready to depart at the agreed time.(Convoy Leader to determine and convey to convoy)
When stopping for pee breaks. Women left, men right of vehicles.
When stopping for a break or for lunch the convoy must be informed of length of time stationery. everyone must be ready to leave after the stated time.
If stopping for a reason, eg. deflating. Get it done. Do not stand around chatting. do not get back on the road and then ask the convoy to stop because you did not think you had to deflate but now you do.
If stopping for fuel, fill up. Don't expect the convoy to stop at the next fuel station because you did not fill up at the last one. Besides there may not be fuel at the next one.
Before departure ensure everything is tied down and in its place. Nothing wastes time like stopping to secure stuff or because someone wants to get their lipstick from their handbag which is out of reach.

[Mad Manny]

I think the Great & Glorious 4x4 Action Group does very well with convoys.
A few things to ensure a pleasant convoy;
* A pre-departure briefing is essential, this will, amongst other things;
* Instill discipline
* Remind every one of the 'Keep the vehicle in front & the vehicle behind you, in sight'.
* You must have an ORRA licensed Radio, preferable through the Club - it's the only way.

Our convoy drills worked well @ the Karee Krans 4x4 Trail & on the Namaqua Orange Richterveld trip.
At Groenkloof it was a disaster, but it didn't really matter.

On a multi day overlanding trip I won't take guys who don't have a radio...

Great Thread BTW...

[Nico-MAD]

Just do what I once done ( Sorry it was not intentional, but it happens so quick ) Just leave the okes behind, get kaked out and life goes on.

[KurtG]

Oh we have all been there Nico, don’t you worry


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Flex is overrated

[Bugger]

Andrea's mentioned a few good points thanks

I always try to put an experienced person/Leader 1st then slowest vehicle
Then the least experienced that he have the Ability to view the front vehicles through obstacles and gain experience

[HenriSteyn]

It's a "bugger" if you cant sleep. I just fell asleep at the time you posted....

[Martin de Jager]

Well, you have stated the most obvious,
important: 1) Vehicle serviceability and road worthiness in very important.
2) Tyre's and its condition is important,
3) Buddy system , and don't forget to wait for your buddy.
4) Plan your stops.

[Johannes]

Oh we have all been there Nico, don’t you worry


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Flex is overrated

You should know kurt