rruff
Explorer
4wd isn't the issue then. Seems like just charging people who need a tow would solve this... ?
NPS fines AWD owners…
- Thread starter redthies
- Start date
Mts2Snd
New member
It's still an issue. AWD is not locking 4x4. Subies and Audis have a great AWD, but they don't cut it when you get into trouble, especially for a novice. My 2 cents. If I had it my way, required training would be a thing. Training is everything, people can be safer with the knowledge. I off road often to get to fishing spots, have not been stuck in 20 years. People are simply thoughtless or arrogant and they get stuck.
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NevadaLover
Forking Icehole
So your thought is "required training" to own an AWD vehicle??
You can't regulate stupid, all the "training" in the world will not fix stupid.
Humans will be humans no matter what, another expense for potential owners who will never use their AWD like that may make their purchase out of reach, they may need an AWD to get home in adverse weather and not to offroad, one thing I can never advocate is punishing all users because of a small minority of stupid users.
I understand your frustrations in this matter but honestly I feel that severely punishing the morons who do these stupid acts is more likely to reduce the stupidity.
rruff
Explorer
You mentioned sand though. I've driven in sand probably over 1,000 times with a RWD open diff... and if I got stuck, an air down was always enough to get out on my own.
I like the low range and 4wd, but my current truck doesn't have any lockers either.
It does seem like making them pay for the tow should be a sufficient deterrent, and it lets people be responsible for themselves instead dictating specific hardware. Plenty of people can get in trouble with 4wd also, I'm sure.
NevadaLover
Forking Icehole
Not just pay for the tow, a hefty fine should go along with the tow charge, a stupid act requires stupid punishment!
Mts2Snd
New member
No, I don't think AWD belongs on the trails, and believe all with 4x4 should have training to use the trails. Combined with fines this would be an ideal way to approach the issue. However, I am in no position to make any of that happen. Not enough people care, and there is no budget at NPS for major enforcement. So the situation is likely to remain the same.
Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
Sure, training can be great!
It’s not solely the training that’s the problem though. Then you would also need credentialing and permitting.
Train persons- be able to show they have competency- allow/permit them to go the place and do the thing, and the monitoring.
I am not big on blanket policies either. Its not something that will happen here for a number of reasons, and they all can be tied to $.
I am all for big fines, and tow bills.
It’s not solely the training that’s the problem though. Then you would also need credentialing and permitting.
Train persons- be able to show they have competency- allow/permit them to go the place and do the thing, and the monitoring.
I am not big on blanket policies either. Its not something that will happen here for a number of reasons, and they all can be tied to $.
I am all for big fines, and tow bills.
So, you think we need an off-road driver's license or an endorsement?
Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
Nope, I don’t see it as a sustainable to viable option here. The points above were just to show the complexities that would have to go into it.
Should folks get, take or be educated, sure!