4x4 101 Training

Trail Hero welcomes you to come and enjoy a unique learning experience with long time off-roaders Jim and Dianne Kitson. This husband/wife team has been off-roading together since 1977, providing them with 45 years of hands-on, real-world experience. As lifetime members of Great Lakes Four Wheel Drive Association and United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and both being UFWDA Chief Awareness Instructors, they have developed their own style of training that gives you the skills to drive off-road in a slow and controlled manner while learning to trust your vehicle, regardless of it being showroom stock, slightly modified or heavily modified. 

In addition to being instructors, they have spent years as trail ride organizers and trail ride leaders.  Jim has been involved in the off-road community as a DNR advocate and user liaison, trainer of DNR staff, and has been involved in multiple ORV park developments from inception to basic trail features to full blown rock courses.

Over the years they have provided classes for private corporate staffs, DNR staff, young teenage drivers, guidance for corporate events, ride a-longs and demonstrations for corporate events, and corporate training for off-road rally events.

Classes are kept small, providing hands on, individualized attention, focusing on your personal skill and comfort level. Starting with the basics, you will progress in skill and confidence, as we advance to more challenging obstacles throughout the day. Classes are offered from beginner to advanced and designed to be fun and informative.

Classes Offered

-       Beginner 1      (4) hours

Our Beginner 1 class is there for the new user with no off-road experience and those with limited off-road knowledge who want to learn the right way to do things.  Each four-hour class starts with a PowerPoint presentation covering what a 4wd vehicle is, how it works, different types of terrain, how to navigate that terrain, spotting terminology and hand signals, recovery do’s and don’ts and general knowledge.  We then head out into the park to work on our skills, starting with the basics and progressing into more challenging terrain. We focus on slow, controlled driving, trusting our traction while we hear and feel our vehicle. By the end of the session, you will be driving off-road with confidence and control.

-       Beginner 2      (4) hours

Our Beginner 2 class is there for returning clients who have completed the Beginner 1 class.  We skip the PowerPoint and dive in, right where we left off from the previous class.  In this class, we try to hone your skills while focusing on your personal 4wd vehicle and it’s features, capabilities and limitations.

-       Intermediate, Advanced and Rock Crawling        (4) hours

We offer intermediate, advanced and dedicated rock crawling classes.  These classes are by appointment only and requires an interview with the client based upon their current skill level and their vehicle capability.

-       Spotting and Recovery        (7) hours (6 hours plus a lunch break)

This SIX (6) hour + ONE (1) hour lunch break, starts with a detailed PowerPoint presentation before going into the field.  The HANDS ON class will focus on working as a team to help each other navigate through intermediate to advanced terrain. Each of the TEN (10) clients will have instruction on how to read the terrain, spot a team mate and drive through a variety of terrain. YOU will be picking the lines, with our guidance. The terrain will be challenging enough that recovery is likely. When this occurs, we will discuss the proper recovery technique for each situation and then implement the plan as a team. A recovery requires a minimum of THREE (3) team mates. The person being recovered, the person doing the recovery and the spotter. Each client will get experience with the complete process. This class is not recommended for stock vehicles and your own recovery gear and tow points front and rear are mandatory. Oversize tires, skid plates, lockers are highly recommended. A winch is not a must, but helpful. Vehicle damage may occur.