Joining the Club – FAQs
To join the Sydney District 4×4 Club you must have a registered 4WD and hold a current driver's license. Before you join, we would strongly recommend you attend one of our General Meetings and get a feel for the club. Most of our members do this, and it is often the deciding factor in joining.
If you are interested in joining, simply complete the Membership Application form on the website. Applications and payments must be received by the 25th of the month in order to be considered and voted on at the next monthly Committee meeting. Please note there are no meetings in January, so any applications submitted after the 25th November will not be reviewed until the February meeting. Committee meetings are generally held on the first Monday of every month. If you are accepted as a new member, a membership pack will be given to you at the next General Meeting, generally held on the third Monday of every month.
Before you drive on any trips higher than a Green Circle rating with Sydney District 4×4 Club, you will need to complete the Sydney District 4×4 Basic Training. The cost of this course is included in the membership fees. This training is held most months and includes a theory session followed by a practical 4WD training day out.
New members are required to pay a one-off joining fee, as well as their membership fee for the current year. The membership fee is prorated each quarter.
JOINING FEE: $150
MEMBERSHIP FEE:
First Quarter: July to September = $100 (Total = $250)
Second Quarter: October to December = $75 (Total = $220)
Third Quarter: January to March = $50 (Total = $200)
Fourth Quarter: April to June = $25 (Total = $175) - Renewal fees will apply from May
Renewal for Existing Members
Membership fees for renewal are broken up as shown below.
Early Bird: 1 May to 30 June = $80 (Early Bird fees may change year to year)
Renewal: 1 July to 31 July = $100
Late Fee + Renewal: 1 August to 31 August = $100 + $30 = $130
Lapsed Membership: From 1 September to 31 May – Each Member’s situation will be assessed by the Committee and a fee determined.
Please contact the Membership Secretary to request the renewal of an elapsed membership.
Payment methods available: Cash / Bank Transfer / PayPal (Details provided upon application)
To join the Sydney District 4×4 Club, you must have a registered 4WD and hold a current driver's license. Generally speaking, a 4WD vehicle is one that has drive to all four wheels, a transfer case (i.e. low range) and higher clearance than a normal sedan. All-wheel drive vehicles (AWD) seldom meet this requirement.
No. A 4WD as it is equipped straight from the manufacturer is sufficient.
Once you join the Club, before attending trips you will be expected to have your own recovery equipment (snatch strap, rated shackles), a UHF radio (not just a hand held) and rated recovery points on your vehicle.
There is no need to rush out and buy the recovery gear or UHF radio. Better to wait until after completing Basic Training with the Club. The club has sponsors that can assist you in getting quality equipment at an affordable price.
Should you become stuck or be required to assist other 4WDs that are stuck, rated recovery points will ensure there is no damage to your vehicle. These are essential safety items that, surprisingly, are not on all 4WDs.
Prior to completing Basic Training, 4WDs must have rated recovery points.
It is generally the case that 4WDs do not come fitted with “rated recovery points”. This is because the strain placed on recovery points depends entirely on the circumstances of each recovery. Hence, 4WD manufacturers are reluctant to describe any attachment point as suitable for use in a recovery.
Attachment points fitted on most vehicles under the body of the vehicle are designed to be “transport” or “tie down” attachment points. Similarly, manufacturers sometimes fit “tow points” and these are designed only for towing.
This means that “rated recovery points” are aftermarket items that are left up to the 4WD owner to have installed (preferably professionally). Note that rated recovery points are needed on the front and rear of your 4WD.
If your 4WD does not have rated recovery points fitted, we suggest you attend a Club General Meeting immediately after joining and seek advice from the trainers before getting them fitted.
This training is essential to us as a club, not only to ensure we have all members at a minimum standard, but to ensure our insurance requirements are met. If you have previously completed 4WD training, the Club may recognise this training, however the club may still recommend a refresher course by completing the Basic Training.
Basic Training is held most months and includes a theory session followed by a practical 4WD training day out.
Not straight away. The Club constitution sets out that new members must be voted in at a Committee meeting. Committee meetings are held on the first Monday of every month except January. Once voted in at the meeting, you will be advised that your membership has been accepted.
After your membership has been accepted, you can then apply to complete your basic training.
Family Membership includes two adults and more than one 4wd (if, for example, both persons own a 4wd). Both people are entitled to complete training within the Club and both are entitled to drive. Once both people are trained, you can swap drivers throughout the trip to maximise your enjoyment of the Club.
However, the membership only allows for one vehicle to be driven on any training event or club trip at a time. If you have more than one 4wd vehicle in your family, you will only be able to use one vehicle per trip or training event.
No. The family membership includes two people only, who are entitled to be trained and drive.
Basic Training is usually conducted every month excluding December/January. Once you have been advised your membership has been accepted, you are entitled to request to be trained. Every effort is made to train our members in a timely fashion. However, in some cases there may be a delay depending on the numbers being trained.
Before you take part in club trips, you will be expected to have your own recovery equipment to go with your rated recovery points (snatch strap, rated shackles) and a UHF radio (handheld or vehicle mounted).
The club offers a comprehensive amount of training, including:
- Basic Training
- Sand Driver Training
- Navigation Training
- Trip Leader Training
- Bush Mechanic Training
- Night Driver Training
- Winch Training
- First Aid Training
Generally, when you want to participate in more challenging trips, longer trips, or you intend to lead trips and/or participate in trips on sand. The membership fees cover almost all the training offered within the Club.
Trips are run by members for members on a voluntary basis. There are no direct fees payable to the club for trips. In saying this, some trips will have expenses such as camping/accommodation fees. Every member is expected to pay their own way.
Because the club is all voluntary, you are welcome to run your own trips within the club once you have sufficient experience. Please see the Trip Convenor to get more information about this.
Your membership is considered a family membership. This means it includes two adult family members and both are entitled to complete the club training. The membership can include more than one 4wd vehicle on your membership. Despite it being a family membership, it still all falls within the same membership number that you will be issued. This means only one vehicle can drive on a trip or training event.
If, for example, you have more than one 4wd vehicle within the family, both family members can complete the Theory component of the Basic Training, but only one person of the family membership can complete the practical component at a time.
Yes. It is highly recommended that both persons in a family membership complete their basic training at least so they can drive on a club trip. This ensures that both parties are able to share the fun in four-wheel driving. Further, should there be an unexpected occurrence where one person in a membership feels unwell, the other person is then equipped with the necessary skills to take over the driving.
It is important to state that only one vehicle within a membership can be on the trip or training event at a time. This generally means that only one person from a membership can drive at one time.
Most training is included in the cost of membership for both the primary and secondary members. Friends/other family members are not entitled to complete this training without joining the Sydney District 4×4 Club.
Training that does incur costs includes the nationally accredited training offered through the Club. As this training is offered at a competitive price, additional club requirements will need to be completed before participating in this training.
If your question hasn’t been answered above, feel free to email our Membership Secretary with your query.
