Well as a former member of HumberYorks (now Yorkshire/lincs) 4x4Response I can only say that the peeps in the group were a bunch of sorted guys and always had a good laugh when out with them either on a training day or attending rallies as marshalls or helping the local hospice out with it's ladies midnight walk. to evacuating flooded oap residential homes and ferrying plod around. in the floods.

However I was planning on joining the local 4x4response (same one as darmain left) but I got the same impression as him. Seems to be run by a bunch of middleclass snobs. with their noses up their arses.

ratty said:

I went down to a local show last year (the same one as Darmain) and couldn't believe how stuck up the local response members were. One of them even crossed his arms and turned his back on another member of this forum. They all have amber strobes fitted to their vehicles but haven't got a clue when and where they can be used. They were running the offroad course and their ignorance and stupidity really showed. If one of the guys I trained at work did what they were doing (or in many cases NOT doing) they would be in the brown stuff. They had no idea about safety and I wouldn't trust them to operate a tv let alone a landy in adverse weather conditions.

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redhand said:

Well as a former member of HumberYorks (now Yorkshire/lincs) 4x4Response I can only say that the peeps in the group were a bunch of sorted guys and always had a good laugh when out with them either on a training day or attending rallies as marshalls or helping the local hospice out with it's ladies midnight walk. to evacuating flooded oap residential homes and ferrying plod around. in the floods.

However I was planning on joining the local 4x4response (same one as darmain left) but I got the same impression as him. Seems to be run by a bunch of middleclass snobs. with their noses up their arses.

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This is my point. The entry requirements for this group is just to own a 4x4 and a CB. All the other clubs require kitted up vehicals and the know-how of how to use them. I couldn't join one of the other groups as I don't meet the requirements by a mile. This one I could stroll into but I don't see what they can do for me, in return for me doing something for them. That sounds a bit selfish as the whole idea is to help the community but at the end of the day you have to get something out of it yourself. Being a better 4x4 driver was what I was looking for.

Darmain said:

This is my point. The entry requirements for this group is just to own a 4x4 and a CB. All the other clubs require kitted up vehicals and the know-how of how to use them. I couldn't join one of the other groups as I don't meet the requirements by a mile. This one I could stroll into but I don't see what they can do for me, in return for me doing something for them. That sounds a bit selfish as the whole idea is to help the community but at the end of the day you have to get something out of it yourself. Being a better 4x4 driver was what I was looking for.

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Is this the Wessex lot? The arguments on this thread had led me towards the idea of doing a bit for my community - but not if it's for a load of numpties!

How about an alternative West Country 4x4 Response?

DomEllis said:

Is this the Wessex lot? The arguments on this thread had led me towards the idea of doing a bit for my community - but not if it's for a load of numpties!

How about an alternative West Country 4x4 Response?

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Well, it might be Wessex, I do live in the west country after all!!

As far as an alternative group is concerned. I will say this, I would join a group, if I thought it was a good, all round choice. There doesn't seem to be that option at the moment.

but
but
but
dont we have our own "International Rescue", or in the case of the SLUTS - the "Rescue Rangers".

We do, but there is no control center, there is organised link to the emergency services, there is no cost coverage, there is no public liability insurance, there is no. protection for us, legally. And so and and so on......

i think it is understood that if any of us go out it is totally at the risk of the peep we is helping.

if it aint then we dont help. As for costs, its done coz we :love: each other - int it - or is it just coz we like good piccies ?

Yes, we help each other on LZ, but 4x4 response helps anyone that needs it. Different approach.

fanatic said:

I can not see for the life of me why hospitals etc don't have prevision for people to either kip at another staff's house/book them a hotel room or give them an unused bed.

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FFS!!!!

Don't have much awareness of the NHS do you?

It's there when you need it, and that's all that you care about!

Do you really think those of us who live close or on site DON'T offer hospitality to our colleagues??:doh: And that any spare on-call rooms aren't made available to essential staff to ensure the hospital can keep running, or that staff do the jobs of several others to ensure that services are assured????
You haven't a clue!!!

Would YOU be happy to pay more tax so that "hospitals" could pay for these hotel rooms you think the NHS should provide?? The money doesn't come from thin air y'know!!!
As for "give them an unused bed" - WHAT unused beds???? You CLEARLY have NO idea of the extra pressure on bedspace in the NHS that a cold snap brings.

You're all right Jack; I just hope you never need anyones voluntary help!

morning DG

Sean said:

morning DG

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Afternoon Sean

Bloody hell. That was a long read...

I just joined Wessex 4x4 and on call tonight for the first time... Hope the earlier comments were just bad luck on behalf of the people involved.

Thought it was a good idea to give a bit back. Anyway, I'm looking forward to any and all ongoing training. Although they are nothing to do with it themselves, several of the 'Extreme 4x4' employees are members, I did an extreme 4x4 day not long ago in the cut down classic challenge truck they have, I found it great fun and also very useful so hopefully that works it's way back down to the response group that some of the employees are a member of.

stretchie_ said:

Bloody hell. That was a long read...

I just joined Wessex 4x4 and on call tonight for the first time... Hope the earlier comments were just bad luck on behalf of the people involved.

Thought it was a good idea to give a bit back. Anyway, I'm looking forward to any and all ongoing training. Although they are nothing to do with it themselves, several of the 'Extreme 4x4' employees are members, I did an extreme 4x4 day not long ago in the cut down classic challenge truck they have, I found it great fun and also very useful so hopefully that works it's way back down to the response group that some of the employees are a member of.

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So for clarity wot 4x4 response team is dodgy(well upset ratty, darmain n pikey-thats dodgy enuff fo me, i mean if they put up wiv my ****e on here they cant be too bad eh?).It sounds like not all the teams are the same, which is good to hear.

stretchie_ said:

Bloody hell. That was a long read...

I just joined Wessex 4x4 and on call tonight for the first time... Hope the earlier comments were just bad luck on behalf of the people involved.

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Please report back (maybe in a new fred) and let us know how it goes...

stretchie_ said:

I did an extreme 4x4 day

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Where's that to then?

I have not read all this thread but just to highjack it abit,

Why are'nt the Army and or TA mobilised for this situation, they have loads of landrovers, people with the clothing, cold weather training, structure and other equipment to do the job. I think that in the Greater Manchester area there must be 5-10 landrover ambulances sat in TA centres doing sweet FA. While Greater Manchester Ambulance Service has declared a Major Incident. Im not even going to guess how many RMP landrovers and other landrovers are sat unused.

I called my unit to see if we where deploying even volunteers to help, as i would have take the week of work, but there was noone answering the phone.

Anyway, rather than join on of these groups why no join mountian or lowland rescue teams they provide the landrovers, blue lights, some of the kit and training and provde a good service all year round plus you get to use blue lights. Since my local team has been providing 24hour blue light cover going on for three days or more now i think they would welcome the extra personel.

M_O

Just read some more of the thread.

Saying the police cannot use army land rovers is a bit crap to be honest. the army course, know as FAM, can be very short if you know how to drive to an ok standard, I did mine with another soldier in one short day about 5-6 hours if that (was a long time ago) and apart from the theory (about an hour) the course is just driving with an instructor so you can do the job while learning.

I suspect the real reason is the Govenment think if people see a lot of DPM landys running around they well either feel scared (aparently civvys are scared of the army and DPM in general) or think the Government has failed as the Army is seen as a last resort.

Then there is also the question of cost. cost of MRT or 4x4Responce or and other group = £0 cost of army use well one soldier for one day = min £30 although that does get you 24hours (and i think a lot of TA at least would do it for free, i would) add the cost of feeding them and fueling the landrovers and it soon mounts up.

goonarmy said:

So for clarity wot 4x4 response team is dodgy(well upset ratty, darmain n pikey-thats dodgy enuff fo me, i mean if they put up wiv my ****e on here they cant be too bad eh?).It sounds like not all the teams are the same, which is good to hear.

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Right, heres some links to the west country teams. Judge for yourself which are serious and which are, well, not so serious!!

BORG - Bux and Oxon 4x4 Response Group

Wessex 4x4 Response homepage

Devon and cornwall 4x4 response

Gloucestershire 4x4 Response

Hampshire and Berkshire 4x4 Response Group

To be a member you should have told your insurance people you are a volunteer with a response network which puts up your premium up a lil bit but not too much

Because the Wessex groups is so large it is split into several smaller sub groups. Each with it's own area so peeps at one end of it's area might be a great group of lads whilst peeps at th other end might be so far up their own arses they can't smell the bull**** anymore. From reading posts on the national forum I get the sense that the committee are a bit out of touch withg the reality of 4x4 reponse work. I know for instance that a major supplier of Hi Viz vest offered to supply every response group with enough vests for each member but it was veto'd by the national committee because they weren't "quite the colour we're after" and a lot of the national committee are members of wessex 4x4. Hopefully as other groups grow this will change. YL4x4 is currently the largest group and is growing all the time. so hopefully some of their northern grit and sense of humour will find it'a way onto the national committee.

Think I may have to agree with fanatic on this, while it is a nice idea, it also seems to be a bit of ****flinging affair, with joe public tonking off to help others, with (possibly) little idea of what they are doing. All for the kudos given by dressing up in HiVi and shouting roger down a radio!!

If it were serious, there would be official training given (not a day at a pay and play) full insurance seperate to your own policy, and all members should be government registered, receive free task as it is in effect an emergency services vehicle (or at least reduced tax) and a fuel card to pay for the juice! Then, it could be considered as a reasonable proposition for people who (very kindly, has to be said) are willing to sacrifice their time and possibly endanger themselves, and not just a service the government cant be arsed to provide!! Should also get rid of pricks form the ranks as described above or they will get even less support, as for refusing free gear cos of the colour, they really do need their fecking hammers for that!!!

On another note, I have to agree with Alex, that anything in which 4x4s are seen to be doing good can only be positive, just a pity the tree hugging tits wont see that!!

Darmain said:

I came across the 4x4 network earlier in the year and my first impression was what a great idea it was and how I could really see myself doing this. It seemed to me that I could contribute to the community doing the thing I loved best which is driving the Landy. In addition there was training of various types including off road driving. I was well impressed.

However.

It took me an age to find out any real information, such as expenses etc. My insurance company wasn't keen on the idea but went along with it eventually. I applied to join and waited and waited and waited. I was supposed to have an interview to arrange a CRB check but it just didn't happen. With a CRB check taking anything up to two months it was clear that I was going to be no use to them this winter if they didn't get a move on. This seriously naffed me off as hassle I didn't need.

There was another problem that bothered me greatly. There are several team about and in order to join the other teams would require a long list a requirements to meet first. Such things included a fully off road kitted vehical and recognised training. My car isn't particularly kitted for off road and I definately didn't have the training. Part of the reason I wanted to join was get trained up. With the group I was joining the requirements were a 4x4 and a CB!!!? It didn't add up.

Work was a problem too. Our management were not happy with the idea that I could suddenly get called away, even if it was very occationally. I would have to decline call outs during working hours.

Then the opportunity came up to go to an event that the team was working at. I went along with the intention of collering the chief punkawaller and saying 'interview me'. Before I got that far I was able to observe everything, the people, the cars that they drove. It seemed to me that the cars were more for show with their HiVi stickers and their orange stobe lights, than they were for action. The people it seemed, didn't have a clue what they were doing.

That was the final straw and I walked away and later that day withdraw my application.

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This was not dissimilar to what I found woth some others doing the response. They were all about look at me, Using strops and other equipment Very wrongly shackels on shackles and long ropes when short ropes would have been benificial to recovery winch use was diabloical and was IMO an accident waiting to happen. I have seen some good guys but not many I would want "helping" me out of a bad situation. It seemed to me it was mainly people that wanted to be but never made it into public services and or military. I have seen alot of them in my short time on this planet while working for a security company in an outpost in Afghanistan. I wouldn't want these people near me in an accident in the UK let alone holding a loaded weapon close by. The only happiness I got was when a couple of these people got shipped back home as they couldn't take the conditions any longer and basically lost their minds. Also seeing some Part time British Military erm make a very big mistake which cost us greatly I have not got alot of time for these people giving it large.

These failed Military, public services (power/authority hungry people) tend to find themselves with yellow beakons, hi viz jackets and an offroader kitted to the hilt and join such groups and try to gain as much recognition respect that they would normally not get in their job and or homelife. They will not change any people views of hated 4x4's mabe the odd one or two. There are some VERY good people doing sterling work in the back ground May I mention one:

Anglian LRC - Membership

These people have been doing this for a long time, They are not weekend warriors and they know their stuff inside out under pressure and their decision making and Knowledge and experience is great.

When Gibbo Phil and myself dragged a couple of fire engines and an ambulance the only thing we did was post some pics on ere to show you lot. We were asked to go on to the local radio which we declined on the basis we do not want to rule the world, we were very grateful of written thankyous from the concerned services and we did our good deed for the day and had somthing to show our children one day.

Obviously this is a HUGE generalisation and there is always some good and the whole Idea is a great one. However when you get "tested" by people that are not qualified nor experienced or somone that is both experienced and qualified but are not really showing their professionalism then how can you respect them and trust them in the way you need to when and if a real situation arises?

Overall the response team have done a good job and coninue to do it I myself will not join one unless I have complete faith in the whole team. I understand there is alot of YeeHaa's about that want to get involved and screening them is paramount to stop anyone getting hurt and I know it seems alot of hassel but must be done. I will continue to help out people myself and risk liability unless I find a response group locally that I have complete Faith in all their members. I may well have found one just waiting for some info but I am not holding my breath.............................