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Standard Operating Procedures for Colorado Four-Wheelers
1.Club Run – A Club sanctioned 4WD run that has been published in the newsletter or an Action Line notification that has been initiated and three members are present. Any unannounced ‘spur of the moment’ run is not an official run even if three members are present. All associates and members must have the opportunity to attend a run to be counted as official.
2.Trail Leader guide lines.
A)Announce meeting time and place thru the Club newsletter or initiating an Action Line event.
B)Provide itinerary – trail to the run, distance involved, expected difficulty, expected length of time to go and return, etc.
C)Driver’s meeting prior to departure:
1.Fill out Trip Report with participants, vehicles, etc.
2.Safety checklist
3.Welcome guests – only 1 guest vehicle per member. If more are invited, it must be approved by the Trail Leader prior to the trip
3. Required safety equipment.
A)Tow point, front and rear of vehicle and tow strap (no chains or ropes with metal hooks)
B)Fire extinguisher
C)CB radio (recommended)
D)Roll bar in soft top vehicles
E)Seat belts
F)First aid kit
G)Spare tire with correct bolt pattern and tire size for your vehicle
H)Jack and lug wrench
4.Equipment checklist – see Addendum A (page 14)
5.Stuck Fee criteria – Stuck fees are not to be considered punitive, but a fun way to raise funds for the Christmas party and any other expense to be borne by the Club treasury. Members will incur a stuck fee of $5 per incident or $10 cumulative per trip for using the following help in negotiating a trail/obstacle:
A)Use of winch (vehicle owner’s or another vehicle’s)
B)Strapping by another vehicle
C)Stacking rocks, branches, etc. unless such action is in interest of vehicle/operator safety as determined by the trip leader.
D)Bumper, fender standing, etc unless such action is in the interest of vehicle/operator safety as determined by the trip leader.
E)Use of Hi-lift or any other jacking device to free vehicle from obstacle.
6.Tread Lightly: “Leave a good impression”
Travel and recreate with minimal impact
Respect the environment and the rights of others
Educate yourself, plan and prepare before you go
Allow for future use of the outdoors, leave it better than you found it
Discover the rewards of responsible recreation
7.Action Line: An action line notice may be initiated by any member or associate for the purpose of notifying the general membership of a planned trip by posting in the website “Trip Staging Area”, or an event added to the Club calendar at a regular meeting. “Spur of the moment trips” shall be considered any trip that occurs with less than 3 days prior notice.
8.Emergency Assistance – Reserved
9.Trail Etiquette:
A)Club policy is NO alcohol on the trail. Offense will not be tolerated and can result in expulsion from the Club. Having a few drinks when returned to town camp is certainly OK. Refer to Article III Section 7 of the By-Laws.
B)Uphill traffic always has the right of way unless there are circumstances requiring deviation; ie an injured person being transported down.
1.) Trip leader should inform oncoming traffic of number of vehicles in party.
C)Rock stacking – OK if necessary, but remove when over obstacle to provide the next group with the same opportunity of difficulty.
D)Careless/Reckless driving will not be condoned.
E)Buddy system should be used at all times, keeping the vehicle behind you in sight. Club policy has always been to never leave someone in need of assistance, be that individual a Club member or someone encountered on the trail. Common sense should govern. Individuals leaving trip before the trip’s conclusion should notify the trip leader and have company to return to camp or home.
10.Bone Award: The bone award may be initiated by any member on a club sanctioned trip (at least 3 members present) for any driving action on the trail deemed to be stupid or ill-advised. Must be voted on by all members at the general meeting after nomination by members on the trip. Award consists of winning member bringing bone award to general meeting and Club events until passed on. This is for fun and verbal abuse may follow with this award.
Action Line: An action line notice may be initiated by any member or associate for the purpose of notifying the general membership of a planned trip by posting in the website “Trip Staging Area”, or an event added to the Club calendar at a regular meeting. “Spur of the moment trips” shall be considered any trip that occurs with less than 3 days prior notice.
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