Green Laning Events

[Martin Spamer]

It is wise to be a passenger first to get a feel for how things work. If this is your first time green laning

The most essential item is a front and rear recovery points. A rear tow hitch can ground you and is best unbolted and replaced with something like these tarantula 4x4 recovery point mounted to provide as much ground clearance as possible. The simplest way to add recovery points to a Land Rover at the front is JATE rings which bolt through the chassis. Without recovery points these there would need to be some improvisation during recovery, improvisation means an increased risk of vehicle damage or injury. You'll find that most of our vehicles have at least two permanent custom recovery points back and front.

Beyond that the following are recommended
A couple of recovery straps rated at twice your vehicles towing weight. (You can get 5 tonne straps from Dave Kirby/tarantula 4x4)
A couple of shackles with a working weight higher than the straps. (JW O'Pray's Wassand Street, Hessle road)
(this is so the strap will fail before the shackle and prevent metal objects flying through the air).

Shovel, boots/Wellingtons/both, waterproofs, spare dry socks. At some point you will end up stood around wet & cold in winter and hot and bothered during the summer, so a flask of hot drink during winter, cool drinks during summer.

Convoy discipline
The lead and last vehicles must be double crewed, because of navigation and the need to open & close gates.
The lead vehicle is responsible for navigation and pace setting. (Pace is actually governed/limited by the rearmost vehicle keeping up. see * below)
The lead vehicle will slow when approaching junctions and built up areas, to allow all vehicles to gather up and ensure no vehicles are lost by missing a turn or getting caught by lights or traffic.
Vehicle indicators should be used in good time to warn following vehicles of route changes.
In built up areas drive the minimum safe distance (nose to tail) to keep the convey intact.
On the open road, leave a gap between vehicles large enough to allow faster vehicles to safely leapfrog the convoy one vehicle at a time.
If other vehicles get between convoy vehicles, wave them past at appropriate overtaking points. This keeps the convoy intact and is goodwill gesture to other road users.
When on green lanes do not get to close to the vehicle in front, leave a enough room for them to manoeuvre or reverse if needed. This also give you room to read the ground.

*When on a green lane or open road keep the vehicle BEHIND in sight. If you lose sight of the vehicle behind or it stops, then stop.
All vehicle to use headlight to increase visibility even during daylight.

The Team leader & Deputy Team Leader Duties
The Team leader will be the Navigator, not the Driver of the lead vehicle. Additional volunteers for Team leaders will run alternate routes on green lane days. Each Team will responsible for choosing their own route, and must share, discuss it the other Team Leader Navigators & at the previous GLASS meeting. If you want to attend the green laning day you MUST attend the GLASS meeting.

The lead vehicle is team leader & the deputy team leader should be the last vehicle, both these vehicles must be double crew & be equipped with a CB and Maps.
The Team leader should ensure that their vehicle is fully equiped to recover any vehicle in their group. Maps are compulsory, compas and sat nav are prudent. The Team leader needs to satisfy themselves that all vehicles in their convoy are properly equipped. The Team leader needs to consider the following facts. Who to appoint as deputy team leader, optimal vehicle ordering with special regard to final vehicle, which needs to have a passenger to close gates and CB equiped.

The deputy team leader will mainly involves them learning the legal green lanes and recording them on their own maps. The deputy team leader will require a CB & current map. As the lanes are driven the deputy team leaders will record the lane on their own maps.

Team leaders may vary these rules for their group as they see fit.

The green lane days will be classified as follows.

Beginners Blue:
These will be for new members, these will be the mildest, easiest lanes we know, mostly a firm footing or gravel. The only requirement is the vehicle has functional recover points BOTH front and rear and one recovery strap/rope. The main aim of these days is to introduce basic good practices such as staying on lane, gate handling & conveying.

Normal Red:
These will be typical green lanes, the vehicle will require front & rear recovery points. Shackles, recovery ropes or strops. A CB. AT or better tyres. The driver must have attended at least one blue day to learn basics of good practice.

Extreme Black
They will be the most extreme lanes we know (think Wykeham, Well Stuck woods or Langdale black). All vehicle must satisfy the team leader and will typically need a functional CB, mud tyres, enhanced ground clearance, raised air intake, functional front winch, recovery gear including gloves, snatch block, tree strap, shovel, front & rear static tow ropes or strops & highlift jack. The driver must have attended a Red day AND satisfy the team leader they know how to use their vehicle and equipment safely.

[iceman44]

good post martin and just for new people it becomes second nature after a few trips