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802.864.8565
Training Center
802.864.8565
Today's Hours
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The 4x4 Center Logo
The Shop
802.864.8565
Training Center
802.864.8565
Today's Hours
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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2-Day Winter Mobility Class

     This Winter Mobility class is a comprehensive Winter Mobility class that covers both on-road and off-road driving in snow and ice. Day 1 is spent focusing on road-orientated skids, slides and higher speed skills. Day 2 focuses on driving in deeper snow on back roads & trails including recovery.

     Our winter mobility class prepares drivers for every winter driving condition and, how to be prepared for the unexpected.

COVERED IN THIS CLASS

This class begins in the classroom with a briefing on fundamentals of winter travel, safety basics, and outfitting information.

  • Selecting the right tire for your vehicle and application.
  • Understand various winter driving technics and how/where/when to use them.
  • Learn how onboard vehicle controls like hill descent control, ABS, traction control, stability control, and more; affect your traction and how to use them strategically to get more traction.
  • Vehicle dynamics and terminology.
  • How to prepare yourself and your vehicle before a winter drive - regardless of the distance you travel.
  • Characteristics of different vehicle drivetrain configurations. You may think that's techy but, if you don't understand how they work, it will be hard for you to understand how to get traction once you've lost it.
  • Winter recovery

With a basic understanding behind us, the class loads up in our fleet of Compact SUVs and 4x4 vehicles to begin the hands on learning.

SAMPLE AGENDA

Day 1

  • 8:30am – Check-in & safety briefing
  • Classroom driving theory and vehicle dynamics discussion
  • On the Skid Pads
    • Learn how different types of snow affect your traction and, how to read the snow.
    • We take a look at different types of tires - All-Season, and Winter tires and you get a chance to drive each one. Back to back, starting, stopping, and performing evasive maneuvers.
    • Learn how different on-board controls such as down hill descent, traction control, ABS, and stability functions affect your traction and how to manage the controls to create more, or less traction.
    • Drive a high-speed slalom course that has you turning quickly, driving uphill, and descending steep hills.
  • Lunch (a bagged lunch is provided)
  • On the Ice Lane
    • Learn to make controlled accelerations and braking on ice. This may be the fastest ice you'll ever drive on which provides a unique, and great learning opportunity.
    • Experience the difference between All-Season, and Winter tires on the freshly polished and refrigerated ice lane.
  • On the Ice Pad
    • Apply the left foot brake as you manage throttle with the right foot. Our instructors show you how to accelerate and perform quick turns in a safe driving environment. When this clicks, you'll find yourself relaxing more and driving better.
    • Experience what a "mixed tire" set feels like, when you replace two tires and not the other two.
  • 4:00pm - Debriefing

Day 2

  • 8:30am - Check-in & safety review
  • Vehicle drivetrain demonstration.
  • Load up into the 4x4s to learn how to climb and descend steep snow covered, and often icy, roads.
  • Learn how to manage off-camber roads while keeping the vehicle from slipping and sliding.
  • Drive up and down steep slopes and use vehicle controls to maintain, and in some cases regain, traction.
  • Lunch (a bagged lunch is provided)
  • Learn strategies and tactics for getting traction in deep snow.
  • Perform a stuck, winter vehicle recovery.
  • Travel higher on the mountain where the snow gets deeper, conditions more intense, and you exercise everything you've learned, just to continue driving, regardless of the conditions.
  • 4:00pm - Debrief

THIS CLASS IS A REAL GAME CHANGER

     Your new skills will be put to the test with a drive to the top of the mountain. Every vehicle is equipped with an Instructor in the passenger seat. This provides you the driver, the opportunity to ask questions and receive on-the-fly feedback as you drive, exponentially increasing the learning experience you receive. Upon finishing the class you will return to your vehicle feeling and driving differently than you ever have before. You'll make changes and plans that will help you travel safer and with more confidence. We encourage you to take what you've learned here and to apply it in your own vehicle, while in a safe environment. Question whether your tire choice is the right choice, and push those in dash buttons you've seen but, weren't quite sure about. The next time the snow flies, you'll be grinning ear to ear knowing that whatever winter throws at you, is something you're ready to handle.