Why have 4x4s?

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Coley

I'm not starting anything, but I am concerned about something I saw at the weekend in the New Forest. I'm not sure what to make of it. What would you think if you saw three proper off road 4x4s in succession covered in mud. They weren't new but were the old defender type and they seemed to have sport modifications. They were on the road at the time. It didn't make sense, the weather had been dry for a while and that weekend may as well have been summer, hence my suspicion of the amount of mud on the vehicles. Is there a place in the New forest that is legal to go and drive off road or is it likely to have been illegal? I saw them heading towards Lyndhurst. I have heard of this sort of thing going on but am not sure if it was, or who to report it to.
If anyone could enlighten me I would be grateful

I own one as you know but anyone who goes "green laneing" wants shooting.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Coley

Is there a place in the New forest that is legal to go and drive off road or is it likely to have been illegal? I saw them heading towards Lyndhurst. I have heard of this sort of thing going on but am not sure if it was, or who to report it to.
If anyone could enlighten me I would be grateful

Its legal to drive on a byway (not a restricted byway) so long as there isnt a TRO (traffic restriction order) in place - if there is there ought to be a big white sign up with the "stuntmen ahead" symbol and the TRO terms - a lot of tros are applied in the winter only to protect the surface but allow use in the summer.

vehicles driven on byways are required to be road legal - ie to have mot, tax, insurance, lights and number plates etc

It is not lawful for the public to drive on a restricted byway, bridlepath , or footpath

However note that all of the above applies to public rights - a landowner or tennant (and certain other people such as the highway authority ad their contractors) may have private rights of access over any right of way (or indeed any other bit of land) however they are responsible for any damage that this use causes to the surface of the PRoW - they also have a duty of care to users to drive in a responsible and careful manner.

[Deer Stalker]

Originally Posted by Coley

I'm not starting anything, but I am concerned about something I saw at the weekend in the New Forest. I'm not sure what to make of it. What would you think if you saw three proper off road 4x4s in succession covered in mud. They weren't new but were the old defender type and they seemed to have sport modifications. They were on the road at the time. It didn't make sense, the weather had been dry for a while and that weekend may as well have been summer, hence my suspicion of the amount of mud on the vehicles. Is there a place in the New forest that is legal to go and drive off road or is it likely to have been illegal? I saw them heading towards Lyndhurst. I have heard of this sort of thing going on but am not sure if it was, or who to report it to.
If anyone could enlighten me I would be grateful

Hi Coley.

It does happen occasionally.

Its not allowed on the Crown Lands of the New Forest, but there is a place that is on a private estate called Minstead Manor within the New Forest that has an off-road track for days out.

But if you do see this again, to be on the safe side, get the registrations (if you can see them through the mud) & pass them on to the Forestry Commission.

[Coley]

Thanx for educating me, I feel more reassured that it could well have been legit.

[HitTheHay]

Originally Posted by Interpreter

Whilst in Aden, I drove a six cylinder Landrover which was fitted with bomb proofing underneath it. The idea was that a landmine would blow the engine out of the vehicle, but leave the passenger compartment unscathed. I never found out. This vehicle drove like a dream. The Gliding Club used an old four cylinder Landrover which was about average to drive, but was given a Nissan Patrol (? - early 1960s). This was light years ahead of the Landrover. As well as being used for transporting people the Gliding Club vehicles were also used to launch the gliders.

Interpeter did you take any pictures when you were in Aden? It's likely you were a member of Aden Services Gliding Club when you were there? If so, pop over to our Facebook page also called Aden Service Gliding Club. All the best, Les Simpson

PS. Sorry if this is off piste but its a long shot to find people that visited or flew with us 1962-1967. Please advise how I can contact Interpreter off list.

[Tursiops2]

Hi HitTheHay, and welcome to the forum.

If you click on Interpreter's Username at the top of one of his posts, you'll be able to send him a Private Message. However, Interpreter doesn't appear to have posted on this forum since October 2007, so it may be a while before you get an answer.

I believe it is also possible to get someone's email add. from their profile page, but I don't see an obvious way of doing this. It may be worth contacting admin about this.

Good luck
T2

[nppc2597]

What most people, bar one, seem not to realise, its the driver thats the problem not the vehicle. I have a 2.2 litre Diesel Land Rover, which gets 40mpg and has lower emissions than a Mondeo or similiar vehicle. I need it due to the area i live and also for my leisure activities. Mine was an active informed choice. So please stop bunching us all together with the mindless idiots flying about in their 6ltr Audi and BMWs. whether they be 4x4 or two wheel drive.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by nppc2597

What most people, bar one, seem not to realise, its the driver thats the problem not the vehicle. I have a 2.2 litre Diesel Land Rover, which gets 40mpg and has lower emissions than a Mondeo or similiar vehicle. I need it due to the area i live and also for my leisure activities. Mine was an active informed choice. So please stop bunching us all together with the mindless idiots flying about in their 6ltr Audi and BMWs. whether they be 4x4 or two wheel drive.

Agree with you there nppc2597 I have a 2.2 litre Honda which I bought quite deliberately for my leisure activities too. I want to transport other people and all their gear. I go to some out of the way places on a regular basis and I don't want to get stuck or knock off my sump (my previous car was my dad's Toyota Coralla - which is a small saloon type - taken on after he died cos it was low mileage and worth running - but it was low slung and could get stuck in a puddle!). I now feel confident that I won't get bogged down no matter what sort of track I decide to use and I won;t be at risk of needing help to get free. At holiday time it has to take 3 peoples gear and still needs packing carefully (not as much room as my dear old VW camper). And its high enough to see over walls and hedges and allow photography from its open windows - not quite as good as the old VW but certainly better than the Toyota C - a day out in that and you had no idea where you'd been esp between the limestone walls in the Yorks coutryside!

Would I have another Honda? You bet I would - tho I will be unlikely to afford another but the build and quality is second to none!

Pauline

[bigdave60dog]

The answer to the original question is easy. They don`t make hard looking big Volvos any more so it has to be 4x4s to bully other motorists. I thought that every driver knows that.
Dave

[The Woodman]

Mine wasn't much use to me this morning. Had to get towed out of a field by a Suzuki after getting bogged down carrying two owl boxes, triple extension ladders and all the gear. I just couldn't keep the front end on the contour, the ground was so waterlogged and slippery. The Suzi was doing the business on the tarmacked road though!