How to Join a 4X4 Club

Car clubs come in all sizes. Depending on the type of car club, their activities can range from racing, car shows to off road adventures.

When my husband and I first got married he had a good friend that was very much into off roading and camping. After out first 2 years of marriage we could finally afford a 4X4 vehicle. It was an old 1978 Jeep Cherokee that needed lots of TLC. We tooled around with the tank of a car for another 2 years while we saved up for a brand new Jeep.

When we finally bought our brand new 1991 Jeep Wrangler, my husband's friend was no longer into 4X4s. That, as we found out, was no longer a problem because as soon as my husband drove his new Jeep to work he found he had a new set of instant friends. They were all owners of 4X4s too. They in turn encouraged him to join their 4X4 club.

The club was affiliated with a larger 4X4 off roaders club, at the state level. The yearly dues at the time were $40.00 a year. They had monthly meetings and I remember at the very first meeting we attended we had to be introduced by my husband's co-working friend and the club had to in turn vote us in or out. It was not just a case of paying dues and joining, no you had to be voted in to the club.

There were club activities almost every weekend. We went on most of them and actually learned how to properly drive a 4X4 in mud, on ice, over rocks and up extremely steep dirt roads. In the long run it greatly increased our knowledge of driving and handling a vehicle. We also learned little tips about off roading that are not in books.

Where would we have gone to find a 4X4 club if those 4X4 enthusiasts had not found us? We would have found them at the next 4X4 show at the local fairgrounds or just started talking to someone that had a 4X4 covered in mud. We are the type that just start up conversations with strangers and find out some fascinating stuff.

If you have a passion for your specialized vehicle, be it racing, shows or off roading, I encourage you to find a car club that will help you understand more fully what your vehicle can and cannot do. You will also be around other people that share your passion.