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Oregon Dunes: AEV In-Field 4WD Training Tour 2025

March 3 - March 6

Oregon Dunes: AEV In-Field 4WD Training Tour

We would like to invite you to our AEV In-Field 4WD Training Tour being hosted at the spectacular Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area on Oregon’s Central Coast. These 2-day training tours will be geared toward novice and intermediate-level 4WD enthusiasts and will provide a comprehensive hands-on look at trip preparation, off-road driving, vehicle recovery and essential survival/emergency/communication considerations.

General Information

Location: The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is a network of vast dune parks that span along the South-Central Oregon Coast. The parks feature towering dunes, lush forests, emeraldcolored lakes and countless panoramas of the Pacific Ocean. This year’s Training Tours will feature full days on the dunes in both Florence and Winchester Bay, which are truly amazing places to explore and learn the finer points of off-road driving. Note: Florence will be the HQ for the Training Tours and the town features both Hotels and RV Parks for lodging.

Dates: There are two separate but identical Training Tours available this year, with the first taking place on Monday March 3rd & Tuesday March 4th . The second will take place on Wednesday March 5th & Thursday March 6th. Please RSVP for the dates that work best for your schedule. Note: Guests must arrive in Florence the day before their tour. Most guests will typically depart the day after their tour.

Cost: AEV’s In-Field 4WD Training Tours are sponsored by AEV, so outside of you covering your own travel expenses, there is no cost to attend the Tours.

Degree of Difficulty: Safety is a prime consideration during the Training Tours, but guests should be aware that driving on the dunes can be dangerous. You will be travelling on soft surfaces and the terrain will include long, steep inclines and side-hills. Because of this, there is a risk of rollover. That said, roll-overs are extremely rare.

Duration: Both days of the Training Tour begin at 8:00 a.m. and generally conclude around 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. The Training Tours take place entirely on the dunes and it is not unusual to finish each day with a sunset on the beach!

Weather: The weather in Florence and Winchester Bay can be VERY unpredictable in February. It can be clear and sunny one day and snowing the next. The key is to come well-prepared for both and think of the weather as part of the challenge – just as it can be on any 4WD adventure.

Vehicle Requirements:

  • AEV-Equipped Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Gladiator, Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon, Ford Bronco or Toyota Tacoma/4Runner
  • 32” or taller tires
  • Functional spare tire
  • Street legal and mechanically sound vehicle
  • Chassis-mounted recovery hooks or loops in the front and rear
  • Proof of vehicle registration and insurance
  • Current Oregon OHV Sticker
  • Vehicle-mounted sand flag rising 9-feet above the ground

Vehicle Restrictions: Due to tight, steep, technical dune trails, AEV’s In-Field 4WD Training Tour cannot accommodate full-size vehicles or vehicles equipped with rooftop tents or slide-in campers.

Instruction: The programs will be instructed by AEV’s Chris Wood. Chris has a long and diverse background in 4WD including being an enthusiast for 40 years, an industry professional for 27 years and a Certified 4WD Trainer for 17 years. Through all of this he has had the unique opportunity to explore the globe by 4WD, acquiring experience in places as varied as the Canadian Arctic, the Chilean Atacama Desert and most of the best-known 4WD trails located across the United States. His training program is infused with the skills and insights he has gained from these and many other places. To help with the Tours, Chris will be assisted by several seasoned trainers who will be interspersed among the guests, throughout the days.

Personal Considerations:

  • No pets or minors are allowed.
  • No firearms, drugs or alcohol are allowed.
  • All seminar exercises are optional. No pressure will be applied to participate in any exercise you aren’t comfortable with.
  • There will only be flush toilets available at the beginning and end of the day. If you need to use the restroom out on the dunes, solid human waste must be packed out, but liquids can be left behind. There are many wooded places on the dunes that offer privacy.
  • Cold weather/rain clothing will be a must.
  • Lunch will be taken on the dunes and snacking/hydration will be encouraged throughout the day.

Registration: Guest spaces in AEV’s In-Field 4WD Training Tours will be available to the first 10 eligible guests who reply. Please be prepared to share a photo of your vehicle to help verify that it is properly equipped. To get your name on the roster, please contact Chris Wood at: [email protected]

Video: AEV’s Oregon Training Tour 2024: Oregon Dunes: AEV 4WD Training Tour 2024

Details

Start:
March 3
End:
March 6
Event Category: