Text by Ariel Chew, Photos by Zainal Abidin Othman & VM Bank If you are a 4WD enthusiast, chances are you have heard of the indomitable Rainforest Challenge. Held in December every year since 1997, the Rainforest Challenge has been the Holy Grail of the one of the world's toughest 4WD endurance competitions. The Formula 1 of 4WD, so to speak. This adventure event is laden with competitive Special Stages (SS) along the way for the serious 4x4 enthusiasts, who love the dream of taking on a jungle adventure with all its hardship, endurance and extremities. It is for those who welcome the sweat, the mud, the rain-soaked jungle, the humidity, the insects, the creatures of the night, the fellowship of other 4x4 fans, the teamwork, and the unique camaraderie. You may have even entertained thoughts of participating in it and are wondering if you qualify. Fret not, we have listed five things you need to survive and enjoy the Rainforest Challenge experience. | ||||||||||||
 | 1 | A Suitable Vehicle | ||||||||||
It can be very challenging just getting from one campsite to another. So, even if you are just joining as a tourist, you need an engine powerful enough to pull your truck's body over mud holes, etc. You need tires that can breeze through slippery and rough terrains. If you are a competitor, you need a short and heavily modified vehicle to help you complete the Special Stages. Toyotas, Pajeros, Landrovers and Suzukis are time-tested favourites. If you do not have a suitable vehicle, you can hitch a ride with any participating 4WD clubs like the 4x4 Lipan Bara club in Kota Bahru, Kelantan and not miss out on the fun! Competitor 4WDs - short and heavily modified bodies.
Touring 4WDs - tough and extremely capable.
Other vehicles can join in the fun, too!
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 | 2 | A Good Support System | |||||
If your vehicle breaks down, you need help to fix it in the jungle. If it can't be fixed, you'd need someone to help tow you out to the nearest workshop in town. That's why you need at least one or two other support cars in your group. Travelling in a group or convoy is also a safety measure. There are rules to follow such as turning your headlights on whenever you are travelling in a convoy and having the lead vehicle maintain radio contact with the sweep (last vehicle) at regular intervals. You also have the responsibility of making sure the vehicle behind you is on the same track by checking if they are visible or contactable by radio. If they are not visible or contactable, inform the lead vehicle of your intention to stop to wait for the vehicle behind. The lead vehicle will then advice the vehicles in front of you to slow down or stop. Always inform the lead vehicle of your intentions to stop as the following vehicles behind you could run into you and not see you due to a sharp corner or heavy dust.
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 | 3 | Proper Camping Equipment | ||
Camping in the wilds is not as daunting as it seems. Not when you have 4WDs around. Unlike travelling by foot, you can carry any creature comforts that you want. You absolutely do not have to worry about how much it all weighs - if it fits into the truck, you can bring it! It’s amazing to see how many things you can stuff in a truck. Ours had a huge gas stove, tables and chairs which resembled an enviable food stall when it was all ensembled. Some of the vehicles even come equipped with fridges where they can enjoy ice-cold drinks in the middle of a scorching day and fresh meat for meals. Others come with showers, luxurious mattresses, espresso machines and even a full-blown karaoke set. It’s really up to your imagination and how comfortable you want your camp to be! But here are the absolute essentials – camping beds, sleeping bags, ropes, strings, poles (to hold up the fly sheet), knives, fly sheets, tent, and cooking utensils. Also, don’t forget the insect repellent, suitable rubber shoes and boots to wade through all that mud.Nothing beats camping with 4WD!
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 | 4 | Patience | ||
There's a lot of waiting time in the jungle. And tensions run especially high in competitions. It is common to hear a lot of yelling and shouts of exasperation between pilots, co-pilots and the marshals during the SS challenges. Later on, you realise that you’ll either have to hold your temper in check or risk losing your voice (and friends!). Once your voice is gone, it’s almost impossible to compete any longer. It is no coincidence that the participants who return time after time have two traits in common – they are coolheaded and they are crazy enough to subject themselves and their vehicles to such extreme challenges over and over again. It helps to have a cool head in the jungle.
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 | 5 | Multiple Skills | |||||
The Rainforest Challenge is all about man and machine overcoming the challenges Mother Nature dishes out to them. A 4WD enthusiast is a jack of all trades and an adequate practitioner of each. To survive, one must be able to safely and confidently handle their 4WD vehicle in harsh off-road conditions – over mud, sand, rocks, rivers, deep ruts, and hills. You need to know how to handle obstacles and the proper recovery techniques such as towing stalled vehicles, winching, when and how to use the kinetic strap, making alternative tracks and simple bridge building. Having an intimate knowledge of the car’s off-roading capabilities is also a must – this includes being familiar with its limits in hill climbs, descents, ramp break-over angle, wading depths and such. Being far away from auto repair workshops, you would need to know how to perform basic vehicle repairs and maintenance in the jungle. As such, prior planning is crucial – you need to bring the right equipment for maintenance and for recovery e.g. spare parts, kinetic straps, winches, snatch blocks, hi-lift jacks, etc. Mother Nature always wins, men just need to work their way through her.
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