Topic: Spotter or no spotter

[Snowtoy]

A debate has arisen in another thread regarding the a "Good Driver" and his use of a Spotter.  Some feel a "Good Driver" doesn't use/need a Spotter, others feel that a "Good Driver" knows when to use a spotter.  Discuss.

[twistedtoy92]

I usually dont have one but its alot nicer to have a good spotter with you, and by a good spotter I mean someone who knows your rig as well as you do!

[TimberlineBryce]

I think it depends on your experience level, the more you learn the less you need a spotter...

[Wainiha]

I am not that good compared to most here I'm sure.

A spotter has to be a good wheeler IMO.  Otherwise he/she can't help you with the correct line. 

I would love to wheel with some here and learn from the driver and the spotter.  How it's done for real.     

[Cyberman]

I remember running a trail with a couple of friends, I was number 3 in line.  I watched which lines they took and decided which one I was going to take and started.  Half way through, I bounced off a rock, and lost my line.  My friend started to "spot" me through a completely different line, and I eventually had to pull winch cable.

There is the difference between a good and bad spotter too.  When you gain some experience behind the wheel, you will tend to need a spotter less.  But there will always be an obstacle that will be best taken with an extra set of eyes.  The spotter needs to know the capabilities of the rig, and how to properly spot.

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[pumkin toy]

The spotter needs to know the capabilities of the rig, and how to properly spot.

IMO that is the only time a spotter is helpful!

[TimberlineBryce]

A spotter always has a better view of the trail than the driver. A good driver always defers (listens) to the spotter when one is available.

[twistedtoy92]

IMO that is the only time a spotter is helpful!

X10!  I rarely have a spotter but the local trails I run I could damn near do with my eyes closed. Capability of the rig makes it much easier to run without a spotter. If I run my IFS rig through nasty rock patches then Ill have my spotter get out and guide me where needed just because I don't have tube bumpers and only sliders. I try to avoid body damage as much as possible and a good spotter will do just that when running unfamiliar trails 

[Wainiha]

I have never had a spotter.  Never even heard the term till I found these forums.

Hawaiian Style:  Jus' jam 'um             Poke 'um           That goes for the gas pedal, and other things too

[Cyberman]

A spotter always has a better view of the trail than the driver. A good driver always defers (listens) to the spotter when one is available.

You have to be able to trust the spotter though.  I had one last time that for me was over cautious, and also stacked rocks.  I hate rock stacking.

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[sparkys83yota]

It seems like the longer I wheel the less I need a spotter. But usually the guys I wheel with are also the guys who helped me build my rig.  They do know my rig and its capabilities almost as well as I do. I think a good spotter is a good thing to have. 

[Rocksurfer]

There is always a place for a good spotter, that said only when asked for and it has to be someone you can absolutely have trusted behind the wheel of your vehicle. Someone that if you needed would be able to guide you while you were completely blind. I mean that seriously, we have a few really good spotters that I trust, some say I am also one of those. When I enlist a spotter I look directly at him and not where he's sending me, in fact if he drove me over the edge of a cliff I wouldn't know it. I fix my gaze on him and have to trust his directions completely, if I don't trust him/her then I'd never had asked in the 1st place.

[pumkin toy]

There is always a place for a good spotter, that said only when asked for and it has to be someone you can absolutely have trusted behind the wheel of your vehicle. Someone that if you needed would be able to guide you while you were completely blind. I mean that seriously, we have a few really good spotters that I trust, some say I am also one of those. When I enlist a spotter I look directly at him and not where he's sending me, in fact if he drove me over the edge of a cliff I wouldn't know it. I fix my gaze on him and have to trust his directions completely, if I don't trust him/her then I'd never had asked in the 1st place.

agree 100%!

[sparkys83yota]

There is always a place for a good spotter, that said only when asked for and it has to be someone you can absolutely have trusted behind the wheel of your vehicle. Someone that if you needed would be able to guide you while you were completely blind. I mean that seriously, we have a few really good spotters that I trust, some say I am also one of those. When I enlist a spotter I look directly at him and not where he's sending me, in fact if he drove me over the edge of a cliff I wouldn't know it. I fix my gaze on him and have to trust his directions completely, if I don't trust him/her then I'd never had asked in the 1st place.

Thats a good point. I remember my spotter telling me once to stop looking at the line and pay attention only to him. That particular person has never put kmein a bad place.

[ajordan1975]

I'm in the same boat as most here. I don't need one a lot of the time, but when I do it's usually one of three guys that I really trust.

[H8PVMNT]

In competition spotters are nice... We put on a small rock crawl "4x4 Trials" once a year and you can sure see the difference between a good a bad spotter there.  Everyone fights over the best/most experienced spotters.  The spotter really needs to know the vehicle too, we had this one guy show up with a bronco buggy with rear steer and everyone thought he would wax, but he never placed that well untill the third year he came when he finally had a spotter who could deal with the rear steer and actually make it play.

Most of the time on the trail I don't use a spotter unless it gets really nasty, then only someone I really trust or I would rather just get out and look myself.

There is also the "too many spotters" situation. I think we've all experienced that at one tim eor another. 

[madhunt]

a good spotter will only get out of the truck when needed most spotting can be done from passenger side aslong as the spotter has wheeled as a driver himself, I have had good and bad spotters, a good driver usually make a good spotter.

[Moose404]

my aunt blew out her front R&P in little sleuce at MCR last year but didnt wanna go back so i spotted her ass all the way through and up cadillac in 2WD does that count as good spotting? :p