Best 4WD for police duties in Alpine/Bush area???

[Jenko67]

They could cettainly do with your services out this way Scott.  Some of the police that come out here drive a 4wd like it is a town petrol car, and they get into some bad situations.
Regards
Tjupurula

Tjupurula, I can imagine mate. We have the same issue...

[dazzler]

Is this a hypothetical or real question?

Normally the cops vehicle division will supply the vehicle based on the 'vehicle policy' with input from the driver training section once they have been evaluated.

May have changed since I left 

Funny down here in tas is seems to be you can have anything you like as long as its blue and the Brand starts with 'T' and the model starts with 'L'.   

For normal duties you get one that starts with a 'P' in the second model name and for hard duties (rescue etc) you get one that starts with a '2'.

Though on occasions there are white ones that start with an 'M'

[Jenko67]

Is this a hypothetical or real question?

Normally the cops vehicle division will supply the vehicle based on the 'vehicle policy' with input from the driver training section once they have been evaluated.

Hi Dazzler. yes we evaluate new models on a set criteria and decisions are based on this.
Regards
Scott

[Swaggie]

Hiya Timbo

Longtime no see mate,haven't been down your way for awhile.  ....Why dont you lease your one out to the force at 2k a week ...lmao

Cheers

[Tim - Stratford]

  ....Why dont you lease your one out to the force at 2k a week ...lmao

Newer with similar specs and I'd be happy! 

[Tim - Stratford]

Is this a hypothetical or real question?

Dazzler,

Hopefully real! - A group of members have been documenting a few incidents and failures of Patrols and the (local) Bosses are listening. We'll see what happens. The biggest problem we have is basically 'no mods allowed'. Makes it hard when you're trying to get to an accident scene that involves a heavily modded fourby off the beaten track.

Tim

[Bundy 69]

Jeep 4 door rubicon wrangler say no more

[D4D]

There's always one...

[Jason B]

There's always one...

LOL............................

[dav]

Surprised no one has said Great Wall ute !

[speewa158]

If you go Jeep then you will need 2 to try to keep the other going 
Thats it Tims question has decended into this 

[dazzler]

G'day all,

Just after thoughts regarding what you would think would make a good all-round police 4WD. The main function is 'in the bush' in hilly and alpine environments, specifically, the Alpine National Park.

The vehicle should be as safe as possible, ie all the new fangled stability gadgets, roomy and comfortable and most importantly, have all the required equipment available as a factory/dealer option.

There has been ongoing discussions, sometimes heated, in relation to this $64,000 question.....post your ideas and include your justifications if game. 

1. It has to meet WHS guidelines so it will have to have the safety package as standard.  (airbags, abs, vsc, tc)

2. This is where it gets heated and a few will lose me here but anyway here goes;

The biggest issue is where do you need to get and why and can you get yourself out if you get stuck.  Most police vehicles fail here.  They will come with an electric front winch and probably thats it.  Most dont come with a recovery kit so there is not a lot they can do.  But lets say you have shackles, tree protector, gloves, pulleys etc. 

So risk manage this and you know that you can only go forwards if it will help you which means that where you can go is now reduced. 

Has the operator done a recovery course?  No.  Then they cant use it operationally otherwise the dept is culpable. I bet this covers a lot of the police 4wds out there.

Lets say they have done the course and it has the gear.  It still cant winch out backwards so its limited to where it can efficiently go (efficient being that you dont send a crew out with the possibility that they will need rescuing).  Now whether its a defender or a pajero you are only really talking degrees of where it can get to before being stuck and then help is needed.

Thats a bit rambling but I hope it makes a bit of sense.

So for me the answer is any of the current reliable vehicles out there that meet the WHS standards.  Which without brand favouritism is either Pajero, Prado or Landcruiser.

But this MUST be combined with a decent set of mud/snow tyres AND a recovery kit that includes a tirfor hand winch and associated recovery gear.  Keep the front winch for those occasions and removing trees off the road.  It also needs a small chainsaw (ever noticed most rescues happen when the weather is poor/windy ).

And finally, a decent 4wd and recovery course using the gear.

Justifications - I rewrote the training manual for police 4wd and recovery 

[JU5T1N]

JEEP!!!!! OK while we're at it....Suzuki Jimny hard top, $64000 to spend $24,000 car leaves $40,000 trip to ARB for dual lockers, winch bar with winch(optional as they could still lift it out by hand) leaves $30,000 for pay rises & counselling after seeing themselves screeching to a hault, 4 x 6foot plus 120+kg boys jumping out...clown car....seriously a 'JEEP'.......a least I was joking here

[Teabag]

In all honesty your not going to get the safest and best 4wd ability in one package. A compromise will need to be made......

Off the shelf, no mods the most capable 4wd is the Defender......

If safety and comfort you would be better off with Prado, Pajero or the like....

The 200series would be too big a bulky for tight tracks, also too heavy for snow type work.

I still recon the 76 series would be a decent compromise for that sort of work. Well, if it was my coin, that's what I would buy.....

[fuji]

Yes, Vicpol do a recovery course. We are trained on how to use winches etc. NO we can not recover other vehicles. Our job is to find the stranded vehicles and get the people out, not to recover their cars. Not our problem. If you go in the bush as many do and can't get out, call the towie.

[JU5T1N]

Somebody say safe, go anywhere....may have to cut down on numbers ordered but at least it wont need a recovery vehicle so less needed to be order.
BTW if this was to go I raise my hand for the ex gov purchase 
http://youtu.be/cDoRmT0iRic

[Jason B]

Yes, Vicpol do a recovery course. We are trained on how to use winches etc. NO we can not recover other vehicles. Our job is to find the stranded vehicles and get the people out, not to recover their cars. Not our problem. If you go in the bush as many do and can't get out, call the towie.

LOL if only I applied your logic, I have recovered Police vehicles on more than 40 occasions in the NSW snowys, maybe I should have said "Nah it hasn't got scales, not my problem call a tow truck"

Most of these coppers are mates of mine and all of these country coppers would do their best to asist stranded travellers, we have pulled many out and they never ever hesitated, regardless of protocols, they always gave assistance when they could.

Maybe its different in Mexico 

Regards

Jas

[efjay]

Jeep 4 door rubicon wrangler say no more

+1

[Vk3bq]

Jeep 4 door rubicon wrangler say no more

As the NON stop ads between the swimming carnival (ch9 only seem to show swimming) say. Don't hold back - Australia.

[Patr80l]

Somebody say safe, go anywhere....may have to cut down on numbers ordered but at least it wont need a recovery vehicle so less needed to be order.
BTW if this was to go I raise my hand for the ex gov purchase 
http://youtu.be/cDoRmT0iRic

Jake and Elwood Blues would love it.

[speewa158]

If Vicpol dont get a fleet discount then who would . The 64K to spend on a rig should include extras if not get a better person on the job. Deals for fleet are the life blood of the motor trade . 2 to 3 years later blokes lie us get bargans at the Gov  fleet sales  Cops get the sweet ride & service it well then pass it on to us 

[fuji]

Unfortunately Jason B, its not our fault. We will get the people out regardless of protocol but as far as their vehicles go, we have to leave them. Not allowed to winch them out.  OH&S.  Remember last year when one of our ministers got lost in the bush so they spent tens of thousands on a drone to locate him. Could have bought a few capable fourbys for that.

[achjimmy]

I wish more of our ministers would "get lost" 

Didn't the NSW police have troopies before the Patrols a while back? The ambulance service even fitted one with tracks for the snowies.

[harrys767]

As an all singing, all dancing Toyota man, this will come off a little strange. But I actually agree with the call for a Jeep.

I'll start of by saying that I would never have purchased a Jeep if the 76 Series had come with airbags, ABS and traction control back in 2007. But nonetheless it didn't, and I ended up doing a "Jeep experiment".

I owned one (07 JK 4 Door Diesel) for 3 years and am glad I sold it before the warranty period expired, as you pay through the nose for parts on those things, but this was the most capable 4x4 I have ever owned* (Caveat - that statement only applies after the standard suspension was replaced with a ~50mm lift kit and some decent rubber was put on). This was a light car, great angles, nice looking, traction control etc etc etc. As for payload, with two coppers onboard, there would be plenty of room for gear. In light of the period of use of the Police, I'd suggest Jeep. If I was buying it for myself to keep for 20 years, I would never go past a Toyota though.

Cons - not as comfy as the Toyotas I've owned (particularly the 80 series-I loved that thing!).

I saw a Vic Police JK Wrangler a few years ago up at Falls Creek.

* this covers the JK, 40 series, 60 series, 79 series, 80 series, 110 Prado & now 150 Prado.

[Mace]

x3 for the jeep.

allready been done in Vic (Falls creek)

common stateside.

Id get the optional Hardtop!!