Class 4 Driving License

[BusLover92]

Post Deleted

Edited October 23, 2022 by BusLover92

[BusLover92]

On 10/18/2022 at 6:33 PM, Natarajan said:

Based on the tips from ScottyWittyKow, in addition to the actual lessons in the circuit, I have managed to pass the TP test today (18 Oct). This is my second attempt. Here are the tips from my side:

1. Make sure the reverse gear warning works in your vehicle. I'm not sure how to test this when you are with the TP though, but this will be big issue if you are not very familiar with manual vehicle. During my first TP, I have got vehicle number 214, with faulty reverse alarm. I completely rely on the reverse sound to check whether I'm in gear 2 or reverse. As the alarm was not working, I ended up moving the vehicle in reverse gear on two occasions, when I actually wanted to move forward. First time was minor, this was as soon as I have started the vehicle. So only 2 points. However when it happened next time in the circuit, it was after parking. So I ended up hitting the kerb, with 10 demerit points.  Few more blind spot checking issues, I ended up with 24 points in the circuit itself. So no road test in the first attempt. I guess I have to blame my bad luck for getting a vehicle which is faulty. I thought of objecting to TP, but if this happens in real life, I can't blame reverse alarm for causing an accident. It's still going to be my responsibility. Not sure whether I could have asked for a replacement vehicle. Anyway I didn't do any of those things and thought second time I'll be lucky with the TP test, as there was no major issues otherwise.  

2. You have to book for five lessons upfront, before you can book for TP test. See whether you can move the last two lessons just before the TP test. Preferably the last one on the same day that of TP test. This way you will not forget the finer points, as to where to make the full left, when to straighten during reverse parking etc. Moving the dates involves selling your current booking, which could be bit tricky. You may lose the money ($150?) if no one buys it and you don't go for the class. But in a way, it may be worth it, instead of booking for test for the second time ($300+).  

3. If you prefer a colorful traffic signs list than the one given by the school, here it is.

Anyone taking the Class 4 test, best wishes

Is it the blue or the white lorry? Damn, so nervous upon seeing all those haha

[ScottyWittyKow]

On 10/18/2022 at 6:33 PM, Natarajan said:

Based on the tips from ScottyWittyKow, in addition to the actual lessons in the circuit, I have managed to pass the TP test today (18 Oct). This is my second attempt. Here are the tips from my side:

1. Make sure the reverse gear warning works in your vehicle. I'm not sure how to test this when you are with the TP though, but this will be big issue if you are not very familiar with manual vehicle. During my first TP, I have got vehicle number 214, with faulty reverse alarm. I completely rely on the reverse sound to check whether I'm in gear 2 or reverse. As the alarm was not working, I ended up moving the vehicle in reverse gear on two occasions, when I actually wanted to move forward. First time was minor, this was as soon as I have started the vehicle. So only 2 points. However when it happened next time in the circuit, it was after parking. So I ended up hitting the kerb, with 10 demerit points.  Few more blind spot checking issues, I ended up with 24 points in the circuit itself. So no road test in the first attempt. I guess I have to blame my bad luck for getting a vehicle which is faulty. I thought of objecting to TP, but if this happens in real life, I can't blame reverse alarm for causing an accident. It's still going to be my responsibility. Not sure whether I could have asked for a replacement vehicle. Anyway I didn't do any of those things and thought second time I'll be lucky with the TP test, as there was no major issues otherwise.  

2. You have to book for five lessons upfront, before you can book for TP test. See whether you can move the last two lessons just before the TP test. Preferably the last one on the same day that of TP test. This way you will not forget the finer points, as to where to make the full left, when to straighten during reverse parking etc. Moving the dates involves selling your current booking, which could be bit tricky. You may lose the money ($150?) if no one buys it and you don't go for the class. But in a way, it may be worth it, instead of booking for test for the second time ($300+).  

3. If you prefer a colorful traffic signs list than the one given by the school, here it is.

Anyone taking the Class 4 test, best wishes

@Natarajan - Congrats in passing your Class 4 last week. 🎉🎉

Anyway, keen to take up Class 5? I am thinking of taking up next year. 

[Natarajan]

@BusLover92 White lorry

[Natarajan]

@ScottyWittyKow 

On 10/25/2022 at 9:39 PM, ScottyWittyKow said:

@Natarajan - Congrats in passing your Class 4 last week. 🎉🎉

Anyway, keen to take up Class 5? I am thinking of taking up next year. 

No. My aim is to drive 45ft RV in US on a three month trip by 2023 end. So want to get prepared for that. Class 5 is not much of use for that. Going for BDVL course shortly. Already got the approval. Though class 4 is not needed to apply for BDVL, I wanted to have a feel about driving big vehicle and to see whether I still have it what it takes to learn a new skill. After BDVL I'll check out with local bus companies whether I can get trained with driving a bus.

[wilderness]

@ScottyWittyKow I actually just came back from a month's campervaning in NZ and was curious about getting class 4. That's how I found your post.

We booked a 7.4m king for 4 from wilderness. I'd say even without class 4, driving it wasnt difficult aside from the fact that south island is mostly single lane and the campervan is really quite wide body.

So I'm mostly concerned with going off lane or road hogging.

The vehicle design is such that i rely mostly on side mirrors and rear camera to guide reverse parking. Sometimes I need my partner to oversee or control traffic as the rear blind spots can be quite large.

Parallel parking was a breeze. I did mount a curb during the first day turning into a supermarket parking lot. Thankfully I didn't hit anyone or any cars. 

Taking class 4 would be fun, but I can't see a real use getting it aside from some more tips and tricks about driving a large vehicle. 

1 week of campervaning is enough to get a good feel of 7.4m wide body driving. 

If you want to campervan in NZ, make sure you book early. You can save a few grand just by being early. Other good companies include Maui and Apollo. I'd say wilderness have one of the largest sized campervans running in NZ. Most are simple minivan converts. 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2022 by wilderness

[ScottyWittyKow]

@wilderness - Oh thats great. Which part of New Zealand you went? Hell, man. I loved the New Zealand indeed. Carefree, nature, the food and the weather. 

Last time I went there was 2017, Autumn. Self drive rental car, Don’t dare to drive campervan because of its size. 

Well, for Class 4, I took it mainly for the following reasons:

1) Maybe job retrench, at least won’t starve for the time being. Class 4 can drive buses, all you need to do is apply for Bus Vocationcal Driving Licence, go for the bus theory and test, and you’re good to go.

2) Extra classes of driving licence under your belt is always an advantage. No harm trying also. As compared to Class 2 & 3, it is considered cheaper in the sense that you no need to take so many lessons to achieve Class 4 & 5. You apply annual leaves also no need so many days. By the way, Class 4 only need 5 practicals and Class 5 need only 4 practicals. Both classes need to attend 1 theory lesson.

If you wanna take, better take now, because GST 8% next month kicks in, and never know when they jack up the price for the Class 4 & 5.
 

 

[wilderness]

@ScottyWittyKow

Thanks for sharing. Good points. Not sure if I want driving as a profession. I was quite stressed while driving in NZ, preferring to get to destination sooner because of road hogging stress. Maybe a different perspective would help. Big vehicle driving does take a bit more balls to not worry about hitting others.

It was only south island. Almost 3000km. Christchurch - Arthur's pass - grey mouth - fox glacier - Wanaka - queenstown - lumsden - Milford sound - Dunedin - lake pukaki - lake tekapo - Christchurch.

Wife was smart, suggest scenic routes all the time. Gravel roads sometimes but roads mostly empty.

Very varied driving experience. Winding mountainous roads or long flat stretches.

Use the rankers camping NZ app to find freedom or camper van parks and govt dump stations.

We black water dump maybe once in 3 days. Better dump early as odor spread on gravel or winding roads.

We campervan park every 3 days to do laundry and enjoy electricity nights.

Wife got a 30day DOC freedom camping voucher. Good value once you hit a certain number of days as individual parking can cost 25$ per pax per day.

Always chose top rated DOC conservation sites.

Roads are up to 100kmh. Many drivers hit that speed. But we do mostly 70kmh, sometimes 60. So always hogging. V stressed. Gotta signal left and sideline frequently to let ppl pass. Again not easy on single lane, windy and hilly roads and must check other side is clear and suitable to help passers. 

If I do it again I'd prefer a smaller vehicle. And schedule daily routes properly with distance and duration so that I'm not so stressed about getting somewhere without time awareness. Early summer time is good with sunlight from 5am till 9pm. We usually start at 9 and end by 7pm. 

Remember to reserve your van early! This time next year is good. Weather was 9 to 20 mostly but got down to 5 at pukaki (v windy) and up to 25 at Christchurch last month. 

 

Edited December 9, 2022 by wilderness

[AhSeng65]

On 12/8/2022 at 8:59 PM, wilderness said:

@ScottyWittyKow I actually just came back from a month's campervaning in NZ and was curious about getting class 4. That's how I found your post.

We booked a 7.4m king for 4 from wilderness. I'd say even without class 4, driving it wasnt difficult aside from the fact that south island is mostly single lane and the campervan is really quite wide body.

So I'm mostly concerned with going off lane or road hogging.

The vehicle design is such that i rely mostly on side mirrors and rear camera to guide reverse parking. Sometimes I need my partner to oversee or control traffic as the rear blind spots can be quite large.

Parallel parking was a breeze. I did mount a curb during the first day turning into a supermarket parking lot. Thankfully I didn't hit anyone or any cars. 

Taking class 4 would be fun, but I can't see a real use getting it aside from some more tips and tricks about driving a large vehicle. 

1 week of campervaning is enough to get a good feel of 7.4m wide body driving. 

If you want to campervan in NZ, make sure you book early. You can save a few grand just by being early. Other good companies include Maui and Apollo. I'd say wilderness have one of the largest sized campervans running in NZ. Most are simple minivan converts. 

 

 

 

 

So did you get a Class 4 license before you embarked on the campervan trip? I intend to go next year, and took up Class 4 just for driving campervan. Wasn't sure if the weight limit as described in the Class 3 license would pose a problem since most of the larger campervan would exceed that weight. In the end decided to take up the course, also as a way to learn how to handle a larger vehicle.

Edited December 11, 2022 by AhSeng65

[wilderness]

@AhSeng65

Nope, I haven't taken class 4.

NZ companies are familiar with Singapore. Our driver's license is accepted, even if the campervan weighs slightly over 3 ton.

Not too difficult driving the campervan. drives like a car, just taller and no internal rear view missor. Warms up within a day. I feel it's not a class experience issue. The driving challenge is with 1. single lane roads. 2. narrower road feel due to wide vehicle 3. Driving at 70kmh hogs the road.

The bothersome part is having to give way all the time. 

The turning radius you should be able to adapt quickly. 7.4m cannot do complete u turn on road. Must 3 point unless curb on both sides have lots of gravel space. Parking takes 2 lots long and can barely fit within 1 lot wide. 

 

 

 

 

 

[AhSeng65]

11 hours ago, wilderness said:

@AhSeng65

Nope, I haven't taken class 4.

NZ companies are familiar with Singapore. Our driver's license is accepted, even if the campervan weighs slightly over 3 ton.

I think this is a grey area. It is not only whether the rental company would accept your licence, but also the insurance coverage should something happen.

https://www.wilderness.co.nz/guides/driving-in-new-zealand

Their website has this sentence:

"You’ll need your current full driving licence or an International Driving Permit (IDP) from your home country. Check that your licence permits you to drive a vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of up to 3,650 kg."

For peace of mind, I decided to embark on the Class 4 course.

Edited December 12, 2022 by AhSeng65

[ManManMandy]

7 hours ago, AhSeng65 said:

I think this is a grey area. It is not only whether the rental company would accept your licence, but also the insurance coverage should something happen.

https://www.wilderness.co.nz/guides/driving-in-new-zealand

Their website has this sentence:

"You’ll need your current full driving licence or an International Driving Permit (IDP) from your home country. Check that your licence permits you to drive a vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of up to 3,650 kg."

For peace of mind, I decided to embark on the Class 4 course.

Yes, bro. Please do not play in the grey zone. I knew of someone who banged an RV in NZ and got himself into all sorts of liabilities because the police claimed that he didn't have a valid driving licence. He was just class 3A. Happened 2 years back, quite recent.

[ManManMandy]

On 10/3/2022 at 7:16 PM, mersaylee said:

Lust time I also drove unimog...a year and a half thereabout...neber bother about fc...becos ah gong paid...I just whacked...until peep peep peep...up to the 8th time then eased throttle...some driver vocation guys dared to try till the 9th beep... I scared sekali the brake fail me...so better to be on the safe side instead of kena sign extra for triggering the SWD counter...😁

Unimog driving is shiok. Ultimate can-go-anywhere machine. I asked LTA if I can import and convert to camper RV, they threw a brickload of excuses at me, immediate deterrence. Basically is can own but cannot be registered/on-the-road. LOL.

[mersaylee]

44 minutes ago, ManManMandy said:

Unimog driving is shiok. Ultimate can-go-anywhere machine. I asked LTA if I can import and convert to camper RV, they threw a brickload of excuses at me, immediate deterrence. Basically is can own but cannot be registered/on-the-road. LOL.

Got try Mindef directly to buy decommissioned unit? Sekali cum with smelly army boyz socks...😁

Agreed on the shiok driving on one...180 degree clear view even the wing mirrors were huge...light steering...powerful 4x4...climbed rocky kranji hill with ease...

 

[AhSeng65]

1 hour ago, ManManMandy said:

Yes, bro. Please do not play in the grey zone. I knew of someone who banged an RV in NZ and got himself into all sorts of liabilities because the police claimed that he didn't have a valid driving licence. He was just class 3A. Happened 2 years back, quite recent.

They should publicise such cases so that people don't take such risks.

[Babyckh]

21 hours ago, wilderness said:

@AhSeng65

 

Not too difficult driving the campervan. drives like a car, just taller and no internal rear view missor. Warms up within a day. I feel it's not a class experience issue. The driving challenge is with 1. single lane roads. 2. narrower road feel due to wide vehicle 3. Driving at 70kmh hogs the road.

 

That depend whether your front wheel is in front or behind you. If your seat is on top of the front wheels like those big lorries or behind you, you only turn your steering wheel when the kerb is roughly in line with your shoulder. You will mount the kerb if you turn too early. 

 

 

 

 

 

[ScottyWittyKow]

Who want take Class 5? Planning to take next year Jan.

Edited December 15, 2022 by ScottyWittyKow

[AhSeng65]

On 12/15/2022 at 6:21 PM, ScottyWittyKow said:

Who want take Class 5? Planning to take next year Jan.

How much is the course compared to Class 4? Is it difficult to pass?