Tuff Truck Challenge

The Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge (TTC) is a three day, hard as they come, 4WD competition event. The TTC is gruelling and enduring, and provides a real test for competing teams as they push themselves and their vehicles to the absolute limit. Boulders, Rock, Mud, Giant Tyres, Deep Deep Holes and Ruts make up the terrain that competitors must conquer… in hope of taking out the annual perpetual Tuff Truck trophy.

The basis of the event-4WD competition:

Each competing team consists of two people and their vehicle. The three-day event has twelve stages, which consists of one static, ten driving sections and the addition of Verification as a stage, which goes towards each competing team’s points tally.

With the introduction of Verification, teams are checked against tally sheets of compliance in accordance to vehicle rules and regulations such as safety, recovery items, etc. The second static stage is “Show n’ Shine/Engineering”. The Show n’ Shine aspect relates to finer detail of the vehicle’s aesthetic appearance including cleanliness and tidiness. The Engineering aspect involves judging of a vehicle’s engineering features and attributes. Though by the end of the weekend, Show n’ Shine is pretty much forgotten as many of the trucks are not looking to tidy or clean.

The driving stages are predominantly all terrain type courses of which the teams must manoeuvre their vehicles through some rocky and muddy situations against a point scoring system.

The spectator’s (definitely not the competitor’s) favourite is the night mud event ‘Mudrat’s Revenge’. This stage is run under lights on both Friday & Saturday nights. Not viewable by the general public is the mystery night stage, but this makes for good viewing TTTV LiveStream and Tuff Telly at the event (an outdoor television the size of a truck!).

Another stage includes the Travel Ramp. For those that haven’t seen it before this is a brilliant stage to watch. Each vehicle must drive up the 30° ramp in an attempt to gain drive against their wheelbase and show who has the most amount of travel in their suspension system.

The balance of the 12 stages is spread out through the weekend and creates some absolute feats of driving by many of the skilled teams.

From the start:

The Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge, (previously known as the Tuff Truck Challenge) started in 2001. The Tuff Truck Challenge was initially created, organised and run by the All Terrain 4WD Club (AT4) via some real 4WD competition enthusiasts that belonged to that club. But whilst it had small beginnings, its format set the standard for all future short-course 4WD events.

From humble beginnings with only 33 competitors, to the event restricted 75 team limit event that you see in 2015, the Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge has become one of the biggest and most widely attended events on the Australian 4WD event calendar, quite simply because it can offer something for everyone.

Spectators:

Depending on who you are and where you’ve just come from, the Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge means a lot of different things. If you’ve just driven down from Darwin, or flown in from New Zealand, The Philippines or US, the Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge is obviously more than just another 4WD event.

For the full-tilt, hardcore off-road event fans… The Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge is as close to Nirvana as it gets! There’s three days of metal crunching, axle-busting action and it’s all within walking distance of your campsite. With up to 8 of the stages running at the same time, there’s not a lot of time to be bored, so even the most ardent fan will have plenty to keep them happy.

After the mud stage, Saturday night includes a band, and the revelry goes long into the night. Full catering, top camping facilities are all part of the aspects that culminate to make the Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge one of the most enjoyed weekends of the year.

For the mums and kids, to take time out or watch the action. There are activities for the kids to participate in such as wall climbing, face painting etc. Also, on display is mini Tuff Trucks in the RC crawlers. There is the option to take in the vineyards of the Hunter Valley whilst in the area. See more activities at Tuff Truck

Camping areas are split into two types with general camping for those who might prefer late nights and an area allocated specifically for families. Clean toilet facilities and the option of showers are available. So if it’s a relaxing, no hassle, social weekend you are after, the Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge is the place to be. It’s a family event, and has something to offer for all of the family.

Incorporated into the event is Exhibitor’s Alley, where members of the 4WD industry and abroad can showcase their products and engineering within an event whose patrons are specific to their target markets. This offers both sellers and buyers the opportunity to see what’s new in the market and to interact on a more relaxed level. Want to show your wares?

Merchandise:

The Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge provides the best in apparel for 4WDers for that year. Available at and post event is the years range of shirts that becomes a 4WD owner’s fashion statement (at least we’d like to think so). Other merchandise items on offer include stubby holders, ladies tank tops, kids t-shirts, lanyards, bucket hats, caps, beanies and much more. If you can’t get to the event, you can purchase your Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge merchandise via the website.

The Tough Dog Tuff Truck Challenge is run once a year in the infamous Hunter Valley at Milbrodale usually two weeks prior to Easter. The entrance to fantastic property is just off Milbrodale Road, 50 metres from the Putty Road and is approximately 26km south of Singleton. Need directions?

The Event Info page provides a greater insight into the event, so scroll through and many questions that you might have will be answered.

Buy tickets online now