The role of the tailgunner (or co-leader)

[leiniesred]

The tail gunner isn't just the guy in the back eating dust.
The trail gunner has the same responsibilities as the trail leader. It is a great way to "ease into" the trail leader roll.

One thing the tailgunner does for the leader on the trail is to make sure everyone stays together. At a branching of the trail or at a significant obstacle, the tailgunner has a duty to report to the trail leader that everyone has made the turn or cleared the obstacle.

"Leiniesred, this is Yoder at the back of the group. Everyone has made the left hand turn to Gold Bar Rim."
"Thank you, Scott."


What are some other important jobs the tailgunner/ co-leader has on the trail?

 

[60wag]

It's also to pick up the pieces that fall off of the trucks along the run.

 

[nakman]

If a group needs to split up for some reason (mechanical issue, some stay back) it's fairly common that the tail gunner becomes the new leader for one of the groups. Not always, and not necessary which one, that's up to the leader/gunner to decide... but it's why the tail gunner should generally have a pretty good idea of the trail, and how to get out of there.

Also, for trails with one or two "big" obstacles, where everyone on the run pretty much watches everyone on the run, the tail gunner can often be the best designated spotter. That allows the leader to move up once a good portion of the group has surpassed said obstacle, and get the group started on the next one. Great example is Kane Creek- tail gunner stays back to spot and makes sure everyone is past the shelf road, while the leader gets the first few rigs queued up for the waterfall at the end. And since later in the day there are more competing Jeeps, quads, and motorcycles.. briefly splitting up into two groups helps manage that a little better as well.

 

[leiniesred]

Good point, Bruce.

Everyone needs to watch the truck and trail in front of them for leakage and things falling off.

 

[Cheeseman]

There have times where the tailgunner is a good mechanic and stays with the trail fix until it is done either helping or just "making sure" of........

This person has escorted a vehicle out of the trail and then return to the group depending on where the group is.