4WDers are arseholes

And we now have proof

FORGET the fit, rugged, 30-or-so-year-old navigating flood plains and climbing mountains in snazzy four-wheel-drives depicted in commercials.

In reality, the drivers are often obese, aggressive, intolerant and aged in their 40s or 50s.

An Australia Institute study has found that city owners of large four-wheel-drives are less community minded than other drivers, less charitable, more likely to be homophobic and have a low opinion of Aboriginal culture.

It also found they are more likely to use force to get their way.

Based on a Roy Morgan Research survey in 2003-04 of 24,718 people aged 14 and over, it found the typical city four-wheel-drive owner is a man in his 40s or 50s in full-time work with a higher-than-average income.

Two-thirds of their drivers in the city are overweight or obese.

They also had a lower regard for the welfare system than the rest of the population.

"These drivers tend to see themselves as rugged individualists who like physical activity," the report's authors, Clive Hamilton and Claire Barbato, said.

Of course GENUINE 4WDers (like we met on our trip) are delightful folks.

But, for the rest of you maniacs: Kill yourselves- suck a tailpipe, hang yourself, borrow a pistol, do what you gotta do*

*apologies Bill Hicks.