Camping on rough roads

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Camping on rough roads

April 27, 2020, 10:50:11 am

Went riding our 4-wheelers yesterday. The road into the staging area and camp grounds ( BLM, dry camping ) is full of rocks, ruts and dips. Low and behold, we start riding and some guy had his 36 foot Monaco camped off the lousy road and enjoying himself. Must of had a new air system to survive this road. Of course, eventually he still has to drive out.
I just couldn't believe it would go in on that road.

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #1 – April 27, 2020, 11:01:32 am

Don't have a picture of the road that got us here but you can get the idea. No air bags either.

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #2 – April 27, 2020, 12:04:48 pm

Most would never dream of bringing their coach too places where we boondocked. Even my DW thought I was a bit "touched" to bring the coach in some of what turned out to be our favorite spots. But then we don't have a bright shiny full body painted coach, and that was by plan.

Roland

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #3 – April 27, 2020, 12:49:53 pm

Amazing

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #4 – April 27, 2020, 01:33:39 pm

The year before we got our Foretravel, we drove in about 8 miles on a really rough corrugated road. Later on in the week I heard two large motorcycles go by up into the dead end. (Oh, the Hells Angels were up in Northern Wisconsin at the time)
I went out in the CG road with a Coors beer in each hand. The two bikers came to a stop, got off their bikes and each took a beer.
I told them that anyone who would ride 8 miles in on that rough road NEEDED a beer.
Their reply was nothing like this had ever happened to them.
One guy had "NATIVE AMERICAN" tattooed on his shoulder. I stood on the picnic table seat and was able to look him in the eye! (I was 5'11" at the time)
He asked for pencil and paper, wrote his name and address, and then told us that if we were ever up in his neighborhood, to call and he would bring over the biggest bag of walleye fillets we would ever see!!
Doesn't hurt to be nice--until it is time to stop being nice (in other words--GET OUTA DODGE!!)

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #5 – April 28, 2020, 12:39:08 am

Just got back from just north of Lake Pleasant out side of Wickenburg Az. 4 miles down a rough rock road through washes and hills. Photo is our friends Silver Eagle. Great spot Burros walking through at night along with a few coyotes. Excellent spot for social distancing.

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #6 – April 28, 2020, 01:33:20 am

For the 1st 10 year I full timed I was prospecting for gold and living in a 1981 Foretravel. I drove many miles on rough roads in NV and AZ and learned to go real slow because I had more time than money. Perhaps the roughest roads were at a place called Rich Hill near Stanton AZ. That road in is littered with various parts from a variety of vehicles. One guy had the windshield drop right out of what I believe was a Monaco on that road.
I quit prospecting when I bought my current coach in 2015 and wouldn't think of taking this coach to most of the places I went in the old coach. I have always had a Suzuki Samurai so I can still get to anywhere but I keep this coach pretty much on the pavement.

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #7 – April 28, 2020, 02:34:28 am

My experience is that the grand villas unihomes would twist the body quite a bit off road. Popped a few windshields out of their moldings. The ftx was much stiffer as were the chassis grand villas.

The unicoach is structurally stiffer.

Country coaches were welded stiffer. Foretravels are bolted together sub assemblies.

Off roading in the original unihomes with the floor mounted leveling controls allowed large adjustments to be made and retained until moved. Really handy.

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #8 – April 28, 2020, 02:54:02 am

The road into Chaco Canyon is intentionally rough, I am told. Minimal maintenance deters the faint-of-heart from visiting this sacred and World Heritage Site. I have been there 7 times, four in our U270. I call it a three-beer road. I am on my second set of shocks. We do not have a slide.

Usually, I have had a mystical experience during each visit. Last time, I reburied my father. The stars are magnificent.

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Reply #9 – April 28, 2020, 08:38:26 am

I was also thinking of the road into Chaco Canyon, Lewis. Even in our Jeep it was rough. And we were surprised at what we saw in the campground. People who really wanted to be there, even a couple motorhomes. Twenty miles of rough rock and dirt road to get there.

It really is an amazing place to visit and to wonder and learn about the center of Ancestral Puebloan Culture 1000 years ago.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #10 – April 28, 2020, 09:49:22 am

And I thought that Quartzite was roughing it! Just thinking out loud!

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #11 – April 28, 2020, 11:40:16 am

One of the reasons my next coach is going to be an expedition style.

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #12 – April 28, 2020, 12:00:07 pm

Last May we tried to get into 10X at the Grand Canyon, but no spots were available. One of the camp hosts suggested heading a mile up the road and take the dirt road onto the BLM lands.
I followed his advice and drove on a passable dirt road, just had to take it very slow, and found this spot!
No neighbors and an awesome spot!!!

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #13 – April 28, 2020, 12:11:40 pm

The worst thing is when a narrow rough road becomes impassible and turning the coach around is impossible. I once had to disconnect my Samurai, drive it back to a place where I could turn the coach around, walk back to the coach and then back the coach out, turn it around and hook up the Samurai again. It was hot that day.

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #14 – April 28, 2020, 03:32:44 pm

I found easing over washboard roads to be very, very rough. Then I found adding a few mph made it a non event.

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Reply #15 – April 29, 2020, 01:19:13 am

Quote from: Chuck Pearson – April 28, 2020, 03:32:44 pm

I found easing over washboard roads to be very, very rough. Then I found adding a few mph made it a non event.

Yes, that works -- if you don't hit a big bump.

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #16 – April 29, 2020, 04:38:58 pm

Quote from: Dakota Slim – April 29, 2020, 01:19:13 am

Yes, that works -- if you don't hit a big bump.

Constant vigilance, a big bump could be a pain in the bulkhead. Ouch.

Does seem that the right amount of speed gets the suspension working rather than the whole coach absorbing the bumps.

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #17 – April 29, 2020, 06:18:40 pm

If you have a GV with the air intake right behind the right rear tires, you have to take it dead slow or a short distance in the dirt will clog the air cleaner. A fatal design flaw, especially for off road/gravel/dirt. And if the air cleaner has a tear or something to allow dirt to get by...

Pierce

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #18 – May 01, 2020, 01:31:13 am

I have taken my U270 16 miles down gravel and rough roads on two occasions. Great once you are there, but not the native habitat of a Foretravel. The first time was in the dark. Never found the campsite. Just finally parked in the road and went to bed. My son came knocking on the door the next morning. I asked how he found me. "You were visible for miles "

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #19 – May 02, 2020, 04:34:10 pm

From years ago, I remember our first night and the Ranger talk at Big Bend. He began, "I congratulate each of you for being here. You are brave enough to leave the Interstate and ...."

Re: Camping on rough roads

Reply #20 – May 02, 2020, 04:58:08 pm

Quote from: Lewis Anderson – May 02, 2020, 04:34:10 pm

From years ago, I remember our first night and the Ranger talk at Big Bend. He began, "I congratulate each of you for being here. You are brave enough to leave the Interstate and ...."

Ya, haven't been there in two months. The "road less traveled"!

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Reply #21 – May 02, 2020, 05:14:13 pm

For those of us who are familiar with the Tucson area, we drove to the end of tanque verde and over reddington pass. We boondocked up there overnight then carried on to Benson where I dumped out the duck bill can on the bottom of the air cleaner and off we went. That's about 55 miles of desert dirt road.

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