Community Forums

mbridinger · 12-04-2021, 11:08 AM

I have a boondocking site that is 12 miles from pavement. The road is only bad due to the washboards. Has anyone had luck lowering tire pressure and/or airbags? Yes, I already drive slow.

Warrenjo · 12-04-2021, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbridinger

I have a boondocking site that is 12 miles from pavement. The road is only bad due to the washboards. Has anyone had luck lowering tire pressure and/or airbags? Yes, I already drive slow.

Sometimes it helps to drive a little faster (around 45).

Podivin · 12-04-2021, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warrenjo

Sometimes it helps to drive a little faster (around 45).

On a washboard road??? - I've NEVER had that work in any vehicle. Grew up in country driving on gravel. Besides, typically the washboards are in an intersection where people are slowing down and speeding up, so you wouldn't want to blow through at 45 mph.

OP, lowering the pressure in your tires would make it better, BUT you run the risk of damaging the tire sidewall due to flexing (which will be increased because of the rough road). And you'd sure want to air the tires back up to the proper pressure before you drove any distance.

twogypsies · 12-04-2021, 01:46 PM

Drive slow and DON'T lower a motorhome's pressure. We've done some of those roads to get to beautiful places. Slow = very little dust!

Old-Biscuit · 12-04-2021, 02:02 PM

Had to drive every day to/from house on washboard road

Car, Truck, motorcycle, truck towing 5th wheel

Had to speed up and find the sweet spot on each vehicle where the suspension was smoothing out the washboards.
Some was 25 mph. some was 35 mph
Want to find that speed where you are basically riding on the 'peaks'

And YES same with MH

profdan · 12-04-2021, 06:45 PM

It depends! If you are towing, slow way down and settle in for a nice long drive. Speaking as a trailer guy, I dread washboard while towing.

If you are not towing, and you have a vehicle with an off-road suspension, try various speeds -- there is often a sweet spot around 30 mph. The truck seems to glide over the washboards. It's miraculous, but I have tried it many times, and this really happens.

I think there is a harmonic frequency of the suspension -- the wheels bounce in unison, somehow.

This does not always work, but it often does.

But please don't do 30 mph in an area where there are people camped near the road -- anything over 20 mph will kick up a lot of dust.

Gammel · 12-10-2021, 03:09 PM

"If you are not towing, and you have a vehicle with an off-road suspension, try various speeds -- there is often a sweet spot around 30 mph. The truck seems to glide over the washboards. It's miraculous, but I have tried it many times, and this really happens."

True dat. This was a couple of days ago. Moderate washboards - 35-40 mph! Granted, it was sandy and I was in a Tremor.

8 sec vid:
https://youtu.be/L89e1bg4DvQ

Rocinante440 · 12-10-2021, 04:10 PM

We found the same in our Ram 1500 - at the right speed, we could just kinda float over the washboard. However, remember that while "floating" over a washboard, you have little traction for turns or emergency stops because the truck's wheels are spending an interesting percentage of time in the air vs. on the ground.

mbridinger · 12-11-2021, 09:48 AM

Ho Hum

Ramo1 · 12-11-2021, 07:24 PM

If traffic allows you can drive on the opposite side of the road, against the normal traffic direction. Obviously, only if you have the road to yourself.