Forum Discussion

Halmfamily's avatar
Halmfamily
Explorer
Mar 09, 2014

Would you take your fiver down a fire road?

The campground we like to visit is in the Talladega National Forest and the main road to the campground has been washed out. The detour is a fire road that is fairly rough and not very wide, drove it today without the fiver. Would you take your fiver down a road like this? I would think you would have to just about idle the entire way as to not beat the fiver up. I am afraid I would end up breaking something trying this. What's your thought?
  • Blackcell's avatar
    Blackcell
    Explorer
    Mar 25, 2014
    Did this once and the road had plenty of clearance (width/height) but was rough. Only 3 miles but might as well been 30. Aside from pulling into campground lots my tires stay on pavement. Also seeing scenes like this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icXipapYSmg) are a keen reminder to keep myself outta trouble.
  • jnphobe's avatar
    jnphobe
    Explorer
    Mar 24, 2014
    I do that every time I go to my camp in the Allegeney National Forrest 3/4 mile of logging road. Just watch your clearances.
  • flylipsdaddy's avatar
    flylipsdaddy
    Explorer
    Mar 23, 2014
    A 40 footer on a back road - Not me,even with good clearances they are just TOO Heavy for balancing on one wheel from time to time{across ruts or tire grooves}.Took our 25 footer to Alaska and found with that size 5 er you check ground clearance AND Overhead clearance.25 can turn a darn short corner - 40 Can't!!! And turning around at the END???
  • Deb_and_Ed_M's avatar
    Deb_and_Ed_M
    Explorer II
    Mar 10, 2014
    "Narrow" makes me wince - we were driving on a narrow gravel road in our Class C (same width as a 5er) and encountered the local UPS truck coming from the other direction. We pulled as far as we could to the right, the truck was able to pass by about a fraction of an inch; but our step had hung up on a dirt berm and as we moved forward again, we destroyed it. So even if overhead "things" don't get you, low-lying dangers lurk also.
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Mar 10, 2014
    Halmfamily wrote:
    The campground we like to visit is in the Talladega National Forest and the main road to the campground has been washed out. The detour is a fire road that is fairly rough and not very wide, drove it today without the fiver. Would you take your fiver down a road like this? I would think you would have to just about idle the entire way as to not beat the fiver up. I am afraid I would end up breaking something trying this. What's your thought?


    If you're in your 40' FW, and the road isn't real straight, I'd say "no", since you say it's narrow. I've got a 30' OAL rig and do take it on a rarely-graded road to an annual camp out. Road is plenty wide in most places, but has rocky patches. I run in 4LO the entire mile up to our spot, just to make life easier.

    Lyle
  • FlatBroke's avatar
    FlatBroke
    Explorer II
    Mar 10, 2014
    No. That's why I miss my Snowriver truck camper. Getting to the back woods to met some of our friends for a week end ATV rides is out of the question now. Kick my own butt wishing we hadn't sold it. However, the fifth wheel does fit us better for our winter stays in AZ.
  • rtazz17's avatar
    rtazz17
    Explorer
    Mar 09, 2014
    As said,nobody has seen this road except you.You know what you should do..If I thought I could do it safely I wouldnt hesitate.

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