I have been doing a lot of reading (online) and watching (on YouTube) about RV life and I'm slowly narrowing down what I want to do post-retirement. One thing I know for certain is if I stay on this continent, I want to rove, constantly.As it's just me, I don't need a lot and I've started to focus on smaller Class As (~30') and truck campers. The Class As certainly look liveable full-time. I'm really liking what I've seen and read about Newmar (BayStars and BayStar Sports, specifically) but I'm kinda thinking I would prefer to be off the beaten path more than I think a Class A can take me. Hence the parallel interest in truck campers. What I'd like to hear is about anyone with a 30'ish Class A who has taken their coach off the asphalt and onto BLM land, or something similar. How does a motorcoach deal with dirt? Friday I'm going to visit a dealer in Ohio and ask him the unthinkable. LOL

My coach deals with dirt just fine. Rough roads different story slow slow slow

I'm sure the dealer will tell you that their product will handle those dirt roads no problem. The reality is you better GO SLOW as the above post said. Watch for potholes.

one brand "earthroamer"not cheap, but built for off road off gridnot class A, but a special rugged class Ccheck those out, see if they Fit your budgetnext best thing is a 4 wheel drive truck with a Camper on ita good setup might cost close to the cheapest EarthRoamer

One rainstorm and you're done. I'm adventurous, but the F53 is not a good chassis for uneven surfaces. You could always install the 4x4 front axle and transfer case from the F-550 (it's crossed my mind, and it's within my capabilities).Personally for one person I like the TC. For bigger I'd look to a super C on a 4wd truck chassis.

There's "off road" and there's "OFF ROAD!" Reasonable dirt roads taken slowly would be ok. Look at reviews for opinions on the road. An indicator is the campsite length limit. I'm curious as to you saying 30 foot A or truck camper. Those two are very different. Rent both and try them.

Paging adventurous BayStar/BayStar Sport owners......

darsben1
Explorer
Aug 15, 2017
My coach deals with dirt just fine. Rough roads different story slow slow slow
crasster
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2017
I'm sure the dealer will tell you that their product will handle those dirt roads no problem. The reality is you better GO SLOW as the above post said. Watch for potholes.
MrWizard
Moderator
Aug 15, 2017
one brand "earthroamer"

not cheap, but built for off road off grid

not class A, but a special rugged class C

check those out, see if they Fit your budget

next best thing is a 4 wheel drive truck with a Camper on it
a good setup might cost close to the cheapest EarthRoamer
Ductape
Explorer
Aug 16, 2017
One rainstorm and you're done. I'm adventurous, but the F53 is not a good chassis for uneven surfaces. You could always install the 4x4 front axle and transfer case from the F-550 (it's crossed my mind, and it's within my capabilities).

Personally for one person I like the TC. For bigger I'd look to a super C on a 4wd truck chassis.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Aug 16, 2017
There's "off road" and there's "OFF ROAD!" Reasonable dirt roads taken slowly would be ok. Look at reviews for opinions on the road. An indicator is the campsite length limit. I'm curious as to you saying 30 foot A or truck camper. Those two are very different. Rent both and try them.
AllenTC2
Explorer
Aug 16, 2017
I wish I had the budget for an Earthroamer!!! LOL

And in fact my TC idea is a F450 chassis cab with maybe a SherpTek utility bed housing a Host Mammoth or Everest.

So the consensus is "Graded, maintained park gravel roads; fine. Otherwise, be very very wary."
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Aug 16, 2017
Out West you won't find much gravel on BLM, USFS, USF&WS etc. roads....dirt...unless the "soil" itself is decomposed granite such as on the Eastern Sierras. Tuttle Creek come to mind...little rocks!
Gjac
Explorer III
Aug 16, 2017
I would compare the specs on each MH you are considering for off paved road camping. I think in general what you will find is more capacities in a short A over a C or TC. Compare CCC, FW (more is better with no hookups), battery AH's, storage(you want to fit all your stuff), tire size and load capacity, and ground clearance. Going slow over or around pot holes is not a problem but having only 20 gals of FW when I could have 60 - 80 is a problem to me or not having my raft, oars,etc, fishing stuff or my bikes. Everything is a trade off but to me the important things are FW, storage, CCC, battery power, and GC in that order. If you tow a 4 wheel drive like a jeep in a small class A the jeep will take you places the other vehicles can't which to me would give you the best of both worlds.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Aug 16, 2017
"If you tow a 4 wheel drive like a jeep in a small class A the jeep will take you places the other vehicles can't which to me would give you the best of both worlds."

Gjac, yes! Or my TT and Tahoe. If I buy again probably go your way.
BigRabbitMan
Explorer
Aug 17, 2017
I like the length and low roof height of mine. Have gone a number of dirt roads with no issues. It is 29 ft with 60 gal fresh water and 60 gal fuel.