G'day, I am sue as many with DRW as there are SRW, take their Truck And Camper OffRoad cautiously.Where have you have been in your Dually and have you had any damage?

My 1969 Avion C-11 had been in the family since new. It was put onto a new 1977 Chevy K-30 Dually and taken up some fairly steep, rocky hills. It would actually rip rubber chunks off of the factory Firestone tires. There was never any damage to the truck, but the tires didn't hold up very well. With the truck in 4x4 low, and 10,000# on the truck, there was a lot of strain on the tires. The only thing to watch out for when you were done it to make sure there are no rocks wedged between the duals. That particular TC combination was taken all over Arizona. I bought it in 1983 and sold the truck in 1994.

Cautiously is the watch word. I will attempt quite extreme roads but what often stops me is overhead clearance. 4WD roads here in the US west, particularly in the forests, are overgrown above the road. There is a nearby 4WD road that services radio transmitters on top of a mountain peak. Propane trucks have to make it to the site. The main approach to the beginning of the 4WD road is up a very sandy arroyo (dry creek bed). We take a longer alternative road as the propane trucks do, and then slowly work our way to the top. 360 degree views are fantastic and summer weather cooler than the nearby high desert. It has startled some jeepers to see us up there.The other downside, not necessarily unique to DRW trucks, are the desert pinstripes on our camper from the vegetation along the side of 4WD roads. Should be a common occurrence in Australia too.Rick

Let's see.... bunch of USFS campgrounds in the Cascade mountains, drove it through the National Bison Range in it's entirety in Montana, whole lot of hair pin turns and steep steep grades, lot of 2-lo climbing there :).

In the southwest deserts of CA, AZ and some remote areas in Oregon, just take your time, plot your course and at times I have used spotter for some of the more challanging areas to a help avoid any serious damage. Damgage for me sofar has mostly been scraps and scratches. Unigue problems with a DRW is width of the fenders and the duals collecting rocks.

I take my truck and camper off road every year hunting, we have also been up the dumpster to the artic circle great trip just keep the speed down with a load on the truck have had no issues, I have had issues however when driving in mud or snow with no load the duel rear wheels will ride up on the snow and mud causing loss of traction not a big issue as my truck is a dodge 1 ton dully 4x4, also a good thing to check is for rocks stuck between the duel tires the rock can come out like it was shot out of a cannon, when you come back onto highway stop and check for this you might save a life. Good luck with your truck.

Where Have You Taken Your 4x4 Dually Pickup & TC OffRoad

21 Replies

RobertRyan
Explorer
May 19, 2013
Little bit of clarification for NA Posters.
The first photo the Trak Shak is a Off Road Utility Trailer
The second shows a Kimberley Kamper a Crossover halfway between an Off Road Camper Trailer and a Caravan.The One running across rocks and camped in the US.
Lastly is an Off Road Caravan.
Crossover Kimberley Karavan Interior

Palace on wheels Off Road Caravan Roadstar Safari
RobertRyan
Explorer
May 19, 2013
Sheriffdoug wrote:
been all over Australia, many times with Trak Shak camper trailer for 16 years,

You wife is not the only one who wants to move up from a Utility Camper. A lot of people are going to those Off Road Caravans, last Sydney Show only Millard(in a separate area) and Active Campers(got quite a few looking)and the US Puma(Not many interested) were the only traditional TC's there. The rest were Crossovers and Unconventional TC's(quite a few looking , especially the Tvan, Bolwell)
Sheriffdoug
Explorer
May 17, 2013
Hello All,
54 Suds, Great pictures & wonderful rig. Let's me know what mine will approximately look like.
2Blazers, looking at your signature, that some impressive gear you take with you.
RobertRyan, like those Australian rigs, but want more comfort & amenity, now 58,
been all over Australia, many times with Trak Shak camper trailer for 16 years,
wife wants Caravan/Travel Trailer, Truck Camper is our compromise.
Drive a large US Pickup truck with big V8 diesel and Truck Camper and you will understand the desire, amenity, parking, COMFORT, etc, that is Truck Camping!
Love those Dodge Ram Dually pictures. Liked my 2002 F250 and 2011 Chev 2500hd as well. Looking forward to Ram 3500 4x4 lb crew diesel Laramie as well.
Thank You, all for sharing with me. More please!
2BLAZERS
Explorer
May 17, 2013
Lots of Forest Service and Oregon State Forestry land dirt/gravel roads. I basically haul the truck and TC pulling a trailer with quads and a RZR for the REAL offroad fun....

4 wheel drive sometimes needed during the wet season and/or when we camp in snow. A lot of the roads can be 4 inches of muck so I run Goodyear Duratrac tires for traction and carry chains too.
4xMike
Explorer
May 16, 2013
wnjj wrote:
I can't believe nobody has posted a link to this thread. It really shows where you can take a dually & camper.

Hangin' a wheel with an Arctic Fox onboard? Niiiice!
RobertRyan
Explorer
May 16, 2013
wnjj wrote:
I can't believe nobody has posted a link to this thread. It really shows where you can take a dually & camper.

Looks very limited. You could take an Off Road Caravan over basically the same road. Smaller TC's/Conventional/Unconventional would do a better job.
This is a Kimberley Karavan, CamperTrailer not an OFF Road Caravan in the US
wnjj
Explorer II
May 16, 2013
I can't believe nobody has posted a link to this thread. It really shows where you can take a dually & camper.
Scott16
Explorer
May 16, 2013
Great pictures.
This is what i like to know about TC's and Dually's off roading. The limits on where you can go, driving slowly and taking your time.
54suds
Explorer
May 16, 2013
Moab ,Utah Death Valley Big Bend N.P Texas Crazy Woman trail ,WY Mexican Hat ,Ut. North east kingdom ,Vermont
RobertRyan
Explorer
May 16, 2013
Kata Gorge

Katherine River