Able to handle dirt roads other than a Sportsmobile.

[jdtrotter]

We are not new to RV net as we had a Casita Trailer we drove from coast to coast in the US and into Mexico, and we had a truck and camper we drove all over the US and Canada, but we abandoned this way of travel when we bought our house in Baja. After a few great years, we have sold that house and are ready to try something new --- a small Class B.

We don't know if we will go new or used, but small is what we want, and we love to head out dirt roads and boondock. We are not looking to do boulder and creek hoping, but want something that handles dirt roads well; slow but well.

I did a search and seemed to find answers that said we need to buy a truck and camper again, that that is not what we want.

Please, I want to hear experiences of driving Class Bs out dirt roads.

Thanks --- we have always found this forum to be very informative!

[jdtrotter]

Once again, thanks for the input. We have not completely eliminated the idea of a truck and camper.

For dirt roads, we are used to our Subaru with an 8 1/2 clearance which is MOST of the time okay. Decisions, decisions, and all the input just helps us along.

[arm]

I agree with MickD. Have traveled on some roads I shouldn't have and washboard is the worst, but I still have most of the fillings in my teeth. A good gravel road has never been an issue, but ruts with a high centre is where the damage can occur because the centre is your lowest spot. Have repaired the sewer dump pipe twice, (high centre roads) and microwave bracket with a thicker one, from washboard roads. Going SLOW is the name of the game.

The "B" has been great for boondocking and semi rough roads not too far off the beaten track.

The more I go exploring, the more I think of going back to my 4x4 truck and camper.

Good luck!

[Kimbopolo]

Well, you've touched on the only issue that would make me reluctant to purchase another Roadtrek. 😞

I have about a 5" clearance and break into a sweat just thinking about taking her off-road. I haven't really tried it yet and fortunately haven't had to, but I don't think it would go well.

Even driving on a gravel road can be problematic when I get up to speed back on blacktop. The gravel releases from the tire tread and pings all around the undercarriage like a pinball machine. It's unsettling and potentially harmful to the soft underbelly, I imagine.

OTOH, I consider my RT to be extremely well-insulated. This was rather a surprise to me until I realized that RTs are made in Canada.

[MickD]

I have taken our older Class B over roads and to places I probably shouldn't have but with care and sometimes getting out and walking ahead to scout the road you can take it to a lot of places. The key even on relative nice roads is "GO SLOW". A washboard road will shake the RV to pieces.

[rockymtnb]

I would second the recommendation for a 2015 4x4 short wheelbase Sprinter if you want to stick with a Class B van camper. We often travel and camp in remote BLM and USFS areas where long stretches of washboard road and high clearance traverses of washouts are common. Our current short wheelbase Sportsmobile Sprinter is actually better for backroad travel than our previous AWD Provan Tiger XL (as pictured earlier in this thread) in all ways except the occasional desire for 4wd.

The constant pounding and dirt infiltration of extended unpaved travel really does a number on traditional RV components such as externally vented water heaters, furnaces, LP refrigerators, under vehicle tanks, running boards and generators. That's why expedition van converters like Outside Van, Sportsmobile, and Van Specialities generally use internal tankage, cassette toilets, sealed combustion diesel or electric appliances, compressor refrigerators, and large AGM sealed batteries with solar charging. Anything that involves cutting holes in the side of the van or hanging below the chassis is avoided if possible.

I've noticed newer Tiger Malayan units now have sealed combustion Propex furnaces, cassette toilets, compression refrigerators and big solar packs, so they appear to have addressed the off pavement shortcomings of our older Tiger XL in a similar manner.

Of course it's a trade-off, the characteristics that make a good off-pavement vehicle run counter to the facilities expected in road cruiser with comfortable step-up running boards and full RV hookups. And the units discussed above are NOT for Jeep trails, for that you'd need the full-on Sportsmobile 4WD conversion with high articulation suspension, 33 inch wheels, pneumatic diff lockers, and similar goodies.

[RobertRyan]

Davydd wrote:
The 4x4 Sprinter will be 3.1" higher in the back and 4" higher in the front.

Video of a 4x4 Sprinter through DesertHorizon Motorhomes 4x4 Sprinter

[jdtrotter]

Davydd wrote:
The 4x4 Sprinter will be 3.1" higher in the back and 4" higher in the front.

That will make a big difference --- I imagine the price is going to be quite high.

[Sebtown]

That should make a huge improvement when it comes to back roads even if you don't use the 4x4 function. Of course if they decided to go AWD it would be the bomb.

[Davydd]

The 4x4 Sprinter will be 3.1" higher in the back and 4" higher in the front.

[jdtrotter]

Thanks for the continued replies. We will be looking at several options. All information and feedback is very APPRECIATED.

[Sebtown]

I have an 06/07 airstream 158" interstate. The only thing lower than the sewar hose storage is a upside down T shaped skid that I some how managed to shear off driving off road in the Sierras a couple of weeks ago. A Sprinter based B may not be the best for off roading. I don't recall ever bottoming out my Ford and being younger I used to take it on some pretty rough roads. I like the cab to cabin convenience of a B but if I was going to do any serious driving off road I would opt for a truck and camper. Maybe the new 4x4 Sprinters will have more adequate clearances.

[DiploStrat]

jdtrotter wrote:


We really enjoyed our Casita Fiberglass trailer, but the pipes were very quick to freeze.

Newer Tigers don't freeze anything, at least not down to about 20F.





More pictures here: Ndeke Luka

[Handbasket]

Since you mentioned 'small', you might also look at the Tiger GT or XL. It looks like a C, but is by definition a B, since GM never made a cutaway Astro van. IIRC, the GT is the pop-up version, the XL the hardtop. They are scarce, and I think the last ones were made in '05 by Provan, which became Tiger Vehicles.

Most were 2WD. Some were GM OEM AWD. A few were converted to full-on 4x4 by a 3rd party.

Here's a pic of one such:

Jim, "Corect speling is for pedents."

[jdtrotter]

THANKS --- more information to study and think about. We also like to travel off season, so I imagine that some are better suited for cold weather?

We really enjoyed our Casita Fiberglass trailer, but the pipes were very quick to freeze.

Off to study some of the links you kindly provided.