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!

[Davydd]

We have gone to a lot of places including Alaska and back, the gravel On Top of the World Highway to Dawson City, Yukon and many national forests on gravel roads. There is not a lot of need for 4x4. If you desire that rugged I think you would rattle and tear apart a typical B interior. A B is a big investment to abuse.

However, I came very close to ordering a Mercedes Benz Sprinter 4x4 which will be shipping the 1st quarter of 2015 but it was a tad too late for my needs. Advanced RV, I believe, already has customers and will be converting for them.

There are a lot of primitive out of the way campgrounds you can get to only with a Class B (or a truck camper you don't desire) mainly because of 24 ft. restrictions. But I haven't found the roads onerous to traverse other than maybe the width which could give truck campers and small Cs the willies.

[DiploStrat]

Tiger owners are nothing if not proud of their beasts.

Because of my work, I have driven dirt for most of my life and our Tiger, Ndeke Luka, handles wonderfully on dirt. Ndeke Luka

If you stick with a 4x2, then I like the following:

-- Mild lift to get the underpinnings out of the way and improve angles of attack and departure. Something like this: Lift Kit

-- The largest tires you can get away with for ground clearance and cushioning.

-- The softest springs that will handle the weight of you truck, to absorb shock and vibration without passing it through to the frame and passengers.

-- The longest wheel travel you can get to avoid bottoming. (Much the same reason.)

-- The biggest, stiffest shocks you can mount to limit fading and control sway.

-- Limited slip or locking differential for the soft stuff.

You may find that the folk who post here will have information to share: Vans at EXPO Portal Forum

Safe travels!

[Handbasket]

I drove my stock '01/'02 Chevy Roadtrek 190 on quite a few Forest Service dirt roads during the roughly two years I had it. A lot of such roads around here are quite steep, and a few were pretty badly rutted. Being a gear head, I knew quite well where the lowest point under it was (generator exhaust) to avoid dragging it. I only did it in dry weather. Keep in mind that the early Chevy Express Roadtrek has very little ground clearance, even compared to other B's.

In looking for a better mobility in a similar size, I found the Tiger CX. It's a B-sized C. It's much the same size as a small truck camper, at 19' on a standard cab, but has the B/C virtue of cab-to-coach access. More ground clearance & larger tanks than most B's, OEM four wheel drive, and choice of engines, chassis brand, and cab trim level. Definitely short on stealth, tho'. www.tigervehicles.com

Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

[NCWriter]

We've carefully taken our B down many dirt/rough roads in Newfoundland and the American Southwest - around Moab...Cajon (outlying ruins grouped with Hovenweep National Monument)...Chaco Canyon. Some of those roads will shake the fillings out of your teeth, but the van emerged unscathed.

Of course, conversions have stuff hanging beneath you don't want to damage. Our ground clearance is 8.5" at the lowest point (sewer pipe) and 12" at the back.

If I were planning to do extensive rough road travel, I'd look at a Tiger. Pricier than many of the Bs, though.

[ed6713]

Buy anything you want, then take it here.

4x4. Conversion

[Islandman]

Last summer we drove our PW Excel up to Yukon and NWT and went thru BC on the way. Travelled on many miles of gravel road with no problems, just have good tires and be prepared for windshield chips from passing motorists. We were lucky and had no damage except the small trailer we were pulling suffered a bent coupler. We just took our time and fortunately the roads were reasonably well maintained and we didn't have to back up to find a turnout or widespot when meeting some other vehicle on a narrow roadway. And the roads were not too dusty so we didn't suffer that way. Saw some beautiful country that the guys in big Class A's never could because of their RV size. Just take it easy and make sure your outfit is in good shape.