"off-roading" - frame twisting in a C

[nomad_289]

What is the maximum diagonal height difference that the suspension will accommodate without twisting the frame?

Found a great boon-docking site, but the "jeep trail" road was off-camber and rose about 1.5 feet higher on one side than the other. When departing, noticed considerable creaking sounds from the wood frame motor-home "box". Repeated twisting like this would likely loosen fasteners and develop squeaks and rattles(?) This could also occur leaving a high steep parking lot, etc at an angle.

Earth-roamer and Bengal Tiger have 3-point mounting systems to allow frame to flex independently from box. What's a safe off-camber diagonal height for a normal C?

[pnichols]

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[pnichols]

Good old fashioned classic link tire chains (NOT those with cables) work about the best one can expect in mud when used on both the driving wheels and the steering wheels. I believe hunters use fully chained up 4x4 pickups a lot for going where they want to go on really bad roads.

I once went hunting with a friend in a fully chained Ford 4X4 pickup up into Utah's Uinta mountains. By the time we got up to the higher altitudes where we hunted, the snow was so deep that it was plowing up over the hood as we moved forward uphill. It made a believer out of me on what a fully chain 4X4 pickup was capable of on foul roads ... wow!

FWIW, in that YouTube video link I gave above I can't quite tell if that Class C rig is chained up or not. It's hard to believe that rig could have done what it did without them. If it wasn't chained, then it must have been pure weight (probably 2000 lbs or more on each rear tire), plus maybe mud tires on the rear, that squeaked out just enough traction to make it on that muddy Nevada desert road. Also in the video I couldn't be sure ... but it didn't look like that Class C was modified into a 6X6. I didn't look like there was a differential in the front, but it was difficult to see clearly in that low resolution video.

[DiploStrat]

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
I've been driving small 4x4 Class C's for 22 years now.

That being, of course, the reason that I subscribe to all of your posts! 😉

[Tiger4x4RV]

DiploStrat wrote:
... And I'm not sure that anything really works in mud. ;-(

Agreed, and I've been driving small 4x4 Class C's for 22 years now.

[DiploStrat]

kitesurfer wrote:
I had my Itasca Cambria 26a lifted with larger tires,

Nice looking truck! Decent shocks, limited/locking rear diff, and careful driving and you are good for everything except deep mud. And I'm not sure that anything really works in mud. ;-(

[garyhaupt]

kitesurfer wrote:
I had my Itasca Cambria 26a lifted with larger tires, not looking to get stuck in some mud, but I just wanted some ground clearance to make it easier to get into some of my favorite spots in Baja

Nice Aluminess bumper....that front bumper cries out for a winch, ya know. The guys at the Aluminess shop in San Diego would help you with that.


Gary Haupt

[DiploStrat]

With luck, the camper actually mounts this week or next.

Then you can all start to laugh at the choices I made! 😉

[Handbasket]

DiploStrat wrote:
....
Our truck is currently under construction at Tiger Adventure Vehicles. http://www.tigervehicles.com I have never owned a Class B or C and, after a lifetime of living next as opposed to inside, a vehicle, we are looking forward to it. Especially indoor plumbing and a kitchen out of the rain/cold!....

'Strat, _Great_ to see your new Tiger is finally a'building! I know you've been researching it for years. I hope you'll be a happy with it as I have been & still am with my CX.

Jim, "If I ever go missing, put my photo on beer bottles, not milk cartons. That way my friends will know to look for me."

[kitesurfer]

I had my Itasca Cambria 26a lifted with larger tires, not looking to get stuck in some mud, but I just wanted some ground clearance to make it easier to get into some of my favorite spots in Baja

[pnichols]

Thanks Gary for the great movie of your 6X6 Class C in action! That's what boondock camping is all about. Nice bumper on the front too.

Here's a watery mini-adventure still shot of our 4X6 Class C - a much less exciting situation than what you were in, however:

[garyhaupt]

Just for S & Giggles...here's mine.

http://youtu.be/FhANZhUG6WE


Gary Haupt

[DiploStrat]

Used Tigers are rare as most of their owners just love them. You can start by looking here: http://tigerowners.freeforums.org/index.php?sid=b9b6af81479758c85ecbbaf85bb6daba and here: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/tigermotorhomeowners/

There are sometimes used vehicles at the factory as well. (There are two demo units right now.)

N.B. The Earthroamer and the Tiger both have passthroughs from cab to camper. Not as slick as van based vehicles, but usable none the less. The passthroughs are smaller on the newer Tigers, to reduce the chance of damage due to cutting out the back and top of the cab.

[nomad_289]

DiploStrat wrote:
Our truck is currently under construction at Tiger Adventure Vehicles. I have never owned a Class B or C and, after a lifetime of living next as opposed to inside, a vehicle, we are looking forward to it.

Class B and C have been my favorite RV's. Something about always being in your home--and being able to depart at will encourages exploring. I looked hard at Tigers and Sportsmobile, but didn't find any used. One drawback of earthroamer and other mog adventure vehicles is the separation of cab from the box. Seems you could fabricate a flexible neoprene "tunnel" to allow cab access.

Bet you'll love your new Tiger. Quite a step up from the Sahara Blazer!

[mlts22]

I'd not attempt something like that unless I had 4WD and a heavy duty wench. I'd be afraid I'd have a vehicle sans axle or oil pan even without frame flex.