Big Diesel with Heavy Modern TC - But Where Can U Drive?

[Bill001]

Hi,

Looking at the GVWs of late model 1-ton dually diesels, and the large slider TCs such as the high end Arctic Foxes, I wonder:

What sort of forest service road can you actually drive up? Are you able to approach some forest service roads one find in Montana & Colorado which can get a bit steep and certainly have their holes and rocks, or are you limited to BLM dirt roads in the SW? I'm not talking about going off-road, I'm simply thinking about forest service roads.

What sort of conditions can the above handle?

What sort of modifications have you needed?

What limits to size of TC have you found?

As an aside, what kind of hwy diesel mileage do you get (roughly) with a heavy setup as above.

Thanks again!
Bill

[Big_Rig1]

I have a 2015 AF990 & previously had a Lance 920. I don't see any difference in milage on my 2004 Dodge diesel. I average about 13 mpg. I am not real familiar with Forest Service roads but I have had mine on plenty of gravel roads. As long as you have the clearance on all sides & overhead & the terrain isn't too steep & the road isn't too rough, I would think you would be ok. Last Febr I was in AZ in Organ Pipe National Park. I tried to drive one of the loops with the camper on but the road was just too rough. The bouncing was just too much for me & I figured I would have to go so slow that I couldn't complete the drive in a reasonable amount of time & I would subject the truck, camper & my wife and self to a lot of bouncing and jarring.

Big Rig (John)

[Bill001]

Naio wrote:

brholt wrote:
I don't know if Insp1505 is around but he has taken an AF1150 into some pretty "tough" places. Here is one of his reports:

Merriam Lake, Idaho - Trip Report

Thanks for the link to this gorgeous TR!

Yup. That's what I wanted to know.
Thanks! That was really good.

- Bill

[trail-explorer]

WHen buying, get a 4x4 for sure.

There's times where I pop the truck in to low range when going up hills, just for the lower gearing, not for the fact that I need 4WD to get up the hill.

[Naio]

brholt wrote:
I don't know if Insp1505 is around but he has taken an AF1150 into some pretty "tough" places. Here is one of his reports:

Merriam Lake, Idaho - Trip Report

Thanks for the link to this gorgeous TR!

[Bedlam]

I find that some of the winch mounts are not strong enough for the strongest winches. Suggestions for sufficiently strong mounts would make a good new thread. I think you need at least a 15K+ winch for a DRW truck with TC and some times may even need to double line the winch to get enough pull if stuck in a hole or mud. The next question is whether you can find an anchor point that is strong enough - I prefer to not venture off logging roads without a similar sized rig with me.

I have 25k chains, a receiver mounted 12K winch with two pulleys to redirect pull and a dedicated battery box (until I wire up Anderson connectors). Although I have tested this "insurance", I have not needed to use it to recover myself. Typically I do not pack this equipment unless I know I am boon docking in an unfamilar area.

[Boatycall]

Bill001 wrote:

What sort of conditions can the above handle?

What sort of modifications have you needed?

What limits to size of TC have you found?

As an aside, what kind of hwy diesel mileage do you get (roughly) with a heavy setup as above.

Conditions-- I run BFG All-Terrains, some of my Jeep buddies actually run those on their Jeeps, good all-around off road/on road traction. But what usually what ends up making me chicken out is branches / trail pin striping. I'm 11' 6" to top of the camper siding, 12' 6" to the roof air. I try to keep my rig nice and shiny. Dirty can be washed, scratches are permanent reminders... I spent a lot of money on my TC, and even more on a nice carport to store it, i try to take care of it.
Being an avid UTV/Jeeper, I generally do not take mine through many off-camber or steep inclines. I save that for the toys.

Modifications - Shocks, TorkLift Stable Loads and heavy springs, that's about it.

Limits - We don't need no stinking limits... ok, in all seriousness, I'm *slightly :R * over the limit for weight, I won't go any bigger TC without an F-550.

MPG - 11-ish loaded with TC only, lower with trailer and depending on route fo travel, eg, mountain passes and head winds knock it down a lot.

[Grit_dog]

Bill001 wrote:
Thanks all,

Very helpful info. It sounds like big heavy rigs handle the roads when approached with prudence.

B

Absolutely. Did our fair share of off highway and a little off road with the rig listed below in AK.
I can say it would go a lot farther than a class C. Mostly due to rear overhang and length.
The biggest limiting factor I had besides overall clearance for the camper from trees/branches since I wasn't cutting my way in to somewhere and didn't want to trash the camper sides with tree limbs, was the lack of being a Dually and/or no sway bar.
Big potholes and any off camber stuff required 1st gear creeping or even low range because the camper would start rocking a lot. I should have had more truck or at least more suspension under my 2500.
No problem pulling 10-15% grades. My rear overhang was great with no hitch carrier since the bottom of the camper was at bed height. I was certainly not limited by dragging anything , high centering, jacks clearing etc. did drag the hitch carrier over a few things. It was like an alarm that things were getting steep, lol.
Mileage was 12-14mpg combined, typically driving like I stole it when there road was empty and smooth.

[fpoole]

So along the lines of big rig self recovery, would a 16.5 winch generally be "Doable" assuming you have something to tie onto.. (I'll search for it next)

I like the WRT trip posted earlier, but getting hung up like that in a ditch could have been worse and then becomes a self recovery. Other than trying to fill the ditch with rocks/branches/dirt and a winch, would that have been enough for one person?

Just wondering... thanks...

Great pics and those look like good roads to feel comfortable on.

[Grit_dog]

sleepy wrote:
We did it in the home made camper I built in 1969 and our 1970 Chev 3/4 ton Longhorn Truck... we used it for close to 30 years.... it is still used as a hunting camper...

Well that answers the OPs question! Lol

[Bedlam]

The larger you go, the more you will need to think about how you will be recovered if you cannot get yourself out. At 15,000 lbs, my truck/camper combination would require a considerable vehicle for any type of severe extraction. I have no issue going down logging roads where it has been cleared for large trucks but reserve the Jeep trails for the other toys I bring along.

[Bill001]

Thanks all,

Very helpful info. It sounds like big heavy rigs handle the roads when approached with prudence.

B

[Bill001]

bb_94401 wrote:
Forest service roads are great.

Thanks BB. Yes lots of them are really great. Like another author road, the roads were made for logging trucks

But just for fun, when was the last time you took the forest service short cut through the Skalkaho Pass? That road is a disaster.

Thanks,
B

[JimK-NY]

There are plenty of well maintained, graded and graveled forest service roads that are suitable for a camper. On the other hand there are plenty that are not well maintained. If you have a 12000# camper that is 8' wide and top heavy, you need to be cautious. Mine is not that big but I still have a rule of thumb. If the road is suitable for an average car and there is clearance above, then it is likely suitable for my camper. If it is too rough, rutted or otherwise unsuitable for a car, then I avoid it with the camper. If you want to travel on back roads, you need to consider a small, light camper, preferably a popup.

[sleepy]

We did it in the home made camper I built in 1969 and our 1970 Chev 3/4 ton Longhorn Truck... we used it for close to 30 years.... it is still used as a hunting camper...