Off Roading Question about off-roading...

[JWHays]

I just bought an '05 Ram QC 2500 4x4 CTD w/automatic trans.



Anyone know what this will do off-road? How about soft sand? Am not planning on taking it in the mud. Thanks.



... John

Long Beach, CA

 

[TinyInOhio]

It is an awful nose heavy monster, never had one in the sand. In mud you need to keep the RPMs up to keep tires cleaning.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Like nearly any vehicle if you air the tires down enough it'll do great. I've had mine out on the dunes a bunch of times and the only times I've gotten stuck was high centering it cresting a really steep dune. One problem you will run into is axle wrap on the rear end but you can fix that with a set of ladder bars.

 

[JWHays]

Thanks for the info, gents. I'm not new to off-roading, just to this truck. I'll be going to the Mojave Desert this weekend and don't want to get myself in a situation.

My wife has a '01 Toyota Tacoma TRD 4x4 and we've not had problem one with that off-road.

I'll take it easy with the beast and let you know what happens. Thanks again!



... John

 

[hemijustin]

i have a 98 with 315/75/16s and it does really well in the sand... i can usaly beat all the gas trucks at the dunes...

 

[biggy238]

In the sand It should do fine.



I know here at home in the southeast mud... they sink like rocks and then it takes something just short of a bulldozer to pull them out.

 

[hemijustin]

oh yea... i just rememberd the last time i hit some mub... over in the colinga hills... . its really bad clay... u can hardly get around unless your on a 4wheeler... . i had no luck... sank tell the frame was sitting on the ground. i ended up with a bent drive line... a vibration that on the way home i though was just mud in the tires..... ended up with a cracked transfer case... . i got pulled out by a gas chevy. but he had 4 tow starps and was on dry dirt... ) eventualy i was able to get moving, it took forever to get out that mess

but then i dont have good mud tires at all. BFG allterains. .

 

[Bob4x4]

Don't get in over your head in sand with the stock tires..... I have had my 94 all over the dunes in Pismo and Glamis,but with 33's or 35's with the apprpriate air pressure.



Bob

 

[Hohn]

The trick is larger tires and low air pressure.



With stock rubber size at high pressure, the truck is just putting too much weight on too small an area. Larger tires and lower pressures increase the contact patch at LOT, and distribute that beastly weight more-- meaning you're less likely to get stuck!

 

[JWHays]

There's some soft-sand areas up the road from the RV park that I'll try out first. There's black-top nearby in case I need a tow out. The manager has a 4x4 and she would be glad to help me out in an emergency.

Thanks again for the info... much appreciated!



... John

Long Beach, CA

Newberry Springs, CA (home away from home)

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

BTW, I define low air pressure in sand as 18 psi in the front 15 psi in the rear. We see people stuck on the entrance road at the dunes all the time and when we ask them if they aired their tires down they say yes. Then we ask what they aired them down to and will get answers like 25 psi, etc. On lighter vehicles (like 1/2 tons, etc) it's more like 8-9 psi in the front and 5-7 psi in the rear.

 

[hemijustin]

Steve St. Laurent, what dunes are u talking about? i run about the same psi. . usaly around 20 in the front though... but bfg's are good sand tires and the look like there flat at 20psi...

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Silver Lake sand dunes. I'm running BFG's as well - and yeah they do look like they are flat. Not flat down to the rim but definately squating - as they should be.

#ad

 

[JWHays]

Gents, had the beast off-road for the first time yesterday. It does very well going up rocky mining roads. On the sand, it's OK on the sand located on the fringe of the Mojave River. If I were to venture much further, it wouldn't be without larger tires, for sure. I tried it in 4H and 4L. BTW, the shift boot squeak went away.

My plans with the vehicle as it is will include driving on some of the roads above Big Bear and around Cajon Pass. I know those roads and have been on them with Jeeps.

If I were to venture out on the dunes, it would be with big meats AND a Detroit locker.

It got up to 106 degrees in the afternoon, and cooled down nicely in the evening.

Saw a few of the Persied Meteors after dark... nice time!



... John

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

What did you air your tires down to when you were on the sand? I run 285/75 BFG's and I think your stock tires are about that size. I have absolutely no problems on the dunes with those size tires - it does far better than just OK!

 

[slongson]

I just bought an '05 Ram QC 2500 4x4 CTD w/automatic trans.



Anyone know what this will do off-road? How about soft sand? Am not planning on taking it in the mud. Thanks.



... John

Long Beach, CA

My experience is you'll sink like a stone in the sand unless you keep her moving. A buddy of my had 35' BFG all terrains and did better.

 

[JWHays]

I didn't air down. I stayed mainly in 'shallow sand' and my small air compressor took a dump earlier. Yes, you can't stop or you will sink!



... John

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

That would do it. Without airing down I'm surprised you got very far at all. Trust me - if you air down (WAY down like I said above) it'll be nearly like driving down the road. You will get stuck on the entrance road to the sand dunes here in Michigan if you don't air down. Air down and you can drive up all but the steepest dunes there.

 

[JWHays]

As mentioned, I'm not new to off-roading, just this truck. Thanks nontheless.



BTW, are you speaking of Warren Dunes? I spent many summers camping there- used to be a beautiful area. I once saw military vehicles going over the dunes. I sure liked hiking up 'Old Baldy'...



... John

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Nope, the only dunes you can drive on in Michigan now is Silver Lake.