Truck and dirt roads

Status
Not open for further replies.
supton

supton

Joined
Nov 9, 2008
Messages
26,182
Location
NH
Ok, I'm feeling a bit noob-ish. Well, very.

Took the truck out last night, as I was visiting a friend who lives on a dirt road. It's a dirt road, perfect use for a truck! Forgot all about light rear-ends though... A bit late to ask, but are Tundra's that bad? Or just RWD in general? It seemed like all it wanted to do was come around on me, wherever there was washboard on a corner. Kinda scary, actually. On the way out I used 4Hi and that did calm things down a bit, no more VSC kicking in, but it cut power a number of times. I'm guessing several hundred pounds in the bed would calm things down. I think.

Thing rides so nicely on pavement, and I didn't think to test drive off-road. I realize it's not my car, and it won't handle like my car, but I don't think I was driving it any faster or harder than my car. I was hoping this would make for something decent in snow, but am now wondering if I chose poorly.
 
^^^ditto^^^

all trucks are light in the tail. feel the vehicle's limits and immediately adjust driving to suit.

be safe!
 
Sounds like the truck is quite light on the rear, wouldn't say it's bad, on a dirt road I'd limit speed to a couple miles an hour unless your familiar with the road and every bump or rut if any. 4wd is nice to have on dirt roads, just remember on the pavement both front wheels want to turn at the same speed on most 4x4 trucks, you don't feel it on dirt because the inner wheel can slip a little in a turn, that's why it's bad to run a 4x4 in 4wd all the time unless the vehicle is geared and intended to be awd all the time. Just a little info tid bit. As far as a bad decision, you could have gone worse than a tundra, the 2013 Chevy 1500 5.3 is advertised at only 315hp with a push rod engine, Ford's 3.5liter v6 is making more than that. The tundra v8 coming from Toyota I'd imagine it's at least a SOHC and more than likely has 4v per cylinder Toyota hasn't made an engine in awhile that hasn't.
 
Though my favorite right now is the f150 w the eco boost v6, makes 420 ft/lbs starting at 1700 rpm(gotta love how turbos change the torque curve and make it so wide). This is bandanas power because the 7.3l diesel in 2001 was rated at 425ft/lbs at like 16 or 1800rpm,your getting diesel torque as of 2001 from this f150, and its a twin turbo'd v6. Chevy has hardly gotten on the dual overhead cam band wagon, and Ford they've already gotten on the turbo wagon, the new 5.0 mustang and many others have variable valve timing, I'd really like to see more of our domestic manufacturers to use the latest tech and not only do what's absolutely necessary to get by EPA standards.
-srv
 
Yeah, I guess I just have to drive it a bit slower--not much of a slow driver I guess. Wouldn't think much of driving my Jetta at those speeds, although, maybe tonight I'll drive down that road again (with the Jetta) and see if I was indeed driving faster than I normally would. Maybe I'm not comparing it properly.

Just haven't had a truck in years, and never a full sized at that.

Yeah, I know, it's a part time system. It comes in and out of 4wd rather quick. Nice feature, the fast shifting that is. Mine has the 4.6L, so it's like 310hp IIRC. DOHC. Nice and smooth, although I haven't wrung it out. I overlapped the curves with the GM 5.3, seems somewhat close, but not the same.
 
Originally Posted By: supton
Yeah, I guess I just have to drive it a bit slower--not much of a slow driver I guess. Wouldn't think much of driving my Jetta at those speeds, although, maybe tonight I'll drive down that road again (with the Jetta) and see if I was indeed driving faster than I normally would. Maybe I'm not comparing it properly.

Just haven't had a truck in years, and never a full sized at that.

Yeah, I know, it's a part time system. It comes in and out of 4wd rather quick. Nice feature, the fast shifting that is. Mine has the 4.6L, so it's like 310hp IIRC. DOHC. Nice and smooth, although I haven't wrung it out. I overlapped the curves with the GM 5.3, seems somewhat close, but not the same.


You were probably going a little faster than you thought you were, but it's mostly just not stabbing your foot down. Traction control systems tend to freak out, especially if you are a little jerky with the throttle and keep breaking the tires loose.

On the plus side, dirt roads (and wet grass) in a V8 pickup truck are the easiest and cheapest powerslides you will ever do.
 
Very possible--I know on a prior truck I had issues with lurching. As the truck moved, it would modulate the throttle, as my foot would stay still (I think).

You know, my Jetta has a diesel engine, and turbo at that. It has lots of throttle lag, and is slow rev'ing at that. I probably wouldn't notice it in that car as a result.
 
Re: snow. 2wd trucks don't do that well in snow. Get yourself some proper snow tires. Not all-season tires. Proper snow tires. Like Blizzaks or a direct competitor. Makes all the difference in the world.
 
Was planning on snow tires. Probably Nokian Rotiva's(?). Would like to find a mud and snow tire, that way I could just have one set of tires; but given our snow I'm probably not going to like the compromise.
 
The heavy solid rear axle (with leaf springs) is one of the components that give you that hauling capability. But that suspension design (with motive load) is responsible for a lot of the axle hop you are experiencing. Vehicles with IRS don't experience this behavior near as bad. The suspension components are lighter and the tires stay in contact with the ground better. The compromise is they don't have the hauling capacity. Everything is a compromise, and it's all a matter of matching the tool to the job. If you haul a lot of weight or tow a lot, this behavior is something you'll just have to accept and get used to. If you don't haul a lot of weight or tow a lot, a different vehicle might be a better match. I do recall you saying that you tow a camper trailer, and the Tundra is a fine tool for that job...I think the ride quality trade-off is something you'll just have to live with.

For the tires, I'd buy a set of BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO and be done with it. Severe snow rated in most sizes and they balance well and are comfortable for having the capability that they do.
 
mud and snow have opposite tire tread needs. the compromise would be ugly for both.

the 4.7L in my tundra is quick, more quick than I need. I can keep my entire commute beneath 2000 rpm and be just fine. mine has 4.10 gearing in the tail which makes it very easy to spin out if someone spits on the road. the combination of power/gearing/light tail means you really have to be aware of the skinny pedal. the 4.7 responds /immediately/ to throttle input, like a 4bbl carb--- unlike any fuel injected engine I've ever owned before.

the jetta is FWD, and is aligned to understeer at its limits. the truck is not. the jetta 4w independent suspension will track angles differently in corners because it can, helping you stay controlled. the truck won't. the jetta is meant to handle more aggressive driving, but not the truck... even if it has the power. bigger car, go easy--- don't get you are someone else hurt--- it's a lot of steel to pilot.

M
 
I assume the road must have alot of washboard? Or you have limited slip diff?
You might check your tire pressure, if you have some high load rated tires they can be put up to, 50-60-70+ psi which never helps the unloaded ride if they are at those pressures.
A solid rear axle will never be as good on rough corners as independent suspension but it shouldn't be scary either.
Also you might just need new rear shocks, my Tracker is getting worse and worse on washboard and they getting up around 100k km on them.
 
I've lived on and/or driven gravel roads most of my life. You learn young that an unloaded pickup, regardless of tires, pressure, etc., will be interesting on a washboard gravel road if you don't slow down. 1/2 ton pickups aren't quite as bad as a 3/4 ton.

It's simply a matter of physics-the lighter the rear end of the truck is, the more apt it is to bounce and kick from side to side on a washboard gravel road.

I once drove a new, 70's vintage Ford F750 with no body-just a cab and frame down a few miles of gravel to the shop to have a grain body put on it. New, no weight on the rear and very solid suspension. It was quite exciting at the washboards, even creeping along at 20 or 25 mph.
 
I've driven a 2006 Ram 1500 4x4 and my Ranger extensively in NH and VT on a LOT of dirt roads in 2WD...no issues. Actually, I found the dirt roads up there to be incredibly well maintained compared to some in NC and AL. Even in the little bouncy Ranger, washboarding has to be severe for things to get hairy. On the other hand, I was a passenger in a 2003 Ram 1500 2WD that nearly rolled at 40 MPH when the rear end actually did come around on a washboard dirt road sending the truck into a ditch.

Roughly what speed were you going? 25 MPH? 35? 45? 35 MPH is usually my max for dirt roads unless they are very smooth and well maintained. I've done 45 MPH on ones that were in awesome shape with little or no erosion damage.

When that generation of Tundra first came out, there were complaints about the rear of the truck wobbling like crazy on certain interstates and such. Not sure if Toyota resolved it or not. There were videos done by owners posted on YouTube, and Ford took advantage of it with a YouTube video of their own.

It could also just be that you're not used to the characteristics of a 2WD with not much weight in the back. That's all I've owned for nearly a decade now, save for my Explorer which was usually in 2WD and not very different from a pickup. It does take some getting used to if you're accustomed to an entirely different type of vehicle.
 
Put a decent set of 4 HEAVY DUTY shocks on it. I had ab old Dodge that rode really bad, and put a set of NAPA H-D shocks on it and it made a huge difference.
 
Originally Posted By: meep

the jetta is FWD, and is aligned to understeer at its limits. the truck is not. the jetta 4w independent suspension will track angles differently in corners because it can, helping you stay controlled. the truck won't. the jetta is meant to handle more aggressive driving, but not the truck... even if it has the power. bigger car, go easy--- don't get you are someone else hurt--- it's a lot of steel to pilot.

M

MKIV Jettas don't use a real 4 wheel independent suspension. They use the cheaper type of rear suspension found in FWD cars.
 
I do many miles a week on dirt roads. My secret is to let some air out of the tires. Keeps the wheels on the ground and doesn't shake the truck to pieces.

I've seen other trucks in my area with beds and tailgates that are shredded from all the rattling.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
Airlift bags and compressor
Replies
12
Views
460
D60
M
2023 Wrangler JL 2.0 rental review
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
D60
A
Interesting long road trip observation
2 3
Replies
55
Views
3K
Japanese
T
Diminished Value with Automotive Insurance
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
Doc8404
A
Dampers quickly melting on dirt road
2 3
Replies
58
Views
3K
meep
Back
Top Bottom