HaulinBass02
Hurst, Texas, USA
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I asked a similar question in the fifth wheel forum but decided to ask the guys that do this kind of towing more than anyone else.
I am going to a friend's ranch this weekend and the hard packed gravel road into the place has two spots that might be troublesome.
The scenario is this, you crest a hill, then have to come down into a low area with a quick run back up the other side of the ditch (for lack of better terms). I saw the area twice the last time I was out there but didn't really pay much attention to it (maybe because it wasn't as bad as I'm thinking it will be).
Anyway, I don't remember it being all that steep or that tall, at least so bad that I would drag the back of my 5er, but it might, like I said, I don't remember the two gulleys/ditches that well. My 5er is about 39' long and has similar ground clearance to most toyhaulers out there and is similar in size too.
How do you guys who go into the offroad areas do it? Or do you even go into areas that you have to traverse terrain like I am describing?
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918rider
Fountain Hills Arizona
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Dont go up or down strait into or away from the ditch. Always try and hit at an angle. Even then its possible to drag a back corner.
GO SLOW.
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MaxAZ
Arizona
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The first thing that will probably hit will be the trailer striking the trucks bed rails. I've seen some 5ver combos that will strike the bed rails real easy so be carefull when you start up any abrupt hills.
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martinent
Tracy, CA
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when in doubt go like Hell you either make it or you don't half the fun is fixing the problem or getting unstuck
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Macs Dad
SoCal
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MaxAZ wrote:The first thing that will probably hit will be the trailer striking the trucks bed rails. I've seen some 5ver combos that will strike the bed rails real easy so be carefull when you start up any abrupt hills.
Same goes for when you decend the hill. The back end of the truck will rise right as the truck peaks and starts down. If you take it at an angle to lesson slope that will help. Watch your back side of the truck as you drive it.
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fbergski
southern california
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Joined: 09/14/2005
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I discovered last Thanksgiving on how not to drive down a crest into a low area that quickly rises back to a another crest. Ended up breaking my hitch adapter, snapped clean off as it dug into the ground. My diesel truck didn't care it just kept going. Worst part of the whole ordeal was it was 4:00 a.m. in the morning. My family and I ended up sleeping in the middle of a dirt road until help came in the morning.
Good Luck,
Philip
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Tex Garcia
So Cal
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GO SLOW.
If you have 4WD then use 4 Low. It is easier on the truck when crawling up the hill.
I see you have a long box so odds are you don’t have a slider hitch. A slider when moved rearward would lessen the possibility of hitting the bed of the TV against the FW.
If you have air bags they two can be used to add clearance. If you let the air out the TV will squat, but the rear of the 5w will come up.
Just a thought, depending on how steep or long the hill is, if you see a clearance issue consider backing in. Sounds silly. But just keep your mind open to that type of thinking.
Use a spotter. Explain to the spotter where you think you may have a clearance issue. Sounds like it is a private drive so take your time. Get out and look often.
BTW I always have a floor jack and blocks with me, just in case.
Good luck,
Tex
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fly-boy
Los Angeles, CA
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Slow Slow Slow-
As stated the biggest issues are the truck bed rails making contact with the trailer and/or a rear corner or back end of the trailer hitting the ground.
Just creep through the tough areas- much less likely to break something- and you will probably be fine.
Better to back out than break down.
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pupeperson
Silver Springs, NV
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It is very handy to carry blocks or planks or both with you that you can use to fill in lower areas or bridge certain obstacles. I flipped the axles on my hauler for extra clearance and also installed heavy duty rollers on the extreme rear of the trailer frame that should allow me to put planks down and have the rollers keep the trailer high enough to prevent the stabilizer jacks from being ripped off, etc. I haven't needed to use the rollers yet (knock on wood) but given the area for which I got my deer tag this year, may find out how they work....
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HaulinBass02
Hurst, Texas, USA
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Well good news, right now I am sitting in my 5er next to the work barn on his ranch. The road wasn't as bad as we thought it would be. Actually, I have been on worse roads in Colorado with my old TT.
The two spots are long downhills and have a slight spot that flattens out before you head back up. The truck and trailer never even got close to touching. The back end of the 5er never even came close to dragging either. The hills weren't all that steep. So needless to say, we worried about nothing really at all. Thanks for all of the tips though, would have came in handy if we needed it.
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