Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

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Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

February 11, 2019, 05:58:22 am

I've used truck campers for years and always thought it odd how motorhomes such as the LD, esp. the longer ones, had so much overhang behind the axel. If one drove on dirt USFS/BLM roads there would be many times where you would drag the rear across dirt, rocks, etc.. I've seen little wheels under the rear of some long RV's I suppose are for dragging across dips in driveways, etc.. Do they make larger, beefy, wheels for dragging on dirt roads? What about raising the whole rearend of the RV some? Like reversing the leafsprings you see on some 5th-wheel rigs? Airbag shocks? Thoughts?

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #1 – February 11, 2019, 12:35:00 pm

The reason for the long overhang is not odd - it reduces the turning circle for improved maneuverability for those used to driving shorter vehicles - most of us. It does, however, create other issues to be dealt with...

But, our 24' rig can turn in less room than needed for the typical full-size, full bed, double-cab pickup of similar length.

Steve

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #2 – February 11, 2019, 12:46:14 pm

My 24 FL has minimum overhang with a nice upsweep and as far as dragging goes it seems just as good as my 10ft camper that hung down over the rear bumper. That part housed the grey water holding tank and you really had to watch it.

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #3 – February 11, 2019, 12:48:39 pm

Adding airbags isn't too difficult and would allow you to raise the rear end a bit for those occasions.
Adding a block under the leaf springs would permanently raise the rear, if you ventured out into the bush
more often.
And, you could always add a 4x4 kit, which would lift the whole rig about 6 inches.

Depends on how much you want to spend to go to the places you want.

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #4 – February 11, 2019, 01:14:59 pm

Under the rear, many models have sacrificial skids or rollers, designed to take the brunt of dragging.
Adding rear air bags will raise the rear end while making the rear ride harder.
Many times the dragging can be reduced or eliminated by simply reducing the cargo load, many carry too much stuff, that is rarely used. Just because you have the room, doesn't mean you should fillet up.

Larry

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #5 – February 11, 2019, 02:15:46 pm

More thoughts on this now that my morning snow shoveling and wood splitting chores are finished. I had a camper on a 4x4 pickup for twenty years and figured once I "upgraded" to a motor home my off pavement adventures would be over. Yes there's many places I can't go now but the rear end dragging is not generally the deciding factor. It's more about traction and overall ground clearance but I do think my flavor LD is the top of the line for this particular feature. I sacrifice some room and storage but gain some mobility. My pick up with a camper was 22ft and the F250 i had it on had a terrible turning radius. I used to say I can turn this thing around anywhere you can turn around a log truck.

My LD even though it's a couple feet longer turns tighter and handles about the same as my Chevy travel van. It's almost sporty to drive and takes turns at or above posted speeds which my top heavy camper most definitely did not.

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #6 – February 12, 2019, 07:04:26 am

Newbie Wildlands wrote: If one drove on dirt USFS/BLM roads there would be many times where you would drag the rear across dirt, rocks, etc..

Having extensively used USFS/BLM parking for years, dragging has never been a problem for our 26 MB.
I have seen plenty of "secondary" USFS/BLM roads that I would never think of using. If that is the sort of road you want to use to escape, a Class C is not for you. Stay with a truck camper.

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #7 – February 12, 2019, 09:31:51 am

"I have seen plenty of "secondary" USFS/BLM roads that I would never think of using. If that is the sort of road you want to use to escape, a Class C is not for you. Stay with a truck camper."
---
Agreed; many of us have driven plenty of 'marginal' roads in our LDs, but true off-road travel/exploration is a lot better left to a 4WD truck and camper, a higher clearance class B, and/or a Jeep or like vehicle. Using a class C for what it sounds like the OP wants to do might be a one-trip experience.

YMMV.

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #8 – February 12, 2019, 10:54:23 am

When our camper we had for twenty years suddenly became "too small" according to my wife, I thought about a camper with a slide but after researching it i found that the slide was problematic if you were going to go on really rough roads with side hill tilting which is exactly what you do in a 4x4 with a camper. Apparently this makes the slide come off its tracks. Now after a year with our LD I definitely miss the old camper and where it would go but I have to admit the comfort level has gone up dramatically and the larger holding tanks are nice to. I do however look longingly at roads i can't go up now and think to myself, I bet there's a great camp site up there.

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #9 – February 12, 2019, 01:20:56 pm

Quote from: Jota - February 11, 2019, 12:48:39 pm

Adding airbags isn't too difficult and would allow you to raise the rear end a bit for those occasions.
Adding a block under the leaf springs would permanently raise the rear, if you ventured out into the bush
more often.
And, you could always add a 4x4 kit, which would lift the whole rig about 6 inches..

Adding 4X4 is a very pricey option and adds more weight than what the front end designed for, plus it significantly reduces the CCC.
The transfer-case and 4X4 front axle adds several hundred pounds, plus the added suspension parts needed make the conversion .
Consequently, LDs are rarely converted. Even converted, LDs ride like dump trucks on rough roads.

Air bags are an option but they cause the rear to ride even rougher. Adding blocks under the leaf spring or flipping the leafs really isn't an option. Raising the height of the rig also raises the enter of gravity, causing more sway, when cornering.
We have gone into some rough areas with the LD, usually after scouting the road before hand, using the Jeep.
I have been amazed where we have taken it but one needs to be aware of the low hanging parts, primarily the holding tanks and dump valves. We have never run out of traction, even on sandy or snowy roads.

Larry

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #10 – February 12, 2019, 02:04:31 pm

Previous owner added these as part of significantly beefing up the hitch. Their plans were to tow a very large enclosed car trailer, hauling show cars from place to place. Fortunately (for us), those plans never materialized so we got the benefit of this upgrade without the added wear that would have been done to the coach.

I wish I knew where the work was done for those who may be interested in something similar. All I know is, it was done somewhere in Southern CA in the Los Angeles area. More likely than not, it could be replicated at any decent fabrication shop.

And, while I agree the LD gets into most places just fine - I've had several occasions where the wheels served their purpose. Most of them were not even in offroad, sketchy locations - but heading in/out of steep driveways. To date, I've always seen these spots coming and have been able to slooooowly let the wheels do their job. Still, should I ever hit something unexpected with a little more speed...I'll be glad to let the wheels do their job instead of the tanks/bumper.

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #11 – February 12, 2019, 03:03:56 pm

Quote from: Will G - February 12, 2019, 02:04:31 pm

Previous owner added these as part of significantly beefing up the hitch. Their plans were to tow a very large enclosed car trailer, hauling show cars from place to place.
And, while I agree the LD gets into most places just fine - I've had several occasions where the wheels served their purpose. Most of them were not even in offroad, sketchy locations - but heading in/out of steep driveways. To date, I've always seen these spots coming and have been able to slooooowly let the wheels do their job. Still, should I ever hit something unexpected with a little more speed...I'll be glad to let the wheels do their job instead of the tanks/bumper.

Even our short 23.5' LD will drag the towing hitch receiver occasionally, usually while exiting a driveway with a deep gutter.
I have learned to exit steep driveways diagonally, if possible, to reduce or avoid the crunch and scrape.
Consider the skids or hitch to be expendable and replaceable if ever worn out.
I have never seen a worn out, completely ground down hitch or skid, even on some severely overloaded LDs, it's not something I worry much about.

Larry

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #12 – February 16, 2019, 10:21:26 pm

I fully agree with Sawyer.
20 years with my favorite two 4x4 diesel trucks and campers and we explored lots of unpaved areas with better MPG and better towing capacity. Our Lazy Daze has more OCCC, is more comfortable for lounging inside the coach, and a tighter turning radius. I still long for dirt roads with deep ruts and interesting destinations but I don't want to get the LD stuck and I pass on each.
I drag my skids (attached to the rear of the Lazy Daze) now and then and the towing capacity is wimpy. Don't worry about it. Haul a jeep or a good enduro MC and explore the roads you can't take the LD on.
Cyndy loves the Lazy Daze. I love Cyndy. Trucks and campers are gone and we enjoy the LD.

Harold

Re: Ground clearance & dragging your butt.

Reply #13 – February 16, 2019, 11:37:36 pm

RE: "...long for dirt roads with deep ruts..."

Went to get the LD out of the machine shed where she nests at the farm two weeks ago, to prep for a birthday run to TX for the 10 y/o, & was afraid my off-road experience might leave me stuck 'til spring.

We'd had 5" of snow-freezing rain-3" of snow, with the Polar Vortex getting us down to -24 with the wind chill, & then a window of a couple of near 50 days before another round of crud. I stayed on the graveled track from the gate up the hill to the shed, but had to pull off at the shed to get the LD out (& then had to put the truck in 4 wheel drive), nearly got the LD stuck (her length/turning was beyond the gravel in front of the shed at one point). Finally got the LD out & the truck in--leaving some deep ruts in front of the shed (there's at least one load of gravel going in front of the shed come spring), down the hill to the gravel road, into town to load, off to the birthday & back...she's in the driveway for now (despite the crud yesterday & more tonight) because I don't trust things 'til we dry out (hope it's before spring

). The few times I've dragged her tail were not nearly so un-nerving...I much prefer pavement & well-crowned gravel.

Lynne

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