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Marmeon
Junior Nomad
Posts: 34
Registered: 8-14-2005
Location: Arcata, California
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Driving on dirt roads
I've been looking at the discussions about having two-spares for driving on dirt roads. I'm spending some time on the west coast this trip and will be
driving on a dirt road. I got the part about bringing two spares, as much as I hate to take up the space. And I also got the part about letting some
air out of my tires. What I'm not clear on is how much air to let out.
I'll be in a mini-van carrying four people, camping gear, four kayaks and an extra spare tire, so it will be a heavy load for this car. Any
suggestions?
Your advice and the information you guys share has been invaluable. You are a terrific resource and I really appreciate how generous you are with your
knowledge. Thank you.
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
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Sounds like clearance will be your main problem, so airing down should be done with caution, if at all. Most of the minivans I have seen couldnt
stand airing down without the risk of under body damage.
[Edited on 3-9-2008 by bajajudy]
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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I made many trips from Mexicali to Hiway 1 when the road was reeeel bad. Never had a flat. Let the air down to about 2/3rds what the vehicle load/tire
recommended for highway use. I use 19 lbs on the beach here for sand. The trick is simple, leave enough time so you don't over travel the road for the
conditions and at least an extra 2/3s of an hour to air the tires back up before you hit blacktop again.
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larry
Nomad
Posts: 233
Registered: 8-22-2005
Location: Orinda, CA
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Judy is correct--clearance can be an issue with many minivans on some roads. A few years ago, I drove my wife's Dodge Grand Caravan from BOLA to
Mision San Borja and then from Chapala Junction to San Felipe through Gonzaga. These are extremely challenging roads and we made it (only a flat near
El Huerfanito which we replaced with a temporary spare and drove the rest of the way to San Felipe!), but I wouldn't want to try that again.
Marmeon--I think that if you drive slowly and carefully, you should be ok. Two spares would be fine if you have room, but you don't, so take one
spare and just be careful.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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Marmeon,
It depends on what size tires you have. When you run lower pressure, the carrying capacity of the tire goes down. Bigger tires (more carrying
capacity) are therefore, better. And, as a bonus, they give a bigger footprint in sand for better flotation.
I have a pop-top camper on a 2003 Tacoma with BFG All Terrain KO's 33x15x12:50 tires (about 5500 lbs. total) and run 25 lbs. on dirt and 20-25 lbs. on
sand. With BFG's I can drive home on the freeway at 25 lbs. with no sidewall damage. Lazy? Yep.
Note: The tire pressure on the door jam plate (car manufacturer's recommendation) is listed for the maximum gross weight of the specific vehicle and
the particular tire size listed. The max tire pressure on the tire sidewall is per the tire manufacturer's tire safety recommendation and is always
higher.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Airing down is only needed if your in sand for traction or to help smooth a rough road. I usually don't air down for a rough road, I adjust my speed.
With the load your carrying with your vehicle I doubt airing down for a rough road would gain anything. If your going into a long section of soft sand
then airdown before you get stuck. If you normally have 35lbs air in your tires air down to 20-25 lbs. If you get into trouble take it down as
necessary. Most tires can go to as little as 5lbs in the sand, but don't spin your wheels or make hard turns and air back up ASAP.
A few years ago at the San Felipe 250 race Mike Doherty lost an axial on his class 8 truck. To keep from getting stuck we aired all four tires down to
4psi and he raced with one wheel drive the next 100+ miles before stopping behind a car and getting stuck. These were BFG 35x12.50 inch race tires and
not your average hwy car tire.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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Airing down can be your only salvation in soft sand and I've seen many two wheel drive vehicles in places you'd swear they couldn't get to.
Airing up can be a pain if you dont have a high volume compressor or air tanks. Remember though, gas mileage drops considerably with lower air
pressure on hard surface roads, particularly large tires.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Gadget
Senior Nomad
Posts: 851
Registered: 9-10-2006
Location: Point Loma CA
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Mood: Blessed with another day
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As suggested above, do not air down if you have street tires. They will not be able to handle the load and will suffer side wall damage.
If the road is rocky, do not air down a street tire as side wall damage will occure.
If the road is deep sand, do not air down a street tire cause you only have 1 wheel drive and will get stuck regardless of how deflated the tires are.
Find alternate route.
(unless of course the minivan is multi wheel drive, but I think you would have mentioned that)
Do not air down if you don't have a way to re-inflate to a safe pressure for hard or rocky dirt road or pavement.
Be aware that if you drive to remote locations solo, in a loaded minivan with only one spare, you may be there a while waiting for help. Pick a
beautiful Baja location and call it your vacation.
All this is MHO only and applies to the above situation only, not to offroaders in general.
All rights are reserved and or completely denied unless otherwise noted by said replyer who completely dis-avowes any relation to self should the need
arrise.
Otherwise, drive it like ya stole it.
Post a trip report of your adventure upon safe return.
"Mankind will not be judged by their faults, but by the direction of their lives." Leo Giovinetti
See you in Baja
http://www.LocosMocos.com
Gadget |
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bajabum
Nomad
Posts: 144
Registered: 9-29-2003
Location: San Diego, Ca
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I would actually air up to the maximum PSI the tires are rated for, especially since you will be running fully loaded with extra weight that you would
not normally be carrying. This will save a lot of flat tires and give you a little MPG boost. 1 spare is probably sufficient. I have been driving the
back roads of Baja for many moons and only get a flat about 1 in 15 trips. Plus there places to repair or buy tires from everywhere...
Work is just something I do to keep me buzy between baja trips!
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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i think i agree with the "bum"
i'd only air down when you're in the sand...
all other times i'd air up...
you're not carrying too much weight (4 people)
unless you're bringing too much "liquid in cans" (beer) in the cooler with ice
mini vans are made to transport people
check the "load range" of the tires you have
"c" is low load
"d" is for normal loads
"e" is for heavy loads
just drive slow
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
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Mood: Bajatastic
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I have driven quite a bit on rough roads in Baja and elsewhere and only take one spare.
Unless you plan on driving though rock gardens or cactus patches I would'nt worry about bringing the extra spare.
However; I would bring a good puncture repair kit, some fix-a-flat, and a good air-compressor.
Like others have said, don't worry about airing down unless you are in (or about to be in) deep sand. If it is just a patch of sand or two.. keep
your speed and momentum up until you get to the other side. If there is no sand, just keep your speed lower to avoid blowouts and sidewall damage
from rocks and potholes.
[Edited on 3-10-2008 by Mango]
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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I always air down to 20psi now. If you do that and run about 40 mph you will float on the washbord. I usually do about 50mph. Just be gentle.
I have a 2 wheel drive F-150. Never had a flat. Mud and snow radials. Really a street tire.
I have lowered to 15 but did dent my rim so now 20.
I have been stuck a few times but have been almost everywhere.
I did break a shock on the way to B. Asuncion but only because I was too lazy to lower the tire prssure from my hiway 40psi. Plus I was driving too
fast and go airborne a few times.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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If you don't bring 2 spares, at least bring tire plugs and a compressor. Or better yet, tire spoons and the knowledge on how to dismount a tire and
reseat in order to patch a large hole from the inside.
Flat #1: Easy patch with 2 plugs.
Flat #2: >1/2” hole. That even 7 plugs would not fix it, so on with the spare.
Flat #3: ....Hmmm this doesn't look good....
Fixing the Flat #2: There is a large tire patch under the duct tape, we just added it tape as insurance.
This all happened along the west coast, on fairly decent dirt roads, over a 10 mile stretch. The wheels on this Nissan were massive 18"ers, no way to
simply swap out with one of the 16" Toyota wheels....the brakes needed the 18" of room. Amazingly, we did not get another flat and the Nissan made it
home. It is now wears BFG AT tires 
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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vacaenbaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 640
Registered: 4-4-2006
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If you are in a pinch for space I think you can mount an extra spare if you have a receiver type tow hitch. Just buy / have
made a spare tire carrier that will slide into where the ball
hitch adaptor normally goes.
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Bajamatic
Senior Nomad
Posts: 571
Registered: 8-31-2006
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Do not air down. You're tires will get punctured on the sides. If you are at all worried about a flat then just take it slow and fill your tires
according to your load needs. If you air down, and happen to air down too much (which is possible if you aren't familiar with this process) then you
risk serious damage not only to your tires but to your rims.
yuletide
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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ON my trip to MonteVideo,We found a couple driving a two wheel drive toyo truck,thay had to air down to make it to MonteVideo.Comming back to the hard
pack road they were using a bicycle pump to air up their tires  ,we offer our air
comp. the guy declined the offer,a few minutes of pumping that bike pump,he agree to used our unit .
IMHO,you can be to confident,be prepared and be Baja Smart.
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: up on step
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we always air down on the back roads and on sand...the key being a GOOD portable air compressor handy when you come back to the hwy...we have a combo
battery zapper/air compressor that we've used many, many times...don't leave home without it!
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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I suggest renting something more suitable for the load you're carrying. On a recent drive to San Ignacio from the lagoon, I hit a rock that suddenly
and unexpectedly popped to the surface. $,3000+ later, I wished I was driving something with a bit more clearance than a Saturn VUE. Probably should
have walked.
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beachbum1A
Nomad
Posts: 442
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajamigo
I wished I was driving something with a bit more clearance than a Saturn VUE. |
Maybe you should give some thought to getting yourself something bigger, like a nice, red, Chevy Surbuban!
Oh! You already have one! Ummmmmmmm
Just do it!
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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And I would have taken it, except for the antifreeze gushing out of the heater every time I drove it. That's in the shop, too.
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