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marchesi
Newbie
Posts: 14
Registered: 12-15-2008
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Driving on washboard
This might be a dumb post but it's worth a try... What is the secret of driving on washboard? My theory was to drive at the magic speed that seems
to stop the rattling. Depending on the size of washboard I have gone up to 60 MPH. However, recently I blew my shocks (not sure that was the reason
however). Are there any tricks to reduce the effects, both on the rig and on the bones, of this annoying Baja reality. TWB, I rode a mountain bike
without shocks from San Felipe to the mountains above Loreto. It was a very intimate experience with the buggers...
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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reduce tire pressure....we have ours between 20 & 25 lbs...just a little bulge on the bottom to smooth out the ride...and a good speed helps too
if it's not too large a washboard...if you go fast with too much tire pressure, you fish tale around. Also one wheel up on the bank helps reduce it
too and look where other local cars drive...some smoother parts.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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No secrets - washboard s-cks !
Lower air pressure and finding the best speed is all you can do.
Lighter rigs with larger tires also seem to work better ie Toyota pick-up etc.
You cannot make an F350 crew work well in washboard - I know !
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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All of the above are good ideas. We live 12 miles out a dirt road, and believe me, we have gotten to know washboard quite well. We keep 12 PSI in the
Jeep Grand Cherokee tires and about 22 PSI in the big Dodge diesel pickup. That is a pretty healthy sidewall bulge in the tires. In three years of
driving the road we have had only one tire blow due to side wall damage. We use BFG's. I would rather replace tires than the other more expensive
things that rattle loose, fall off or self-destruct. And that includes our own bodies!
If we are going to go any distance on the pavement, we air up when we get to town, but othewise we just take it easy going to the grocery store etc.
Kind of squishy on the pavement, but doesn't seem to be a problem as long as you take it slowly.
Usually the washboard isn't as bad on the left side of an up-hill grade or the right side going down. Just watch out for on coming traffic!
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6346
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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I have to endorse the tire pressure.
My FJ Cruiser (Toyota) we dropped the presure to 15 psi. The CJ5 ite was 12. My Toyota pickup was also 12 psi. There was another car (yes a car) that
we dropped to 10 psi. I have a liquid oxygen tank that will fill about 20 tires that I keep with me in Baja. It's a little bigger that a small propane
bottle. Original cost for the tire kit was $150.00. You can buy those at any welding supply place and Cameron's has it on sale right now.
As fas as the speed: With full air pressure, it's about 15-18 mph. With pressure down 45 to 65 mph depending on how heavy the vehicle is. If
towing...18mph is IT!
That's my experience in 40 years of driving Baja.
[Edited on 12-18-2008 by udowinkler]
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Agree with above as a solution, but also recommend nitrogen gas shocks (Bilstein, etc.) that won't foam out like oil filled (Detroit) shocks.
I usually do not air down for washboard personally because in my Tacoma I can get up to speed (40-60 mph) on the washboard and not worry about
sidewall damage from deflated tires. Since last year, I also added Ride Rite air springs (air bags) and eliminated the bottoming out a loaded Tacoma
experiences with the soft, stock leaf springs.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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Udo:
Instead of having to carry a liquid O2 bottle, I just carry a very nice little compressor that runs off my inverter and will air up a flat tire in
less than a minute. Seems easier and less hazardous. Got the compressor at Harbor Freight for around $60 as I recall.
Makes airing down/up a lot easier...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Works for me! Under $50 frequently at Harbor Freight on sale. Muy rapido!
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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Once I tried a technique on washboard, I drove about 90-100 mph on a washboard for about a half hour. The vehicle had heavy suspension and tires for
off road. When I arrived at the end of the trail I found the muffler had fallen off, the brake lines had fallen off and the battery had become
dislodged, bounced off the roof of the hood, shorted wiring and was loosing fluid. I had done probably a few hundred dollars damage, I did rescue some
Mexicans with aborken steering column and they gave me the biggest sierra ever, a 36 inch fish.
Once I arrived at los Frailes I cut the engine and when I tried to move found that the battery had been bouncing causing a hole which allowed the
water to leak out entirely. I let it dry, patched it with surfboard epoxy and tape and added water and bungy corded the ol battery in place and she
started back up so we could continue the adventure.
I have seen a simple washboard destroy a vehicle including big old 4x4s. Over time I have learned that its best to be very very conservative perhaps
try for 20mph with low tire pressure but be ready to slow down to a crawl especially at low points which can cause serious issues as you nose dive
into a vado. It is a pleasure to arrive at your remote destination with the capacity to leave your remote destination. I do bring two spares, two
jacks and an air pump.
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1921
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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40 to 60 David K?
Wow, that is something I would not attempt with a relatively stock vehicle. I endorse the idea of reduced air pressure and slow. As David said, the
oil shocks get so hot you'd have a hard time touching it after just a few miles.
In my CJ-7 (BFG all-terrains) 12 to 14 lbs was about the best I found for pressure.
My Tacoma (BFG all-terrains) - I've gotten good results with 15 lbs - next time I may go lower to check it out.
Of course I'm not at any kind of speed, I would guess no more than 15 mph.
I'd get there - just that it would be an hour and a half after David -
What ever works for you I guess.
John M
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Baja12valve
Nomad
Posts: 185
Registered: 7-12-2006
Location: Oak View
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Soft suspension helps. I have had stiff 4x4's and all they do is rattle, bounce and shake all over the place, makes washboard driving a drag. Lowering
the tires allows them to flex, adding that little bit of extra absorbing qualities to the suspension, makes a huge difference. Larger diameter tires
roll over bumps better than small ones. If you have 4x4 capacity, use it. I put mine in 4x4 mode no matter what, if I am on any dirt road. I find that
having power to the front wheels allows them to go over washboard much easier. Also better handling, braking, steering, everything. My truck is heavy,
hitting 8000 lbs full. I run my tires, 185/75/16 BFG AT, @ 40 psi and I can go pretty much any speed I want. My truck handles the washboard better
than any truck I have ever owned, no rattles, very smooth. Soft sand is another story.
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Paulclark
Nomad
Posts: 357
Registered: 10-13-2008
Location: Castillo de Arena
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Low air pressure -- 18 to 20 lbs in a F150 super crew and over 40 miles per hour -- and reservoir gas shocks. -- Without the reservoir shocks the
shocks overheat and fail -- or just work inefficiently. And BFG's. I put 20,000 miles a year on Baja washboard and that is what I have learned.
Going slow works too---if you have the time and patience.
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Pops
Nomad
Posts: 173
Registered: 3-26-2004
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Mood: Therianthropic
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Wash Board, Swashboard !! 
25 psi
Just go for it !! 
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
No secrets - washboard s-cks !
Lower air pressure and finding the best speed is all you can do.
Lighter rigs with larger tires also seem to work better ie Toyota pick-up etc.
You cannot make an F350 crew work well in washboard - I know ! |
I don't know Diver. I drove from Bahia Asuncion to Campo Rene at about 60 mph and it was pretty smooth. Of course, I just had to check the heat of my
Bilsteins out of curiousity, burned my fingertips and had drive 60 again one handed while cooling the burned fingers hand with a cold beverage from
the cooler, I believe it was a Pacifico, and after several that seemed to help smooth out the road also...
That truck is sold but got another one that looks just like it just newer and deisel.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by John M
Wow, that is something I would not attempt with a relatively stock vehicle. I endorse the idea of reduced air pressure and slow. As David said, the
oil shocks get so hot you'd have a hard time touching it after just a few miles.
In my CJ-7 (BFG all-terrains) 12 to 14 lbs was about the best I found for pressure.
My Tacoma (BFG all-terrains) - I've gotten good results with 15 lbs - next time I may go lower to check it out.
Of course I'm not at any kind of speed, I would guess no more than 15 mph.
I'd get there - just that it would be an hour and a half after David -
What ever works for you I guess.
John M |
To me half the fun of a Baja trip is driving on bad roads!
The 40-60 mph roads are the long, wide, graded ones (south of L.A. Bay, Tortugas, Valle Chico, etc.) ... (15 mph is more suited to the road south of
Puertecitos that suffers from lack of grading and replacing the top dirt that washed away... all the exposed big rocks.)
Here's a 40-60 mph graded, washboard road...
[Edited on 12-19-2008 by David K]
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Pops
Nomad
Posts: 173
Registered: 3-26-2004
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Mood: Therianthropic
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"I don't know Diver. I drove from Bahia Asuncion to Campo Rene at about 60 mph and it was pretty smooth. Of course, I just had to check the heat of my
Bilsteins out of curiousity, burned my fingertips and had drive 60 again one handed while cooling the burned fingers hand with a cold beverage from
the cooler, I believe it was a Pacifico, and after several that seemed to help smooth out the road also..."
Good one !!!! 
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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My advice would be to lower your tire pressure to 20 pounds of pressure. THat way, your tire will stay seated on the bead of the rim, and you will
have enough air to make it to the next town if you keep your speed under 40 m.p.h. while on asphalt.
A tire that is aired down will conform better to the rocks on the dirt road, and is less likely to get punctured than one that is 40 p.s.i. inflated.
The jarring feel will also be reduced.
I also noticed that while on long stretches (Gonzaga Bay to Laguna Chapala/Hwy 1), if you drive on the opposite side of the road, the washboard isn't
quite as bad. This reduces the jarring just a little bit.
I run an adjustable monotube shock - the ProComp MX6. You can adjust the rebound AND compression to suit your needs. 'soft' is best on washboard.
But, you are more likely to bottom out. Hence, David K's airbag modification.
Just keep the speed down to something manageable. You never know when a wild burro will walk out in front of your speeding vehicle while out there in
Baja. 
If you want to air your tires up REALLY FAST, get the VIAIR EXTREME AIR system - ~$550 and you'll be airing up David K! 
[Edited on 12-19-2008 by Ken Cooke]
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bajaandy
Senior Nomad
Posts: 769
Registered: 2-7-2004
Location: North County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Adventurous
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Cooke
If you want to air your tires up REALLY FAST, get the VIAIR EXTREME AIR system - ~$550 and you'll be airing up David K! |
Does the price include the guard dog?
That picture is a classic!
subvert the dominant paradigm
"If you travel with a man, you must either fall out with him or make him your good friend."
JBL Noel
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaandy
| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Cooke
If you want to air your tires up REALLY FAST, get the VIAIR EXTREME AIR system - ~$550 and you'll be airing up David K! |
Does the price include the guard dog?
That picture is a classic! |
I loved placing my little guard dog in that picture. She's a good little Chihuahua that loves everyone.
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Skip_Mac
Nomad
Posts: 102
Registered: 4-25-2008
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marchesi, You are smart to ask.
I spent more than a decade in the remote parts of the western USA (paid mineral prospector). Driving a company owned 4X4 was wonderful...They paid
for tires and repairs.... Yeah, live fast, drive fast and die young. I experienced the smooth ride of the right (Fast) speed over miles of straight
washboarded roads. The right speed works. BUT then the spacing changes on the washboard or a narrow trench from a flash flood cuts the washboard..
or a bend comes up...or a blind dip is suddenly in front of you...or a cow steps onto the road.....suddenly YOU are drifting with no control at high
speed. Fun, if you live for adrenalin rushes. Also braking can be very tricky... Also field repairs on the front end tie rods, bent in a sudden
trench can be exciting in the far outback, ripped out tires... long way back on foot.
I'm sober and still alive (someone up there really likes me)... I'll get the air pump and drive slower on lower tire pressure... after all IT's MY
vehicle now, not Homestake Mining's. My life, what's left, so I'll enjoy it..
Slow down, enjoy the day and live to come back and tell us all your stories.
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