How much rough road can the Disco take?

[Mercedesrover]

The posted limit on the Trans Taiga and Route Du Nord is 80kph or 50mph.

Driving 50-55 on a gravel road like this is less dangerous than driving a highway at 65 in the dark, in the rain. Pay attention, stay alert and it's really fine. I quite enjoyed driving these roads at these speeds. Keep in mind that there are very few other cars or trucks on these roads so avoiding traffic isn't really a concern.

 

[Alaska Mike]

Pulling a trailer makes a whole different set of variables. Believe me, I had one bounce its way to the right, throwing me into a 180 and onto my side on a straight stretch of road. Not fun for me or the dog.

Airing down is a nice idea, just keep it within reason to prevent heat and sidewall issues.

 

[michaelgroves]

The posted limit on the Trans Taiga and Route Du Nord is 80kph or 50mph.

Driving 50-55 on a gravel road like this is less dangerous than driving a highway at 65 in the dark, in the rain. Pay attention, stay alert and it's really fine. I quite enjoyed driving these roads at these speeds. Keep in mind that there are very few other cars or trucks on these roads so avoiding traffic isn't really a concern.

I'm not anxious to prolong this discussion with endless argument and counter-argument, except that all of us here probably in some measure take advice from here. So once again, I believe you're too dismissive of the dangers of speeding on loose, stony, corrugated roads, especially for long distances, especially with under-inflated tyres, and especially if you are laden with a family-size load of expedition gear.

I have done my share of driving on such roads, and have often driven them fast - often enough to have had some very hairy moments. If you misjudge a bend or a dip, or if you blow out a tyre, or if you have to swerve, or if you lose a bit of concentration, or if a brake or wheel-bearing binds etc. etc. etc., then the consequences are far worse that they would be on the equivalent asphalt road. Even at 80km/h, at best you'll be wishing you wore your brown trousers. It feels fine, until the unexpected happens, and then you have no control. Try it, and see what I mean. (Just keep in mind that corrugations can make sliding sideways suddenly turn into a roll-over).

I'm not going to debate whether it's more dangerous than driving a dark rainy highway, or than eating unidentifed mushrooms. But I'd put it several orders of magnitude higher than "normal" driving, even without the under-inflated tyres.

 

[FourByLand]

It's very dangerous. Advice would be to air down and drive speeds at which you are comfortable.

 

[Rhode Trip]

In my experience, there are 2 main causes of mishaps on the northern roads. Its easy to get lulled into speeding and not paying sufficient attention to the road. When a quick response is required, to an unexpected curve, to a wayward moose, to some other hazard, you find you just don't have the traction to respond on the loose gravel surface. Its easy to slide right off the road.
The other is this:

Keep in mind that there are very few other cars or trucks on these roads so avoiding traffic isn't really a concern.

Your tendency is to want to ride in the middle to lessen the washboard effect. There are many blind hills. There is very little traffic, but what there is , could well be coming at you over that hill. In the middle to avoid the washboard. There was an head-on collision a couple of years ago with multiple fatalities on the spur road from the Trans-Labrador that goes up to the rail siding at Esker. It was a couple of days before they even found the bodies...they were the only 2 vehicles on the road.

 

[revor]

There are good points being made here. I have inadvertently made light of them.

I am guilty of being too vague as to the conditions of which I was driving and the vehicle I was driving them in.

In the en d though hat I was trying to point out is that if you end up working too hard to control the car at the speed you have chosen be it 250 or 25mph it's probably best to slow down because control isn't going to get any better the faster you go..

Keep your tire pressures at what you feel is comfortable and control your speed to maintain as safe and comfortable pace..

You still need 50MPH to get a Disco cleanly off the ground..

 

[Oilburner]

Hey, you're in my neck of the woods!

A CB would be a wise investment for identification to truckers. They use CB along with the the posted mile markers as a way of making sure they know what's coming. This is on smaller logging roads.

Something that will keep a deer from bouncing up and over your hood is nice. ARB, TJM, BYO, BOO-T-fab, as long as it's steel and solid.

I have nothing further to add

 

[Scott Brady]

Michael,

Your comments are much appreciated here. Corrugated roads are particularly dangerous to drive. I would recommend people that drive in the 50mph range to do a few braking tests if the road is wide and safe. The results are scary, as stopping distances can be 2-3 times those on pavement.

For the most part, I air down to about 18 psi and drive along at 35-40 on those roads. Of course I have been in races where I drove them at twice that, but it is certainly not something to do in your own vehicle and without helmets and roll-cages, etc.

Airing down it the key.

 

[Mercedesrover]

I don't understand. Canada's speed limit on the 401, they're biggest highway is 100km. They're a pretty conservative country when it comes to speed limits. The posted speed limit on the Trans Taiga and the Route Du Nord is 80km. The Trans-Labrador highway is constructed to be an 80km road but is posted 70km. All I'm talking about is doing the posted speed limit. That's all I was doing on these roads and I was getting passed on them by guys that drive them for a living. Keep in mind I'm driving a 30+ year old truck with leaf springs and drum brakes on every corner. I don't have a death wish and I'm not a dare-devil...It's just he speed that these roads are driven, that's all. Go up and see for yourself.

Where's the beating a dead horse smilie?

 

[tibaal89]

In response to the original post's question - you'll be fine!

I have nearly over 8,000 miles of off road (from fast dirt to rock crawling) on my '07 FJ Cruiser... I know this because I have an odometer on my GPS that I only active when I leave the pavement.

As for the tire pressure, find the right tire pressure for you - there isn't a magic number. Personally I find that with 32" MT/R's on 17-inch rims that going down to 18 or so psi for faster driving results in severe rim-to-ground contact when it gets bouncy. I find mid to high 20's to be a good pressure for my rig and tires.

 

[michaelgroves]

Canada's speed limit on the 401, they're biggest highway is 100km. They're a pretty conservative country when it comes to speed limits. The posted speed limit on the Trans Taiga and the Route Du Nord is 80km. The Trans-Labrador highway is constructed to be an 80km road but is posted 70km.

They're limits, not targets!

No, seriously, I've never done those particular roads (would love to - they look like wide roads into nowhere!), and they look about as safe as any corrugated road can be. In fairness, I probably would travel on them at similar speeds to the ones you're suggesting. I just think it's advisable for people to at least be aware just how badly things go wrong at those speeds when they do go wrong. As Scott says, it's worth testing on a big open section, when you're not full of people, to see how twitchy it gets - it can be an eye-opener.

 

[Mercedesrover]

No, seriously, I've never done those particular roads (would love to - they look like wide roads into nowhere!)

Come on over! I'll pick you up at the airport. You drive the 88" and I'll take the 109. I'm always looking for a travel partner.

In fairness, I probably would travel on them at similar speeds to the ones you're suggesting. I just think it's advisable for people to at least be aware just how badly things go wrong at those speeds when they do go wrong. As Scott says, it's worth testing on a big open section, when you're not full of people, to see how twitchy it gets - it can be an eye-opener.

Fair enough. You err on the side of caution and I will always respect that.


Isn't this board great?! Wish everyone could all get along like this in the real world!

jim

 

[michaelgroves]

Oh, it's been a while since I drove a leafer! What year is it?? I've owned '63 and '69 Series II 109 Station Wagons , and a '75 Series III Hardtop, all of which were great for trekking around southern Africa. (But the Series II's were tough to drive in heavy sand, without synchromesh on 1st and 2nd gear, though - the road speed dies quicker than the revs!)

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Hey, you're in my neck of the woods!

A CB would be a wise investment for identification to truckers. They use CB along with the the posted mile markers as a way of making sure they know what's coming. This is on smaller logging roads.

Something that will keep a deer from bouncing up and over your hood is nice. ARB, TJM, BYO, BOO-T-fab, as long as it's steel and solid.

I have nothing further to add

Yup, I'm originally from Ottawa. Are you in the OVLR club? I'll be going to the meeting in Belleville on Sunday.

My folks are still in Ottawa and have a cottage up in Quebec. So I'll be cutting my teeth on this stuff soon enough.

I'm no amateur on driving on bad roads, I won an ice racing championship years ago. But that was in a car and this truck still intimidates me. I drive it like it's a school bus, both to save gas :Wow1: , and I know it can't manoever like my cars.

I am also planning on a front bumper imminently. I know the RTE is supposed to be "the best" but it just doesn't offer enough protection for my liking. I actually ran over a deer on the weekend already. On the 401, a truck hit it, then a car, then the car in front of me ran it over, and then by the time I saw it, nothing I could do and ran it over too. No damage to the truck though. :26_13_1: I know I could have dodged it in a car.

 

[Mercedesrover]

Oh, it's been a while since I drove a leafer! What year is it??

It's a '74. Benz diesel powered, Toyota diffed. A pretty good little truck.