Traveling on Gravel/Dirt Roads
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:56 pm
- Location: Seaford, Vic
Traveling on Gravel/Dirt Roads
Hi, I am new to the forum and my husband and i went 4 Wheel driving over Xmas for the first time and they advise us to ruduce the air pressure in the car tyres when on garvel roads so if you run over a sharp rock it reduces the chance of a puncture.. can any one advise us re our van should we do the same for that too as we are going travelling in a few months and looking for some advise.
;)Jo
-
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:06 am
Letting tyres down
Hi there Barry here, we have just come back from up north with our caravan and lots of people told us that it is a good idea to let the tyres down a bit.
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:56 pm
- Location: Seaford, Vic
- GerryP
- Posts: 653
- Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:46 pm
- Location: Karoonda, SA
Hi, letting some air out allows the tyres to flex a bit and also 'softens' corrugations to some extent. And yes, whatever you do to the car, you should also do to the van. How far you deflate them really depends on the terrain. For stony or gibber tracks, I would probably run 25 to 30 psi, but for sandy tracks, let them down a bit more - even down to 18 if the going gets tough as it allows the contact patch with the ground to extend, which in turn allows the tyres to 'float' rather than dig in. One word of caution though, as you let tyres down, the sidewalls become more exposed, so you need to be a bit more aware of mallee roots and other possible dangers to the sidewalls.
Cheers
Gerry
Cheers
Gerry
Cheers, Gerry
2017 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab
2012 Traveller Sensation Pinnacle 21'
Member VKS737 - mobile 3535
2017 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab
2012 Traveller Sensation Pinnacle 21'
Member VKS737 - mobile 3535
- J.REEVES
- Posts: 3568
- Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:09 pm
- Location: Newcastle
-
- Posts: 1322
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:07 pm
- Location: Port Stephens NSW
Check the side wall and see what the pressure ratings are and ensure that you don't go below or above them.
These are the pressuires that the tyre is designed to be run at.
I run my van tyres at 65psi on the black stuff and 45psi on the dirt, my car is at 45psi regardless.
The above pressures are what i used for my last trip to Cape York, and my van is a single axle approx 2000kg and tows like a dream at the pressures.
Cheers,
PeterM.
These are the pressuires that the tyre is designed to be run at.
I run my van tyres at 65psi on the black stuff and 45psi on the dirt, my car is at 45psi regardless.
The above pressures are what i used for my last trip to Cape York, and my van is a single axle approx 2000kg and tows like a dream at the pressures.
Cheers,
PeterM.
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:56 pm
- Location: Seaford, Vic
-
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:47 pm
- Location: South East Melbourne
Jo.
Did that trip last year - had no need to alter tyre pressures on car or van.
I assume your Jayco is not an Off Roader so any outback type roads you will be travelling on will not be so bad ( IMHO) that you will have to worry about tyre pressures.
Enjoy.
Jeff.
Did that trip last year - had no need to alter tyre pressures on car or van.
I assume your Jayco is not an Off Roader so any outback type roads you will be travelling on will not be so bad ( IMHO) that you will have to worry about tyre pressures.
Enjoy.
Jeff.
Jeff & Heather
Isuzu MU-X LST
Coronet Grand Prince.
Isuzu MU-X LST
Coronet Grand Prince.
-
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:05 pm
- Location: Murrumba Downs, Queensland
Information on Off Road Tyre Pressure
Have a look at eis link below. There are lots of discussions about tyre pressures for a whole range of vehicles. This is one subject where "one size fits all" does not apply.
http://forum.australia4wd.com/index.php?act=idx
http://forum.australia4wd.com/index.php?act=idx
KevinS
_________________
Jackaroo 2001 3.0L Diesel
Coromal Seka 535 Pop Top
_________________
Jackaroo 2001 3.0L Diesel
Coromal Seka 535 Pop Top
-
- Posts: 3036
- Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:20 am
- Location: Sunshine Coast, QLD.
To Do or Not To Do
There's been a fair bit discussed previously on this topic re tyre pressures on dirt roads.
There are two schools of thought..The majority say let the tyres down ( for reasons as previously stated) but there are a few who say the opposite..most notable being the highly experienced Jack Absolom. His theory is that by letting the tyre down you increase the bulge of the sidewalls (which are the thinnest part of the tyre) thus exposing them to easy penetration by the sharp upright stones.
We have always let ours down and found that the travelling is a lot more comfortable BUT! I have to admit that we have buggered two tyres in recent times.
The other issue is the type of tyre.....We have been advised by tyre people on more than one occasion , to avoid the aggressive type tread with big gaps between the lugs..great for dirt and sand but no good for sharp stones such as can be found on the Gibb and Birdsville tracks...they penetrate between the lugs into the tyre.
Good advice to always take two spares for the van and two for the tug.
Safe travels, Jock
There are two schools of thought..The majority say let the tyres down ( for reasons as previously stated) but there are a few who say the opposite..most notable being the highly experienced Jack Absolom. His theory is that by letting the tyre down you increase the bulge of the sidewalls (which are the thinnest part of the tyre) thus exposing them to easy penetration by the sharp upright stones.
We have always let ours down and found that the travelling is a lot more comfortable BUT! I have to admit that we have buggered two tyres in recent times.
The other issue is the type of tyre.....We have been advised by tyre people on more than one occasion , to avoid the aggressive type tread with big gaps between the lugs..great for dirt and sand but no good for sharp stones such as can be found on the Gibb and Birdsville tracks...they penetrate between the lugs into the tyre.
Good advice to always take two spares for the van and two for the tug.
Safe travels, Jock