MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: trippin on July 27, 2012, 12:05:02 PM
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hey guys this may be a stupid question ??? but being a new camper trailer owner just wanted to know if you are towing on a beach do you drop the pressures on the trailer to ?? if so what pressures would be recommended for a loaded camper cheers jamie
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It becomes trial and error really. There is no *you must* answer to it.
Go for a run down the beach, and see how much the tyres are digging in instead of floating on the sand, and let them down a bit from there.
What trailer?
How heavy?
What tyres and size and width
What sort of tow rig.
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Given the numbers of people who get bogged on beaches each weekend it's NOT a stupid question!
Yep. I go to 8psi (approx 900kg trailer) on sand
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and whats the general consensus for rocky and rutted tracks?
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About 20psi. Or just make the tyre flatten out a bit. The main thing it is flexible so the tyre moulds it self over sharp rocks the same goes for the 4x4.
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As stated, everyone's set up is different.
The terrain also varies, sand pressures will be different for desert sand, wet beach sand, dry beach sand.
For my set up; (this is a rough cold pressure guide)
Highway : 39.42.39. (front.rear.trailer)
Dirt road : 28.30.28
Dirt road with larger rocks : 23.25.23
Sand : could be (15.18.10), depends on sand type.
My trailer weighs about the same as my front axel weight, thus similar pressures.
Generally less than 10psi you want to be real careful, the side wall will be quite vulnerable and also the risk of bead damage on drive wheels.
Softer tyre pressure will provide better ride by absorbing the bounce and taking it off the suspension, but because the tyre flexes more and more contact with the ground, it will heat up if driven at the same rate.
It is all a balance, best obtained by experience with your vehicle, camper and driving style.
Don't be afraid to air down (coupled with speed down) and try it. If no good drop some more, or pump them up.
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ok thanks heaps guys i will dump some air out and trial and error cheers jamie
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I would've thought about 20 psi for the trailer.
But being new to this camper trailer thingy, i'm learning sumfin new everyday.
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I generally drop them to 20 to 25 PSI....then if the sand gets soft you have a bit of room to air down with..............
Cheers
Nomad
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For my set up; (this is a rough cold pressure guide)
Highway : 39.42.39. (front.rear.trailer)
That high on the black top Owie?
LJ
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On the patrol I run 46psi all round and 40psi on the camper on tar. But as said when I hit the tracks you have to drop them to suit the conditions.
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That high on the black top Owie?
LJ
I run 42 front and 44psi rear so seems reasonable to me. Can go to 36 if I'm looking for softer ride on blacktop....
Bush pressures vary depending on type of track etc.....Trailer does get dropped also, helps prevent punctures....
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That high on the black top Owie?
LJ
Yeap, same here.
40-42-40 on the Black Top.
;D
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On soft sand I like to drop the 4wd tyres to 18 - 20 for the soft stuff. A little bit of research at home will tell you what pressure to run on the CT to gain a similar size "footprint" as the 4wd (currently trying to find a link to this)
Cheers Chippy :D
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Heah There
I have to agree with a few people here,get out and try it out for your vehicle...I was up north of Licola in Butcher Country and its clay/rocky shaley area...Its had a lot of rain up there and rained overnight constantly,i rum 31" MTZ's and areas are steep also,dropping in here and there to look for new areas...I found 16psi did the job nicely...
4psi rule..It might be scientifically right but i am not a fan of it...
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Will depend on tyre size, vehicle/trailer weight. In my GU on 33s I'll run about 34 on road and about 18 or below offroad.
On my old Suzuki on 35s I'd run it at about 20 on road and about 8 offroad.
You soon get an idea of what works for you but you will be amazed at the difference dropping your pressure has when offroad.
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4psi rule..It might be scientifically right but i am not a fan of it...
I agree, biggest load of horse dung.....but hey, people roll with it....:-)
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I have cheated and now use a Tyre Pressure Monitor.
I have Light Truck tyres fitted..
On the Pathfinder I have found 36 PSI cold and after a long drive they level out at 40 psi.
So getting my 4 pound grow as everyone says..... :cup:
So check cold and then check hot. Then see how much they grow...
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I agree, biggest load of horse dung.....but hey, people roll with it....:-)
OK. I'll bite.
Whats this 4psi Rule?
Damo
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I agree, biggest load of horse dung.....but hey, people roll with it....:-)
I disagree to a point, it's a good method to use a couple of times to get an idea of what is happening to your tyres at pressures and conditions. Don't do it every time but as I said a couple of times isn't a bad idea to ensure you aren't over heating your tyres for example. Better than the " make the sidewalks bag" method as its about increasing the length of your footprint not the width.
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I disagree to a point, it's a good method to use a couple of times to get an idea of what is happening to your tyres at pressures and conditions. Don't do it every time but as I said a couple of times isn't a bad idea to ensure you aren't over heating your tyres for example. Better than the " make the sidewalks bag" method as its about increasing the length of your footprint not the width.
Fair enough, people will do what they do but I still think it is absolute rubbish, but hey, we are all entitled to our view.....
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No doubt, and I agree that doing it everytime you go out is a massive waste of time but first time out it is a good indicator if you are at correct pressures. From there on in you use those pressures as a starting point and go from there.
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Fair enough, people will do what they do but I still think it is absolute rubbish, but hey, we are all entitled to our view.....
Well there is another rule you could try. Keeping reducing pressure every time you venture off road until you roll a tyre off a rim and then go up 1 psi. Serious, some people use it but probably not ideal for touring duties! ;D
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Has a lot to do with the sand, I can run all over Fraser Island with 28PSI in 4WD and 20 in trailer, however get onto Stockton for example 4wd goes down to 12-14PSI and trailer down to 10PSI. Have you got a compressor mate. If not may want to get one sorted that way you can play around not having to worry about over deflating. Pump up a bit and move on....
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got a compressor so i will have a play with it and see how it goes ;-)
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OK. I'll bite.
Whats this 4psi Rule?
Damo
Ok Damo i'll bite and answer ;D ;D....Theres a bit of reading to it...Links below.
http://www.aawen4x4.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1:4psi-rule&catid=2:current&Itemid=7 (http://www.aawen4x4.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1:4psi-rule&catid=2:current&Itemid=7)
Goodluck :laugh:
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Has a lot to do with the sand, I can run all over Fraser Island with 28PSI in 4WD and 20 in trailer, however get onto Stockton for example 4wd goes down to 12-14PSI and trailer down to 10PSI. Have you got a compressor mate. If not may want to get one sorted that way you can play around not having to worry about over deflating. Pump up a bit and move on....
I agree, stockton is a lot softer in places than any beach i've driven on in se qld including fraser and moreton islands. I normally drop to 18psi in sand regardless and then lower if it gets softer
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Will depend on tyre size, vehicle/trailer weight. In my GU on 33s I'll run about 34 on road and about 18 or below offroad.
On my old Suzuki on 35s I'd run it at about 20 on road and about 8 offroad.
You soon get an idea of what works for you but you will be amazed at the difference dropping your pressure has when offroad.
My Suzuki was 25 on the black top and ranged from 1.5-8 rocks - sand (loved them bead locks)
Patrol = 42 on road & 12-18 off road
Jayco Swan OB = 42 road & 18 off road
Every drivers form is different when 4wding. Some go at obstacles and take corners faster then others requiring higher pressures. I find its a case of trial and error. Try a pressure and drive accordingly to it, feel what the car is doing. Also old or new and different tyre brands require different pressures. When I put new Boggers on my Suzuki I ran without the valves in on the first trip to get the sidewalls to start flexing as they were around 1"thick
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I run my tyres at a constant 36 front and 38 back, and I see so little "blacktop" that I do not even bother adjusting them when I do. I find around here that lower pressures put the walls too close to the ground, and that is when tyre walls get cut. Of course when on sand and the like the tyres go down a bit, but that is not often these days either.
Regards
Tjupurula
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Cities are where people are too busy to live, out here, I haven't got the time to be busy.
I'll agree to that one....
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Cities are where people are too busy to live, out here, I haven't got the time to be busy.
I'll agree to that one....
That is just me boasting, as I live every day what most people are saving up for when they get a holiday.
Regards
Tjupurula
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Ok Damo i'll bite and answer ;D ;D....Theres a bit of reading to it...Links below.
http://www.aawen4x4.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1:4psi-rule&catid=2:current&Itemid=7 (http://www.aawen4x4.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1:4psi-rule&catid=2:current&Itemid=7)
Goodluck :laugh:
Thanks Swaggie!
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No worries bud
Now you can work out if its 4 u.... ??? ???
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That is just me boasting, as I live every day what most people are saving up for when they get a holiday.
Regards
Tjupurula
Living the dream
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Only during the dry season Justin, once it gets wet, then it is hard work, getting out of bogs almost daily, getting others out of regular bogs, and occasionally being rained in for m6 - 8 weeks without fresh supplies. We always carry enough tinned stuff.
Actually, it is during the wet that I drop my tyres right down to the 20's, and that often avoids bogs.
Regards
Tjupurula
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It depends so much on tyre type and size, and what vehicle you have that it is impossible to make any particular rule as to what pressures you should run. I read the 4PSI rule, and I agree it is crap as well.
With my D40 Navara with 31" MT ATZ's I ran 40,42,40 (front, rear, trailer) on the blacktop and when I hit sand I would drop them to 30, 32, 30 and go anywhere. Only once I had to drop them lower and that was only to about 24 PSI.
Now that I have my 79 which is a heavy bugger, with 33" MT ATZ's I run 46, 48, 40 on the blacktop and on sand I have to go down to 16, 18, 20 or I'll get bogged in the first 20m.
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Only during the dry season Justin, once it gets wet, then it is hard work, getting out of bogs almost daily, getting others out of regular bogs, and occasionally being rained in for m6 - 8 weeks without fresh supplies. We always carry enough tinned stuff.
Actually, it is during the wet that I drop my tyres right down to the 20's, and that often avoids bogs.
Regards
Tjupurula
These for wet season tyres perhaps
(http://i974.photobucket.com/albums/ae224/meln4bugs/swampersjpg1jpg3jpg4jpg4jpg7jpg9.jpg)
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Yep, down to 18 - 20.
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Yeap, same here.
40-42-40 on the Black Top.
;D
Same....
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Only during the dry season Justin, once it gets wet, then it is hard work, getting out of bogs almost daily, getting others out of regular bogs, and occasionally being rained in for m6 - 8 weeks without fresh supplies. We always carry enough tinned stuff.
Actually, it is during the wet that I drop my tyres right down to the 20's, and that often avoids bogs.
Regards
Tjupurula
Let me know next time and I'll bake you a fresh pie and fly it out ;D
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These for wet season tyres perhaps
(http://i974.photobucket.com/albums/ae224/meln4bugs/swampersjpg1jpg3jpg4jpg4jpg7jpg9.jpg)
Okau Justin, time to tell me what cariety of tyres they are. They look seriously like good mud tyres.
Regards
Tjupurula
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Okau Justin, time to tell me what cariety of tyres they are. They look seriously like good mud tyres.
Regards
Tjupurula
Maybe he made them like this
(http://offroadracecanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/0.jpg)
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Okau Justin, time to tell me what cariety of tyres they are. They look seriously like good mud tyres.
Regards
Tjupurula
there Super Swamper Boggers. I ran them on my comp truck. The grip in mud is unbelievable. Also side wall strengths way above any BF, Coopers or the likes. I never had a side wall blow out, and I used these for many seasons. They would be like comparing a car to a locked diff 4wd in the mud.
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Maybe he made them like this
(http://offroadracecanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/0.jpg)
these are Super Swamper also just a different tread pattern. The cut the treads to get more lugs, allows more tyre flex and more grip in rocks....a little extreme tho