how slow do you go ?

[jim2]

i have limited back country driving experience , all of it in big bend. on i the glenn springs i go 7/10mph ,juniper canyon 3/7mph , pine canyon 5/10 mph, on the old ore road 5/10mph. i've pulled off to let faster movers pass, and wondered how fast you can drive these road before you start to invite tire trouble. probably depends on the tire. i'm comfortable at the slower speeds, it's easier on my body, and my mind.

[betteroutside]

I am never in a hurry, but don't really check the speed. The few times someone has come up behind me I have pulled off to let them pass at the first spot that is wide enough. 

[OldJeepr]

It shouldn't be a race.  I don't think I ever looked at the speedometer.  The best speed for me is one that is comfortable, and most of all, let's me see what I want to see.  I've dropped it into 4Lo in lots of spots, just to be able to idle along and enjoy the surroundings, and stopping when I wanted to take in more.  Speed won't necessarily cause more tire damage, but spinning the wheels will.  Higher speed on rough stretches will cause more damage to suspension, and if it's washboard, may cause you to lose control.  I've reached the age and physical condition where long hikes are not a good option, but slow drives along the backroads still let me enjoy a lot of the solitude and serenity.

[dkerr24]

I take it slow n easy on backroads as well.  I'll let the folks with deeper pockets charge ahead. 

I use 4Lo and a spotter on bad sections so that they can point out the best path to take.

[Undertaker]

Drive slow smell the roses and save dollars on expensive tires.

[04LJ]

30-40 MIGHT MAYBE help you damage the tires. you should be more concerned with suspension damage. wash board roads at speed heat shocks and joints/bushings. 10 and under is good. but with the level of maintenance that they see, thta's just a place to start. base it on what's under your wheels at the time. Screw those others that think it's a race track.

[Al]

i have limited back country driving experience , all of it in big bend. on i the glenn springs i go 7/10mph ,juniper canyon 3/7mph , pine canyon 5/10 mph, on the old ore road 5/10mph. i've pulled off to let faster movers pass, and wondered how fast you can drive these road before you start to invite tire trouble. probably depends on the tire. i'm comfortable at the slower speeds, it's easier on my body, and my mind.

I have several bent aluminum rims on the F150 from going too fast down Old Ore Rd.  The good news?  The rims still hold air!  It's the smaller drainage erosion features across the road that sneak up on you.  Otherwise you can usually see the rough stuff far enough in advance.

Al

[desertflwr]

We go slow and usually use second gear.  My CJ-7 just kind of idles along.  It gives me time to do what I went out on the back roads for and that's to see the desert and enjoy the scenery. 

i have limited back country driving experience , all of it in big bend. on i the glenn springs i go 7/10mph ,juniper canyon 3/7mph , pine canyon 5/10 mph, on the old ore road 5/10mph. i've pulled off to let faster movers pass, and wondered how fast you can drive these road before you start to invite tire trouble. probably depends on the tire. i'm comfortable at the slower speeds, it's easier on my body, and my mind.

[presidio]

We go slow and usually use second gear.  My CJ-7 just kind of idles along.  It gives me time to do what I went out on the back roads for and that's to see the desert and enjoy the scenery.

Hey, just put it in 4LO, bottom gear. The you won't even have to stop when you want to look at something. Just step out, walk over to what interests you and easily stroll back and step into the vehicle a few feet farther down the road. Saves a lot of wear and tear on the brakes and ignition switch! 

[chisos muse]

I don't remember ever paying attention to the speed limit when I was driving my Jeep on the backcountry roads. Always paying more attention to the road & surroundings. More of a "feel" kinda thing...

[presidio]

I don't remember ever paying attention to the speed limit when I was driving my Jeep on the backcountry roads. Always paying more attention to the road & surroundings. More of a "feel" kinda thing...

Exactly.

[Quatro]

The only conclusive answer I can give to this question is - much slower when it is my own vehicle.

Most of our trips to BIBE, we've rented some sort of vehicle (Jeep Commander, Toyota Sequoia).  The last trip, however, we took our own vehicle.  That Pine Canyon road in my own vehicle was much rougher than I remembered it.   I think I could have hiked faster than the time it took to drive it.

[desertflwr]

I had a 1986 Dodge Power Ram once that would do that.  Stepping out of it and letting it idle along worked a lot better down at Port Aransas walking along the beach though.    I loved that truck.  It was the vehicle that first took me into the Big Bend outback. 

We go slow and usually use second gear.  My CJ-7 just kind of idles along.  It gives me time to do what I went out on the back roads for and that's to see the desert and enjoy the scenery.

Hey, just put it in 4LO, bottom gear. The you won't even have to stop when you want to look at something. Just step out, walk over to what interests you and easily stroll back and step into the vehicle a few feet farther down the road. Saves a lot of wear and tear on the brakes and ignition switch! 

[brave6]

I have several bent aluminum rims on the F150 from going too fast down Old Ore Rd.  The good news?  The rims still hold air!  It's the smaller drainage erosion features across the road that sneak up on you.  Otherwise you can usually see the rough stuff far enough in advance.

 

A few years back we were traveling down the washboard-y northern portion of Old Ore in a buddy's new Xterra (sp?) near dusk.  After having spent too much time in Santa Elena, Mexico and the canyon during the day we were in a bit of a hurry to make it back to Roy's Peak to get dinner going before it go to be too late.  Someone mentioned "the faster you go, the smoother it feels".  After a 1/2 mile or so of smooth driving we heard "Oh CRAP!" from the front seat  and two seconds later we were airborne and hanging on for dear life.  I next remember seeing a wall of dirt and rock in front of us, a second launch into the air, and then a bumpy landing right in the middle of Old Ore.  Camera parts, ice, and debris were scattered about the truck but everyone made it out okay.

We drive slower now.

[Doc Savage]

I think the real answer is how ever fast you feel comfortable with. We typically take our time, but have been off schedule and rushed things at times too. I grew up driving gravel roads in TN and have different ideas of what "fast" is on a back road. The main key is don't drive faster than you can see or slow down for things in the road. Slow makes bumps feel softer and won't rattle the vehicle as much. The faster you go the more you WILL use your brakes (or tear something up). After years of driving jeeps offroad on trails much more difficult than BIBE roads, I will say that the bumps and bangs will take their toll and wear things out faster.

Robert