Driving techniques

[AllanD]

Slight differences in weight distribution, suspension tuning (springs)
shock valving, tire size, tire make & model inflation pressure...

Not to mention the differences in the specific washboard road
you are talking about all add up to, take it as it comes, because
what we see ain't gonna halp you a bit...

There is a world of difference in the two kinds of dirt/gravel "road"
I drive on here and the type I drive on in wyoming.

Here there are steep hills dropoffs, lotsa trees and deer to avoid
Out in Wyoming the roads tend to be flatter, wider and have less
opposing traffic.... but the antelop are easily twice as fast as deer
and not nearly as smart, they'll see you in broad daylight and run
into you anyway.

So it isn't always the texture of the washboard that matters.

AD

 

[cdotson86]

I currently have a completly stock 2wd ranger. What would be the best suspension/tire setup?

 

[AllanD]

Most likely reducing tire pressure, adding ballast and reducing speed.

AD

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The bad thing about hammering down is 75% of the time there is a axle busting hole at the end of the washboards, and if you hit that at 70+MPH your going to loose at the very least a ball joint.

If you had a Twin I beam truck id say hammer down, but since you got an 05 with SLA id say go slow, it'll keep the front end in tune.

later,
Dustin

 

[Country_Boy2493]

I say don't got to slow, But don't go to fast. I was going like 55-60 down one the other day and it started bouncing and about ended up in the ditch. Not a good feeling.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Ok, time for an engineering lesson. This one is straight out of vibration theory textbook.

The reason it rattles like crazy at 30 mph is because the frequency of the forcing function (a function of your speed and the distance the ripples in the road are spaced) at 30 mph matchs the natural frequency of many parts of your truck. This sends all those parts into resonance and produces the irritating and probably damaging rattles you're complaining about.

At 60 mph, the frequency of the forcing function is much higher than the natural frequency of all those parts of your truck, meaning that resonance does not result. At 5 mph, the frequency of the forcing function is much lower than the natural frequency of all the parts, meaning no resonance.

The moral of the story is to avoid resonance. Resonance is what kills parts.

 

[Mechanickid]

Where I go wheeling the road is wash boarded bad, with alot of uphill switchbacks. The best method I've found is to drop the hammer and ride them out. But in the turns that's hard to do because the rear end tries to pass you, that's when it gets fun