Beginner Off-roading Question

[antelux]

I do not have any off-roading experience and hence this question. After getting my R1S, I recently went on a very easy route which was mostly unpaved roads with some steep elevation gain. Some sections of the road was grooved (similar to the area before curb on interstates). When the R1S went over the grooves, there was a significant amount of tire noise, which I think is expected - in line with what happens when you veer of the road onto the curb. However, there was a lot of rattling noise from the car as well - from the front and rear. Is this expected? I don't hear any rattling noise on regular roads., unless the roads are really bumpy. Please note that I did not air down the tires (I have a suspicion that this is the reason) - they were at 48psi. If there are any tips I can use as a beginner, that would really be great. A photo from the end of the trail -

Sponsored

 

[WSea]

Grooves? Do you mean washboarding? Airing down will help however slowing down and choosing your path helps the most. Sometimes they can’t be avoided and any vehicle gets the shit rattled out of it. I had a front suspension rattle under 25mph that eventually disappeared after about 6k miles

 

[FooF]

Slow down and air down

 

[VSG]

That's washboarding. I find that while you can avoid potholes, you usually can't avoid washboarding.

If you think it was a rough ride in your R1, it wasn't! Since you've never done that before, you may not realize how bad it can get even in a capable ICE vehicle like my old 3rd Gen 4Runner. In the 4Runner, everything and everyone gets thrown around inside the car if you go too fast, or even if you go too slow (because you fall into each groove rather than ride above them.) With an R1, I can run those roads at twice the speed I used to with less bumping. Setting the suspension to soft helps, and don't use highest or lowest suspension because you don't want to hit the stops. Standard height is more than enough for the road you're describing since you will be higher than most stock vehicles out there.

That looks like a nice road - where is it? I don't recognize it but I feel I should ...

 

[antelux]

That's washboarding. I find that while you can avoid potholes, you usually can't avoid washboarding.

If you think it was a rough ride in your R1, it wasn't! Since you've never done that before, you may not realize how bad it can get even in a capable ICE vehicle like my old 3rd Gen 4Runner. In the 4Runner, everything and everyone gets thrown around inside the car if you go too fast, or even if you go too slow (because you fall into each groove rather than ride above them.) With an R1, I can run those roads at twice the speed I used to with less bumping. Setting the suspension to soft helps, and don't use highest or lowest suspension because you don't want to hit the stops. Standard height is more than enough for the road you're describing since you will be higher than most stock vehicles out there.

That looks like a nice road - where is it? I don't recognize it but I feel I should ...

This was the road to Spada Lake near Sultan. I found it from here https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/2903-spada-lake

 

[antelux]

I looked up the term "washboarding" and realized that's exactly what I experienced. Thanks for all the responses - will help the next time I decide to attempt something like this.

 

[VSG]

Oh wow, I thought that road was closed a decade ago. Last time I was out there I had to hike like 3 miles to get to the lake.

Time for me to re-examine a number of other hikes out that way to see if they're accessible again ...

 

[Zoidz]

ALl good answers above. Regarding the rattling, yes, I think that is "normal" for our Rivians. I hear it sometimes when I go off road, and also on very rough roads at lower speed, and others have mentioned it or complained about it. Mine is just dull clunks, like bushings flexing, and I'm not concerned about it. If you are hearing sharp rattles, like metal on metal, I'd be more concerned.

Sponsored