Good/Bad Vibrations
- Thread starter Vic Harder
- Start date
CougarCouple
Senior Member
Hello Vic
Found the mount for our Engle MR40 refrigerator not up to the task of keeping the refrigerator secure when on washboard's in DVNP. That was not fun to see the refrigerator on is side in the back, thankfully stopped shortly after starting the road to get some water or something and found it. Two straps now assist no more problems. I use several cardboard boxes in the cabinets, and place what ever we keep in the cabinet in the box. Makes getting stuff out easy, keeps items together. Also use a couple in the couch/bed for keeping item contained. They don't weigh much, inexpensive, work well. Don't carry glass, if can avoid it. I have become proficient at re-wrapping TP. Will look for round box
I've seen screws back out of metal siding on a building after a hurricane. Makes we wonder were they in more than one area? What action was happening to cause them to come out. Did they seem to tighten up or feel tight when you put them back?
Looking forward to your trip report, sounds like a fun area.
Russ
Found the mount for our Engle MR40 refrigerator not up to the task of keeping the refrigerator secure when on washboard's in DVNP. That was not fun to see the refrigerator on is side in the back, thankfully stopped shortly after starting the road to get some water or something and found it. Two straps now assist no more problems. I use several cardboard boxes in the cabinets, and place what ever we keep in the cabinet in the box. Makes getting stuff out easy, keeps items together. Also use a couple in the couch/bed for keeping item contained. They don't weigh much, inexpensive, work well. Don't carry glass, if can avoid it. I have become proficient at re-wrapping TP. Will look for round box
I've seen screws back out of metal siding on a building after a hurricane. Makes we wonder were they in more than one area? What action was happening to cause them to come out. Did they seem to tighten up or feel tight when you put them back? Looking forward to your trip report, sounds like a fun area.
Russ
craig333
Riley's Human
My last Antelope Lake trip I took my 1960 Jeep up to Taylor Lake, my brother followed me in his JK. Its rocky but still 2wd and he couldn't keep up, said he was getting shook to death and yet I could have sped up had I wished. I suspect its that cheap lift kit on his Jeep.
Speaking of shocks, I upgraded mine to the Bilsteins a long time ago. Given what we do how long do think they'll last?
Speaking of shocks, I upgraded mine to the Bilsteins a long time ago. Given what we do how long do think they'll last?
Interesting topic.
I've always wondered why almost everyone was flying by me on dirt and gravel roads, now I understand, sort of. I've driven a lot of ugly road and never had any real problems with things falling all over like Vic did, but I seem to drive slower than average and usually slow down even more for washboard. For a road like Hole in the Rock, we go slow and make it a multi-day camping trip, stopping to camp and explore multiple times instead of trying to drive the whole thing in one day.
Driving faster will make it feel smoother because you are reducing the amplitude of the vibration by skipping over the top of the ridges. But at the same time, the higher speed is making the vibrations more frequent, meaning more vibrations per second resulting in more stuff flying around. Up to a point anyway, go fast enough and you can reduce the amplitude adequately to overcome the frequency problem.
Myth Busters did an experiment to see if driving faster made the ride feel smoother. Going slow, it was bumpy. At 45mph it did feel smoother, but it made it worse for spilling things. At 70mph things were even smoother and less was spilled.
A summary of the Mythbusters experiment can be found here:
http://www.kwc.org/mythbusters/2006/08/episode_58_shattering_subwoofe.html
So go ahead and pick up the speed if you want to really smooth the feel of things. You can also upgrade your shocks to smooth the feel of the ride, but these things will only help so much with the vibrations unless you drive dangerously fast. In addition to the safety consequences of going faster, keep in mind that by doing so you are beating on your equipment and making the washboard worse for everyone else.
Here is a link to another article:
http://www.4x4training.com/Articles/HowDoesItWork/WashBoardRoad.html
And from that article:
"Many people find that driving relatively fast over the rough road feels better. It does. You minimize the vibration inside the car, but at a great risk.....Your suspension, meanwhile, is taking a beating. The rapid up and down motion puts tremendous stress on the suspension and causes shocks to heat up and fail. The car may feel level to you because your suspension is taking all the abuse.
All that vibration and pounding cause bolts to loosen and parts to crack. Worn tie rod ends, worn out bushings and CV joints are possible, among other problems.....Most people when they hit a bad patch of road pick the speed that minimizing the rumbling. Unfortunately, no matter the differences in suspension, that speed conforms to the existing wave like pattern and actually reinforces the wash board effect over time. Tires are packing down the soft spots and pushing dirt into the high spots."
Based on my research, going faster is the best way to minimize the vibration you feel on washboard roads. Slowing down may be excruciating for some, but it is the safest way to reduce vibrations and to avoid bouncing things around, destroying your equipment, and making the washboard even worse.
I've always wondered why almost everyone was flying by me on dirt and gravel roads, now I understand, sort of. I've driven a lot of ugly road and never had any real problems with things falling all over like Vic did, but I seem to drive slower than average and usually slow down even more for washboard. For a road like Hole in the Rock, we go slow and make it a multi-day camping trip, stopping to camp and explore multiple times instead of trying to drive the whole thing in one day.
Driving faster will make it feel smoother because you are reducing the amplitude of the vibration by skipping over the top of the ridges. But at the same time, the higher speed is making the vibrations more frequent, meaning more vibrations per second resulting in more stuff flying around. Up to a point anyway, go fast enough and you can reduce the amplitude adequately to overcome the frequency problem.
Myth Busters did an experiment to see if driving faster made the ride feel smoother. Going slow, it was bumpy. At 45mph it did feel smoother, but it made it worse for spilling things. At 70mph things were even smoother and less was spilled.
A summary of the Mythbusters experiment can be found here:
http://www.kwc.org/mythbusters/2006/08/episode_58_shattering_subwoofe.html
So go ahead and pick up the speed if you want to really smooth the feel of things. You can also upgrade your shocks to smooth the feel of the ride, but these things will only help so much with the vibrations unless you drive dangerously fast. In addition to the safety consequences of going faster, keep in mind that by doing so you are beating on your equipment and making the washboard worse for everyone else.
Here is a link to another article:
http://www.4x4training.com/Articles/HowDoesItWork/WashBoardRoad.html
And from that article:
"Many people find that driving relatively fast over the rough road feels better. It does. You minimize the vibration inside the car, but at a great risk.....Your suspension, meanwhile, is taking a beating. The rapid up and down motion puts tremendous stress on the suspension and causes shocks to heat up and fail. The car may feel level to you because your suspension is taking all the abuse.
All that vibration and pounding cause bolts to loosen and parts to crack. Worn tie rod ends, worn out bushings and CV joints are possible, among other problems.....Most people when they hit a bad patch of road pick the speed that minimizing the rumbling. Unfortunately, no matter the differences in suspension, that speed conforms to the existing wave like pattern and actually reinforces the wash board effect over time. Tires are packing down the soft spots and pushing dirt into the high spots."
Based on my research, going faster is the best way to minimize the vibration you feel on washboard roads. Slowing down may be excruciating for some, but it is the safest way to reduce vibrations and to avoid bouncing things around, destroying your equipment, and making the washboard even worse.
OP
OP
I did find that going faster "seemed" to help... but 70 mph? Yikes. That's not happening.
FYI, we spent 4 days on the Hole in the Rock road. This was my favorite campsite... had it all to ourselves!
FYI, we spent 4 days on the Hole in the Rock road. This was my favorite campsite... had it all to ourselves!
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