Off road trucking best approach

They are hard on trucks. Maybe get ya some real tires. Good cell phone. Carry water and food. Carry water. Make sure you have the simple repair parts. Like spear gaskets, if you use them spare shear bolts. Make sure you have plenty of spare hoses or enough at least to reach the pot or tank valve. Mount a head lamp on the hard hat. Get the strongest light you can get. Don't go cheap. You'll need it at night. Spare gloves, good change of clothes. Toilet paper. A very good crescent wrench and a pipe wrench or two.
A look at OK dirt road after a summer rain. Running about 35 to 45 mph.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2788463165627&set=vb.1679775628&type=3&theater

 

If at a gassy lease. Sit in the truck to load with our foot pressing in the clutch. If it starts to run away because of the fumes pop the clutch. If the truck doesn't die. Run to a safe distance and call in help and watch it burn. LOL

 

Highway-spec'd trucks won't hold up well once the pavement ends. Most highway trucks are spec'd light to increase payloads...but lightweight components aren't as strong. Highway trucks typically have higher (lower numbers) axle gearing, which is GREAT for keeping RPMs low for good fuel mileage running down the interstate...not so good when you're trying to get a heavy truck rolling in soft, wet, sloppy mud. Air ride provides a nice, smooth ride on the highway...spring suspensions articulate better, giving better traction when on an unimproved site. You might have a power divider on that highway truck, which means 1 wheel on each axle (whichever one spins easiest...the one with the LEAST traction) will spin. Off-highway spec'd trucks are more likely to have full lockers (all 4 drives spin). Highway trucks sit low, hugging the ground...fairings, low profile tires, tight tolerances to improve air flow and help get better fuel mileage. Off-highway trucks need clearance under the truck, around the wheels, and between any moving parts to allow those moving parts to, well, move...without tearing up fenders, bumpers, etc...and the ability to roll over uneven terrain without ripping holes in fuel tanks or any other low-hanging equipment.

If you want a highway truck, stay on the highway. If you are going to do actual work with the truck, you've got to spec it to do work.

 

You need to look out for the following:

Large pot holes that will rattle the teeth out of your head, as well as wash boarded roads that prevent you from speeds of 15mph unless you care to destroy your truck.

Getting poor or no directions to locations that you may have little chance to no chance finding locations especially at night.

Getting into a bind after getting lost finding a spot large enough to turn your combination around.

A good rule of thumb, the larger the oil company, the worse the lease roads are going to be.

Getting stuck when it rains or any moisture falls from the sky.

Wear and tear on your back from the lease roads beating you down.

Lots of flats, premature tire wear.

Lots and lots of idle time.

All the oil field wild life, snakes, cows, bugs that bite to name a few.

If you have any other questions just ask, ENJOY!

 

Drive slow. The speed limit on a lease road may say 25 mph but if you don't want to beat your truck up you will want to go about 15 mph. You will also get used to the road and where the pot holes are and will be able to dodge them. Slow and easy is they key on the lease roads. You go fast and you will be spending a lot of money on repairs.

 

You have to drive fast and fly over the potholes. Also mud is like snow, you can't stop otherwise you get stuck. Momentum rules.

 

Obviously a company driver.^

 

"From town go five miles west. Then north 2 miles. 1 mile east. Lease on right."
Problem is there maybe a couple of roads that fit. LOL We used to get directions like this all the time.

 

i'm currently in a flat top volvo running sand. i honestly believe if Volvo knew some of the "roads" i've been down they would burn the warranty card for the truck. that said, i'm surprised how well it's holding up. except in the mud... but there's hardly any mud anywhere.