Big Bear CA to Las Vegas NV - All Dirt

[mxwrk]

After getting my truck dialed with suspension, wheels, and tires, it was time to take my first off-road trip. A group of friends and I got together and planned extensively to get from Big Bear to Las Vegas while staying completely on the dirt, except for road crossings and a fuel stop.

Overall we made it just shy of Vegas when another truck in our group got a coolant leak, but our total off-road mileage was 232 miles over 3 days. My truck averaged 11.8mpg which was pretty good considering our first full day average speed was 8mph.

Lots of slow and technical driving combined with a few fast sprints. I came from an Excursion with about a 4" lift, and the first thing I noticed with my F150 was that it was much lower. On two track roads where the center is slightly raised from where the tires ride, I scraped the factory skid plates pretty badly (have since ordered RCI). I experimented with all the drive modes, and some off the off-road ones were good but they really like to wind the RPM's up before shifting a gear. This can be helpful in some terrain but anything open and flat I ended up just switching back to normal mode. Below are some pictures, but there's lots more along with video on my Insta: @ HeavyOverland

Sponsored

 

[Tall Tail]

Where is a pic of the skid plate?

 

[mxwrk]

Where is a pic of the skid plate?

I shall take one haha

 

[SumGuy]

After getting my truck dialed with suspension, wheels, and tires, it was time to take my first off-road trip. A group of friends and I got together and planned extensively to get from Big Bear to Las Vegas while staying completely on the dirt, except for road crossings and a fuel stop.

Overall we made it just shy of Vegas when another truck in our group got a coolant leak, but our total off-road mileage was 232 miles over 3 days. My truck averaged 11.8mpg which was pretty good considering our first full day average speed was 8mph.

Lots of slow and technical driving combined with a few fast sprints. I came from an Excursion with about a 4" lift, and the first thing I noticed with my F150 was that it was much lower. On two track roads where the center is slightly raised from where the tires ride, I scraped the factory skid plates pretty badly (have since ordered RCI). I experimented with all the drive modes, and some off the off-road ones were good but they really like to wind the RPM's up before shifting a gear. This can be helpful in some terrain but anything open and flat I ended up just switching back to normal mode. Below are some pictures, but there's lots more along with video on my Insta: @ HeavyOverland

I was going to ask about the pano sunroof because mine rattles over every small little bump and drives me nuts. But I see you are a man of class and went without the pano roof.

 

[mxwrk]

I was going to ask about the pano sunroof because mine rattles over every small little bump and drives me nuts. But I see you are a man of class and went without the pano roof.

Oh man that’s a bummer to hear! I liked the sunroof in my old daily fusion but knew how I drove offroad, and couldn’t imagine a scenario where one would hold up.

 

[SumGuy]

Oh man that’s a bummer to hear! I liked the sunroof in my old daily fusion but knew how I drove offroad, and couldn’t imagine a scenario where one would hold up.

Yup. Never had an issue in my old 4Runner that was 15 years old and had 250k miles on, but ford cannot seem to figure some things out, which is a bummer.

I will have the dealer warranty it next oil change, but I doubt it will fix it.

 

[mxwrk]

Where is a pic of the skid plate?

It’s actually not as bad as I remember, but I can’t see it lasting very long the way I drive. Hard to tell from this pic but it’s bent up in a few spots and that access panel is barely hanging on. RCI plates should be stout and provide a lot more coverage.

 

[Tall Tail]

It’s actually not as bad as I remember, but I can’t see it lasting very long the way I drive. Hard to tell from this pic but it’s bent up in a few spots and that access panel is barely hanging on. RCI plates should be stout and provide a lot more coverage.

LOL, that took a beating. Thanks for posting.

 

[hotrodmex]

Are you willing to share the route you took?

 

[dolsen]

This is a really cool idea. I’d love to plan a trip like this

 

[mxwrk]

Are you willing to share the route you took?

Via DM

 

[UGADawg96]

Did everyone bring their own 5 gal bucket, kitty litter, and a pop up tent ?

 

[mxwrk]

Did everyone bring their own 5 gal bucket, kitty litter, and a pop up tent ?

Some guys slept under their camper shells. What’s the rest for? Haha

 

[UGADawg96]

Some guys slept under their camper shells. What’s the rest for? Haha

Digested food

 

[mxwrk]

Digested food

A shovel and biodegradable TP!

Sponsored