Gravel Road driving

[SaskBighorn]

Hey there. I have a 2019 ram 1500 bighorn quad cab 4x4offroad 5.7L. I have had it since 2023 and it has been great. But one thing I have noticed is that it does not handle Gravel Roads well. I have to drive atleast 8 miles of gravel to reach a highway and I drive that more than twice a day. This year I had to replace both rear speed sensors, and already have to replace them again. My rear sensors are always going out. Great truck but it seems like more of a car than a truck. We have a 2nd,3rd,4th, and 5th gens on the yard, 3rd-5th are HDs and they have never encountered the trouble that this one has had. Maybe it has something to do with it being low to the ground.

 

[vincentw56]

Hey there. I have a 2019 ram 1500 bighorn quad cab 4x4offroad 5.7L. I have had it since 2023 and it has been great. But one thing I have noticed is that it does not handle Gravel Roads well. I have to drive atleast 8 miles of gravel to reach a highway and I drive that more than twice a day. This year I had to replace both rear speed sensors, and already have to replace them again. My rear sensors are always going out. Great truck but it seems like more of a car than a truck. We have a 2nd,3rd,4th, and 5th gens on the yard, 3rd-5th are HDs and they have never encountered the trouble that this one has had. Maybe it has something to do with it being low to the ground.

HDs aren't 5th Gen so hard to compare those. I'm not sure why gravel roads would cause your sensors go out. Do you think it is because of the dust? There could be something else on the truck causing them to go out. It really seems weird to me.

 

[boogielander]

gravel roads should not cause sensors to go out like that.
either bad sensor installed or wires keep getting pinched by something.

unfortunately not much I can help with offering solution to the speed sensor issue, but for handling department some good suspension or airing down the tires will help, especially if you go with more sidewalls.

ps: i love it when the truck's tail end kicks out when i turn while going fast on gravel. makes me think i was driving a rally truck loll

 

[HemiDude]

Have you done any suspension mods or changed wheels/tires?

 

[SaskBighorn]

HDs aren't 5th Gen so hard to compare those. I'm not sure why gravel roads would cause your sensors go out. Do you think it is because of the dust? There could be something else on the truck causing them to go out. It really seems weird to me.

The stones are what are chewing them apart. But they should be able to take it

 

[SaskBighorn]

Have you done any suspension mods or changed wheels/tires?

Nope. Stock with k02s

 

[CalvinC]

The stones are what are chewing them apart. But they should be able to take it

That was my first thought when I read your post.
MudFlaps / Rock guards?

 

[Trooper4]

That was my first thought when I read your post.
MudFlaps / Rock guards?

Speed???

 

[mikeru82]

16 miles per day is a lot of gravel driving. I’d try to fabricate some kind of shield if I was having the issues you’re having. How’s your paint holding up? Specifically where the sheet metal flares out just in front of the rear tires.

 

[n8zcc]

I'm in 2.2 miles from paved roads, on my third RAM, and never an issue driving the gravled roads.

 

[CHeYeNNe71]

Maybe get something like this and cover them, but definitely weird they don't hold up

 

[SaskBighorn]

That was my first thought when I read your post.
MudFlaps / Rock guards?

Mudflaps, skid plates

 

[Quint]

You're not driving fast enough. You should be on the gas hard enough that the rear end kicks loose even on the straightaways. It will shoot the gravel out at a lower trajectory, thereby saving your speed sensors.

How did that sound, like I know what I'm talking about? Disregard my advice but it will be a more fun way to deal with faulty speed sensors.

 

[boogielander]

You're not driving fast enough. You should be on the gas hard enough that the rear end kicks loose even on the straightaways. It will shoot the gravel out at a lower trajectory, thereby saving your speed sensors.

How did that sound, like I know what I'm talking about? Disregard my advice but it will be a more fun way to deal with faulty speed sensors.

just floor it and slide through turns.
i do that all the time and my speed sensors are fine! hahaha