Hello fellow Fitters, I have been really into hiking/camping this year and last week took my car into the Chattahoochee National Forest in North Georgia. I was so in love with landscapes but most roads there are dirt/gravel roads and I had to slow down to less than 10 miles/hr and it was just brutal. The bumpiness is one thing but I really worried that my tires would blow out. Luckily I got out of the forest alive and although my car was covered with dirt, nothing a good wash wouldn't fix. BTW I saw another Fit there in the parking lot so I wasn't the only brave soul with that Little Engine That Could (or could it?). My question is, will driving on gravel road seriously damage my car/tires? I want to go back again this week but really worried about the wear and tear on the Fit given the road condition.


I have a 2009 Fit Sport and it's still running like a champ, with the exception of being noisy and bumpy (even when new so that's no big deal). The great majority of hiking/camping locations I have been to so far have well-paved roads, but sometimes off-road driving like last week's was required to see more secluded and amazing places. Consider that I really love the outdoors and wanted to do more hiking/camping in the future, Should I look for an SUV? Or is our little Fit perfect capable to handle it? Before last week's advanture I was actually eyeing a new Fit to replace my current car either later this year or next year. Now I am not sure. I love Fit. If infrequent driving on dirt road isn't going to hurt the car, I may still stick to it.


P.S. My friend has a Honda Accord. He said his car would be better used for this type of road. Is that true?

 

The tires are made for that. It probably sounds like you are ripping the car apart but it can handle it. It’s probably putting more wear and tear on from kicking rocks up but if you love it then who cares, that will happen with any vehicle.

The Fit does have limitations on ground clearance and 2WD so it will limit what you can do more so then a Jeep, 4 Runner, Outback.

 

In my youth one of the dumber decisions I made was try to drive up a steep gravel drive at 3 in the morning before a large thunderstorm would strand me at the bottom of the hill. Slightly inebriated and sleep deprived I made it. Sat at the top till morning trying to sleep the worst of it off but it made it. It wasn't very happy but hey, its at least capable.

 

Its a city car,, its designed to manage flat roads not rough road, better buy an suv, awd much better to give you more ground clearance for offroad driving

 

Another solution is to keep your Fit for accessing the trails near paved roads, and then hike with friends who have cars that are more suited for the gravel roads. Or, borrow your friend's Accord, which is better for that type of road, right? This could be a litmus test to see if you do increase your hiking/camping frequency at harder-to-reach locations. Given a season's worth of outdoor activities, you would gain more insight into what type of vehicle would be best for your outdoor odysseys.

 

My dad grew up in Colorado, and loved to fish. He told me one time when he was in high school, a friend got him to go to some supposedly amazing fishing spot way out in the mountains. They took a lifted truck with big off road tires, and the road got so bad they thought they were going to get stuck and have to walk back, but after a serious struggle, they made it... And found a wood panel station wagon and a VW bug already there.

If you're not going fast enough to bend a wheel on a rock or pinch the sidewall against the rim, I can't see how your tires would be destroyed. I imagine things like shocks/bushings would wear a lot faster, but if you're having to slow down for lack of ground clearance it probably won't be a big issue. Ground clearance is going to be the biggest issue. Unless you're looking at an SUV really made for off-road, most of them are just tall cars- suspension tuned for paved roads with a little more travel, tires made for regular freeway driving, AWD systems that often are FWD only until they start slipping, and then no limited slip or locking differentials. Not that an SUV is bad, mind you, but if you get one, make sure it does what you want it to.

 

^ EDIT: Oops, what he said.

If you do consider an SUV - most of them are just taller sedans, not built much differently than the Fit. Street tires and street suspension.

 

Ever heard of the Mongol Rally? Check this out:
https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/2nd-...10-jazz-2.html

 

Thank you guys I really appreciate your inputs. Very helpful!

 

thank you !

 

I agree.

If you do decide to get something more comfortable, the best option on the market today in the affordable space is the crosstrek.

But you won't break your fit just because it feels unpleasant to drive. Where you will break it is in a truly sharp rock or pot hole deeper than a few inches.