RB vs EB, departure angle problems?

fwmc · 03-20-2010, 03:45 PM

Buying a SMB. Had an old 4x4 Dodge short bed. Lot of 4 wheeling, The Maze, Slickrock, Baja,
San Juan's etc. Will an EB make it through these type of trips or should i stick with a RB? The extra
space would be nice but...

scatter · 03-20-2010, 04:12 PM

I went thur the same thots you're having when we got ours. I ended up ordering an RB and glad I did. Some places we go we would be dragging some serious butt. If I was starting over, I'd go with the RB again. Depends on where you want to travel. We don't do campgrounds and can't resist a snarly two track in our travels.

Greg In Austin · 03-20-2010, 10:20 PM

I think your question is more than just RB v EB ... Isn't it also what 4wd system and what size tires and what overall ground clearance?

We have an EB and the only time we had any departure angle issues was when we had a hitch mounted bike rack on an extension. We are not rock crawlers but have done some serious off roaring in our 22 months.

trailsurfer · 03-20-2010, 11:43 PM

I have now traveled all over Baja, I live in the San Juans, and travel throughout the four corners off road and have yet to have a problem with the EB. And I am glad to have the extra storage and head room when the penthouse bed is in the down position.

jage · 03-21-2010, 12:20 AM

Chevy EB moves the wheelbase, so you don't loose departure angle for extra room.

cellularSTEVE · 03-21-2010, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jage

Chevy EB moves the wheelbase, so you don't loose departure angle for extra room.

True. But don't forget a new problem that could arise--getting high centered.

steve

saline · 03-21-2010, 08:54 PM

I originally wanted a RB but we found a used EB that was cherry with all the options that we wanted. I had concerns about the departure angle too. After a bit over a year and a lot of off road (not fire road) I have only scraped the receiver hitch twice. Neither time damaged the hitch, only scratched the paint.
In the end, I like the EB for the extra space.

pjpvi · 03-21-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

In the end, I like the EB for the extra space.

Ditto here. I've been pretty amazed where I can get my EB.

Phil

**daveb** · 03-23-2010, 09:44 AM

I've got an EB and have been to some places that an EB van of its weight really shouldn't be and have only had a few problems. Usually there is a way to approach the obstacle to avoid damage or tail dragging but I've left a few lines on the rocks. I don't mind dragging the hitch; it's the aluminess bumper I worry about. So far the bumper has not been damaged.

axel · 04-13-2010, 09:42 PM

I bought an RB for the same reasons you are concerned and I am glad I did. On a recent Utah trip on a pretty tight and rough road down into the Maze I was scraping my receiver hitch pretty routinely coming off rock steps. I also dinged the underbody at the back on the passenger side on a really tight and rough corner, though this was perhaps partly due to my driving and the lack of a spotter since I got out without doing it again. The extra length of the EB would have been a real liability on that road. Perhaps it comes down to how rough the roads you like to go down are going to be. I even find myself thinking of getting out the saw and trimming some extra off the back occasionally.