Boondock/Outback Ground Clearance

ecyfoto

Can't find any numbers, folks. Somebody actually know?

Thanks in advance.

pthomas745

https://www.google.com/search?ei=QMVyWunOO8-P5wK13bToAQ&q=outback+ground+clearance+site:http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/&oq=outback+ground+clearance+site:http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/&gs_l=psy-ab.3...4664.12171.0.12979.39.31.0.0.0.0.262.3413.0j23j2.25.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..17.0.0....0.MjfHcmBucGI

Sharon_is_SAM

I believe I read on the forum about an additional 4 inches.  Not sure of overall clearance.

ecyfoto

Thanks, guys.

Tabaz

The lowest point on my Outback is the bottom of the bracket that holds the pull-out step under the door.  It is 9 5/8" off the ground.  The next lowest point is the single sewer discharge outlet.  The bottom is 11" off the ground (this was a mod - the factory discharge may be lower).

Tabaz

Forgot to level the trailer before taking the above measurements.  The bottom of the step bracket is 10 1/2" off the ground and the bottom lip of the sewer drain is 12" off the ground.

jgram2

Now it would be interesting if a non-Boondock 320 owner and a 400 owner would crawl around on the ground and provide their measurements at the same reference points (if those points are also the closest to the ground). Any takers?  I swear I was going to measure this morning for ecyfoto, just as soon as it was light outside but you saved me @Tabaz !

ecyfoto

Twojgrams said:

Now it would be interesting if a non-Boondock 320 owner and a 400 owner would crawl around on the ground and provide their measurements at the same reference points (if those points are also the closest to the ground). Any takers?  I swear I was going to measure this morning for ecyfoto, just as soon as it was light outside but you saved me @Tabaz !

You guys are going above and beyond. Thanks!

I've been attempting to know the clearance of both versions of the 320 compared to a Chevy Colorado's 8.25. Now let's hear from someone with a regular 320.

johntreacy

I have a 2018 320S, non-boondock. The bottom of my step is 8". The only lower point I found was a small bit of frame running lengthwise just forward of each wheel. See pic. About 7".

johntreacy

Slightly better angle for seeing the piece I'm referring to 

jgram2

@johntreacy you are a officer and a gentleman! Thank you!

ScottG

Another item that's prone to dragging is the tongue jack. While it technically has higher clearance than other objects, it's location near the pivot point of the hitch tends to drive it downward under certain conditions. I rarely tow off-road, but have caught the end of the jack on pavement a time or two.

Whacked

Many people don't understand that as ScottG mentioned above, the approach and departure angle is probably more important than overall ground clearance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approach_and_departure_angles

When you go over a small rise or bump, the front of your tow vehicle goes up, and the back of the tow vehicle and tongue of the trailer go down.  As the tow vehicle tops the rise and returns to level, the tongue levels out bringing the rear of the towed trailer down in relation to the rise. 

Taller clearance from the axle to the ground makes it less likely to high center the trailer, but the higher overall the trailer body is off the ground, the less likely you are to contact the ground with the front or rear of the trailer.

Whacked

Whacked said:

Many people don't understand that as ScottG mentioned above, the approach and departure angle is probably more important than overall ground clearance.

I should have said "...is probably more important than clearance at the axle" above.

Tabaz

Agree with everything Whacked said.  The upswept rear of the T@B and extra ground clearance of the Outback axle were two important points in my purchase decision.  Add the removable jack below, and you have some pretty decent approach/departure angles.

https://teardropshop.com/products/removeable-jack-plate?variant=16349316357

CincyKid

I also worry about the tongue jack wheel clearance but noticed a simple locking pin keeps it on and removing it and the jack wheel provides a LOT more clearance for times when the car and trailer are on different inclines.

ArkansasTraveler

Am wondering if you could take the wheels/tires off, drop the brake housing into a garage floor dolly which would lower the overall trailer height, and be able to push it into a garage with a 7 foot door header.  With an overall height of about 90 inches, would that lower it enough for me to be able to get it into the garage, and at the same time not damage the brake assembly by putting too much weight on the outer drum covers? Right now, this is the only thing stopping me from buying one.  We just sold a Class A and want something we can keep in the garage and tow behind a GMC Canyon SLT 4X4.  Any ideas on how to lower clearance so I can get it into the garage?  Any ideas welcome..  

Denny16

According to the tech at our TaB dealer, the Boondock pitches axle adds 4-inches of additional clearance on the TaB400.  We are having the Boondock axle added to our TaB 400, and I asked, so I could have the correct hitch setup to tow the trailer back home.
cheers

pthomas745

@ArkansasTraveler , welcome to the Forums...here are the threads about this, your meaurements may vary, of course. 

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk03dU2AhgiQ0kKxBABFj6ZHHFoYzOA:1593744521898&ei=iZz-Xry-NqKf_QaG6JzQBg&q=lower+tab+to+get+into+garage+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&oq=lower+tab+to+get+into+garage+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzoECAAQR1CgFFisTGDNUmgBcAF4AIABbogB-SGSAQUxNi4yN5gBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXo&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwj8ptyAibDqAhWiT98KHQY0B2oQ4dUDCAs&uact=5

Dalehelman

The problem with rolling on the brake drums is the brake backing plates are a larger diameter than the drums and touch the ground first.

johnfconway

ScottG said:

Another item that's prone to dragging is the tongue jack. While it technically has higher clearance than other objects, it's location near the pivot point of the hitch tends to drive it downward under certain conditions. I rarely tow off-road, but have caught the end of the jack on pavement a time or two.

Our first outing after leaving Dealer was an in-the-dark setup in USFS land by Coshise Stronghold, AZ. Did not see the dirt swale we would encounter on the outbound turnaround. Departure angle ignorance resulted in major dent at bottom of inner jack shaft. The other "live and learn" was following maxim of "repair, not replace". Was charged $55 for shop to cut an inch off the bottom and drill two new holes. A new one delivered to our door would have been $48!