I'm planning a road trip for an upcoming vacation and my initial plan includes a 10 to 12 hour drive on what appears to be rough/loose gravel. (Up Quebec Route 389, see here for pictures.)

I'm a little hesitant, though... I'd like to do the trip but don't want to chew my mini up in the process. Obviously I would try to avoid tailing too close behind trucks on the road, but will that kind of gravel tear up my tires and the underside of my car? (I've got a standard 2010 MCS with 17" all weather run flats.)

I've driven on gravel roads up in NH, but those were mostly packed dirt with a bit of gravel mixed in. These roads look like (and are described as) much more loose gravel. Aside from tearing up my car, it also sounds like there may be more of an issue of wiping out and even sinking in on some of the softer patches (but maybe that's just a problem for motorcycles?).

I'm thinking I should just switch my route around and enjoy some of the more "civilized" parts of Canada!

Any thoughts, recommendations?

--Lawrence

 

That looks like a fantastic trip, but I also wonder whether the MINI is the right vehicle for it. I think the things that would worry me most would be rocks thrown at the windshield by passing trucks, and the fear of hitting an animal - like a moose! The tires and underside will be fine, I'd expect.

OTOH, it's a car - made for driving....

I think I'd go for it!

 

Don't do it.

 

MINIs handle gravel just fine, at reduced speed. Try not to go too fast or any undulation in the terrain can cause the rear end to come out. Avoid the really loose stuff on the sides. This will cause that wheel to bog down and pull the car.

Around here, all of the back roads are arrow-straight and 90% are gravel roads. Sometimes poorly maintained. Once, I was on a road where all the loose gravel was in the center and the tracks were hard packed dirt. Not a problem for trucks but my car plowed into the center gravel pile and it made a horrible noise. I got a big rock stuck between my exhaust and the heat shield. It transferred a lot of vibration and reverberation, it was like having a throaty race exhaust.

 

Get the mudflaps and the magnetic rock gaurds. For the ultimate protection get the underside and the lower half of the car rhin lined or linex so you can color match. that would be freaking sweet.

 

From the link:
"Even at moderate speeds, big trucks on gravel throw stones. And after the road dried, the dust left in their wake resembled driving into fog."

What's the worst that can happen? New glass and paint.

 

If it was me I'd go for it. Your paint may suffer & I'd bet you lose a windscreen. A set of narrow snow tires would would worlds better than wide 17" tires, but they will probably do. Carry a spare tire. You most likely are up the creek without one if you eat a tire.

Have fun & let us know how it goes...

 

Why not drive the Mini up until that point in your vacation? Once you get there, park it and get a rental.

 

If It were me I would do it in my 05, but only after picking up a car bra, some light covers, magnetic paint guards and mud flaps. Given that it would a be a 10-12 trip it would make sense to me to do that.

That road really doesnt look too bad.

 

Contrary to the optimist "go for it" urgings, I can't think of anything that would cause me to subject my MINI to this road. Subject to a steady bombardment of rocks large and small from vehicles in front or passing, plus the ever present danger of the road graders operations, I think you can count on your paint being destoyed, a 90% chance of the windsheild being full of chips and a 50% chance of it being broken along with the headlight covers or the lights themselves, grill damage, underbody damage and driving in choking dust and actual danger of crashing in some of the gravel traps. Why would you want to do this???

 

If it was me, I'd go for it. Mudflaps/stonegards are almost a must to keep from your paint being destroyed. Otherwise, don't follow any rock throwing trucks etc.... If in doubt, hit the gas, better to get thru, then to get stuck, carry a tire patch kit and of utmost importance............carry a patch kit so you aren't out there forever waiting for roadside assistance....
MOST IMPORTANT have tons of fun, hit the gas if in doubt, remember, the passenger is scared when the rear end comes around but you are terrified when the front won't go around. Enjoy!

 

If you have winter tires, maybe use those instead? You'd get better traction on the loose stuff anyway.

 

I've got the run-flats... no spare, and I've been told those can't even be patched.... just replaced.

(I do have tire replacement insurance, though.... )

 

Tire insurance isn't going to help you if you are in the middle of no where with only 3 serviceable tires. If you really want to do this trip buy 4 snow tires on wheels & carry one of your runflats as a spare. It looks like a great trip!

 

I am definitely not part of the "go for it" mentality either. We just took our first road trip to see my partner's parents at the lake, which required us to drive for about 15 minutes on dirt roads -- with loose gravel. My top speed was about 10 mph for fear of kicking up rocks on my car. Thank God we never passed another vehicle, I would not have been happy if I received a rock ding or paint chip on my new MINI.

Don't do it!

 

there are road trips great for a MINI or a sports car and there are trips that are NOT.

Back in my college days I took a road trip with a buddy from school and he decided to go off-roading.... in his 1973 Buick Le Sabre which was brand new at the time . . . . well we went down a very undeveloped road anyway.

I'd not take my MINI, Mini or Miata where you're talking but if it rocks YOUR boat, go for it!

 

I would never subject my beautiful MINI to this.

 

If I had a beat up MINI or Mini I'd do this for the fun, but this is going to destroy the looks of your car even if you put guards all over it. And going without a spare is insane. There's no cellular service and they joke that people using satellite phones get Montreal PD. On the other hand it could be the trip of a lifetime, whether in a rented Jeep or a MINI rally car. Just expect a lot of "memories" on that car.

 

I agree it is hard to take a new car & drive gravel roads.

That being said where is everyone's sense of adventure? There are so many wonderful places to see that can only be reached by dirt roads. Guess that's OK different stokes & those wonderful places will remain uncrowded.

 

My suggestion would be to take all of the above posters that are telling you to "go for it" in a caravan and post a pic (close up of course). Would be interesting to see the insurance claims. I would never subject my vehicle to harsh terrain knowingly, had to work too hard for it and want to keep in pristine condition. And yes it's driven daily but not behind gravel trucks. Ha! Ha.. Just my 2 cents...

 

Hey Short Wait, pay my way & I'm there. Heck I'll even take the pictures for ya.

 

Nope not doing that. Ha, Ha. But I'd enjoy taking a peek at pics anyway..

 

I definitely would not "go for it", for my own sanity and peace of mind. I wouldn't want to be on a gravel road for 12 hours, especially when I cherish the vehicle I'm driving on it.

 

i would only do it IF its absolutely must

 

NO! NO! NO!...... not on a new 2010.... Don't even take the chance. My brother lives in New Hampshire and ruined his Audi paint,windshield and bottom driving on a dirt/gravel road