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The Old Trailmaster's Primitive Road Rating Guide:
CLASS-1
This road is drivable in most any highway sedan with low clearance by virtually any driver. It is usually on flat ground. Vehicle size is not a concern. 4wd is never necessary. It is usually maintained by road crews through grading and/or gravel. There are rarely any obstacles in or on the roadbed that would require extra thought. The potential for vehicle damage is virtually nonexistent. (Photo: Warm Spring Canyon road)
CLASS-2
This road is drivable in a few highway sedans with moderate clearance by many drivers, however, a sport utility vehicle may be advisable. It is often on flat ground but it could be hilly. Vehicle size is rarely a concern. 4wd is rarely necessary. It is sometimes maintained by road crews, but usually is just a two-track road that is maintained only by normal vehicular traffic. There are sometimes minimal obstacles such as little ruts, small rocks, or washboards in or on the roadbed that require extra attention to navigation. The potential for vehicle damage is low. (Photo: Skidoo ghost road)
CLASS-3
This road is drivable in many sport utility vehicles with moderate ground clearance and a low-range gearing system by drivers of limited experience. It could be on flat ground, or in varied terrain such as ravines, canyons, or hillsides. Vehicle size is sometimes a concern. 4wd is usually necessary in high-range, or sometimes low-range. It is rarely maintained by road crews, typically owing its continued existence to backroad enthusiasts. There are usually moderate obstacles such as ruts, rocks, small ledges, unproblematic switchbacks, and/or grades in or on the roadbed that require attentive maneuvering, decent driving skill, and a sense of adventure. The potential for vehicle damage is moderate. (Photo: Butte Valley road)
CLASS-4
This road is drivable in some sport utility vehicles with higher ground clearance and a low-range gearing system if the driver has previous experience on roads of this level, or guidance by another experienced person. It is usually not on flat ground, and often encountered in tight terrain like canyons or mountainsides where vehicle positioning is vital. Vehicle size is often a concern - smaller is usually better. 4wd is always necessary in low-range. It is never maintained by road crews because of its inaccessibility, and continues to exist solely through 4wd usage. There are always considerable obstacles such as deep ruts, large rocks, moderate ledges, switchbacks, and/or steep grades in or on the roadbed that require very cautious maneuvering, good driving skill, and maybe some daring. The potential for vehicle damage is a definite concern, and increases with the driver's lack of experience. (Photo: Mengel Pass road)
CLASS-5
This road is drivable in a few sport utility vehicles with very high ground clearance and a low-range gearing system if the driver has considerable experience and is highly skilled in vehicle navigation. Inexperienced drivers could navigate it if they have expert assistance and are not frightened to try. It is rarely on flat ground, and usually encountered in very tight terrain like twisted canyons or steep mountainsides where vehicle positioning is extremely critical. Vehicle size is always a concern - smaller is better. 4wd is always necessary in low-range. It is never maintained by anyone unless an ambitious Jeep club takes it on as a project to keep it open. There are always very difficult obstacles such as cavernous ruts, huge rocks, elevated steps, extreme switchbacks, and/or very steep grades in or on the roadbed that require meticulous maneuvering, great driving skill, and daring. The potential for vehicle damage is high - a very real concern for ANY driver. (Photo: Echo Pass road)
