Harrison FSR — Dust, Crowds, and That View Anyway

We've been chasing the open road feeling on Harrison Forest Service Road enough times now that we know what to expect — but a sunny Saturday in June was always going to be a different animal.

Six hours round trip, Chilliwack out and back, with the lake stretching out below us almost the whole way. We knew the second we hit the gravel that this wasn't going to be the quiet run we're used to. No rain in weeks meant the road was dry as a bone, and every truck, side-by-side, and dirt bike heading the same direction kicked up a cloud that hung in the air for what felt like minutes. Visibility through the dust was rough at times, and we found ourselves backing off and giving extra space more than once.

It's the trade-off with a perfect-weather weekend — everyone else had the same idea we did, and Harrison FSR on a sunny Saturday in June is not exactly a secret anymore.

That said, the views did what they always do. Harrison Lake from up on the FSR never gets old — that deep blue water against the mountains, the light coming through the trees on the switchbacks, the glimpses out toward Mount Breakenridge. Even through the dust haze, it's hard not to stop every few minutes for another photo.

First Real Test of the Front End Work

This run also doubled as the first real test of a pile of front end work. Before this trip we got the JOR front coil spring spacers and new KYB MonoMax shocks installed, along with a new transmission mount, fresh brakes up front, and all new brake lines. Everything up front is tight now — no play, no clunks — and the van sits nice and level for the first time since the lift went in.

The difference on the road was immediately noticeable. The front end feels more controlled over the washboard sections, and the extra height up front finally matches the rake we've had out back since the rear lift components went in.

Next on the list for the rear is a set of new arched leaf springs with overloads built in. With roughly 800 lbs of camper buildout still going into the back of the van, the rear is going to settle once that weight goes in — the arched/overload springs should bring it back level once it's all loaded.

Airing Down

We aired down to 18 psi for the gravel, which helped smooth things out, but given how light the van is compared to a loaded truck or Sprinter, we think there's room to go lower. Next time we're planning to try 12-14 psi and see how much more it improves the ride on the washboard sections.

Side Stops

We pulled off a couple of times to stretch our legs and let dust clouds pass. Found a waterfall tumbling down off the mountain into a creek, and a quiet pullout with an old fire ring and shafts of late afternoon light coming through the cedars.

What Worked

The van handled the dust and washboard sections without any drama — no new rattles beyond the usual trim noise we're already tracking down. The front lift components performed well on their first real outing — ride quality on the rougher sections is noticeably improved. We aired the tires down to 18 psi for the gravel, which helped soak up some of the washboard.

What We'd Do Differently

If we're heading back out to Harrison on a summer weekend, it's an early start or a weekday. The road can handle the traffic fine — it's the dust that makes it less enjoyable when it's busy. On the tire front, given how light the Astro is compared to a loaded truck or Sprinter, next time we're going to try airing down further — somewhere in the 12-14 psi range — to see if it smooths things out even more.

Up Next

Rear shocks and the new arched/overload leaf springs, then alignment on the front end refresh.