Driving in sand?

[Sligex]

Hey guys,

Been taking my LX out into the sand every once in a while when I've been at the beach, and while it has been a great truck, I've never really messed around with adjusting anything for going on the beach.

Are there any tips you guys have for driving in the sand? I've been reading around, and I think I'm supposed to lock my center diff before I go into the sand, but to be honest, I've never done that and have pretty much always gotten out.

I have heard of lowering the pressure in my tires, but haven't done that either out of laziness as I haven't gotten stuck yet. Should I be shifting the transfer case into Lo?

Thanks!

 

[fj40peru]

Hola, para manejar en la arena, todo el trucó está en la prisión que tengan las llantas, acá en Perú usamos las llantas en 12 libras para cosas fáciles 8 libras en cosas más complicadas.

En lo que debes tener cuidado, es cuando des vuelta al timón, debe ser sutilmente ya que puedes sacar la llanta del aro.

Si estas bajando una pendiente muy inclinada, no uses el freno, debes bajar siempre con un cambio bajo para mantener control del carro, si este comienza a ponerle de costado, debes acelerar para corregir, si frenas te puedes rodar, sólo acelerando recuperarás el correcto descenso.

Saludos

Alonso

 

[Mike6158]

Hola Alonso... that's about all the Spanish that I've got good reply though

Sligex- My Spanish isn't good enough to follow Alonso's post (not even close) but Microsofts translator did ok. Some of it is hosed up but you get the idea.

Hello, for driving on the sand, all the keyed is in prison that they have wheels, here in Peru use wheels at 12 pounds for easy things 8 pounds in more complicated things.In what must have care, is when you give back at the helm, should be subtly as you can remove the rim from the ring.If these down a very steep slope, do not use the brake, you always get a change low to maintain control of the car, if this starts to put on its side, must accelerate to correct, if you brake you can roll, only accelerating will recover the correct descent.SaludosAlonso

 

[mikeLTU]

I agree

 

[Desert Nomad]

Hey guys,

Been taking my LX out into the sand every once in a while when I've been at the beach, and while it has been a great truck, I've never really messed around with adjusting anything for going on the beach.

Are there any tips you guys have for driving in the sand? I've been reading around, and I think I'm supposed to lock my center diff before I go into the sand, but to be honest, I've never done that and have pretty much always gotten out.

I have heard of lowering the pressure in my tires, but haven't done that either out of laziness as I haven't gotten stuck yet. Should I be shifting the transfer case into Lo?

Thanks!

If you're driving on the beach the sand is usually more packed than desert sand and much easier. Ideally you should have your center diff locked and tire pressure lowered. In desert driving I usually deflate down to 15-18 psi from 35. So far you seem be doing just fine so no need to change. Most importantly is to manually select your gear and if you feel it bogging and coming to a stop don't give it full throttle you'll bury it, and cause a very long self recovery, get off the gas if you can reverse easily (freely) without resistance do it or get out and deflate all your tires down to 15psi and check that your diff/suspension is clear out of the sand or you'll need to dig around and clear them up before reversing out.

End of the day it mostly depends on your driving style so next time you head in try it with your center diff locked and when you're leaving try it in 4-lo and another time try with deflated tires. The more you do (deflate, lock diff, low range) the more control you'll have for a safer, slower drive.

 

[LTrain0800]

Sounds like what you are doing is working for you. You might try the 2nd start button along with locking your center diff to prevent the wheels from spinning and digging in as easily.

 

[Sligex]

Thanks guys haha,

Yeah, I was out there riding along one of the trenches yesterday, and switching "lanes" in those trenches was impossible. I'm pretty sure it was due to the tire pressure that I had being too high, but every time I tried moving over the ATRAC or whatever beeps furiously started kicking in killing all hopes to switch lanes, and I know for a fact that tires were spinning.

I'd say my scariest part about driving in those conditions is driving along the shoreline (where it's a bit flatter), but the only problem is I'll occasionally get stuck in a trench which takes me to about a 45 degree angle, right next to the water. Not good. And like I said earlier, I've been having trouble changing my trench. Next time I go in I'll definitely lock that center diff and deflate my tires. Is it really necessary to deflate them to like 15? Could I get away with 20?

The beach here expects us to be able to go 35 when you aren't near people, so I don't know if shifting to Lo would actually be the best of ideas.

 

[Sandroad]

I know what you mean about not being able to get out of ruts in the sand. When the going gets rough, locking the center diff and airing down to 20 psi will help to make sure the front wheels have torque for steering and the vehicle floats a bit better. I really like the 100 series in the sand. The software and hardware work really well together, at least in the ’04. Different kinds of sand take different driving techniques. The beach can vary from wet hard packed sand to dry, loose ruts of sand. Usually the drier the sand the more speed is needed. The most difficult is superfine, dry sand with no bottom. If you get into that, back out and call it a day. Occasionally on the beach you’ll come to a wet area that is so wet that it really sucks the tires in. Again, if you get into that, back out and live to fight another day. I would not use low range in the sand unless you are pulling out someone else who is stuck. There is some advantage to keeping speed up so that the tires float a bit and Lo can make that more difficult. Make broad, sweeping turns that don’t cause you to lose momentum. When you stop, don’t lock the wheels so that you minimize the sand ridge in front of the tires. For when you get stuck, carry a couple of shovels, one with a short handle and one with a long handle. A long tow strap can be a lifesaver. And, a couple pieces of light carpet (like the runner in the hallway of a house) are really nice to have to put under the tires after you get done digging. That’s not as good as a set of Maxtrax, but it’s a lot cheaper. If you go on salty beaches, wash things off good afterward. The salty sand stuck up in the wheel wells, etc. is an invitation to rust. Finally, don’t get stuck below the high tide line if the tide is coming in. J

 

[Sligex]

Oh boy,

So today I took it back out to the beach. Lowered my pressure to 20 psi, and made sure to engage my center diff right before going off the road.

Boy oh boy what a difference that made. Was able to navigate the ruts, and cruise along at a lot higher speeds than I normally would with fully inflated tires. Also, switching ruts wasn't that bad, but I'm not sure if that's because it was windy and the ruts were a lot less deep than yesterday.

Regardless, anyone know what the maximum speed I should be going is? I was crawling along the road at 30 mph, but I'm not sure if that was too fast.

 

[Cfbrenton1]

Tire pressure is the most important part. The National Seashore requires 13 lbs MAX. I sometimes go as low as 10. If the sand is soft, your tires will beat up and the pressure will increase after you drive for a bit.

 

[Samak]

Last week we experimented and tried driving on the beach without lowering the tire pressure and with the center differential locked. We traveled nine miles on powder soft beach in New Jersey but needed to keep up speed above 15 mph to stay above the sand. When we slowed down without braking we dug in immediately as it rolled to a stop. We lowered the air to 17 psi which is what our Staun deflators are set to and the truck easily pulled out of the rut ... Very important for me to unlock the center diff before we drive onto pavement towards the air station. The driveline sounds terrible when the center diff is locked on pavement.

 

[e9999]

you may be surprised to see how hot the trans gets in sand and what a difference running in Low makes. (extrapolating from the 80)

 

[mikeLTU]

I think you should post some pictures. Here was a sand hill in the high desert out by Joshua Tree called Copper Canyon. No driving shots, I was by myself (not a good idea, I know).

Best advice is always keep it rolling and adjust throttle to not dig, but move you along at a nice pace. I usually go as fast as I can until I feel it dig, then back off gas a bit, then repeat, and adjust as needed.

 

[Travis351]

you may be surprised to see how hot the trans gets in sand and what a difference running in Low makes. (extrapolating from the 80)

Make that shocked. Mine shot up to well over 200 degrees in about a minute of driving in deep dry sand. Switched to low range and she cooled right back down to a steady 150.

 

[e9999]

Make that shocked. Mine shot up to well over 200 degrees in about a minute of driving in deep dry sand. Switched to low range and she cooled right back down to a steady 150.

yup, seen similar numbers, and it does not take much time at those temps to ruin the ATF

 

[Sligex]

Don't the later UZJ100's have transmission oil coolers? Those don't help to bring the temperatures down to normal levels?

How are you guys measuring your temperatures? Do you have a sender installed where the normal drain plug would go?

 

[e9999]

Don't the later UZJ100's have transmission oil coolers? Those don't help to bring the temperatures down to normal levels?

How are you guys measuring your temperatures? Do you have a sender installed where the normal drain plug would go?

mine has a Trans cooler and still gets hot in sand in High. It just is very tough on the trans. I added a sensor myself on the ATF line.

 

[Sandroad]

Great info on the trans temp. I had no idea it would run so hot. I'll use low from now on whenever I'm in sand for more than a couple of minutes. Thanks.

 

[hifu]

I run mine almost daily in the spring and fall on the OBX, that is what the enviros have not shut down on us. No special tires are needed and it mostly plays out in the tire pressure. I can get away with around 24psi 90% of the time, but if we have not gotten much rain the sand will get a lot softer and I would drop to 20. If you do get stuck, stop at once and let more pressure out, nothing like digging ur truck out for an hour on a 100 degree day. I live a few miles inland and will run this pressure for weeks at a time. Stay in the ruts, it is usually the place to ride and easiest on yur ride, if they get too washboardy, that is where idiots drive with too much air pressure. And like someone said, put it in lo range and its a lot less work on yur tranny. Also, if your running near the water, stay away from the red sand, not a good place.

 

[Travis351]

mine has a Trans cooler and still gets hot in sand in High. It just is very tough on the trans. I added a sensor myself on the ATF line.

Mine has a cooler too. I programmed a Scangauge 2 to monitor the transmission temperature.