Sand driving.

Tyson

New member
Hi,

Can anybody give me some tips on how to make my life easier when driving on the beach when the sand is soft. I launch in the sea once or twice per year(I live in gauteng)therefore do not have a lot of experience. What is the ideal tyre pressure? Hi range or low range?fast or slow. Any advise would be appreciated as i am a novice .
 

neels

New member
Hi Tyson,

 

You will have to give some more info e.g. make of vehicle (Landy, Toyota, etc.), diesel/petrol, make and size of tyres.

 Generally speaking 1.2 bar should do, but if things become difficult you can go down to 0.8 bar. You do have low range, so use it. 2[suP]nd[/suP] or 3[suP]rd[/suP] low range will do. You also need more momentum on sand than over rocky and other difficult terrain but do not over cook it. With the right balance between momentum and power you will be able to make the vehicle “float” over the sand.

Try this link for more info: http://www.landyonline.co.za/techtalk/tyre_pressures.htm

Register/join the following web site (it can become very addictive – same as SEALINE) for a wealth of info: http://www.4x4community.com

They may be off-line at the moment as they are migrating to a new server – the site has become to popular for the present server to effectively handle the traffic.

 

Greetings.
 

plugger

Senior Member
Tyson Rule number one. If you stop moving, stop accelerating. I have watched lots of guys spin their whels until they have the chassis on the sand, then the fun begins.Maintain momentum preferably slowly. Let your tyres down to about a bar and if you spin let them down more.As Neels says 2nd or 3rd in low range at comfortable revs. If you stop moving forward, don't spin but reverse slowly, in your tracks if you can and try a little run up.
 

plugger

Senior Member
It's a good idea to have long rope (50m) and when you beach pull the ski up above the high water mark without having to take the vehicle to close to the water and then load it.
 
Here are some simple rules.
1. Tyre preasure should be droped so the side wall height is half the side wall height or a little more. Not less or the tyre could come off.
2. Once moving, keep moving. Keep the speed up.
3. As mensioned if slipping stop accellerating and push the clutch in. Try very slowley to move in a straight line. also try moving the wheels from left to right, or try to move back first. But veeerrry slowly.
4. Make wide turns.
5. With a trailer, set off straight forward fist before making any turns.

Something else.
Use low range. This will help you pull away slowley and maintain a constant speed.
It is better to turn on wet sand if you can but stay out of the water. And dont forget to spray your chassis with fresh water as soon as you off the sand.
 
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