what about sand?

just wonder what kind of diff one would use if beach driving was in ones agenda? :dunno:


-g

Having worked on a very sandy construction site(across the street is the ocean ) since January, I can tell you that locked in the rear w/ 12.50 wide tires has been a lifesaver. Without airing down I can go pretty much whereever I want, and that includes the sugar sand at the borders of the site. The only time I need to air down is when pulling other people out if the sand is really soft. I've also buried myself quite nicely at Oregon Inlet with open diffs and ended up sitting on the axles and frame rails. So I would say a locker would be good, as long as you can keep your foot out of it off the line long enough to get some forward momentum. Otherwise a locked rear-end will just dig you two nice holes in a hurry.

Ary

how you been? thx for the reply. i was just at oregon inlet 2 weeks ago. was down there with an 01 i picked up a month ago. it did ok (stocker). but this would be for my 88. but i would be only a couple times a year anyway. so a locker would be ok? spool is a no-no, lsd?

-g

Honestly, I think you'd be ok with any type of TAD. Hell as long as you've got decently wide tires(no 33x9.50s ) and air down you'll be fine. I've seen Subaru Outbacks on the beach at Oregon Inlet do fine. The key is knowing how to adjust your driving for the sand. You have to be real gentle with the throttle off the line, but once you get going, keep it pinned to maintain momentum and wheel spin. Similar to mud, but a lot less forgiving. Basically, since it's only a few times a year, you don't wanna build a sand rig(paddles, big motor, etc etc) so just run whatcha brung and you'll be fine.

Ary

We take my '99 out on the north end of Carolina Beach 3 or 4 times a month, and sometimes a lot more if the weather is good, in the summer. Before I got the lift and 31" tires, I would let the air pressure down to about 20-22 PSI, and I never even got close to getting stuck. Now with the 31's, I don't even bother to let the pressure out, usually because we just go down there now to hit the beach, not so much to wheel. I don't know how much lockers would help, never tried it myself... and other than the lift and 31's, my Jeep is stock. The thing that would help me would be a better radiator. Even with the pressure reduced, my XJ tends to like to run quite warm out there. It's never caused any problems, it just runs over 210 pretty quickly in the sand. If I take it easy, and let it cool off with the fan on before I cut it off, I have no problems.
As far as subaru's on the beach... yeah, I've seen those too...
Was out there today, and saw an older one... up to the bottom of the doors, with the driver scratching his head...
I've also seen Ford Thunderbirds, Chevy vans, two-wheel drive pick-ups with low profile tires, etc. out there... usually within 100 yards of the entrance, stuck up to the frame...
Just my .02...

It's kinda funny actually, it seems that everytime I go down to Oregon Inlet there are AT LEAST 4-5 explorers stuck between the road and the hardpack. I've seen this on 4 seperate occasions, don't know what it is about them, but I find it quite amusing(especially when one of them is my friend and I'm dragging him out )

Most of the vehicles I've seen stuck are ones that "push" the sand, either with their front valence or bumper, or with their front diff. Explorers push it bad with stock tires on their front diff... and most people with 4x4's don't bother to let any air out...

At silver lake MI there are some MASSIVE hills that usually take several attempts to make. You would not believe how much better I could go when I went from 12 psi all around to 9 in front and 7 in rear. Alot of the guys there run 6 all the way around.


I have a 97 xj, no lockers, 3.5 lift and 32 gy mtr's.

You can check out the dune pics at http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeBMmLJy4atXIA

thanks for the replies everyone. ill take everyones advice when i get the chance to go.
seeing the two f-350's on 49's in kitty hawk was to much!

oh, ary, they were 10.50's! :greensmok

-g

GPRSDLYT said:

oh, ary, they were 10.50's! :greensmok

-g

Click to expand...

:doh: I forgot you had those weenie tires (don't feel bad, i used to have 31x9.50s and 33x10.50s too )

Safari Ary said:

Honestly, I think you'd be ok with any type of TAD. Hell as long as you've got decently wide tires(no 33x9.50s ) and air down you'll be fine. I've seen Subaru Outbacks on the beach at Oregon Inlet do fine. The key is knowing how to adjust your driving for the sand. You have to be real gentle with the throttle off the line, but once you get going, keep it pinned to maintain momentum and wheel spin. Similar to mud, but a lot less forgiving. Basically, since it's only a few times a year, you don't wanna build a sand rig(paddles, big motor, etc etc) so just run whatcha brung and you'll be fine.

Ary

Click to expand...

A couple a years back on Ocracoke, when I had a 99 Cherokee w/30x9.50 michelin LTX's, took off from a standing start up to 30mph and slammed the brakes. The Cherokee just climbed right out. This was 2 weeks after almost drowning my former Tahoe in the same spot.

Bill

Safari Ary said:

:doh: I forgot you had those weenie tires (don't feel bad, i used to have 31x9.50s and 33x10.50s too )

Click to expand...

that was then, now its 37's.

-G

It really makes little differance, open/locked/posi, or what tires you have. just air down. that is the key to success in the sand. I have been going to the Dunes at Silver Lake MI for 15 years. Succefully took a ford escort out on the dunes with little issues, (dont ask, we were all a little intoxicated) A good rule of thumb is 8 to 12 PSI in the tires, Just enought to get a good squat out of the side walls and your good to go. The bigger more aggressive the tire, the more horsepower you will need.