Member Since: 09 Aug 2015
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 467
Driving on Sand
Does anyone here have any tips for driving on sand? I got pretty stuck yesterday, naively thinking that 'sand mode' would be enough! I've no knowledge whatsoever about off road driving, have driven on sand a few times without problems, but yesterday was a bit of a heart-in-mouth moment! I managed to get out by digging around the wheels and sort of 'rocking' out of the ditch, fortunately!
Having gone through the experience and having a business that requires me to do a bit of driving on beaches now and then I thought it would probably be a good idea to learn how!
So, while in 'sand mode', how should I drive it on beaches, what are the 'do's and dont's' etc?
EDIT - I also wondered about tyres, I don't think mine are off road tyres, I'm assuming this makes a big difference?
6th Nov 2015 7:47 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73086
Get yerself on a LRE course, learn the basics before you try the really tricky stuff.
PS Road tyres are best as aggressive tyres will just dig you in deeper more quickly. Dropping tyres down helps immensely but if you're stuck then you're stuck, you'll need pulled out. Trick is to recognise that early and not make things worse by digging yourself in further.
1. Deflate tyres to 1.2 - 1.0 bar
2. Switch to Sand mode
3. turn off DSC
Remember that if you switch off the engine, DSC will be back on when you restart the engine, so you must remember to switch it off manually every time you restart the engine.--
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26775
Good advice above^
Don't pussy foot around either, commit to the drive and keep the momentum up. If you have to stop, try and stop on the downward face of the dune. (Difficult on a flat beach I know!)
Otherwise, as you found, get the spade out and start digging!
SWITCHING DSC OFF
Safety may be reduced by
inappropriately disabling DSC. In the
majority of driving situations, and
particularly on-road, it is
recommended that you do not disable
DSC.
In some driving conditions it may be
appropriate to disable DSC to improve traction.
These conditions include:
• Rocking the vehicle out of a hollow or deep
rut.
• Pulling away in deep snow, or a loose
surface.
• Driving through deep sand or mud.
To disable DSC, press and briefly hold the DSC
OFF switch on the fascia (the DSC off warning
lamp will illuminate continuously).
Deactivating DSC also reduces the level of
Traction control intervention and may lead to
an increase in wheel spin.
SWITCHING DSC ON
DSC is re-enabled by one of the following:
• Press and briefly hold the DSC OFF switch.
• Start the engine.
• Select a new Terrain response special
program.
--
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged
Member Since: 11 Aug 2013
Location: St Neots
Posts: 903
As stated before:
1. Low tyre pressures
2. DSC off
3. Plan your route and keep the momentum going
De-Tango
V8 Brakes
EGRs blanked
Running boards
3 flash indicators and clock on dash
Blingy grille...
6th Nov 2015 11:59 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73086
And get some training!!!
6th Nov 2015 12:05 pm
Robert SausageTrousers
Member Since: 09 Aug 2015
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 467
Thanks all.
Deflating the tyres is a bit of a pain to be honest, as I just need to pop onto beaches, maybe park on one for twenty minutes etc or drive to the far end of one and back, then back on the road, so obviously deflating the tyres and inflating them again isn't very practical in that scenario. I assume the lifeguards trucks have permanently deflated tyres as they're always on beaches and seem to cope admirably.
6th Nov 2015 2:44 pm
Captain Crash
Member Since: 11 Aug 2013
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 15
The main thing I've learned from recovering my RIB on beaches is to avoid loose wet sand.
This typically occurs near the top of a sandy beach soon after high tide where the sand remains saturated for 2 to 3 hours after the water has left it. Very soft, very low grip - getting moving uphill with all 4 wheels on this stuff is very difficult, as you just sink in and there's no traction. I have had to be towed out even after unhitching the RIB and digging out the wheels. Now carry grip mats in case it happens again but I'm not sure how well they'd work.
My D4 copes very well with everything else on the beach - including dry sand, hard-packed wet sand, gravel and shingle - even towing a 1.6 tonne RIB.
I have never used Sand mode as this is for dry sand which I don't encounter very much. Sometimes I use GGS but more often just low range.
6th Nov 2015 2:48 pm
Robert SausageTrousers
Member Since: 09 Aug 2015
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 467
Ah, that's exactly the situation yesterday, not long after high tide, loose wet sand - thanks for that as it explains why I've had no problem in the past but struggled so quickly yesterday, good info.
I suppose on that basis, sticking to beaches that have areas that don't (or very rarely) get covered by the tide is a better bet.
6th Nov 2015 2:57 pm
Captain Crash
Member Since: 11 Aug 2013
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 15
Or just avoid the 3 to 4 hours after high tide.
I'm actually happier recovering the RIB when the tide is rising, because I know the beach above will have drained.
6th Nov 2015 3:09 pm
Robert SausageTrousers
Member Since: 09 Aug 2015
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 467
There's not a lot of margin for error on a rising tide though It was a massive relief knowing that the tide was on its way out yesterday as I was stuck, I knew I had hours to arrange getting the thing off the beach before it was going to get wet!
I wonder what the insurance situation would be, I know it happens a few times a year in different parts of Cornwall, cars getting caught on beaches or harbours.
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