Sand driving

[OzAd4x4]

Hi all,

Just had a day on Stockton beach - all good but did get stuck a few times which was a bit of a surprise as it wasn't an overly difficult dune :(

This was in Sand mode with the DSC turned off, however I left the DSC turned on for the rest of the day and it was much better. I have been driving Stockton for about 10 years now and overall was very impressed with the performance with the main exception being the suspension lowering at 50kmph which is simply too slower speed.....65-80kmph would be ideal! Might have to look at the options available sooner rather than later as I love my beach driving.

One thing that was a little confusing from my understanding of the Terrain Response was that when Sand mode was selected the suspension didn't automatically lift into Off-road height it stayed at whatever i was already in (Normal). Also, how do I know when the e-diff is in operation as I don't have the centre screen (base model only)????

Phil

[p38arover]

From Overlander forum today (see http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php't=68674) :


Do all discos drag their under carriage on the sand when beach driving ?
Their were 2 fancy 2010 Disco on Hawks Nest beach today dragging their under carriage on the sand if it wasn't for a heave throttle I would say they would still be their now 6 hours later. One was down to his sills and was recovered buy a Nissan the disco couldn't follow the Nissan as the under side of the bumper was a plough
How did they win 4X4 of the year was I dreaming I saw that ?

[3.9County]

Sand driving was quite difficult with the D3 as we found the instruments had no real effect on sand performance.

On hard sand it was ok but once the sand was soft and powdery despite its enormous power it seemed to get stuck quite easily. Keeping in mind that the vehicle is extremely heavy and would often find soft spots where the 110 or 130 would just float across.

The best thing for this problem is to change to big high profile sand tyres and deflate to 20 to 18 psi.

[OzAd4x4]

I'm running 265/70/17s which I had a 12psi in the front and 10psi in the rear which helped somewhat...

[ozscott]

I am sorry to hear about your problems mate. I have been told on this forum that with the DSC turned off the D3/D4 was excellent in sand and that really those with a D3/4 that had problems in soft sand (as has been reported on this forum by some owners) was because they didnt know the settings to use and how to drive their vehicle (in effect) and would keep DSC turned on.


I am keen to hear what others say about your report matey. Ghaggis (Gordon) may post up and have some helpful tips for you about getting it to perform well in the sand.

Cheers

[chuck]

I am listening with interest as I am going to Port McConnell near Robe next week.

As I understand it it is DSC off, low range, off road height, sand mode with tyres deflated to 17lb for 17' tyres.

Keep speed under 50kmh to stay in off road height.

Regards

Chuck

[roamer]

From Overlander forum today (see Overlander 4WD :: View topic - Disco question (http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php't=68674)) :

That sounds like the compressor had gone into" protection mode" (overheated) and he couldn't get it to raise.
If you have screen, in 4X4 setting it tells you its "rising,"
If no screen it will flash on the dash, "rising", until it gets too hot then,starts to flash, "compressor overheated, will rise when cool", it is only a flash, and I don't remember a bing
This slow rising really is a pain on the beach
Cheers Ken

[scarry]

I think i will just keep the D2 as long as i can:p:D:D;)
Fine in the sand,no problems with DSC or lowering & raising,ummm,also the 16" tyres a great.......


:wasntme:

[WhiteD3]

From Overlander forum today (see Overlander 4WD :: View topic - Disco question (http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php't=68674)) :

Interesting post. The other two posts seem to blame the driver:angel:

[rdenyer]

Bare in mind the speed limit on Stockton Beach is 40 km/h.

But if you do wish to go faster with extra height I have heard there are some products on the market - e.g. "Johnson Rods" that will "trick" the computer in to thinking its at it normal height.

Have not used them but they seem to be a pretty simple solution to this problem.

Have found my 2005 D3 TDV6 is much better in the sand with DSC off.

MTCW

[Ashes]

I've got around 5 days experience in the sand at Robe n the D3 so certainly not an expert. My first trip, no idea, pressures too high and stuck a few times, 2nd trip, much different.

The D3 is a very capable vehicle in the sand if driven with some thought by a "novice" driver. I'm sure there are more capable vehicles but not sure if there are many that are as good as the D3 on average in all terain types.

What worked for me in the softer sand when it was encountered was 18psi on 18" AT tyres, DSC off, low gear (locked in 2nd or 3rd) and being very conscious of maintaining momentum and not stopping suddenly.

For mind, the lowering at 50kmh should not really be a factor in sand, if you need offroad clearance height at that speed then you probably should be going slower anyway.

[ozscott]

I've got around 5 days experience in the sand at Robe n the D3 so certainly not an expert. My first trip, no idea, pressures too high and stuck a few times, 2nd trip, much different.

The D3 is a very capable vehicle in the sand if driven with some thought by a "novice" driver. I'm sure there are more capable vehicles but not sure if there are many that are as good as the D3 on average in all terain types.

What worked for me in the softer sand when it was encountered was 18psi on 18" AT tyres, DSC off, low gear (locked in 2nd or 3rd) and being very conscious of maintaining momentum and not stopping suddenly.

For mind, the lowering at 50kmh should not really be a factor in sand, if you need offroad clearance height at that speed then you probably should be going slower anyway.

Mate to be honest 50kph must have been picked by a LR Boffin with no experience in our beaches. 60 would have been a much better pick with the option of an in between height from there up to say 70. 50 is just that bit too slow and would become painful, but as said above there is a way to modify things to change that (but keep in mind the potential problem of a rollover if you swerved to avoid washout or similar at speed and the insurer potentially denying cover because it was too top heavy because it had not been able to get back to its normal ride height for that speed...).

Cheers

[Xtreme]

The subject of sand driving techniques with the D3 & D4 were covered very thoroughly a few months ago with excellent comments/suggestions from both gghaggis & rmp.

See http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/97108-sand-driving-d3-what-am-i-doing-wrong-9.html

[gghaggis]

The subject of sand driving techniques with the D3 & D4 were covered very thoroughly a few months ago with excellent comments/suggestions from both gghaggis & rmp.

See http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/97108-sand-driving-d3-what-am-i-doing-wrong-9.html

Yes, it has been covered ad-nauseum here and probably getting a bit tedious for those who have followed all the discussions - a search should pull up a few hundred hits! If there are still those that want some info, email me and I can send you some info from one of our seminars.

Cheers,

Gordon

[Celtoid]

Come on guys, when you read an article that starts with "Their were 2 fancy 2010 Disco on Hawks Nest beach today dragging their under carriage on the sand" that (apart from the bad spelling....wasn't this written by a journo....don't they usually spell quite well?)....it's a beat up.....the big Green Monster surfacing.

You'd like to think that it was a non LR sentiment but there are plenty of D knockers that are LR fans. :(

The D4 and I believe the D3 has as much clearance as a LC when in off road mode. I can't remember the stats but they are very close. However a Disco can go up another setting or so, if it gets bogged....a LC can't do that.

My off-road/camping buddy has a 2008 Prado....it drags it's live axle arse in areas where my D4 cruises over...

The comments are subjective....tyre pressure, driver competance, settings...etc, etc.....or is it just blatent BS?......

And as Gorden has stated..."it has been covered ad-nauseum".

Indeed the D3/4 sand driving/off-road capability subject has.

Let's inject some truth in these subjects. Another I saw, or knew a mate who,,,,blah, blah, blah....

[rmp]

A fine post on which to end this thread, which is being closed because it adds nothing new to the sand discussion.

As has been pointed out, a search will reveal many more threads. If anyone still has questions after reading those then feel free to post in the older threads rather than create a new one.

And everyone else, please search before posting new topics!