Defender 90 (puma)in dunes

[Defsse]

A couple of weekends ago I was down in Pemberton and landed up going down to Warren beach the track to the start of the dunes. Was not that challenging but when I got to the dunes the track to the beach was prity steep sandy dunes
So erring on the side of chicken I turned around and went back but it's been bothering me since
Has anyone taken the new def90 into large soft sand dunes an if so how does she stack up .did have a yarn around the fire that night with a Toyota driver who apparently had no dramas and took pleasure in telling me earlier at the same spot the Landrover club had turned round and not attempted the dunes (a bit hard to swallow)

[Wortho]

As long as you run the right pressure for the conditions you will have no problem going anywhere in a Def 90 that a Tojo wil go and then some.

[Loubrey]

Defsse,

I had my Puma 90 all over the dunes near Two Rocks and Lancelin when I lived down in Perth and I do weekly beach driving up here in the Pilbara and the 90 is absolutely king of the dunes.

I run BFG KM2's in 265/75/16 down to 1.4 bar (about 20.3 psi) and the deefer is unstoppable. You need to get used to the traction control though, because too much wellie will make all four wheels spin and the TC will engage the ABS - not a good thing on a steep dune!

Not sure which "Landrover Club" the bloke in the Toyo saw, but I've been out with the WA AULRO crowd and even the more conservative Disco owners would have put the Jap jobs in their place...

[KarlB]

I have had my D90 in soft sand several times. I run standard General Grabber tyres, usually at 18 psi. I haven't need to go lower, but do go lower if you need to (even as low as 12 psi). Use low range but in higher gears. Some momentum will be your friend.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[Benz]

i run my big 130 at 12psi on the dunes.'

not because I get stuck at higher pressures but because the old girl doesn't have to work so hard.

you will have no problems in the dunes mate.

the defender is lighter then most 4wds

[cal415]

90s kick arse on the beach, light weight and plenty of power, just make sure you air down well.

as for a puma on the sand, my puma 130 goes great on the beach, in fact last weekend while i was working on the car my mate had his bucks party going on out the beach, i had taken the front tailshaft out of the 130 as i was having some issues with it, never got a chance to put it back in but head out to meet up with them anyway, it was an interesting drive but it still did it easy with rear wheel drive only, just had to be smart about it.

[Allan]

My 110 Puma was unstopable on the dunes and beaches north of Coral Bay last year and the TD5 great fun at Seabird in the dunes. Tyre pressure and a little common sence are a good aid.

Allan

[Defsse]

Seems to me it's another case of bad workman blaming his tools
Thanks for all the feed back much appreciated

[wally.aussie]

mate, have been up and down them dunes hundred of times in a shorty, lwb, and have never had any probs. tires down to 16 or 12 depends on how soft they were. try yeagerup sand dunes, they are even bigger. still no probs with the landys. always out performs the tojos everry time. 90 should have no dramas. cheers

[JDNSW]

Sand driving = tyre pressure and driver.

Anything else is pretty minor compared to these, at least for any remotely comparable vehicles (e.g. all four wheel drives)

John

[Defender Mike]

:)We took the new 90 down to the Warren last weekend not a problem dropped pressure down to 14psi and didnt even use low range .We drove South along the beach but decided not to cross where the river is flowing through under the sand. neither was anyone else judging by the wheel tracks.The dunes and beach didnt present a problem at all we tried the track behind the beach which was overgrown and a bit scratchy but it was flooded down near the river and we turned back. If you want to go south to the summertime track along the beach i suggest you go down Callicup hill on the other side of the Warren. We drove through the bush and hwy to windy harbour then took the fishermans track through to Cheaspeak road and the up Dee side coast road to Boyanup then back home along the hwy.

Mike

[Naks]

Has anyone taken the new def90 into large soft sand dunes an if so how does she stack up

Drop tyre pressures to 1.0 bar (maybe even to 0.8) and keep your momentum up!