Disco 4hse, continually fails on sand, help

[Joantz]

Hi, yes before you guess it I have never used a forum before, and yes I would say these questions have been asked before. I apologies in advance. I have read lots of info from this site and explor oz but finding it hard for correct and definite information.
I have a discovery 4 hse, with 19 inch rims, I currently run mtr mud Tyres to gain access to construction sites while pulling a large heave trailer, don't ask for the weight of trailer as my answer my offend thee. I have had a discovery 3 and a few other 4x4 vehicles, so I do not need any comments following this about 'driver error' when it comes to driving this thing on sand.
Yes I get it stuck all the time, yes I know the 19s are not much good for extra soft and deep sand while towing, yes I know successful sand driving requires adequate flotation, yes I can also do the math with working out total weight, weight distribution, and surface area which unfortunately puts the discovery 4 close to the bottom of the list.
So with that said I have jobs coming up that requires more sand driving and need to figure out Tyres and rims.
I understand that nothing smaller than 19s fit on the 3 litre disco 4. Some say yes some say no.
Is there a definite answer please?
If I can fit nothing smaller than the 19s then what is the biggest profile tyre I can fit?
I love this vehicle too much to give up on it.
Looking forward for answers please.


Tony

[DiscoWeb]

Tony,

Definative answer is YES.

Gordon (gghaggis) a vendor on this site, google GOE (Green Oval Experience) has sourced 18 in rims for the 3.0lt D4 and i am sure a number on the forum use then.

As far as I am aware they are the only option if you want 18in rims on the 3.0lt.

With out wanting to offend, noting you previously owned a D3 I assume you are turning off DSC as nothing kills momentum and therefore performance in sand like the DSC retarding power because it is sensing wheel.

Hope that helps.

George.

P.S I believe Gordon is on holidays until next week so you might need to wait for a response.

[Disco4SE]

Tony,
I have the 18" rims with Cooper LTZs. They balloon out nicely.
You can check out photos in my Gallery

Cheers, Craig

[Phoenix12]

As correctly posted already by George......Yes you can get 18's. Gordon from Green Oval Expeditions gets them in, and can send them to you (once you pay him). And yes it will give you a better spread of tyre choices. I would consider that "when driving on sand" the 18's in an all terrain may be a better option, and will certainly give you a much greater selection of rubber.

As for any other info the users on here could give you, the tone of your post isnt great, and it seems you are quite aware of everything already. Good luck with that. :)

Cheers

[rufusking]

Just throwing this in, are you turning off DSC when on sand? It has a band habit of cutting power when you need it most.

[Phoenix12]

Just throwing this in, are you turning off DSC when on sand? It has a band habit of cutting power when you need it most.

My thought as well, plus tyre pressures, momentum, limiting wheel slip....etc etc

Must be a pain in the arse to be bogged all the time though.....and I put up my hand....every time I have been bogged it wasnt the vehicle, rather it was my lack of application to what was required, or the fact that I didnt sum up the conditions properly :).

[Redback]

Here's a link to the 18" rims from Green Oval Experience

18" rims for D4/RRS from GOE" (http://greenovalexperience.com/18_inch_news.html)

Baz.

[Joantz]

Thanks heaps on the info, I will spend some time tonight to work on going through the info on the 18s.
Yes DSC is off, I learnt that awhile ago in an embarrassing date!
Tyres deflated and all the other stuff all carried out prior to sand driving.

Thanks again guys for the replies.i hope I can return the favour.

Tony

Wow hold the bus, I just used an icon, I am easy too pleas as you can see!

[101RRS]

The issue will most certainly be having DSC on. It needs to be turned off and continually checked it is off as it will come back automatically with a TR change and some other actions.

Garry

[SBD4]

Tony, I know you said don't ask but...... Out of curiosity, just how heavy is that big trailer of yours? Promise 'thee' will not be offended:D

[Ashes]

What sort of pressures are you running?

Had a trip away last weekend in the sand. 2 x D3's in the group with AT tyres running around 18psi never looked like stopping in soft sand. The 3.0lt D4 in the group running 19's with higher pressure got stuck a couple of times before we aired it down to the same numbers.

Spoke to a ranger who runs at 15psi all the time when out.

[Joantz]

Tony, I know you said don't ask but...... Out of curiosity, just how heavy is that big trailer of yours? Promise 'thee' will not be offended:D
15inch wood chipper 3.5 tonne single axel.
When working on sand we put specially made barrels on the chipper wheels so that keeps the chipper on top of the sand, like the barrels that move small boats on sand. We use to pull it well with a landcruiser until the back end rusted off the cruiser, it was then the insurance company replaced it with the disco 3 then I loved it so much I upgraded to disco 4. The disco 3 had 17 inch rims and boy did it pull the chipper well, what I did not realize when we ordered the disco 4 was that fitting smaller rims would be an issue.
Luckily with my first post my question was answered, whew, austral landrover could not even help me. Hope I answered your question and put a picture in your head!

[Joantz]

What sort of pressures are you running?

Had a trip away last weekend in the sand. 2 x D3's in the group with AT tyres running around 18psi never looked like stopping in soft sand. The 3.0lt D4 in the group running 19's with higher pressure got stuck a couple of times before we aired it down to the same numbers.

Spoke to a ranger who runs at 15psi all the time when out.
Yes ii run at around 12 to 15psi, I don't drive too crazy and have never had the tyre move off the rim.....yet

[Ashes]

I wonder if the extra power of the D4 is a factor as well? I'm pretty sure my D3 was running the same program as the D4. Just low range and dsc off on the soft stuff. 12-15 should give you great traction.

[ozscott]

Lots of talk of momentum on such threads which is good and sensible but there are times where you will have to stop in deep sand and wait for traffic and this can occur with a trailer on the back. This has happened to me several times towing a trailer through a deep ditch at the top of the beach near an exit cutting and having to move off up hill in deep soft sand, at times with a vehicle or 2 right behind. Have you guys had such situations in the d4?

Cheers

[ozscott]

I wonder if the extra power of the D4 is a factor as well? I'm pretty sure my D3 was running the same program as the D4. Just low range and dsc off on the soft stuff. 12-15 should give you great traction.

Can never have too much torque and they have heaps. Power likewise is great provided your in the right gear. You may have a point though if people are flooring it in first gear low range there will be some deep holes.

Cheers

[scarry]

Experience is also important(not that you guys haven't had any),as said,low tyre pressures & momentum.

I haven't had my D4 in the soft stuff yet,but i know it will be a learning curve after having D2s for the last 13 yrs,and never had any real issues.

I was coming off the beach at Noosa once & the beach entry/exit was very soft & chopped up,two patrols were stuck as was a Prado.No point in helping there were enough people standing around looking/helping/whatever.

A Tdi deefer turned up towing a large dual axle van,drove around the stuck vehicles like it was a walk in the park.I followed him,no problems at all.We both started down at the waterline to get as much momentum as possible,which was by far the best thing to do in that situation.

I hate towing anything,and hate to think what it would be like towing something that weighs 3.5t in soft sand.......

It is easy enough getting into trouble in soft sand towing nothing & having the vehicle virtually empty.

[Nomad9]

Hi Joantz,
I found my D3 very heavy in the back with the LR tank, dual wheel carrier, the fridge and the drawers. Even with 18's you might find you still struggle a bit. Might I suggest the LLAMS suspension unit, this takes out the "power off" at 55 klms/hr that is unless the D4 fitment is different will allow you to explore the realms of "power in the pedal".
If you are towing the trailer on the sand making sure the trailer wheels track in the vehicle tracks and also reducing pressure in the trailer tyres to allow them to bag as well will help a lot.
Sounds like you are pretty clued up about the sand driving anyway these are just some of the lessons I learnt.