SAND DRIVING FROM BEACHPORT TO ROBE

[Declan]

Hi Lads
I am off to Beachport for the Australia day long weekend soon it will be the first time i have taken the Defender on sand.
I am looking for information as to what is going to be the best gear to drive on sand in the Defender ( I believe it should be low gear and up to about 3gear but if any of you lads have done this route i would be happy to have some feedback on it).
The Defender has not got an ECU upgrade or bigger inter-cooler so it just as it has come out of the factory with some extras winch/side steps OME springs.
I am going down with the Toyota landcruiser club so i want as much information as possible as they love slagging Landrovers but i just give it right back to them ( Second car Discovery TDI 1996 auto ) i have had this down at robe but the Defender drive a bit different any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks Declan

[cewilson]

I've primarily stayed with high range. Tyre pressures are the biggest factor. First gear high range with the centre diff locked will pretty much pull through anything.

[langy]

Spend half a day practicing... take an air compressor and experiment with tyre pressures and gears.

[clean32]

as already posted. air and high range, its a simple drive really with some fun bits at the end. biggest thing is not using to much power and spinning the wheels. momentum is good

[Blknight.aus]

15psi all round and dont worry too much more about anything else other than flicking the CDL on.

other nice to have/knows

Dont be heavy on the brakes or the noise keep the steering inputs light and make sure you right up on smooth fast gearchanging if it gets really really soft.

make sure you have a decent aircompressor and tyre gauge. IF your going to do it regulalry invest in a tyre deflation device. I got a set of staun deflators in return for a recovery effort. Great to have, not sure if they're worth the $$ they want for the genuine ones tho.

a long handled shovel and some carpet or a decent fold of shade cloth are also handy to have.

if youve done beach work in the disco its the same in the deefer but your a bit longer.

[scarry]

I've primarily stayed with high range. Tyre pressures are the biggest factor. First gear high range with the centre diff locked will pretty much pull through anything.

Exactly

The difference in,for example,having tyre pressures at 18psi,instead of 22 psi is amazing.
I have done most of my sand work in the D2,auto,so don't know too much about the defender.Son's puma had no probs at all on recent trip to Fraser,he never used low range at all.

Momentum is also important,once you slow down in the soft stuff,its all over.Practise quick gear changes.

I remember a few years back,everyone was having trouble getting off the beach at Tewantin,cars were stuck everywhere,defenders included.The sand was very soft.I lowered the tyres on the D2 to 18psi,left it in high range,CDL in,& it cruised through like a walk in the park.
We then went to help the other vehicles,& they didn't want to lower their tyre pressures,so we went on our way....

Good luck...& when those Tojo's stop,you just drive around them:)

[samuelclarke]

My recipe for sand driving in medium stuff is 18psi all round, centre diff lock in and working between 1st to 3rd high. If the sand's hard I'll run a higher pressure and higher gear.

In the very soft stuff I go down to 12psi all round, centre diff lock and low range 2nd to 5th (unless you're going very slowly I find 1st Low to dig in too much). I've not been able to get stuck using this (and I've tried hard!). At high tide at Teewah beach I've pulled a heap of 4wds out...they're amazed at why I don't get stuck - I tell them it's a mixture of vehicle setup (low tyre pressure and diff lock) and skill...and of that low tyre pressure is up at the top!

Oh yeah and in terms of kit...good compressor (I've got a portable ARB unit - 10/10 in my books), tyre deflators, shovel, snatch strap and shackles (with suitable recovery points) and if you really want either sand tracks or maxtraxs (https://www.maxtrax.com.au/) (useful for getting other people out ;) )...

Once you get use to it sand driving is heaps of fun - especially in a Defender!

[Declan]

Thanks for all the replies i am looking forward to sticking it up the Tojo's and i will put a report on the forum how the weekend went.

Thanks Declan:twisted::twisted::twisted:

[big guy]

Hi
I spend a week at robe every year and came back yesterday.

That trip is actually quite easy.
Do not panic. My mates Suzuki Grand Vitari just did it.

I prefer High range with cdl engaged and tyre pressure low. 18psi.
In low range its torquey but not needed, high 2nd is good enough for my 300tdi Disco and only on a few occasions did I use low range as there were some very rocky paths to negotiate and with low pressure you just wanna squeeze over the rocks also some paths have quite deep ruts at the moment.

A sand flag is recommended as tracks are narrow and quite a few cars will come other way so beware.
Driving under high tide line is easier and o.k while with other cars but be aware if stuck and tide starts to come in.

Have fun. I did.

[dmdigital]

15psi all round
Rubbish! You can't make a blanket statement about tyre pressures (and there's more than only one to in this thread).

In general terms you should expect to let the tyre pressures down, how far is usually determined by the conditions. It may be 25psi is fine, it may be 18psi is better. You may even have to run as low as 15psi.

When I drive the beaches up here in the wet season the sand can be so firm I've just left everything at 30psi. Generally though if its soft I'll drop to 25psi try a little and then see if I need to go lower. But that suits me in the conditions up here, not in Robe.

In other words: expect to lower the tyre pressures, but as to what pressure, it all depends on the day.

[big guy]

Robe-15-18psi
Take no chances.
I go there every year and do not get caught out.

[miky]

I've done that track a couple of times and both times it was very soft in places. I used 15psi with no problems. Obviously some parts will take higher pressure, like running below high tide line close to the water where sand is firm. But unless you want to keep adjusting pressures keep them low and don't drive too fast on the firm sand.

My 3 cents worth..

Mike

[Hymie]

I've got some home made sand tracks you can borrow if you are in Victoria.

[Declan]

Thanks Hymie for the offer of a lend of your sand tracks but i am In South Australia and after reading all the feedback from you lads i cant wait to get onto the sand at robe to have a bit of fun.
The reason i was asking was to see had any of you lads had got the ECU upgrade on your 4WD to let me know what you think of the upgrade to driving on the sand as compared to driving on the sand without you ECU upgrade because i am thinking of getting an ECU upgrade but everybody i talk too says your 4WD blows black smoke more and uses a lot more fuel ?.
any feedback on this would be great.

Thanks Declan:twisted::twisted::twisted:

[Blknight.aus]

so you'll be seeing tombie then.

search my review under proton energy pill

[Ruslan]

Hi Declan,

Good thing to check tide times if you want attack a beach: Robe*tide times (http://tide-times.com.au/localtime_SA/Far_South_East/Other/Robe.html)

I run 12psi all the time, empty car, no probs to follow jeeps.

If you stuck, only low range 1st/reverse very-very slow to pack sand and make a little run up strip. High 1st to start moving of the boggy spot, or 3rd low if to heavy to begin a movement.

Don't use shovel if you stuck on flat beach/surface, so don't remove any sand you can use to pack up instead, otherwise you'll be digging a hole, even worse.

Please, don't drive on vegetation, keep on tracks between red posts, or have fun on beach.

Cheers,
Ruslan

[philco]

I run 15 psi when up to fraser and on north stradbroke never got stuck even pulling out a couple of Nissans, high or low range is fine, you will find the best gear to use as you travel, try both high and low range in different gears don't worry about using diff lock unless you are bogged down or going over dunes to camping spots. trial and error and you will find the best gear to drive in, have a good time, and keep out of the surf.

[Rugrat]

Just to add my 2c worth. :)
For robe to Beachport I start at 15psi in the Puma - because I dont want to be stuck - some of those beaches are SOFT!!!! . I also found that in HR I was in 1st or 2nd most of the time and changing constantly. I dropped to LR and found it much easier - 4th gear mainly.
If you head further south from robe the sand get alot softer so 10psi may be required and flexing of the butt ;)

Either way have a ball - use a sandflag as I am sick of near misses at crests or bends. Its also worth noting that the Dune Buggy club is now 'by-passed' :angel: - get the latest maps from Wattle Range 4wd (google).
Australia Day Weekend will be busy :D