Thread: Beach Driving for an amateur

Hmmm... sand driving. Just let the pressures down on the tyres, and keep it stoked up. By that I mean around 20 psi as a punt, and down to 12 if you think you might get stuck

By keeping it stoked I mean if you see soft sand ahead, work out what speed you want to get through at and put it in a gear where it's really riding the turbo. Otherwise if you hit it and you don't have enough revs on and fall off the boost you could well be in a spot of bother as you will struggle to get a change down before you grind to a halt Sand **really** sucks power.

As to the corrosion... I'm struggling with this as it seems to be a problem. I think something like lanotec in the chassis rails, and some sort of fishoil(maybe with wd40 or the likes) before and after the trip. I'd love to hear other thoughts on this. You need to spend a long time getting the sand out of the underbody

The best thing for sand is to let your tyres down to around 140 kpa or 20 psi.
If you drive around Vic High Plains then you will be an old hand at this .
The only perils - but others can add- that I have encountered is the engine getting hot and, if you try hard enough, spinning a tyre off the rim.
Also highway tread tyres are preferable as muddies tend to dig in.

Show em how a Landie can lead the way...
Cheers, David

Wouldn't worry about the tyre thing - don;t buy new tyres just go with whatever you have on there. I've seen plenty of vehicles with muds do fine on the beach. There's nothing to it really. Have a read of my Fraser trip report(s) I mention it in there a few times I think. Have fun !

Originally Posted by VladTepes

Wouldn't worry about the tyre thing - don;t buy new tyres just go with whatever you have on there. I've seen plenty of vehicles with muds do fine on the beach. There's nothing to it really. Have a read of my Fraser trip report(s) I mention it in there a few times I think. Have fun !

Was this posted from Banff?

18 PSI in the tyres. Centre diff lock in.

Don't use your brakes to come to a stop.

20 is too much for Robe. Go 15psi. Lighten the car as much as you can, and generally low range is best but sometimes high. Don't forget to lock the centre diff. Give the engine plenty of revs. Defender's worst surface is sand unfortunately, it doesn't play to the car's strengths.

Take a flat plate to jack with, multiple snatch straps and an air compressor.

Originally Posted by rmp

Don't forget to lock the centre diff. Give the engine plenty of revs. Defender's worst surface is sand unfortunately, it doesn't play to the car's strengths.

Take a flat plate to jack with, multiple snatch straps and an air compressor.

gotta agree with that.....

Originally Posted by rmp

20 is too much for Robe. Go 15psi. Lighten the car as much as you can, and generally low range is best but sometimes high. Don't forget to lock the centre diff. Give the engine plenty of revs. Defender's worst surface is sand unfortunately, it doesn't play to the car's strengths.

Take a flat plate to jack with, multiple snatch straps and an air compressor.

Bad call I've done Robe about 20 times.... Never aired below 28psi.... Never needed to.

And never listen to a Victorian for advice on driving sand, thats like asking a Nun for sex advice

Start at 20 if running near stock tyres.
My Defender loves sand... Never struggles at all.
And I've done it on CLAWS at 32psi

Depends on the weather, this time of year you could almost run road pressures (ALMOST).

Tombraider