Thread: Disco 4hse, continually fails on sand, help

Originally Posted by 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

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!

Originally Posted by 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.

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

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.

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

Originally Posted by 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.

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

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.