Thread: D4 vs Stockton Dunes (D4 didn't win).

I can't comment on the CV. As others have said seems odd on sand but.......

Originally Posted by Redback

I managed to get bogged in river sand with the camper on, I put the car in Rock crawl and eased it out backwards back onto hard ground.

Baz.

I've had the same situation. Rock crawl, lifted it and crawled out to harder ground. Vey capable and much appreciated as it was getting late and we'd had a long day on the road.


Smcconnell, don't be put off, just need to learn to drive it. There are very specific things you need to do to get the best out of it. There are a few good threads with specific instruction about what to do. Next best thing it to get Gordon's book better still go to one of his seminars and better still do a day with him. Whilst going on a tag a long is a good idea, going with people that know Disco's will provide much better vehicle specific knowledge.


I've had a few different 4WDs and been in or travelled with a lot of others. My experience is the Disco is as good as any and in most cased much better in sand. This summer I was on White Hill beach south of Perth with a Hilux and a Prado. We'd parked up to fish and swim for the morning and when it was time to leave neither of the other two could just drive off up towards the track. Both had to drop down towards the water to get some speed before heading up. The Disco just pulled straight up the hill and onto the track. Not that I'm a competitive type, but it was enjoyable.


The important thing it to out there and do it again. Get some recovery gear and go and out and drive. We've all got stories like yours. My first trip to the beach ended up with a 'L' Series Subaru bogged to the chasis with hard tyres, no recovery gear (as we were just popping on and then off on the way past), no-one around and you might say no idea. I've rarely been more embarrassed. However these adventures do make for the best stories........

Steven,

I can't add too much but have a read of this excellent thread about sand driving:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...ing-wrong.html

It covers all the points Baz and the other guys have made plus some more discussion about sand driving.
I came across this thread via the D3/D4 FAQ sticky thread near top of page. Excellent reading for this topic and many other things.

Originally Posted by Redback

Did you have it in sand mode with the DSC off, when bogged did you have it in Rock Crawl when trying to back out and when backing out did you just ease it out or was it full noise, did you dig out around the wheels before backing out, did you have any traction aids(ie) sand tracks, did you lower your tyre pressures??

Also, as mentioned by everyone, get along to the GOE seminar in Sydney if at all possible and buy the booklet.
It is an excellent way to learn more about the specifics of driving a terrain response Land Rover.

And most importantly, don't be disheartened or put off. Your D4 is a fantastically capable and comfortable 4WD.

Welcome to the club.

Scott

Originally Posted by PhilipA

You should consider this problem as a freak and not worry about the car off road.
I know the Range Rover club of NSW has run many driver training trips to Stockton without a single problem by a d3orD4 .
[snip]
I can recommend the RangeRover club for sand and general driver training specific to Land Rover products.

I have been to the Range Rover Club Intro to Sand Driving course 3 times over the last 5 years (including when the really big dunes up north were still open) and we've never seen any failure like that. The "worst" I have seen is one tyre needing to be changed.

I highly recommend that course (and the club!), especially for new owners (and partners) as their courses are run in an extremely professional and family friendly manner. The instructors will tell you exactly which settings to use to get the most out of your car. Everyone I have taken on the course with me has loved it, including my wife. As there are so many D3/D4 owners you will see the same car as yours, and how it responds, which is nicer than wondering if your vehicle might be the limiting factor (which is isn't).

The CV may only have pulled through a circlip rather than broken, which the D3/D4/RRS right front CV is prone to doing in extreme circumstances.

Hi folks,

Thanks for all those responses.

First of all, I didn't realise that Gordon was running a seminar in Sydney - thanks for the well-timed tip, Martin - I'm booked in! Looking forward to meeting anyone from here who also comes along. Going to check out the NSW RR club ASAP, as well.

Also, Martin, yes - I had DSC off - the tour operator made sure of that.

Mario - yes, the pressures were lowered, but only to 18 PSI at the time of incident - I was concerned about going lower on the 20"s.

The recovering LandCruiser was struggling to pull the Disco, with each snatch it made 2-3 metres of progress (often uphill and in soft sand) before both cars would get stuck again. After a while of that we lowered the Disco pressures to 12 PSI and, I must say, I felt the difference. The tyres survived, too.

Graeme, it's funny you say that - the car did go into emergency extended mode at one stage.

It was during that time I tried to reverse (Baz - we first dug around the wheels, then tried to ease it out - no heavy right foot business ) and that's when the CV snapped. I think I also had the wheels considerably off-centre, which leads me to the best theory I have so far (which is what Sean pointed to, as well) - maybe that's the weak spot for the joint and, combined with the pressure of the sand, it was enough to pop it out?

Spudboy, feedback from LR was: "this is is really strange, it's the 2nd time this has ever happened in the history of the model", though at that point I wasn't sure if I could trust that. They said that the first time it happened was during a press drive.

Anyway, I'm glad it all ended well.

As a sidenote, the dealer gave me an Evoque as a loaner for those 3 weeks (I actually asked for it, because I was curious to see how it drives) and, I must say - it made me appreciate the D4 so much more.


Steven

Originally Posted by Smcconnell

As a sidenote, the dealer gave me an Evoque as a loaner for those 3 weeks (I actually asked for it, because I was curious to see how it drives) and, I must say - it made me appreciate the D4 so much more.


Steven

Yes, chalk and cheese really. When we picked up our D4 the dealer gave us an Evoque so we could go to a restaurant we had booked for lunch while the dealer did his thing. I found the Evoque quite a harsh ride. The Disco is so much better.

Glad you were able to book into Gordon's seminar. See you there.

Martin

hm Marks d4 did plenty of Dunes during our Simpson Crossing [ame]https://youtu.be/geIT_4lXtD8[/ame]

Steve - what's the explanation for the Disco4 taking 4 tries to get up (starting at 3:30) each time progressively faster, but Defender just walked up it (at 5:20)?

Tyres? Tyre pressures?

Surely the Disco has a bunch more smarts and better suspension than a Defender?

Edit: Same at 9:40, after all the tries by the other cars, it just walks up!