Confronted by Soft Sand ?
I'm posting this article here as we are talking about sand driving. A couple of old fishermen taught me a trick quite a few years back when I was reeeeally struggling along a remote beach with quite a slope towards the sea and spongy sand. I drove a great Niss then and thought I was going to end up in the surf.
They laughed when I eventually made it to the end where they were kicking back with tinnies, having bets with each other that I wouldn't make it. After, On the way out home, one guy followed me, we were now on a really soft different track . . . and yes, down I went.
Max traxs hadn't been invented then. So here's the lesson he taught me . . . .
My pressures were about 17-18psi. I knew I had to go lower with the gauge. He said "forget that thing, let me show you".
He had a valve removal tool in his hand and proceeded to screw the valve right out, and said "listen".
After 7-8 seconds the sound distinctly changed from a higher pitch to a lower whistling pitch. He screwed the valve back in and said, "there, that's about 12 psi."
Both rear tyres, and he said, "back out of the hole then just keep heading forward with momentum throttle." It worked.
No tugging, no digging, no snatching . . . I just drove out.
So firstly don't be afraid to drop to 10 - 12 psi if you're in the soft stuff, keep momentum, and when clear, using a quality pump, raise the pressure to 18 / 20 / 22 or even road pressure as required. Don't do anything tricky with very low pressure, you could roll a tyre off the rim.
But two extra tips . . . . Have a few extra valve inserts in a handy tin in case you drop one in the sand. And before any of this happens . . . . practice a few times at home or in the local servo next to the AIR hose. Listen for the sound change.
Beside beaches, I have driven the Simpson, Great Sandy and Gibson Deserts . . . just SWMBO and me.
If you get really remote and alone, think about taking a spare pump . . . you never know.
