Sand driving in a D3, what am I doing wrong?

**lardy** · 30th January 2010, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by discojools

Hi Nomad9.
Here are a couple of rules re D3 in sand:
If you have DSC off and then turn the car off and then on again you have to reset DSC off.
The bong will bong at 40 kph but the car will not go back to normal height until you get up to 50kph. In other words you can go up to 50 kph in offroad height, certainly thats what I have found in my 05 model.
It may be that if you had gone first then the other vehicle may have got stuck.
I don't know why you lost power, it may have been re my first point re DSC or you may have been completely bellied out in which case the little bit of Traction Control (there is still some even with DSC off) may have kicked in.
I found on my Simpson Desert trip that it was much better to have the gearbox in Command Shift so that it will not change up a gear. I noticed that in auto mode if I lifted off going up a dune the gearbox change into a higher gear, the turbo was off boost and momentum was lost. If you lift off in Command Shift the gearbox stays in the same gear.
I have to say that sand is not one of D3's strong points but for it makes up for it everywhere else.
Hope this helps.

Discojools

That's a great buy if you live in Western Australia then we tend to have an insy winsy bit of sand here

**Jamo** · 30th January 2010, 04:02 PM

Nomad, as I think RMP mentioned, I think too many folks try to forego the shovelling bit. If the Rav4 dude with the maxtrax melted one on the exhaust, he probably didn't shovel enough. Most around here tend not to like shovelling so they rush in with snatch straps and other aids.

I must admit shovelling is hot sweaty work and we're usually not on the beach when it's cold.

Another method for me is the exhaust bag to lift the car and then fill the wheel holes.

You're right though, it's horses for courses.

**rmp** · 30th January 2010, 07:20 PM

Yep you MUST shovel even with Maxtrax. I prefer a spade which shifts less per load, but is less tiring and easier to get under the wheels with. A shovel is a bit big for fine work. Exhaust bag works but with a D3 we can go into Extended quite easily and my experience Maxtrax are better than an exhaust bag.

**Xtreme** · 30th January 2010, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by rmp

Yep you MUST shovel even with Maxtrax. I prefer a spade which shifts less per load, but is less tiring and easier to get under the wheels with. A shovel is a bit big for fine work. Exhaust bag works but with a D3 we can go into Extended quite easily and my experience Maxtrax are better than an exhaust bag.

Agree that the smaller load is better when digging.
I use a post hole shovel - small blade but long handle. Can also reach further under vehicle in case you didn't stop soon enough and dug in too much.
A bit harder to store in vehicle so mine usually lives on the roof rack.

**meggsie** · 30th January 2010, 08:17 PM

Hi Nomad9,
I have just come back from Robe SA where a did a lot of sand driving (forst time on sand in a D3 as well. I did find that using command shift worked very well. 3rd gear low was perfect for nearly every boggy bit and only used 2nd once.
I did not touch the DSC at all and found it didn't hinder the vehicle at all. I run 18's and found 16psi to be ideal. I have the 2005 V8 and it is fantastic, i love it even more after sand driving...its awsome. Mine looks almost identical to yours.
Here is a quick link of dune driving...[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bjt-RXZmGY"]YouTube- Land Rover Discovery Dune Race 2010[/ame]
(Mine is closet to camera)

so, all i can say is you can have the best 4x4 in the world (and do) but sometime just have a bad stretch of sand and luck...

**rmp** · 30th January 2010, 08:38 PM

We've done exactly the same at exactly the same place, but the way I run it is that the SLOWEST to the top car wins, no stopping allowed. You can set up any number of sand trials if you use those rules and it's very safe.

**clean32** · 30th January 2010, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by rmp

Yep you MUST shovel even with Maxtrax. I prefer a spade which shifts less per load, but is less tiring and easier to get under the wheels with. A shovel is a bit big for fine work. Exhaust bag works but with a D3 we can go into Extended quite easily and my experience Maxtrax are better than an exhaust bag.

agree, nice sharp spade but with a long handle

**Bushwanderer** · 1st February 2010, 03:11 PM

Hi rmp,
I'm interested in the Maxtrax group buy.

Best Wishes,
Peter

**d2dave** · 1st May 2010, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by Bushwanderer

Hi rmp,
I'm interested in the Maxtrax group buy.

Best Wishes,
Peter

If I am not to late I would also be interested.

Have just read this thread. What a great read as I am considering a D3 for my next vehicle.

Dave.

**rmp** · 1st May 2010, 10:34 PM

There wasn't much real interest ($$$) in the end so it's closed.

Thread: Sand driving in a D3, what am I doing wrong?

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