Sand Driving

[Snowmn]

Can anyone help me out with tips for driving in sand as I have never done this before?

The reason is I have just been given a job to do in Saudi Arabia in about three months time and will be renting some sort of 4WD and am going to try and get out into the dessert at least a couple of times. I've driven around the Middle East quite a few times but only on road or over the mountains being mainly rock.

Oh yes. I do know this has the potential to end in tears but 50 degrees and no beer makes Snowmn a dull boy

[DEFENDERZOOK]

yep.....air down.......

depending on how soft the sand is.......you may need to go as low as 12psi.....
avoid sharp turns as you may peel the tyre from the rim with the low pressures.......

high range is usually ok.......but you can use low range......its more of a personal preference......

[spudboy]

If you have anything new/upmarket like a Rangie, make sure you turn off the DSC (Stability control). Toyota probably have an equivalent acronym.

With DSC on , the computer cuts power just when you want it, as it thinks you are losing control.....

But, as DZ has said, tyre pressures are the main thing. If you have something classy like a Defender, make sure you lock the centre differential - makes a big difference.

[JayBoRover]

Remember "momentum is your friend". Up, down, flat, it matters not. Avoid coming to a complete stop and think very carefully about how you're going to get going again before allowing yourself to stop.

The other thing I would say about driving over there, is go with others that know the areas. There are many traps in the dunes like sink holes, both natural and man made, and there are some things you just don't want to run into. A beat up old camel can very quickly become a most precious and extremely valuable show camel when a foreigner or ex-pat hits it! Also the security guys that look after the pipeline tracks can get pretty septic pretty quickly - as can camel farmers and you'll be amazed at where you'll run into these guys!

I'll be in the dunes out of Liwa in the UAE in early April to race the 2011 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge - round 1 of the FIM World Cross Country Rally Championships. (Of course I'll be hanging onto handlebars, not a steering wheel).

Cheers
John B

[Snowmn]

Mostly it's either a new Pajero or a ford explorer, so I think DSC is more likely, I wouldn't have thought about that.

[Snowmn]

Thanks JB good advice, I've run into that kind of trouble before in Lebanon just after the last conflict when we tried to get a Kia Sportage in and out of a bomb crater that someone had left in the middle of the highway.

[dullbird]

my advice to you would be to go out and sand drive with some experienced people BEFORE going

[lebanon]

Thanks JB good advice, I've run into that kind of trouble before in Lebanon just after the last conflict when we tried to get a Kia Sportage in and out of a bomb crater that someone had left in the middle of the highway.

Hi,

where was that?

[Snowmn]

Hi, I had to go check the spelling on the map, it was somewhere between Tyre and Naqoura, we were checking out the damage to homes as we specialize in reconstruction after as Tony Abott says '**** happens'.

[d2dave]

I've only ever done it once, which was with the LROCV. One thing I learnt was when stopping brake very gradually. If you stop with too much brake force you bury the front wheels in the sand making it hard to restart. If you stop gently the front wheels will be on top of the sand which will make restarting easier.

The other thing I decided was to never go without another vehicle. If you get stuck it could be very hard getting out, and as we were on beaches we had tides to worry about.

I would assume this to not be a problem where you are going.

Dave.