Thread: Disco4 ability in sand

Be careful,as OEM 17's don't fit all LC's,some have larger brakes,but 18's will fit.

I have 18's on mine and no issues at all in sand,you have done a fair bit of driving in sand so would know about tyre pressures,etc.

Small fuel tank is an LR issue,and a PITA.
Long range tanks are available,but as you said the spare tyre has to go somewhere else.
Tank and rear carrier,is pretty expensive.

I have just put up with the small tank and carry jerries when needed,in fact most of the time when touring.
Another thing is,even though the tank is supposedly 82 litres usable,the most i have ever got into mine is 76.

We have a 16 model SDV6 and I run 265's on both the factory 20" and the TuffAnts in an 18". The TuffAnts get fitted when we do extraordinary or more than a day away off road work.

My experience driving on beach sand is pretty limited, where most of my off-road/touring experience is desert and outback tracks. But what I have done on the beach at Robe and up around the top end I have had varying success and are learning along the way.

I managed a fair chunk of Little Dip (Robe) while on the 20" down to about 20PSi. I was limited by the people who I was with, whom I was teaching a few things I knew at the same time they were becoming 4WD'ers for the first time. We were sticking to the tracks and could only go as far as they were willing to.

With the DSC off and in Sand mode the car did pretty well, only really bogging down where extra soft. I'm sure that had I dropped another 5 or even 10PSi it would have been even easier.

But up North, I have been on the beach at Dundee a few times in various different ways. The beach is very different up there to down south and in most instances it would comfortably and easily plod along at full highway pressures (DSC off and Sand mode).

One day I decided to knock the pressures down to 20PSi (on the 20" wheels) and it drove very easily, only hoping into the existing wheel tracks when they were there rather than a bit of fighting. The next time we were there I had the 18" wheels on and decided to drop to 20PSi and it felt better and easier again.

With my limited beach driving, I don't feel like it does too bad.

Last year we did the Canning in it and the tyres were set 25PSi front and 32PSi rear. There were only three dunes tops that we didn't get over on the first attempt and they were super soft and chewed out.

Regarding the fuel capacity, because of our trips I ended up fitting the long ranger tank to push it out to 184Lt. I have put the tyre on the roof rack which on big trips also hold an additional 2 Jerry's. I have been considering a tyre carrier, but torn between the frontrunner and rijidij one, for when it eventually happens.

Hope this info can help your decision, you won't regret the D4, it is everything you need to fix the three issues you have.

Good luck.

great replies, thankyou.

It certainly confirms the ability of the D4 in the sand, especially with 18"s and more rubber on.

a guy i work with has a D4 and go on the beach all the time with stock tyres.

A bit late to the party, now the OP has bought one and all, but ...

My stock 19" rims with worn Pirelli ATR's was fine in the sand. Air down 16psi, off-road height, Sand mode, low range for greater articulation (= flex!) if you need it, DSC off, (DSC off, DSC off!!!).
Unstoppable.

Originally Posted by Redtail

A bit late to the party, now the OP has bought one and all, but ...

My stock 19" rims with worn Pirelli ATR's was fine in the sand. Air down 16psi, off-road height, Sand mode, low range for greater articulation (= flex!) if you need it, DSC off, (DSC off, DSC off!!!).
Unstoppable.

And those Pirellis certainly continue to punch above their weight. I'm hanging out for the new ATplus when my current ones get a bit lower.

Originally Posted by Redtail

A bit late to the party, now the OP has bought one and all, but ...

My stock 19" rims with worn Pirelli ATR's was fine in the sand. Air down 16psi, off-road height, Sand mode, low range for greater articulation (= flex!) if you need it, DSC off, (DSC off, DSC off!!!).
Unstoppable.

Never too late! Thanks for the report and great to hear. Looking forward to getting mine down and dirty asap.

I don't have to do anything "Fancy" in my D2a on soft sand,
Drop the tyres down to 18psi, select low range/lock center diff and just drive