Front wheel drive cars go Ok on the sand. But every 2wd will need momentum to get through a boggy section.

Fang it. Just don't stop :)



Starting in the boggy section is the drama with a 2wd vehicle.

The best 2wd platform I've seen is the Voltswagon beetle.

Motor/gearbox at the back over the driving wheels. Flat underside so the car body will slide over deep sand like a sled.

Custom 2wd Dune buggies have platform variations of this design.





Another good 2wd car offroad is the Falcon Rtv ute. It has a lock diff driving the rear wheels.

Quite a few people have put the Rtv lock diff into a AU or BA Ford station wagon. Really only to see how far they can get offroad before their 4wd Mates have to pull them out of the bog.

It's no comparison to a 4wd. More about the offroad challenge.

The worst 2wd I've seen on the beach was a suzuki carry ute with an aluminium tray and small low profile tyres.

Rear wheel drive with 95% of the weight over the front.

It was getting bogged on compact sand while a nearby standard camry had absolutely no issues at all.

Just attack it more aggressively. Vid reminds us of wedge back in the day!

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Ian K said..
So how do front wheel drive vehicles go on sandy tracks? Does weight bias on the driving wheels make them better than an EH ute or is something else going on?

As weight is transferred backwards due to engine torque, front wheel drives go better in reverse.

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firiebob said..

You can't beat a petrol auto in sand

I'd be curious to see how a petrol 'auto' CVT 4WD goes in sand. (ie. one of the new pathfinders)

Fairly near by where I live is Pismo Beach, Ca., a drive on beach that has several creeks that cross it. I've seen several motor homes that think they can cross the creeks during winter when the water is high, or worse yet during high tide, in the winter, crazy stupid. I like the last pic, if you're hopelessly stuck, it's no reason to not keep enjoying your beer.

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GreenPat said..

firiebob said..

You can't beat a petrol auto in sand

I'd be curious to see how a petrol 'auto' CVT 4WD goes in sand. (ie. one of the new pathfinders)

Sorry GP I have no experience with CVT's, but I'd have to think they'd be ok ?

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Ian K said..

sn said..

During WW2 he was the OIC of Popski's Private Army [another version of the SAS and LRDG] and found that 4wd trucks and jeeps made for lazy drivers.

So how do front wheel drive vehicles go on sandy tracks? Does weight bias on the driving wheels make them better than an EH ute or is something else going on?

They go the best in reverse then there just like a bug I have had a stock ford lazer through some very soft stuff good fun

X trail not so good, saved by a jeep

So what was out on the point that was so important to get to? How far was it to walk to there from the nearest beach access point?

On the east coast when you get to the end of the beach access track...You're there. Mission accomplished.

Or is it the journey rather than the destination?

That was the return trip after chasing his kite board down wind.
On the way down he did the go fast method on the inland track but after getting some big air thought he better come back the safe way
board retrieved, car retrieved, just another day in WA lol

Holy crap mast ! for sale 1 owner lady never been off road.

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firiebob said..

GreenPat said..

firiebob said..

You can't beat a petrol auto in sand

I'd be curious to see how a petrol 'auto' CVT 4WD goes in sand. (ie. one of the new pathfinders)

Sorry GP I have no experience with CVT's, but I'd have to think they'd be ok ?

I imagine they would. I recently got the 2wd version as a family wagon and I really like the CVT. Haven't driven anything in the sand since GreenBabies showed up, hopefully will again one day...

Even without the supercharger a 6.5 80 series is a serious off road weapon .
Cruiser or patrol for beach ,mmm there are alot of them for a reason.

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paulyNOR said..
X trail not so good, saved by a jeep

If he stayed up higher he might not have got stuck? When you get to close to edges like that, it can get a bit dicey.

Still i much prefer being stuck in the sand than mud. Recoveries are so much cleaner. Everyone wants to help but no one wants to get wet and muddy and miss 3y/o now thinks mud is great fun

It's starting to look to me like it has a lot to do with weight on each tyre. When the land cruiser gets stuck you have to bring in the S.

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Ian K said..
It's starting to look to me like it has a lot to do with weight on each tyre. When the land cruiser gets stuck you have to bring in the S

.

That 60 series has to much air in the tyres!

Ah Yes

Everyones at home's 'n expert until...........!

Ya F#?k Up !!!

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Elroy Jetson said..
Another good 2wd car offroad is the Falcon Rtv ute. It has a lock diff driving the rear wheels.

+1 for the Falcon RTV....................OR for the earlier Falcon Outback with the Hyrdratrack differential/rear axle.

It was "automatic diff lock" and I believe worked when drifting at higher speeds on firm loose surfaces.

You can't talk about sand driving weapons with mentioning Subarus

Big red dune, Simpson Desert.

Being a Townie , my mate gave me my 4wd licence this year, he lives far north west tas.
His main instruction was "stay away from seaweed, and choose low 4 with high revs for serious sand.
It worked
Still a total amateur though .
Yew.
And if you were inclined , as said , low psi is unbelievable , go any where, just have to pump them back up.

I'd heard about Big Red. It's on youtube, a bit of a spectator sport! The trick seems to be to have a vehicle that can maintain traction while the diffs are dragging on the crown. For solid axles about all you can do is fit bigger tyres than the half dozen preceding trucks? Or get a set of hub reduction axles. Spin the wheels going up, dig the ruts deeper, and no one will be able to follow.










"Marks Adaptors as some of you may know has been building Portal Axles for the GU Patrols that when fitted give you 4 inches of extra lift on standard suspension and allows you to run 35" tyres......thou for $15 grand it isn't cheap."
www.marks4wd.com

So whats the go with bypassing bridging out the diesel emission on the new 4wds? Running the exhaust back into the intake? No wonder why people are changing there oil every 5,000km? Car killer. Anyone got a solution or just vote greens?

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busterwa said..
So whats the go with bypassing bridging out the diesel emission on the new 4wds? Running the exhaust back into the intake? No wonder why people are changing there oil every 5,000km? Car killer. Anyone got a solution or just vote greens?

Exhaust gas recirculation has been around for a while. Reduces Nox.

Here's an explanation of VW diesel emission control, probably similar to that going on in most diesels.

Built not bought Lc 70 1hz running boost 11psi lockers front middle and rear nice set of nitro terra grapplers 315 75 16s coil sprung front and rear. Vdj 79 dash (new model) it's never been out side the workshop for fear of sand scratching its Range Rover gun metal paint :-)

Some beaches easier than others, Highway 1 Robe

Sand's easy, it's water that's hard to drive through :D

Lost my trusty truck to a wave surge in N.Z. on the east coast of the North Island many years ago.

Have have you ever wondered why a heavy tank can fly over sand or a tractor will go 10x as far as a 4x4? It has nothing to do with tire width it's all to do with circumference (tank tracks act like a tire with a massive circumference)but you have to change the diff ratio too to really make it work

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Ian K said..
So what was out on the point that was so important to get to? How far was it to walk to there from the nearest beach access point?

On the east coast when you get to the end of the beach access track...You're there. Mission accomplished.

Or is it the journey rather than the destination?

There's lots of spots over here where you need to drive ten plus kilometres in sand or dunes to get to the waves.

we couldn't believe how easy the access is in the East Coast. No need for a 4wd really. Just get a hiace van and through it all in.