2wd in the sand?

ehoff · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:21 am Post subject: 2wd in the sand?

Heading to the drive and camp beach this week. Who has experience driving 2WD westies on the sand? Just trying to get a feel for what I'm capable of before I get stuck. Im riding on Vanco 4Seasons. Thanks.

VWCOOL · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:24 am Post subject:

I'm not gunna say yay or nay Wink

...but if it was a 4WD vehicle, I would say 15psi and go down from there

williamM · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:27 am Post subject:

Carry 2 sleeping bags and use them to make a road out of your "I'm stuck" spot- also don't spin the tires much- if your going down and not moving- be easier to get the jack to work so you can position your sleeping bags -

Its an art form that can be learned
_________________
some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.

opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.

Don't step in any!

VWCOOL · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:39 am Post subject:

sleeping bags? Um..?

williamM · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:00 am Post subject:

AND- you can shake them out for the kids to sleep on-- multi tasking at its finest.

Carpet works too- but not as comphy to sleep on. Rolling Eyes

Edit- another trick is to tie what every you use to the back bumper- That way you don't have to chase them down after escape.-- The Aussies with steel run way mat taught me that one.
_________________
some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.

opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.

Don't step in any!

WestiCoast · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:24 am Post subject:

I have used these with my 2WD in much deeper sand than I should have ever been in. The do a good job as long as you use them at the first sign of trouble. Dont dig yourself in a hole then try to climb out.

syncrodoka · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:52 am Post subject:

It depends a lot on the sand type. That being said I don't go out into dry sand in my 2wd if possible.

Jon_slider · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:04 am Post subject:

Ive driven in 2wd in sand that the soft part was not deeper than my tire sidewall (I would only sink about 2" when walking on it, not ankle deep), at 12 psi both front and rear.

I got stuck in 4wd at 25psi in deeper sand (4" walking depth, sinking above my ankles), could barely get unstuck at 16psi, still in 4wd, sand was above the tire sidewall.

It was suprisingly easy to get out in 4wd at 12psi, and then I found 2wd worked fine in firmer sand.

But I was in a Syncro with decoupler, had an air pump, and a backup plan, plus other vehicles that could pull me out, AND I had granny gear, that you wont have in 2wd.

moral of the story, if its only 2" of soft, 12psi is amazingly effective, even in 2wd. But at 4"+ of soft 2wd is a NO go.
(4" walking depth, tire depth would be twice that, and above the sidewall),

about sand depth, if the sand gets deeper than your tire sidewall in 2wd, youre stuck

driving on wet sand at 12psi is easy (the tires were like pancakes, less than 2" of sidewall), you MUST air down the front also, not just the back

this is what I call 2" walking depth, it is 2wd possible at 12psi

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

you can see how little my tire track sank, but you can also see a very deep track in the foreground that would definitely get a 2wd stuck (sand softness changes based on recent rain)

Do not go on sand if nobody else is doing it. Post pics Smile

another trick, if you do get stuck pour water on the sand and let it soak in.. Definitely bring a shovel, if you sink far enough for your frame or motor to drag on the ground, youre not driving out without digging, even in 4wd

here is what stuck looks like, you can NOT go up soft sand hills in 2wd, but you can back out, IF you air down to 12psi

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My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco

Alex Proulx · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:10 am Post subject:

Its difficult enough with a 4x4, I cant imagine it in a 2wd. I did my fair share of sand driving on Australian beaches, many 4x4 were lost to the sea every year, I never saw a 2wd vehicule on a beach in the 2 years I was there.
Let us know if you can make it work, I was in Martha's Vineyard earlier this month and had 4x4 envy Smile

Alex
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Vanagon GL 1988 Full Camper, 4 speed manual, 2.1 stock engine
Audi A3 2.0T S-Line Quattro 2015

j_dirge · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:37 am Post subject:

This is less about traction and more about floating the sand...

If you plan out your sand travel, you can make it thru some pretty deep stuff. But don't dare stop or slow too much until back on firmer pack.
As an example.. beach travel s usually best at low tides when you can drive the wet pack near tide line.. But to get to wet pack, you have to cross the deep dry stuff (usually). Then once you get to your destination, you have to get up off the wet pack or the tide will claim your van.

(and beware.. even in the wet pack there are soft holes that can swallow up any vehicle)

Some beaches have "packed" trails between the pavement/graded areas out to the harder pack sand.. particularly in places where boats are beach launched.

But you won't know your limits until you test them.. be prepared to dig.. a lot, one you get that "sinking feeling"

The Vanagon is heavy.. the tires are narrow and while airing down helps, they can not preform like a good sand tire will.

I'd get feedback from locals on the best methods to use at that particular beach.. and if there are no other heavy van-like rigs out there.. Odds are your's shouldn't be out there either.
PS. Sand is REALLY hard on the drivetrain...like mud bogging, the stress on the transaxle/transmission is extreme... and the dry sand gets EVERYWHERE.

Shocked

sleeping bags!? really? Laughing

I'd have to be in pretty serious trouble before resorting to the bags. Laughing

_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

0to60in6min · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:43 am Post subject:

I won't do it with a 2WD... and may be with a Syncro

but if you must, take sand rails with you...

and big "HELP" sign...

Very Happy

Jon_slider · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 9:59 am Post subject:

j_dirge · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:07 am Post subject:

Hi Jon,

Were Kuleinc and Presslab attempting to do a 180 turn in the sand?

That beach is pretty steep at the tide line for ANY vehicle to be driving.. short of a buggy.. no?

Isn't this one of the events that may have destroyed your transmission?
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

HoustonPhotog · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:08 am Post subject:

hans j · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:52 am Post subject:

I LOVE driving in sand. It's probably my favorite surface! Beach sand was different than the really soft stuff I'm used to though. Both are fun Very Happy

Oregon coast

Deep stuff in Canyon de Chelly

I air down my tires but also carry waffle boards (sand ladders), snatch and tow straps, shackles on bumpers, and a full length shovel with me just in case Wink

Just make sure your tires are rated to be deflated so much, you don't want to get stuck and break the bead on the wheel!
_________________
1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

mfriquel · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:58 am Post subject:

This was in some very loose sand took me a while to get it out. same thing with the orange westy on the background, but once on the wet sand we had no problem.

mfriquel · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 10:59 am Post subject:

mfriquel · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 11:03 am Post subject:

Kolobok · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 12:00 pm Post subject:

I don't recommend it..

Took over an hour to dig out!
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'84 GL Passenger - SOLD Sad

danbar · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 12:03 pm Post subject:

Just remember that things change quickly. I drove about 25 miles on the sand this day, including a few creek crossings, in 2wd. Then about 1/2 mile from the end I hit one soft patch and was done. Took a surburban with 38" tires and dual lockers to pull me out. Totally worth it though. Such a good day other than this.

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'88 SCA High/Pop-top Syncro camper
'61 Meyers Manx


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