Reversing in sand

[DX grunt]

Am I the only Nissan Patrol Forum owner who has trouble reversing in the soft sand?

I've found my ute travels better in soft sand with the tyre pressures dropped right down and travel in L1 or L2.

I know lots of people use H4, but I've tried both and mine (4.2 TDi) seems to travel better in L4 in soft sand. I always travel in H4 on gravel.

Anyway, as soon as I put it into reverse, take my foot off the clutch and slowly reverse, it bogs down.

It's done that twice to me now. Had a prackie run and stuck a set of Maxtrax behind the back wheels, and no more problems.

My 95lt mains and my 75 lt reserve were nearly full and I had a fair bit of gear in the back, but I'm positive it wouldn't be as heavy as a wagon and 5 people onboard.

Any ideas?

Rossco

[Woof]

Cheese Cutters.....:049::049::049::049::049:

[DX grunt]

Cheese Cutters.....:049::049::049::049::049:

For once in my life, I'm asking a serious question!!! lolol

Thanks for your wisdom and knowledge. I'll put it on the back burner. lol

[gec]

I gotta agree with Doggy on that Rosco, see if ya can borrow a set of 33s and give em a go and see if you can notice the huge difference that it makes, then you'll wanna go and get yourself a set.

[DX grunt]

I gotta agree with Doggy on that Rosco, see if ya can borrow a set of 33s and give em a go and see if you can notice the huge difference that it makes, then you'll wanna go and get yourself a set.

I'll borrow Wayne's.

Today I used the Maxtrax for training purposes only - mind you, the tide was coming in. lol.

[-ET 4wd-]

Auto or manual hubs? if Auto did you have them in 'Locked' position or 'Auto'?

[DX grunt]

Auto or manual hubs? if Auto did you have them in 'Locked' position or 'Auto'?

Manual hubs and they were definately locked. Maybe it is my cheesecutters. They are light truck tyres.

I'm rebelling against buying fat tyres because lotsa people said I should get almost anywhere on the tyres I've got.

They've got split rims too. Not that that will help my cause.

[Woof]

I'll borrow Wayne's.

Today I used the Maxtrax for training purposes only - mind you, the tide was coming in. lol.

Mate I am quite willing to lend you mine but I have my doubts that 35"s will will fit without a bigger lift.

[DX grunt]

Mate I am quite willing to lend you mine but I have my doubts that 35"s will will fit without a bigger lift.

Thanks for the offer but I want something to fit a GU. lol

I already have to lift a cheek to get into mine without the necessity to use a step ladder. lol

[-ET 4wd-]

Ah OK, split rims!...didnt think anyone still had them!!
Wouldnt help havin skinnys in sand, i guess ya know the answer then hehehe

Steve.

[DX grunt]

Ah OK, split rims!...didnt think anyone still had them!!
Wouldnt help havin skinnys in sand, i guess ya know the answer then hehehe

Steve.

Thanks for the advice, Steve.

Mine's a 2005 Ex Telstra 4.2 TD ute - a commercial vehicle - with all the fruit, including cheesecutters and split rims. I opted to buy a new set of 6 tyres about 12,000km ago to see what they were like coz the car yard ones were crap and didn't give me a true appreciation of the difference between fat and skinny tyres.

I'm not fully sick into beach driving, but occasionally I like to go.


Anyway, back to cooking the 2, legal sized salmon, I caught yesterday, on the beach. lol

[04OFF]

Sounds a bit odd, can't surely be "just" the width of your tyres making reversing hard, as tyres would effect "forwards" driving as just as bad ?????

Ive done heaps of sand trips in a auto GU wagon on 265s ,with full tanks, 4 people (2 kids) and chockers with gear, auto hubs (unlocked) ,even without letting heaps out of the tyres, normally reversing is easier than going forwards due to the fact you have already compacted the sand a little driving forwards to get to where you stop.


Even in real soft stuff when the car looses momentum and you stop, ive always been able to reverse back for another go, i wonder if you are getting off the gas as soon as you stop, or keep spinning wheels, perhaps you are digging big holes , then trying to reverse out of those deep holes ?


Or perhaps reverse gear ratio has something to do with it ?..... mmm i think you should take some video for us to see :thumbup:

[Woof]

Anyway, back to cooking the 2, legal sized salmon, I caught yesterday, on the beach. lol
Hey Ross you are getting to be a bit of a guru at this fish catching mate, well done:thumbup:

[the ferret]

Do some burn outs Rosco, and get rid of some of that tread, there in lies ya problem, Maxtrax pft, you have one of these mate!!

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt164/ferret/P1000382002.jpg

[DX grunt]

..... mmm i think you should take some video for us to see :thumbup:

I don't think so! I cop enough flack from SOME people on this forum already. I don't want to prove them right. lol.

You've given me food for thought. I'll be conscious of how I've done it.......next time. Thanks, bro.

Take care out there.

Rossco

[DX grunt]

Do some burn outs Rosco, and get rid of some of that tread, there in lies ya problem, Maxtrax pft, you have one of these mate!!

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt164/ferret/P1000382002.jpg

No I don't. But if I'm thinking they are what I think they are, send me a quote and your bank details. lol

[the ferret]

No I don't. But if I'm thinking they are what I think they are, send me a quote and your bank details. lol

Checkout the link in my sig mate, they are $25 to members, free postage,
With those utes, they have a lot of overhang, and if you are running rags, they are not as good as radials in sand.
With split rims you are limited to about 12 to 15 psi or they knock the valve stems off.
Tubeless is the go, but not on your rims.
Some 275 75 16's would be good on steel rims (tubeless)
Cheers Rod.

[Silver]

lots of torque in Low range reverse helping the tyres to dig in?

[DX grunt]

lots of torque in Low range reverse helping the tyres to dig in?

So I shouldn't be practicing roll backs in sand? lol

Just kidding. I'll try it in H4 next time and see how it goes. Thanks.

[patch697]

I do 90% of my off roading in sand Bro & I also prefer low range over high. I run pressures of around 20 to 22 psi for most of it as we get a lot of hidden tyre shredders over my way & find running the slightly higher than recommended for sand pressures a bit safer.

I can't say I've found any real difficulty reversing in the sand but try not to make a habit of it all the same.

I run 33by12's & 31by10's on mine & can't say notice a hole lot of difference from the extra height between the two in the sand but tread patterns do make heaps of difference.

My 33's are more aggressive in the tread then my 31's & the 31's work a whole lot better in the sand & I don't need to let them down as far as I do the 33's to get the same results.

Now others may disagree with what I've posted but im just telling you what I know & have learned from my experience in the sand out my way. Im surrounded by it & I gotta admit its a lot of fun to play in.

Your sand tracks were a great addition BTW, we love em & always carry a set in at least one of the rigs when we go out.

[the ferret]

Low range, let ya tyres down, steady steady, roll a track, don't turn in reverse, save the clutch!!

[macca]

Now Rosco from one ute to another you know deep down these work and you really want some,

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh94/maccas01/Nissan%20builds/IMG_3225.jpg

Problem solved

Yours in utes, Macca

[hekarewe]

revers gear is always slightly higher thats the first issue,,,, if your bogging down look at your tyre preasers i run mine at 16psi max in soft sand and i dont bog down going either way. also a wider tyre will help you on the sand. hope this will help.