Sand driving is deceptive and can be one of the most hardcore off-road terrains that 4WDers will ever negotiate, whilst hardcore wheel lifting rutted tracks can look extreme, driving on sand really requires you to analyze your line, keep up your momentum and prepare your vehicle for the hard work it’ll endure, but sand  is often the first terrain that many people try to tackle.

There are thousands of kilometers of beach access and coastal sand islands all around Australia it’s no wonder people choose to give it a good old crack in the family ute or wagon, and so you should!

So we are going to go over our favorite tricks for getting the most out of your 4WD, no matter what mods you have, these tips will give you the most confidence for when you take your pride and joy off-road and hit the sand for the first time, or the first time in a long time!

The to do list means there are plenty of things to address before you take your vehicle off-road. But first thing is first, make sure your 4WD is topped up with enough fluids and has been fully serviced, this will make sure you are less likely to encounter any nasty surprises when you are miles from the nearest mechanic, it’s more than just engine oil, make sure that all of your diffs and gearboxes are topped up to their full mark with the best oil you can afford (consider this cheap offroad insurance)!

Another good idea before you head out onto the sand is to read your vehicles user’s manual and familiarize yourself with how to engage 4WD in your vehicle and also how to put it into its low range gears. Whilst you want to keep your momentum on sand low range will come in handy later on we will discuss it in more detail. To help figure this all out we recommend finding a gravel carpark and making sure your vehicle engages 4WD easily and as the manual describes, and there are no issues engaging 4WD.

Nothing is scarier than getting to where you want to be and not having the confidence or the ability to take your 4WD off-road, being able to engage 4WD and low range is crucial to offroad driving!

Your time has come!

you are about to hit the sand for the first time EVER, the steps are simple enough but many people panic in the last minute and forget to follow the steps correctly, and simple mistakes get them into big trouble. Failure to follow the procedures can be seen in hundreds of online videos on YouTube, simply search the term “Inskip point” to see many people who use the wrong techniques off-road and getting their extremely capable 4WD’s seriously stuck on simple obstacles.

The first step to hitting the sand is to let your tyres down to the right pressure, it’s a good idea to start at around 16-18psi which is nearly half of what highway pressures are, but depending on how soft the conditions are this number could be as low as 10-12 psi in an emergency situation (this will vary depending on your vehicle) experimentation will yield the correct numbers for your 4WD!

There are a few ways to drop pressures, but the easiest and fastest way to get your tyres down to the correct pressures isn’t to use a stick or the back of your keys, but by using a Kwiky Tyre Deflator in under 5 minutes it can drop all of your tyre pressures safely to exactly the right pressure. The device works by screwing onto your tyre valve and removing the valve core, with 2 easy steps. Once the valve core is removed, you simply open the dump valve and watch the pressures drop on the easy to read gauge, when all is completed you reverse the process making sure your valve core is fully threaded back into the valve unscrew the device fasten your dust caps and you are ready to roll!

Now you are driving on reduced pressures and have 4WD high range engaged, you will find your vehicle will be able to drive along happily through most situations without any serious problems, however make sure you stick to posted speed limits and watch out for deep creek washouts, this is where fresh water creeks spill out into the sea.

A washout can have deep embankments on either side and cause major damage to your vehicle and injure you and your passengers and if hit hard enough can even set off your airbags and disable your vehicle so drive carefully.

So far all seems well with your new passion of sand driving, that is until you hit the serious soft stuff and the challenge begins. Soft sand can be one of the hardest surfaces to drive through and has swallowed many vehicles before, so taking a few precautions, will save you from calling for help…. At least just yet.

When your vehicle encounters soft sand it is important to keep your momentum up and keep smooth inputs to your accelerator, brakes and steering, anything too dramatic will dig your wheels in and get you stuck really quickly. If you feel your vehicle is slowing down or getting stuck, it is a good idea to stop with the right boot, accelerating (instinct tells many to do otherwise) will only make your problem worse  and gently reverse out and attempt the section again with a little bit more momentum. If you find your vehicle isn’t going anywhere too easily it is time to engage your low range gearing, low range is a second set of gears that will give you more torque to slowly drive your wheels out with minimal wheel spin and maximum traction even in ridiculously slippery surfaces, a little bit of left and right steering input can also help your tyre sidewalls bite in and find a more easy way to get you out of trouble.

If all else fails, and you are only getting more and more bogged it’s time to pull out your recovery gear the most essential recovery item on the sand is a good shovel, when you think back to those days as a kid building sand castles with big moats, this is your chance to relive that your objective is to dig a clear path for your tyres, this will help you with whatever method you choose to use to get out.

The easiest and honestly fastest way to recover your 4WD is with a Hercules Offroad Jack and jack base, you can lift your vehicle up and fill in the area around where your tyres are with sand to give your vehicle more clearance and get it up and no longer resting on the underbody, you may be able to drive straight out in low range but if not there is only one last resort.

A SNATCH OUT!

The Hercules snatch strap kit and a mate, or another passing vehicle to help pull you free, the snatch strap uses a stored kinetic bungee effect to easily ‘snatch’ your vehicle free from the sticky situation it’s always best to clear out as much sand from under your stuck vehicle to make as little work as possible for the recovering vehicle.

A snatch strap is an excellent piece of recovery gear and should be carried in all 4WD vehicles in case of emergency situations, but always use precaution.

When you’ve had a bit of fun and are ready to go home, don’t forget to air up your tyres back to highway pressures to avoid damaging them, with a reliable 12v compressor like the Thumper MKII or the Thumper Max.

Not everyone is a professional driver straight out of the bag, so take your time, and don’t be afraid to swallow your pride and ask for help, most people are happy to help out on the tracks and once you’ve gotten your 4WD free once, you’ll be eager to go back for a second round!