Driving on sand.

[DJOliver]

I posted this here because most of the times i drive on sand i'm camping-so i figued i get the best response. I've driven on loose sand before with gas trucks that where much lighter than the Cummins powered trucks and never had any problems. (Mainly at Hatteras NC ). Always deflate my tires to 15 lbs. Has anyone driven on loose sand with a 3500? If so how did it go? Fishing season will be here shortly.

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2001. 5 3500 6 spd 4x4 ETH/DEE Quad SLT Silver Metallic. Tow Group,Camper Special ,3. 54, western nerf bars, Towing 99 Damon Challenger 5ver 31' ,Jacobs E Brake . Need :Guages, aux fuel tank, tow mirrors & Cb radio.

2000 Dodge Intrepid R/T. Wife loves it.

 

[Guest00]

Don't know about beach sand but on blow sand the front end does have a tendancy to plow. Don't know what type of tires you have but a good AT tread helps a lot and the wider the better. I will be installing a locker up front as with out one the front axle is a one wheel drive ( and that is the wheel with no traction ), I have always had Fords with factory Detoit Lockers front and rear, even my PSD. They would climb just about straight up on sand. The trick is to be in a low enough gear so as not to break traction and cause a tire to spin and go fast enough not to sink.

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2K, 2500, Quad, SB, 4x4, 3:54LSD, A/T, reese 15k 5th slider, EASLEY BULL BAR, WESTIN NERFS, TA's, 9000's, stealth DD2's, DD Boost & elbow, ISSPRO pyro & boost, Turbo Lifesaver, JARDINE 4", DTT VB,TC,TC SAVER and AUX COOLER, PAC BRAKE, MAG HYTECH TP& DC, AFE filter onboard. Taylor Wing and Gear Vendors on order
pullee #1 26' Arctic Fox 5th
#2 22' car hauler w/ 76 Pinto 392cid or 68 Cyclone GT Cobra Jet FB
NRA-LIFE, VFW-LIFE, SoCSA-LIFE, SASS

[This message has been edited by JNutter (edited 02-24-2001). ]

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Is this enough sand for ya?

#ad


I don't have a 3500 but run on the dunes regularly - I have seen 3500's out there though. I run 15 psi front and 12 psi rear on my 2500 and have no problems at all. The only problem I could see with a dually is if you are going to run for a while on the sand that at that low of a pressure your sidewalls will probably be rubbing up against each other and could cause a sidewall failure. That's just a guess given past discussions here about running oversized tired on stock dually rims and the tires rubbing in the middle.



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-Steve St. Laurent - President of the Great Lakes TDR
'98 QC LB (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, TST Powermax, 275hp RV injectors, Joe Donnelly modifed Sachs Clutch, custom ladder bars, SW fuel pressure gauge, BD exhaust brake, Isspro turbo temp monitor, front Draw-Tite receiver, rear Draw-Tite class V receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's, (all the common stuff clipped)

 

[B.G. Smith]

Mine don't like sand, especially dry sand. Got off the road at the deer lease and almost got stuck where I go all the time with a 2wd Ramcharger. Front tires were plowing. Four wheel drive might be ok. bg

 

[Deezul1]

The key to running in the sand is lower the tire pressure front and rear to increase the footprint size which helps keep it on top of the sand. The front is very important for tire pressure and also when in a iffy situation keep your front wheels as straight as possible to lessen rolling resistance.

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96 SLT Laramie CC 5spd, 3. 54, no muff, no cat, 5"turn down tip. (its for sale)
. Member NRA/USPSA

 

[DJOliver]

Thanks for the info guys.

Steve: looks alot like the Outer Banks of N. C. (Sand Dunes).

My main concern is the front end weight --that it would plow alot. I always carry a portable pump with me when i'm on the beach so i can reinflate the back tires if the get hot or rub to much. I'll give it a try in April. I'll let you know how the fishing went if i make it out of the surf.

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

DAVES350,
You wont have any problems with your truck out there. I go to the outerbanks twice a year with no problems just reduce your tire pressure and have a blast fishing!!

 

[1BIG44]

Daves350,

Last summer I saw a dually with a big Lance camper driving the sand on the Outer Banks. He was going as well as the others.

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2001 Quad Cab 4x4 ETH

 

[jstyer]

I drive on sand in the outer banks, 4-1/2 miles up the 4wd beach to house we rent, every summer (only 2500 4wd) and found that the tire pressure and consistant not eratic throttle foot helps. I won't mention that if you ever come back to the beach late at night (at high tide)that all the tire pressure and driving skill will not help if you forget to put it in 4wd. My wife won't let me forget that one.

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'01 2500 QC 155"WB, White, 4x4, ETH/DEE, 4. 10 LSD, SLT, All power, Trailer , Plow Prep and Camper Special Group, Keyless Entry,Flip-up Towing Mirrors, Lund Window Deflectors and Running Boards, Profile Plus Bug Shield, Century raised top cap (thanks to the TDR Classifieds). Loved my '99 but couldn't pass on the HO 6spd. What a beast out of the box!

 

[Bumble]

Hey Dave! Just a guess here, but if your not carrying anything heavy in the truck bed, then you may not need to air down the rear tires. Having 4 narrow tires in the back, instead of two slightly wider tires, may give you enough footprint as is. That way you wouldn't have to worry about the duals rubbing each other.

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2001, 3500, 5sp, 3. 54LS, 4x4, pyro and boost on the A-pillar, 165 watt backup lights, Thomas powered on-board air system, Grovers.

 

[Matt-LME]

Steve,

Don't mean to get off subject here... . I am in the process of designing a front bumper for my truck that is similar to the bumper on the truck in the picture you posted. Is there anyway I could get in contact with the owner of that truck so I could discuss it with him?? That is a home-made bumper correct??

Thanks,

Matt

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

That's John West's truck. He builds and sells those bumpers - you can contact him at jwestpiw@msn.com .

-Steve

 

[Skydiver]

My Dodge gets stuck every time I get on soft ground. Almost wish I had a 4x4. Man this thing is heavy in the front. And I do not just wonder around looking for mudholes or sand pits.
Does anyone know what the percentage or ratio of the 6002 lbs is on the front end of a 3500 ext. cab long bed?

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1996 3500 Feline deceased. Ready to upgrade. 86K. auto,3. 54,Ext. cab.
K&N air,Star wheel spun,silencer ring hanging on a nail.
Truck looks just like the truck on left side of page 6 issue 31.
1981 mercedes 300D Non-turbo 174K miles
1987 blue phord 2810 tractor 336 hours.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I've heard lots of guys that have weighed their front ends at about 4200 lbs - if that's correct that means 70% of the weight is up front!

-Steve

 

[Missouri Mule]

Steve,
Was the photo taken at Siver Lake dunes/or close by or another dune further south.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Yes it's at Silver Lake. I've been going there for about 9 years now. I used to go almost every weekend, but family and other commitments has it down to about 3 weekends a year. I try to make it every holiday weekend at least. So are you a Michigan transplant? For some reason Michigan and Florida seem to be linked, I think there's a worm hole somewhere between here and there because I see millions of Florida plates on the road up here! #ad


-Steve

 

[apkole]

Steve, Great pix of your truck. Looks like the top of test hill!! I've been going up to Silver Lake since I wuz a tyke. Grew up in Fremont and a 25 minute spin down the highway would put us in fun city. Used motor cicles for a while but bought a snowplowing biz and now use 4x4s. A couple of CJs and an 89 Wrangler with an LT1 engine and Dana 44s with some goodies. I just can't get the nerve up to take a $30k truck and put it in harm's way up on the dunes. I know what my driving skills are - - but some of them otter drivers are waaaay out in left field. And what about the offroad disclaimer in my ins. policy??? Hey, sunny side up and rubber side down!!!
Andy


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1999 2500 4wd std cab, Rhino liner, Boss 8' front & custom 7' rear blade for snow removal
1991 W250 4WD 155k mi same as above for plow set up

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

There are risks Andy - I've been going to the dunes for about 9 years now. In my case my insurance company (State Farm) covers off road if you'll believe it. I have a letter from them stating so, my agent said it was covered but I didn't believe him, I sent them a certified letter asking if I was off roading on the sand dunes and rolled the truck down one if it would be covered? They sent back a letter saying yes it would be covered. I keep it in my fire safe!! I'm not too worried about the other truck drivers out there but the motorcyclists and ATV'ers can be scary - every holiday weekend at least one body is hauled off the dunes that was on an ATV or motorcycle (and that's 9 years running). That's why I like a big heavy truck around me! BTW, test hill is no problem with my truck as long as the sand was smooth and that was when it was around 100 hp shy of where it is now and also without my ladder bars - the only problem climbing it previously was when axle hop started and I had to back out of it. Shouldn't be a problem this year!! I'll be there memorial day weekend if you are there watch for me. We stay in a cabin that if you take a right out of the dunes parking lot it is the last cabin on the right when you get to the stop sign on the road that goes around Silver Lake. Stop in and say hi!

-Steve


[This message has been edited by Steve St. Laurent (edited 03-25-2001). ]

 

[apkole]

Steve ,10-4 on those ATVs and two wheelers. Whut does it tell you when you see markings in the road for Aero-Med helicopter service at the entrance to the dunes?!?! Right after you cross the stream bridge headed toward the dunes there is a public boat landing. If you make a right on the street that dead ends into that landing, our staging spot is a couple of drives up on the left. There is a cottage and pole barn settin back off the road along with several travel trailers kind of circled. Friends from GR own the property and generously let us use it. Sure is nice to have a place to leave a broken 4 wheeler. Shop has a compressor and some other goodies. I towed our travel trailer up last summer and left it for a couple of weeks. Nice to have a place to relax in between fun. Lots of sand in the teeth from grinning so much. What do you think of the new access procedure for the park?? Did it shorten up your time in line?? We showed up on a thursday afternoon to make sure we had weekend passes. Worked out ok for us, but must have been a shock for down-staters and out of state visitors.
Andy



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1999 2500 4wd auto 3. 54 difs, std cab,forest green/driftwood Rhino liner, Boss 8' front & custom 7' rear blade for snow removal
1991 W250 4WD auto/no od. , 3. 07 difs 155k mi same as above for plow set up