Help! No traction in sand!

[mauiCTD]

Looking for some comments on experience...



Have 3500 QC 4x4 SB with stock 265s / 3. 73 and MT. When I am driving in sand, I bog down pretty quick to the point I have to shift into 4lo and 1st.



Thinking of upgrading tire size, anyone have experience which size gives you some "float" over the sand. I don't know whether 285s make a difference or whether 305s/315s are worth the cost and potential problems (DW, rub, balancing, wear, noise, etc).



Thanks

 

[sarj]

305's or 315's (i run 315's), drop your pressure to 12-15 and you can run all day. 265's are good enough to get you to the tire shop.

 

[BHolm]

sarj is right, go big or go home :-laf 285's would probably work but the real key is dropping the pressure. 8-10lbs will work well as long as you don't get to radical. You don't want to pop a bead off.



The other concern with the 305-315 sizes is ball joint wear. I see lots of Hemi trucks with the big tires, and some CTD's, they look great but I run 285's and don't go in the sand

 

[Tim]

Wide tires that are not agressive and low pressure is the key to sucess... . well, and not weighing 7,000 lbs empty.

 

[abdiver]

Best rig I ever drove on the sand was my dads 1961 Willys Jeep pickup the 6 cly was nice and light we used to go down on the beach to get creosote poles & timbers to use as fence post on our ranch. You could make tight turns in the sand with no problem. The Dodge with the Cummins add a lot of weight to the front end I would not like to drive on the sand with out bigger tires and make real wide turns



Bill

 

[JWChessell]

Years ago I had a '58 International 4X4 6-cyl 4-spd manual trans. I put a twin-cylinder dump unit in it, along with heavy step-bumpers front-and-rear, and a very large winch on the front. The tires were 12 X 16. 5 ten-ply mud-and-snow. Curb weight was 7,000 lbs. If I reduced the tire pressure to about 12-15 psi, I could run in soft sand at Huntington Beach, CA. at about 15 to 20 mph in 2nd gear. As soon as I tried to shift to 3rd gear, the truck would sink into the sand and stop as soon as I pushed in the clutch and tried to shift. But 4X4s with automatic trans, even one with a large camper on the bed, could accelerate right up to about 35 or 40 mph with little problem. In my experience with a heavy vehicle. low tire pressure and an automatic transmission were the keys to driving in soft sand.

 

[mauiCTD]

I appreciate the thoughts. Regarding suggestions, I have a manual transmission (which I like) to live with. Letting out air isn't really a practical option as then I need to get equipment and pump the tires back up. I have a F150 work truck which cruises on the sand with 32x11. 5 /15 tires. Granted lighter weight but I was hoping the appropriate size tire would help.



Besides what's the weight difference between the Power Wagon and Cummins? Certainly the PW shouldn't bog down or does it?

 

[mauiCTD]

answered my own question, according to Dodge.com:



PW weighs 6072

CTD weighs 6895 (AT)



I assume that 800lb difference sits on the front axle? What's happenening with the 4wd - how much is pushing v. pulling? and what's causing the powertrain judder in anything than super low gear?



Weight difference is about 14%. The truck is heavier but the difference shouldn't be so great to make it a slug in the sand (methinks)

 

[willysrule]

I would suggest a nice oversized AT style tire and air down... you can't beat aired down AT's for the sand, no matter the vehicle... aired down tires can make a world of difference off road…

 

[keimmmo]

Two important things if you are going to run on sand... low pressure and smooth treads. Low pressures help you float over the sand and a smooth tread helps keep you from "digging your own grave". If you have aggressive treads, DO NOT SPIN THE TIRES!!!



Steve

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I have never had a problem in the sand with mud tires. This is silty sand, forty psi in the tires and it handles great. Look at the tracks. AT tires are horrible off road. Even worse in soft silty sand. A steady foot and a smooth release with these trucks is all you need. We have found in testing that the truck is fairly well balanced. Front to rear weight is almost split down the middle. Get a good tire that is E rated. Use your momentum to keep you going and have fun.

Greg DRC



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