Stuck in sand - What do you use?

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The topic of what people use as a traction aid when stuck in sand came up after someone posted this link - http://www.lionsgrip.com/ on a Baja web site. The consensis of most of the Baja crew has been carpet is best and cheapest. What do you guys use? P. S. Trashed Dura Crax cylinder heads is not a valid answer... #ad


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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

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Ummm, go to 4 low and if that doesn't work lower the tire pressure some more. If that doesn't work I pull out the strap and a buddy pulls me out! #ad


-Steve St. Laurent

 

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Originally posted by Steve St. Laurent:
Ummm, go to 4 low and if that doesn't work lower the tire pressure some more. If that doesn't work I pull out the strap and a buddy pulls me out! #ad

And if all that fails, find a surplus JATO unit. #ad
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(Sorry. There's been a dearth of absurdity in these fora of late... . )

Fest3er

 

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What I've always found is that if you're prepared to get unstuck you won't get stuck. When you get stuck with no help or carpet aim the rig straight, jack it up and put whatever you can find under the tires-brush,old lumber,rocks,tires,etc. If you want to be prepared carry a good jack,a shovel and two 4 ft 2x6s. I've seen carpet get all wraped around the axle,takes longer to get it off then to get unstuck. Letting air out of the tires works great if you do it before you're stuck. I lived in Baja for four years and still have a place down there,been stuck more times than I want to admit.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,driftwood,Banks&phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

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I like a good Warn winch, 130' of 3/8" braided steel rope, half a dozen recovery straps, a snatch block, a little heavy chain and a danforth anchor! Bring on that SAND! #ad
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97 2500 4x4, club cab, auto, 3. 54 limited slip, JRE 4" exhaust, Dr. Performance Fuel system (370 HP), "Twister Turbo," Geno's guages -- Boost, EGT, transmission & Rear -- MAG Hytec covers, SunCoast Converter/Transgo shift kit, Brite Box, tons o'chrome under hood, Prime Loc, EZ Drain, Seat covers, wood dash, Rancho Suspension, Warn M12000 Winch on Warn Brush Guard, Warn driving and fog lights, Hella twin back up lights, 285/75/R16 B. F. G. ATs on Mickey Thompson "Classic" rims; Linex bed liner, BD exhaust brake.

 

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I use my thumb. Catch a ride home, get the Blazer, and go pull the Dodge out #ad
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If I get the Blazer stuck in the sand, I put it in reverse. Or four wheel drive.

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'97 2500 CC 4X4 5spd Sport
'83 K5 Blazer 350 TBI (ex 6. 2), 39. 5 TSLs, 3" lift, Dana 60/GM 14 blt, Detroits

 

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Hmmmmmm.
Thumbs, JATO's, Brush, carpet??1
You guys making a movie ?? #ad
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Joe

 

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I used to own a sandrail and a bunch of us would drive motorhomes into the sand to camp, we cut a 4x8 sheet of plywood into 2 long pieces and with 4 of these we could drive a big motor home any where by staying on 1 pair of boards and moving the other pair in front of them, slow but worked real well

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96 SLT Laramie CC 5spd, 3. 54, no muff, no cat, 5"turn down tip
80gal fuel capacity. BD Brake, EGT,Boost + fuel pressure gauges. Member NRA/USPSA

 

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be really careful with the 2x6's--high torque plus loose surface plus big chunk of lumber = potential for flying wood and dented skulls--- these kind of homemade traction pads will work better with some steel chain spiral-wrapped around and around it, and carriage-bolted right to the wood. the chain will give a little grip between the tires and the wood, and simultaneously between the wood and the ground----even better if you can pound a stake into the ground and attach the board to it. To traverse the worst possible surface, you could even use a minimum of 3, each being at least the length of your wheelbase... the keys are to be strong enough for the job, and use it safely.
For the ultimate, some 1/8 x 1 x 1 angle iron, cut and welded into a sort of 3-foot ladder, and duplicated several times, along with link-able hinge-ends, might be a cool thing to do. I'm about 1/2 tempted to make a bunch and see what eBay will bring for them!

 

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When I had my CJ-5 some buddies and I picked up some perforated steel gizmos at an army surplus outlet. They were originally used for making airstrips on sand, mud, about any surface. We cut these up into 18" wide sections about 6' long and would carry about a half dozen on our roof racks. Jack up the jeep with a High-Lift jack and slide these under and get unstuck. They were kind of a ***** to handle, but a group of us got these for a 4x4 trip in Death Valley. They saved our butts for sure in some of the soft sand we found. Overkill for most applications however.

 

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If you have a winch and you're the only vehicle around the Boat Anchor will be your best friend.

If you don't have a winch put a couple of sections of Chain-Link fench in the bed of your truck before you head out. The Chain-Link fence is the best traction device that I've witnessed. <font color=blue>

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'99 2500HD Quad Cab 4x4, Intense Blue Pearlcoat, Fully loaded w/Agate leather interior, 5-speed, 4. 10 Limited Slip, Skyjacker Leveling kit, Heckethorn Nitro 9000 shocks w/dual End to End steering stabilizers, 35x12. 50x16. 5 BFG/AT KO's on 9. 75x16. 5 Eagle 589 Aluminum Wheels, 9004 Cool Blue's, Silencer Ring removed, Fog Lights relay pulled, No muffler, No resonator, 4" straight pipe, Northwest Customs Stainless Steel Rocker Panels, Steel Horse Stainless Steel Nerf Bars, K&N Filter,Custom POWEREDGE W/HOT Programs 60/80/100+HP, Grover Air Horns, Autometer Ultra-Lite Gauges.

 

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If stuck in sand, use 2 to 4 Mexicans with shovels. It worked for me. Also, $20 bucks afterwards.

 

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SkiBum has the right idea, these are also called sand ladders or bog mats. To be effective you need to carry four of them, one for each wheel. One of those exhaust filled jacks, called a bull bag can be useful too, they're more stable than a hi-lift.

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2001 3500 QC 4X4 black sport, ETH & everything else except 4. 10s

 

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I had to reply to this one!!!!

AIR PRESSURE, AIR PRESSURE, AIR PRESSURE

Lower your tires to UNDER 15 psi... Twelve psi works good for most vehicles Over 4,000lbs. . (when the pressure is under 15 the tire foot print Doubles and tripples then you roll over the sand instead of pushing it)

I live and work in the sand every day... I tow out several vehicles every week... from "SAND BUGGIES to 37'+ Diesel Pusher Motor Homes...

I could write a few pages on example...

I will stick to one... ... You can drive through deep,loose dry sand easier in two wheel with the tire pressure low than 4 wheel with the air pressure normal.....

OK 1 more... ... Often I drive up to a stuck vehicle (sometimes they have spent hours digging and stuck other vehicles trying to tow them out)
and I screw on some adapters that allow me to lower pressure in 4 tires at once. (Kwikkurt) #ad
... . a few minutes later I drive out there vehicle for them without any one even pushing... . You should see the look on their face... #ad
Especially if the tide is coming in to destroy their $40,000 truck. .


PS. One more tip Spend the money and buy a Four inch (40,000lbs)or larger strap the Cummins will pull the standard two inch into shreds if pulling Diesel Pusher Motor Homes out of the sand #ad
#ad
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[This message has been edited by KWIKKURT (edited 10-17-2000). ]

 

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KWIKKURT,

I couldn't agree with you more. Tire pressure makes all the difference when in the sand or rock crawling. I usually run my Swampers about 6 psi off road (on beadlock rims).

Pete

 

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In the interest of keeping the post short...

There is more VERY useful info... if any one wants more "E" me and I will give you more...

one example: How to reseat a tire after you popped the bead off the rim... ... and your miles from a tire shop. .

 

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KWICKKURT,

Great post re lowering tire pressures to increase footprint.

I'd like to suggest, again, that (with the above in mind) everyone consider "investing" in two things for their truck.

1) Fire Extinguisher
2) 12v. Air Compressor

It doesn't take too long running $100+ tires on hot pavement, (at 10 psi) to seriously mess them up. Can you say "Firestone?" #ad
#ad


The company claims that the number one cause of their recent tire woes is under-inflation, coupled with hot pavement. Firestone specs for their tires (the ones adding "excitement" to Explorers Owners' driving experience... ) are 30-32 psi. Ford, in order to "enhance" ride characteristics of their Explorers, published a 26 psi specification. Under-inflated tires build up heat between plies very quickly. Almost all of the reported failures of Firestone tires have occurred in Florida, Georgia, Arizona -- and other hoter'n'crap states.

If you're at the beach, in sand, when you're intentionally deflating your tires to enhance traction, it's a cinch you're not in Nome, Alaska; chances are it's hot out, the pavement is blistering, and you're pounding along in a three-ton-plus truck...

It'd be prudent to reinflate to spec, ASAP. #ad

 

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Great posts guys! Brings up a question. Who makes a good onboard compressor for airing up when you get back on the hard stuff? So far I've been dissapointed with the portable type that plug into a cig lighter socket. They only seem to work for a while then let me down at the worst moment. Do any of those air horn compressors have a kit for airing tires as well as waking up gramps at the stop light?

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

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Sasquatch... GOOD POINT... . Stay on loose soil and drive at very low speeds... if you overheat your side walls... It will destroy your tires..... If you dont have a portable air compressor you should stay out of the SAND...

One time when I could not air the back up. . I drove at 5 miles an hour for 1 mile at a time on pavement then lt them cool for 5 to ten minutes... . they were still warm!. . It took a long time to get home... But it was better than being stuck or ruining $800 in tires.

Remember Your life and your familys and everyone else on the road life counts on your tires...

As for portable aircompressors... they will last for HUNDREDS of uses if you let them cool down every 5 or ten minutes... ... .
I own an RV store and have had/sold many different types myself and every failure I have seen was from not following the Instructions for not overheating the compressor... they are designed to run a few minutes at a time. .

I also agree completely with the Fire ext...

over the years I have saved three cars from being destroyed... It has never been my own vehicle... But saving someones car, home or even Life is a Great Feeling For a $15 dollar investment!!!

 

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I run a converted AC compressor on the Blazer for airing up tires. Cost was minimal, and it outperforms every electric I've seen; my swamper take LOTS of air. For occasional use, electrics are fine, but if you do a lot of four wheeling, the engine driven is the way to go.

As for driving on the road with flat tires, it's not that big a deal as long as you're not going too far and keep your speed reasonable. When we go to Moab, everyone airs down when we get there and airs back up a week later for the drive home. Just don't push it too hard & you'll be fine.

Pete