beach report

[toddjb122]

I know you ******** 4x4 guys take your LR3s out on some hairy rock and mud trails. For me, its snow and sand. I was down in OBX Labor Day week, dropped the pressure down to 20 lbs, and kept it there for the week. Truck drove GREAT on the beach and I was out there every day.

I don't know if I'm just getting used to it, or the new Michelins had sometihng to do with it (I think they did), but the truck drove better on the sand than it ever has. I didn't even mess with the DSC switch that I used to turn off in the past. Just set it to SAND mode, drove on the beach, and had no problems in some very soft sand where many lighter trucks got stuck. I also had the common sense to avoid stopping in soft sand or worse, in soft sand pointed uphill. Also, since I kept the pressure low all week (pain in the butt to reinflate every day) I took it easy around turns on the pavement for fear of rolling a low profile low pressure tire off a rim!

Here's a picture from the tip of Cape Hatteras last Sunday when Tropical Storm Gabrielle was coming through. It was actually a beautiful morning out on the beach....we had the wind and waves of the storm, but sunny blue skies as the storm clouds were south of us...

THIS is what was going on in the other direction. Good fun.

-todd

 

[nwoods]

Cool! I'm going to Pismo sand dunes next weekend. I hope to have some good photos as well!

 

[ChuckD]

We took our brand new 2007 to Hatteras a week or two ago, Goodyears and all. Tried the beach without airing down and did OK until I stopped on a slight uphill stretch. Aired down to 22 all around and it walked right out. Used low range and sand setting. I'm impressed. I don't think my recently departed '01 Disco II would have done any better.

OBX have always been our favorite spot, summer or winter. (We like Avon) Now that we live in NC instead of CA, life will be sweeter!!

ChuckD

 

[PaulLR3]

Chuck & Todd, do you have the heavy duty package with the rear locker? I'm looking to get a used LR3 and it will be on the beach a lot. Not sure if I really need to get one with the heavy duty package or not. Very hard to find a used SE with the locker, only the more expensive HSEs seem to have it.

 

[toddjb122]

Paul,

I have the heavy duty package w/ rear locker. No idea if that makes a difference as it is the only configuration I've driven.

I don't drive in low mode on the sand either (but I think Chuck just means he did that to get unstuck, which would make sense).

Key thing for you is that you'll have 18" tires on an SE, which will spread out a lot more when you air down...plus you can air down more with less risk of rolling a tire off the rim (or less fear of it anyway). so, i think an SE w/o the locker would do fine for you. but i'm just talking out my ass here....

hands down, though, airing down makes a HUGE difference. but its still a heavy vehicle and you have to be conscious of where you stop.

 

[OffRoving]

Tip: keep a good eye on your air filter intake box. While at Pismo, I collected two handfuls of sand, blocked by the air filter. Check it several times per day to ensure you're running clean and the motor can breathe. It's amazing how effective the factory air filters are!

 

[ChuckD]

Paul:

No rear locker on my SE. Don't think it is necessary in sand, but would be a big help rock-crawling.

Don't know why I used low range on beach except that we were going slowly. I did use the manual (Command Shift) to start moving in second or third gear to avoid wheelspin.

ChuckD

 

[toddjb122]

Don't know why I used low range on beach except that we were going slowly. I did use the manual (Command Shift) to start moving in second or third gear to avoid wheelspin.

That's a good idea. I never thought of that.
You can also turn DSC off when you want a little spin (sometimes its okay to get up on top of the sand...as long as you're not digging youself a hole!)

I used DSC OFF last year, but haven't touched it at all this year. The Synchrones and lower tire pressure is all I need. I use sand mode as well, but haven't gone w/o so don't know if that is the ticket. I suppose also....in one of these many computer updates I've had, maybe they improved sand mode from the initial release. stranger things have happened....all I know is its a whole different truck on the sand than it was for me last year. (knowledge, tires, computers, tire pressure....who knows what it is.)