Here are some brief pointers to help you across sand tracks:
Kit
- Take a shovel and flat plate so the jack doesn’t sink in, plus a compressor and tyre pressure gauge
- Full tank of fuel as consumption is high
Prep
- Remove weight from the vehicle
- Fit a sand flag for driving in sand dune country
Driving
- Lower tyre pressures to increase traction, minimize track damage and reduce chance of punctures.
- Lower tyre pressures enable the vehicle to increase floatation on the sand surface and reduces chance of tyres digging in.
- Adjust speed to suit the terrain
- Use steady momentum, but not aggressive driving
- High range for higher speed, low range for tight tracks
- Keep the speed down even when it’s flat
- Disable stability control, engage 4WD. Cross-axle lockers aren’t often useful
- If the wheels spin, immediately stop and back out. Don’t spin your vehicle’s wheels into a hole
- Lights on for visibility
- Accelerate gently, brake by just coming off the accelerator