4wd And Beach Booging Options

[Hweta]

Hello All, I am new here and hope to find useful info about my Veracruz.

I went to the beach the other day and got bogged in the sand. I pressed the 4WD lock and tried to get out but still got stuck further. At the end I got pulled out by my brothers Ford 4x4 truck. I am not experienced driver when it comes to 4WD but wish to learn. I have faith in my Veracruz, so can anyone please tell me what is the 4WD Lock button and what is the EPS OFF button. Also what is the best way to drive in the sand? What gear should I use, the D or get to the sport + - mode and be on 1st or 2nd gear??

Please answer me quick cause I plan to go again in 2 days and hopefully stay on the sand and not in it!! LOL (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Thanks

Hweta

This post has been edited by Hweta: Jul 15 2009, 07:01 AM

[absolutly]

Well I am not an experienced 4x4 off road driver, but I know the AWD lock is supposed to prevent the 4wd system in the Veracruz from shifting front to back. Normally, when accelerating, the system shifts all the power to the back wheels to get the max acceleration, then it shifts almost 50/50 to the front and back. Locking it always keeps it at 50/50 under 25 MPH.

The EPS (I think you are referring to the ESC) which is the traction control (and braking assist), this is supposed to stop wheel spin, but it also decreases power to the wheel, not something you want if you are stuck because you won't go anywhere!

If you want to prevent getting stuck, you always need to keep some sort of board with you and maybe some tow rope incase. If you get stuck initially you don't want to keep spinning your wheels, you'll just dig yourself deeper. I haven't gone off road (yet) in the Veracruz but I have in a friends car several times and its no fun when you get stuck. Normally I can just rock myself out of any shallow holes, but once it gets deep and your wheel is free spinning because the hole is too deep it becomes really hard to get out, that's where the board comes in. I'm sure there are a lot of other techniques I am just not aware of.

[mrfred]

You also have to deflate the tires to around 15PSI so they're softer, keep it in the 4X4 lock position, and use it in drive, and you should be fine, mine does well in the soft sand, but you need to take some air out

[absolutly]

You also have to deflate the tires to around 15PSI so they're softer, keep it in the 4X4 lock position, and use it in drive, and you should be fine, mine does well in the soft sand, but you need to take some air out

Right on, forgot about deflating, its also highly recommended

[Hweta]

You also have to deflate the tires to around 15PSI so they're softer, keep it in the 4X4 lock position, and use it in drive, and you should be fine, mine does well in the soft sand, but you need to take some air out

Thanks Absolutly and thanks mrfred for your kind answers. I went to the beach today got bogged again (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) and I think my fault was that I have not deflated the tyres!! I think I should try it again next week and see if it does better after letting the air out. 15 PSI? Isn't that too much?

Also you Guys think that keeping the Gear Auto at D position is better on Sand than the sport mode on 1st gear?

And for the deflating and inflating of tyres, do you guys have any idea which is the best car-battery operated inflators or compressors to take with me? I mean brand or specifications or any thing that can help me choose one when I got to the car accessory shops!! How long it would take to inflate agin using these portable small inflators. I have en electic medium size one but unfortunately it is not operated on car battery!!

VBR

Hweta

This post has been edited by Hweta: Jul 17 2009, 05:45 PM

[absolutly]

Not sure what psi is best, I have heard 15 but I think it depends on the type of sand you are on. As far as pumps, I know that many beaches that allow driving on it also have pump stations near the entrances. Check with the local office of the beach. A portable one may require an air compressor.

[Hweta]

Not sure what psi is best, I have heard 15 but I think it depends on the type of sand you are on. As far as pumps, I know that many beaches that allow driving on it also have pump stations near the entrances. Check with the local office of the beach. A portable one may require an air compressor.

Hey everyone.... Yesterday I did go again to the beach and I deflated my tyres and boy was it different from the last two times!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I deflated the tyres to 20 psi (I thought I would start with 2o and if needed I could go down to 15 just in case I needed it). 20 psi worked like a charm. My wheels are 245/65R18 and with the 20psi pressure I was floating on the sand and not inside as in the last two times!

It is an amazing feeling to go to the same spot where I got bogged before and I could just float on top of the sand. I took with me the battery operated 2 pump compressor and I managed to re-inflate the 4 tyres in about 10 minutes. So it worked well after all.

Looking forward to the next trip, and maybe I should deflate them to 15 just to see if there is any difference from the 20 psi!!

[PeterC]

Hey everyone.... Yesterday I did go again to the beach and I deflated my tyres and boy was it different from the last two times!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I deflated the tyres to 20 psi (I thought I would start with 2o and if needed I could go down to 15 just in case I needed it). 20 psi worked like a charm. My wheels are 245/65R18 and with the 20psi pressure I was floating on the sand and not inside as in the last two times!

It is an amazing feeling to go to the same spot where I got bogged before and I could just float on top of the sand. I took with me the battery operated 2 pump compressor and I managed to re-inflate the 4 tyres in about 10 minutes. So it worked well after all.

Looking forward to the next trip, and maybe I should deflate them to 15 just to see if there is any difference from the 20 psi!!

A couple of points to think about driving in the sand with a "car" - rather than a 4X4...

Dropping the tire pressure is the number one thing (as you just learned) to not getting stuck in the sand. 15 PSI really is the magic number - but one thing to be very careful of (well 2-3 actually) - once you drop the pressure, no higher speed corners or you risk peeling the tire off the bead, and then (no damage) you have a flat tire.

No driving (at any speed) on pavement with tire pressure that low!

No matter how long it takes, air up the tires to around 30 PSI when done playing (no sense trying to get them spot on when warm/hot, simply get them close, go home, in the morning when cold set them to your preferred PSI).

As for tips in the sand...

A fold-able shovel, a cheap "come-a-long" and 30FT of steel 1/4" cable - and if you get really stuck, you simply bury your *fake* spare tire in the sand with the shovel, use the come-a-long to move your Veracruz 6' at a time, and in bout 40 minutes you will be unstuck! if you are mudding in the woods, a handy tree replaces the buried spare tire (used to play with a 59 bug out in Oregon - my come-a-long, 30' of cable - could go just bout anywhere...LOL)

Last point. Sand driving *is* fun. But I bet your favorite mechanic could tell you 2-3 great reasons why you do not want to do that often with your nice new 40K car - sand is very tough on bits and pieces...

HTH

This post has been edited by PeterC: Aug 24 2009, 10:29 PM

[fpostadan]

Interesting read here.

I am never going to drive my Vercruz in the sand that is for sure for the reason of the grit. Just mud, snow (check), and dirt (a few times where to get where I was going no paved road (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ).

If you want to drive in the sand get a buggy.

[PeterC]

I agree with that point completely!

Back in '79 when I had my bug, I had bout 600-700 total invented in it, and yup, I broke stuff, but that was part of the fun of the whole hobbie! I loved it, and *might* get back into it again - since due to age/health I can not go hiking, it's a great way to see the wilderness!

But, would I take my 06 Tucson into the woods, or onto the sand? (and remember, my Tucson is two models less-spendy than a Veracruz) Fast, easy answer is no way in ****!

This is my daily driver (the bug was not) - and how do I get to work if I break it? How sick would I feel to get a nice deep scratch all the way down one side from a tree limb that was too close? (got out the red primer on the bug) - or, god forbid I roll it (like I did my bug...hehe) - back then, simply got a guy to help me roll it back over, went to a wrecking yard, got a new mirror, and paid 19 bucks to get the toe-in set close again (close due to a bent axle...another oops in the bug)

I purely would cry if I did anything to my Tucson!