Sand Sinking

.... so im not getting the physics of driving /barging through sand. how ever u wanna call it, im confused. so im trying several times to get up n over a hill with some sandy spots (mostly compacted sand), n i keep bogging down n getting stuck n digging ruts.

im thinking, larger tire patch on the ground = more surface area to stay on top of the sand.

i know about the whole air-down thing, but i was with 2 other buddies n they had BFG's 285's n i got 325's. ---- no one aired down, yet they both made it up the hill except for me. they both got 3in lift, one had a camper n ATRAC n rear locker, other guy had front n rear plate bumper, LDS. i got 6in lift 33's

i just dont get y it seems that the skinny tires get through the sand better than larger wider tires?

any help/pointers/ideas?

 

Awaiting DavidK standard sand soapbox speech, with pics of the van stuck on the beach.....

 

The tread design can have a lot to do with it as well. If you start spinning, an aggressive tire like a mud terrain will dig the sand out from under you really quick.
Also are they in the same vehicle types? Might have skinnier tires but still be less pressure on the footprint from a lighter vehicle.
Or maybe they are just better with the skinny pedal. Have they tried in your truck?

 

LOL. i dont get it

 

What happened... where you in 4WD? Did you try to enter the sand with some momentum or just creep on? What year is your Tacoma?

You say 'bogged down': where all 4 tires spinning up sand, one in front and one in back, or just the back?

Air pressure is everything in sand if you are getting stuck at stock pressure... 4WD working for you is a big help.

 

all of us roll tacoma's. i think we're all equal weight. guy with camper, guy with front n rear plate bumpers, n im 6in lift. would the brackets on my lift be that heavy to make weight difference?

 

Education or helpful information exchange is all I am after here... nothing else.

 

ya seemed like a 4 were digging in, couldnt see, didnt wanna roll down my window when all the sand was kicking up 12 ft in the air. tried 4hi and 4lo , crawling up, getting momentum. nothing was really working. never made it up n over, but the other 2 guys did. but it looked like they were killing the trucks! looks like it had ttterrrrrettttstststss.

 

Sounds like you had no speed to start. If you already have speed its pretty hard to sink in the sand. All you have to do is back pedal a quick sec and your right back on top of it. OR your tires just suck

 

ya maybe i do just need to air down. but then that involves a whole new set of parameters on the mod budget, with having to purchase air tank, mounting hardware, tire deflators, etc.

 

Please stop speaking in text message speak and speak real english. Thanks.

For sand, being aired down makes a huge difference. Also, like someone else stated, your mud terrain tires will dig a hole in sand a lot faster than an all terrain tire would which would cause you to bog down more. Also were you in 4LO or 4HI?

 

ya i know, they'r pretty beat up from the rocks n trails n stuff.

 

i got AT's tried in both hi n lo. but i think i need to make a switch that will make me drive in both at the same time!!!!! mind bottling!

 

Sounds like perhaps they are all heavier than you as well which is not always a bad thing for traction in sand.

Oh and

ATRAC!

 

Id rather drive slow to the nearest gas station on semi-flat tires than get stuck all day with aired up tires

 

word.

i concur

 

well i guess ill try the airing down next time. n if it dont work, any one interested in some 18in flat black procomp 7033's with MT bajaATZ's 33x12.5 ?? slightly used. still has 70 percent tread.

 

i just noticed something...you drive a manual...do your buddies as well? maybe your shifting is having an effect on your sinking..?

also..why get rid of the rims?

 

Also just thought about it...because you have 18's you also have a pretty stiff sidewall so they don't balloon as easily as lets say tires on a 16" wheel.

 

one was manual trans like mine, other was auto. the guy with the camper was manual trans, AC 4x4 with ATRAC. i was just joking seeing as how i cant crawl up a sandy hill making my tires worthless for my truck therefore i was going to sell them. it was a joke. im not going to sell them. i've only seen one other tacoma here in vegas with the same rims as i have, n its still sitting in the showroom of the dealership! -true story