150 on Sand - Awesome!

[Geoffy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Geoffy]

We took delivery of our VX in May and so far have done 3 beach trips (two of them towing our 950kg Customline CT). Having come from a Discovery 3 I am still amazed at the Prados ability on sand.

Don't get me wrong, in the muddy stuff the Prado wouldn't even see which way the D3 went, but on sand the Prado is definitely the more capable vehicle.

We have just got back from camping on North Stradbroke Island (ok, not exactly super challenging, but with school holidays and small high tides everything is pretty chopped up) and the Prado just did it all like it wasn't even trying. After entering the camp area (tyres still at road pressure due to slack-assed-ness) and setting up our Camper Trailer we sat down and watched in amazement as a Dual Cab Triton with a similar CT got bogged to the axles half way up the same dune. What really shocked us was the fact that not only was the tide going out so he had a far better run up, but also he never looked like making it from the moment he hit the soft stuff.

Our friends came over with us (Mazda BT50 Dual Cab) and there were times when they would absolutely struggle to get through and yet the Prado would just wander through the same situation (even my wife noticed the glaring difference in ability!).

I had read about the Prados ability on sand but had always written it off as just fanboys sprouting on, but my experience has shown that they really are a weapon on the beach.....

[gxllouie Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxllouie]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

G'day geoffy,

North straddie can be challenging at times - lots of soft sand. Just ask my old x-trail about it.

Did you use low range at all?
Did you lock the centre diff?
What road pressures do you run?

Also, interested in your opinions on why the disco would eat the prado in the mud?

Cheers,
Louie

[Geoffy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Geoffy]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

G'day geoffy,

North straddie can be challenging at times - lots of soft sand. Just ask my old x-trail about it.

Did you use low range at all?
Did you lock the centre diff?
What road pressures do you run?

Also, interested in your opinions on why the disco would eat the prado in the mud?

Cheers,
Louie

- No low range. 1st and 2nd high were the weapons of choice when necessary.
- We only locked the centre diff when taking the CT up through the dunes. Did it easy so it wasn't really necessary.
- Road Pressure is 38. (ironically we did drop them to 22 but that was after we'd done the hard stuff)

Perhaps the extra weight of the D3 (2.7Tonne empty). Maybe the tyres? I've never really tried to quantify the difference but the Disco is as good in the muddy stuff as the Prado is on the sandy stuff.

If You could put the engine and transmission out of the Disco into the Prado, you'd be unstoppable...

[cookymonsta Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cookymonsta]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

i have to agree with this. I have had a few 4x4s and the Prado just eats sand. not sure why. my 120 series V6 just does it so easy. my new 150 does it even easier. it was on fraser on second day from brand new and I took it beach driving yesterday up north from Townsville. I went driving on Fraser with two Pajeros - an 08 and 10 model and they both seperately commented to be that they kept engaging low range and felt they had to. I found this strange because I didn't even think of going to low range. interesting when I know the pajero is a more powerful motor - not sure what that was about. on one of these trips I had 6 adults in the car. running pressure of 24psi at all times on fraser. I remember a couple of trips in my 120 to fraser and we were pullkng people out everywhere. my 03 SR5 hilux v6 wishes it was as good - it's actually pretty crap - the gearing is all wrong. even worse towing a trailer.

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

1 vote for 90 too! Albeit an Diesel auto we had no trouble & didn't even look like we would on a recent Fraser trip. Virtually all cars except for the tourist buses at Eli creek would park at the high tide mark still on the hard stuff, after a few days playing we had no concerns driving over the soft stuff for a better look. Even stopping in the soft stuff wasn't an issue...All high range unlocked unless we had to take a bypass & because the centre diff doesn't always lock in immediately, often we were passed the bad stuff before it did!

I had the BFG's MT's down to 25psi however, but still unless its the tyres then it must be the Prado! (Constant 4WD probably helps a bit too!)

Cheers

[vchandaria22 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vchandaria22]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

Must be the car as Mud Tyres are quite crap when it comes to sand driving (Road tyres are best followed by All Terrains for Sand Driving as more rubber contact so more grip while the Mud terrains with their tread pattern will try to keep sinking in the sand.

[lancek Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close lancek]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

When you guys drive on sand do you have to hold the traction control button on for 3 seconds to disable all the traction control stuff? My first drive on the beach and I didnt know about it and had anti lock braking going on left right and centre - was very frustrating

[Geoffy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Geoffy]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

When you guys drive on sand do you have to hold the traction control button on for 3 seconds to disable all the traction control stuff? My first drive on the beach and I didnt know about it and had anti lock braking going on left right and centre - was very frustrating

Yeah, I'm not sure on the other models but with the VX if you press the button briefly a message is displayed (Traction off) but I normally hold it until the orange warning light is displayed. I have accidentally left it on before, and whilst it didn't get me into any trouble it was quite annoying.

Under challenging conditions I'm 100% certain it would get you bogged.... (cutting engine power when you're trying to get through soft sand is a recipe for disaster in my experience :wink: )

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

So is this the same for a Kakadu ? when you select "Sand or mud" on the multi terrain select you also need to manually disable Traction control ?

[Silvo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Silvo]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

strange, my experience was that it was underpowered, and i struggled to get up some dunes that i easily conquered previously in my Navara.

is yours a petrol or diesel?

i was in low, without centre diff locked, and in sports mode mostly 1st and 2nd gear on the automatic box. lowered tyre pressures to approx 18 and with traction control turned off.

[XHILER8 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close XHILER8]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

So is this the same for a Kakadu ? when you select "Sand or mud" on the multi terrain select you also need to manually disable Traction control ?

I would assume the Kakadu is identical to the ZR and yes you can manually disengage the Traction control in 4H ... or if you select 4L it disengages automatically.

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

So is this the same for a Kakadu ? when you select "Sand or mud" on the multi terrain select you also need to manually disable Traction control ?

I would assume the Kakadu is identical to the ZR and yes you can manually disengage the Traction control in 4H ... or if you select 4L it disengages automatically.

I would have thought the multi terrain select used the TC to a degree but may not operate properly if its turned off ?? I may have another flick through the owners manual..

[gxllouie Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxllouie]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

So is this the same for a Kakadu ? when you select "Sand or mud" on the multi terrain select you also need to manually disable Traction control ?

I would assume the Kakadu is identical to the ZR and yes you can manually disengage the Traction control in 4H ... or if you select 4L it disengages automatically.

TC does not disengage automatically in 4L. The VSC disengages, but you still have to disengage TC manually. I'd be worried if TC disengaged automatically in 4L - that's when you need it the most!! - especially when climbing on dirt or gravel etc.

[Geoffy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Geoffy]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

strange, my experience was that it was underpowered, and i struggled to get up some dunes that i easily conquered previously in my Navara.

is yours a petrol or diesel?

i was in low, without centre diff locked, and in sports mode mostly 1st and 2nd gear on the automatic box. lowered tyre pressures to approx 18 and with traction control turned off.

Mine is a Diesel. I've spent quite a bit of time on the beach since I got mine in May and although I tow a Customline CT I still haven't used Low Range at all. High Range 1st or 2nd is all I've ever needed for getting through tricky stuff (Plenty of grunt even with the CT on the back).

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

Re: 150 on Sand - Awesome!

So is this the same for a Kakadu ? when you select "Sand or mud" on the multi terrain select you also need to manually disable Traction control ?

I would assume the Kakadu is identical to the ZR and yes you can manually disengage the Traction control in 4H ... or if you select 4L it disengages automatically.

TC does not disengage automatically in 4L. The VSC disengages, but you still have to disengage TC manually. I'd be worried if TC disengaged automatically in 4L - that's when you need it the most!! - especially when climbing on dirt or gravel etc.

Your right it is the VSC that turns off with multi terrain not TC...