Sand driving

[Ultra-VoX Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ultra-VoX]

Hi Guys,

New member here. Just purchased a 2006 VX Petrol and had some queries about the electronic driver assist technology and their effect on sand. I'm a fairly experienced sand driver with many trips to Fraser under the belt but it has always been in a manual. With this I have always felt in total control but I am now switching to an auto with traction and stability control.

In other vehicles there is normally a switch to disengage the stability control when driving on sand/snow as there is constant wheel slip. How is this addressed in the Prado? I am aware that the stability control is disabled when the centre diff lock is engaged however I would not want to be constantly running in this mode as the user manual suggests it should only be used to get out of deep sand.

Does anybody have advice and/or experience here?

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

there will be no trouble in driving around on sand with the centre diff locked.

that said, the prados traction control isnt as intrusive as some othere systems and is not that much of a hinderance on sand.

i would engage the centre diff lock if you have a load on or if you are traveling on inland tracks. i only disengage it when im out on the hard sand.

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

Just been on a sand driving course and one of the instructors, who was driving a Prado, suggested that it unless the sand was firm it would be better to leave the centre diff locked. He pointed out that as long as the ground had some slip in it (and sand certainly does) then there was no problem in locking the centre diff. We drove for a full day on various sandy conditions with the diff locked.

I had no issues with the traction control, but the sand was a little wet and not powder like. I couldn't find any way of turning it off.

He also mentioned that the Prado stability control was designed by Mercedes and was one of the best around, and that on "good gravel" or hard sand it would be better to leave the diff unlocked and let the stability control do it thing.

Cheers,
Ray.

[Ultra-VoX Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ultra-VoX]

Thanks Begs. I suppose a lot of it comes down the the line between soft and hard sand. Obviously driving up the beach at low tide is much like a freeway and the sand above the high water mark is definitely soft. Its those sections in between that blend into both categories. Sounds like 'when in doubt, use the diff lock'.

Interested to know if you got much value from the course. I had considered them but didn't want to spend a day hearing about stuff I have already been doing for many years. I am certain there is plenty I don't know but can I only learn that from further experience?

[halojump Member Find all posts View Profile Close halojump]

I have been up to Fraser and Bribie a few times now; I generally just leave it unlocked unless it really soft or chewed up (just off the barge, entry and exit etc).

No problems at all.

Remember that when the centre diff is locked the VSC is automatically switched off.

The big issue, I imagine, would be a loss of momentum = wheel bogging. I have found if you keep to a sensible speed and folow the basic sand driving techniques all is good.

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

I found the course extremely useful. I haven't done any 4WD before and the course gave me heaps of tips, theory and practise. Main points were to get your floatation correct and keep the momentum up. We were about to ascend a small steep hill when some others came through. The instructors were very amused that a rig with mud tyres, a trailer, under full tyre pressures gave them the perfect how NOT to do it. Ahh the smell of a burning clutch. All of use novices got up with no issues.

I think if you have done a lot of sand driving then this particular course (beginners) might not be of use, but there are always more advanced courses.

I also did a bush course which was even better, and certainly took us on some tracks that I wouldn't have even considered. It was great to see what the car could do, and easily, now I just need more time to get out there

Cheers,
Begs.

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

So does the Traction Control system remain active when the centre diff is locked in H4 or L4 ???

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

So does the Traction Control system remain active when the centre diff is locked in H4 or L4 ???

Its active and works great, went out to the Burrup the other day for a play, could hear and feel the traction control working as we climbed up some of the slopes.

Chuck

[Ultra-VoX Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ultra-VoX]

I remember watching a segment on the 4WD Action DVD when it was comparing LSD, Traction Control and Rear Air Lockers. They used a GXL and Grande in stock standard then a GXL with ARB Air Lockers. Part of the test was climbing a dune where the LSD got about half way and traction control (Grande) got most of the way with the Air Locker version getting all the way. It did demonstrate to me that the traction control provided some sort of assitance in the soft stuf.

It kind of lost me when they started doing the cost justification saying the Grande costs $20k more than the GXL but you cange the Air Lockers for around $3k fitted. They conveniently failed to point out the you can get traction control for the GXL for a couple of $K. It was obvioulsy a section sponsored by ARB. :wink:

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

I remember watching a segment on the 4WD Action DVD when it was comparing LSD, Traction Control and Rear Air Lockers. They used a GXL and Grande in stock standard then a GXL with ARB Air Lockers. Part of the test was climbing a dune where the LSD got about half way and traction control (Grande) got most of the way with the Air Locker version getting all the way. It did demonstrate to me that the traction control provided some sort of assitance in the soft stuf.

It kind of lost me when they started doing the cost justification saying the Grande costs $20k more than the GXL but you cange the Air Lockers for around $3k fitted. They conveniently failed to point out the you can get traction control for the GXL for a couple of $K. It was obvioulsy a section sponsored by ARB. :wink:

It's on youtube, and a good watch. http://youtu.be/YNFacsKnswM

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

So by look of that test traction control with a rear locker seems like a good idea. I'm leaning towards the Eaton E-Locker.

[Stevo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stevo]

Great subject sand driving, I spend a lot of time on the beach's in Broome and a lot of the sand is extremely soft, on any occasions when I really need the momentum in very soft stuff I have found that the stability control/traction control kicks in (even when centre diff is engaged) which controls the amount of power to the engine therefore automatically reducing revs when you need them most, so in fact you loose power and can get bogged.(and yes tyre pressures are down to 12 to 15 psi)
This can happen in low or high range. What I have done is installed a switch on the dash to disconnect the ABS, TC and VSC so I always have power when needed most ( for example climbing a steep dune or leaving the beach in really soft sand) another option is to unplug the wiring to the Brake master cylinder or remove the ABS fuse. When back on normal roads I turn the engine off and turn my switch off, start the motor and the dash warning lights returns to normal.
In saying this I do not recommend that people do this as it can effect the computer codes and may affect safety, this is just a personal problem I found with the Grande model, in all other situations I leave the TC and VSC alone as it works great in normal driving and off road.
My auto sparkie does not recommend this either.
cheers Stevo