Weekend on the sand, any tips?

[johnydep]

Taking the family away for the weekend and we're planing on doing some beach driving.
Now the last time I have done any beach work was with a V8 landcruiser, about 10 years ago.
My Territory has only been through rocky gravely roads, so i have no idea how it will go on sand and to tell you the truth, I'm a bit worried. I don't feel like digging it out.

Has anyone got some tips?

Tyre pressure down to 20psi?
Traction control on or off?

[burnsi]

Taking the family away for the weekend and we're planing on doing some beach driving.
Now the last time I have done any beach work was with a V8 landcruiser, about 10 years ago.
My Territory has only been through rocky gravely roads, so i have no idea how it will go on sand and to tell you the truth, I'm a bit worried. I don't feel like digging it out.

Has anyone got some tips?

Tyre pressure down to 20psi?
Traction control on or off?
I believe the consensus is TC off for sand work.

[johnydep]

I believe the consensus is TC off for sand work.

That is one of the things confusing me.

I have recieved & read conflicting advice;

Some say TC off, as the TC is power robbing. It retards ignition timing and fuel to the cylinders in an attempt to minimise engine power to reduce wheel spin wheel spin, on top off applying brakes to the spinning wheels. Turning the TC off allows the engine to rev freely and thus the wheels can rotate at maximum speed so as not to bog down the vehicle.
Others say TC on, that the TC will apply the brakes to that spinning wheel and help distribute the power to the wheels that still have traction, like an electronic limited slip diff. But the engine revs must be kept up in sand, so no engine power reduction, but that is what TC does - retard engine power.

So which one is it, they both can't be right?
Has anyone tried both ways?

Can the TC be partially switched of, so that it does not effect engine power?

[Dodge]

take a old bonnet and 20 mts of rope, get anti glare sunnies, watch the tides, better to beach drive at low tide, dont get any sand in private parts

[johnydep]

take a old bonnet and 20 mts of rope, get anti glare sunnies, watch the tides, better to beach drive at low tide, dont get any sand in private parts

Thanks, any suggestions on which beer to bring :spit:

[Dodge]

drink driving is a NO NO even on a public beach.

[johnydep]

drink driving is a NO NO even on a public beach.

The drink is for when the kids have gone to sleep and me & the missus play up. :jester:

[Video_Guy]

From my experience on Stockton Beach north of Newcastle -

BUY A 'SLINGSHOT' Tow rope - this saved us a couple of times from friendly passers by.

We were out on the beach on extremely hot days, and got bogged a few times, but always made it out!! We had our tyres down to about 8 PSI by the end of the trip, thought 15 would work, but were still getting caught.

Also enjoy the territory on the sand, it is a great car to do this!!!

PS - We had TC on, no problems in this regards

Regards

Ian

[johnydep]

From my experience on Stockton Beach north of Newcastle -

BUY A 'SLINGSHOT' Tow rope - this saved us a couple of times from friendly passers by.

We were out on the beach on extremely hot days, and got bogged a few times, but always made it out!! We had our tyres down to about 8 PSI by the end of the trip, thought 15 would work, but were still getting caught.

Also enjoy the territory on the sand, it is a great car to do this!!!

PS - We had TC on, no problems in this regards

Regards

Ian

Thanks Ian,
was there any particular points that got the Terri bogged. eg turning, stop-starting?

and how did the TC cope, did you notice engine revs cut back?

[aswigon]

Hi,

I took our Terri up the beach on Bribie Island. The track on to the beach is a PIG but keeping the power up got us through. TC was on all the time and never came close to getting bogged.

[Dodge]

be carefull on stockton beach not to run over the salt bush, it slashes ur tyres, and also the dunes have air pockets in them , u can loose the front end in a air pocket .
take the arogard

[johnydep]

Hi,

I took our Terri up the beach on Bribie Island. The track on to the beach is a PIG but keeping the power up got us through. TC was on all the time and never came close to getting bogged.

Thanks for that, I feel more confident now and I will leave the TC on.

Anyone else with some tips?

[davester]

Travel with another vehicle in convoy. Stacks of solo runs go wrong.
If budget allows, look at some taller tyres (longer footprint) for your offroad weekends. Taller tyres will also provide enhanced low psi footprint over std tyres. Remember Terri has a clearance problem, and std tyres aren't good for soft sand.
If your'e on hard sand then all should be ok with standard set-up.
Pack a snatch strap, tow rope, compressor (if not near a servo), airbag jack may be useful. Make sure you have a HD tow eye both ends ( Ford dont do these!)
Unfortunately when going off-road, you need to prepare for getting unstuck.
If venturing well offroad, take an EPIRB.
Oh, did I say travel in convoy?
Now you can have a good time with some peace of mind, and look like a pro if things turn nasty.

if your route looks challenging, park the Terri and hire a cruiser. I've been offroad a few times, and wouldn't take my AWD Terri on anything rated above "EASY"

[johnydep]

Travel with another vehicle in convoy. Stacks of solo runs go wrong.
If budget allows, look at some taller tyres (longer footprint) for your offroad weekends. Taller tyres will also provide enhanced low psi footprint over std tyres. Remember Terri has a clearance problem, and std tyres aren't good for soft sand.
If your'e on hard sand then all should be ok with standard set-up.
Pack a snatch strap, tow rope, compressor (if not near a servo), airbag jack may be useful. Make sure you have a HD tow eye both ends ( Ford dont do these!)
Unfortunately when going off-road, you need to prepare for getting unstuck.
If venturing well offroad, take an EPIRB.
Oh, did I say travel in convoy?
Now you can have a good time with some peace of mind, and look like a pro if things turn nasty.

if your route looks challenging, park the Terri and hire a cruiser. I've been offroad a few times, and wouldn't take my AWD Terri on anything rated above "EASY"

Thanks for that.

I got the Territory just for "EASY" stuff, but sometimes even the easy becomes hard.

[aswigon]

Make sure you have a HD tow eye both ends ( Ford dont do these!)


hey davester, do you have HD tow eyes installed or are just recommending it? I would love to hear from anyone that has had it done and maybe see some photos.

[davester]

Had them on an older model Explorer. Terri AWD is for city slicking mainly. Went for AWD for wet traction and DSC.

[Mechan1k]

Always take recovery gear .... and definitely have at least one other vehicle with you.

I have been on both Bribie Island and Stockton Beach ... Bribie beach is smooth as (the track from the main road to the beach is challenging though).

Stockton is fun ... but as mentioned ... air pockets in the dune can be a hazard ... (a mate of mine has fun in his Hilux in one .... LOL ... damn did it sink). Also be aware of wash-outs on the beach (especially on a bright sunny day ... around midday ... can't see shadows on sand) they can be nasty.

Drop your pressure to about 15psi ... may need to drop it lower ... take a compressor as well.

[davester]

Bribie beach is smooth as (the track from the main road to the beach is challenging though).

Funny isn't it how the toughest part of many beaches is the track from the sealed road to the beach. With most beaches, once on them you usually have a choice of where to drive your vehicle, but the entry/exit tracks are usually severely churned to the point of making it the toughest part.

Spookiest part of beach driving is going onto wet sand that water is lapping on to, to drive around a rocky outcrop. Always tough to figure if you'll bog in, until you are committed. Coarse WA beach sand (lower WA) is unpredictable, fine sand packs nicely when wet.

[Mechan1k]

I've been beach driving in a few mates 4WDs (Hilux's and SWB Maverick ... all raised on chunky tyres) ... and it can be very unpredictable. Have been surprised in a few spots (especially the "small" wash-out on Stockton beach up near Newcastle). But it is still fun.

The main thing is to go with a convoy of vehicles ... and take your own recovery gear.

Bribie Island beach I went in my mate raised SWB Mav ... and that was interesting ... we thought we'd need to lock the front hubs ... but we managed to make it through ... ground clearance was needed ... some deep sand ruts and mounds. Once on the beach we were doing 70-80km/h fishtails ... LOL

[johnydep]

Ground clearance seems to be the issue here.

I'm not sure I would want the Terri any higher though, extra height would affect the superb handling and also the ease of entry & exit from the vehicle.

[davester]

I wouldn't change suspension either, I reckon it would be easy to undo the splendid work the Ford Aus engineers did on these. The ride/handling of these cars is brilliant, and grows on you well after you've committed to the purchase.

I would consider taller tyres (not radically taller mind you) for offroad weekends if guard clearance wasn't an issue, but I doubt any real development has been done in this area by anyone. Generally taller tyres are matched with lift kits, which would destroy most of what we love about the Terri.

[Paul]

Hi Guys,

Out of interest, would it be easier to flip a car on sand? For example if you happened to get it out sideways by accident, would you have more of a chance of flipping it?

Paul

[Ubdevoid]

Taking the family away for the weekend and we're planing on doing some beach driving.
Now the last time I have done any beach work was with a V8 landcruiser, about 10 years ago.
My Territory has only been through rocky gravely roads, so i have no idea how it will go on sand and to tell you the truth, I'm a bit worried. I don't feel like digging it out.

Has anyone got some tips?

Tyre pressure down to 20psi?
Traction control on or off?



I would not drive past the beach in a Territory. Not what it is made for mate.

[johnydep]

I would not drive past the beach in a Territory. Not what it is made for mate.

Yeah, but you are a gutless wonder and have no sense of adventure and probably wouldn't go off road unless in a tank.

I didn't want a 2.5 tonne truck dressed up as 4WD to drive around when I live in the suburbs. The vehicle was chosen for a specific mix of driving; 80% bitumen, 15% dirt roads and 5% sand. And style was a big factor as well, the Territory beats any other vehicle in terms of versatility, usefulness & looks. Take the rear seats as an example, designed to fold out of the way leaving all the rear space for loading, not like Toyota's dumb-ass idea of folding into the load area & blocking 90% of the area.

[Iouri]

I would not drive past the beach in a Territory. Not what it is made for mate.

My friend is a hunter and therefore a 4WD fun. He has a Prado here in Australia, but when he talk about off-road performance he likes russian NIVA 4WD. This is no frills car with petrol 1.6l, 60kW engine. During a deer hunting in Russia NIVA 4WD always went further and always beat Prado (face-to-face) on off-road performance. So , they had a such called “prado-rope”.

Would you buy a NIVA in Australia?
:box:

[PULLY6]

Yeah, but you are a gutless wonder and have no sense of adventure and probably wouldn't go off road unless in a tank.


HAHAHA thats quoteable :P

[Ouzo]

I would not drive past the beach in a Territory. Not what it is made for mate.
Oh dear - I wish they'd put that in the owners manual - my sons and I wouldn't have had all that fun over Christmas driving up and down the beach (without even having to let the tyres down). Silly us.

[paulvdb]

My friend is a hunter and therefore a 4WD fun. He has a Prado here in Australia, but when he talk about off-road performance he likes russian NIVA 4WD. This is no frills car with petrol 1.6l, 60kW engine. During a deer hunting in Russia NIVA 4WD always went further and always beat Prado (face-to-face) on off-road performance. So , they had a such called “prado-rope”.

Would you buy a NIVA in Australia?
:box:
The only people who did were those using it for 4WDing. I've heard that it's fairly indestructable in the bush. Just not a real good vehicle on roads - which is why it died.
Real 4WDing does seem to be easier with something light and basic - like the old land rovers for example. If something breaks you stick it back together with bits of wire. You can't do that in ANY modern 4WD.

[udbevoid]

Ground clearance seems to be the issue here.

I'm not sure I would want the Terri any higher though, extra height would affect the superb handling and also the ease of entry & exit from the vehicle.

I doubt you have ever driven a vehicle with superb handling !

your judgement is way off man !

[udbevoid]

:doh:

:insane:


I would not take my Prado to Fraser if you paid me .. That is when I hire a little Suzuki !! .. Light with low range and totally unstoppable.

Anybody taking their cars on the beach don't deserve to own them.

[Laminge]

Poor fordless he again is forumless

Appologies people!

[paulvdb]

He must definitely have some sort of major head problem, to be so consistent & insistent I'd say it is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

We should all donate old Ford clothing to his family to help cloth him after his temper tantrum
I'm personally happy for people to say Toyota are wonderful and Ford are rubbish - IF they can back it up with facts. When you get down to basic facts then all of the brands are quite capable of developing the same cars with around the same quality depending on how many they make and how much $.

It's a fact that Toyota have been making the Highlander/Kluger for about 5 years now and they've made heaps of them, many more than Ford will ever make Territories. BUT... The Highlanders should therefore be perfect by now and to my mind should be a nicer vehicle than they are. Given that Americans buy these in droves, how come they aren't modified for taller people? How come it looks so ordinary? Why couldn't Toyota Australia find a better name? Who cares that in German it actually means something. In Spanish, Pajero means something too!!!

[davester]

So...Back On Topic,

Jonnydep, did you get to take that weekend on the sand ?
If so, what was the sand like (fine/packed, fine/soft, coarse/soft etc) and how did the Terri go.

[new2ford]

It's a fact that Toyota have been making the Highlander/Kluger for about 5 years now and they've made heaps of them, many more than Ford will ever make Territories. BUT... The Highlanders should therefore be perfect by now and to my mind should be a nicer vehicle than they are. Given that Americans buy these in droves, how come they aren't modified for taller people? How come it looks so ordinary? Why couldn't Toyota Australia find a better name? Who cares that in German it actually means something. In Spanish, Pajero means something too!!!
This really belongs on the Kluger thread but as a parting point I'd ask why Toyota haven't managed to get the transmission problem right in all that time also?

[johnydep]

So...Back On Topic,

Jonnydep, did you get to take that weekend on the sand ?
If so, what was the sand like (fine/packed, fine/soft, coarse/soft etc) and how did the Terri go.

Yes I did, but the sand was packed tight so there was no chance of getting bogged.
It was fun though, the AWD system worked well and when ascending I could hear the system working.

This was an easy test, but so far I'm impressed.

Someone else mentioned momentum, this is the secret to soft sand, keep your speed up.

[Territory]

I think I mentioned in another thread that I'd post some Terri Tips... I'll dig them out this week.

[johnydep]

I think I mentioned in another thread that I'd post some Terri Tips... I'll dig them out this week.

That would be great, thanks.

[johnydep]

Found some info that might be of help;

Dynamic Stability Control off button

The Dynamic Stability Control off button is located as follows:
Low Series - In the instrument panel.
High Series - In the central display unit.
To de-activate the engine control part of the Dynamic Stability Control;
Press the Dynamic Stability Control off button for 1 second approximately.

To de-activate the brake control part of the Dynamic Stability Control;
Press the Dynamic Stability Control off button for 5 to 15 seconds.
(The DSC Lamp will flash)
Switching the system off allows the wheels to spin.
This may be beneficial if the vehicle is stuck in mud, snow or sand.

FORD TERRITORY 2004-2005, Dynamic Stability Control Management System
Overview
These vehicles are fitted with the Bosch 8.0 Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) System.
It features;
• Anti-lock Braking System.
• Traction Control System.
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution.
• Dynamic Stability Control System.
• Hill Descent Control System (Optional).

The system starts automatically when the engine is started. When reverse gear is selected, the ABS and Traction control will function.
Dynamic Stability Control does not function in reverse.

During DSC operation, the following is normal:
• A rumble or grinding noise.
• The DSC Indicator lamp will flash.
• A slight deceleration of the vehicle.
• The brake pedal will pulse as in ABS operation.

EDIT: Notice it mentions; may be beneficial if the vehicle is stuck in mud, snow or sand, so leave it on at ll other times.

[dogbreath_48]

Only thing i'd like to add is to be very careful when recovering a bogged vehical with a snatch strap. I'd imagine the tow hooks on terry's are for flat line towing (i.e. when the vehical can be rolled easily on level ground) and transit tie downs (to tie the car down to a truck) and not rated recovery points. This means they're not strong enough to trust for a snatch strap recovery, where loads are massive (in excess 7 tonne of load, equating to massive amounts of potential energy). I'm not sure what can be done for a territory, but if your getting serious, look into 'proper' recovery points. Ask a 4WD accessory shop if your ford dealer can't help you out.

Heres an example of what a breaking recovery point can do: The type of tyre in question is known for it's strong sidewalls. Inside is a shackle (read: lump or iron) bigger than a mans fist. These things will go though panels.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/dogbreath_48/Other/MTR1.jpg

And here's the steel bullbar it tore a chunk out of. It's torn longitudinally though at least 2-3cm of steel (say 4mm thick)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/dogbreath_48/Other/adr.jpg

Plenty of people have been killed by snatch straps - or more accurately inadequate recovery points.

Just though i'd say my piece! Happy and safe driving and recovering!

-Stu :)

[davester]

I think I mentioned in another thread that I'd post some Terri Tips... I'll dig them out this week.

Was that a cryptic message about taking the Terri onto the beach ??????

[new2ford]

Only thing i'd like to add is to be very careful when recovering a bogged vehical with a snatch strap. I'd imagine the tow hooks on terry's are for flat line towing (i.e. when the vehical can be rolled easily on level ground) and transit tie downs (to tie the car down to a truck) and not rated recovery points. This means they're not strong enough to trust for a snatch strap recovery, where loads are massive (in excess 7 tonne of load, equating to massive amounts of potential energy). I'm not sure what can be done for a territory, but if your getting serious, look into 'proper' recovery points. Ask a 4WD accessory shop if your ford dealer can't help you out.

Heres an example of what a breaking recovery point can do: The type of tyre in question is known for it's strong sidewalls. Inside is a shackle (read: lump or iron) bigger than a mans fist. These things will go though panels.
-Stu :)

Awesome! I'd have to agree the Territory's recovery points are far too light for this sort of work. Used to use a block and tackle in the days before snatch straps - these had gentler initial loads. But I'd feel better with stronger recovery points or use some part of the underframe.

[johnydep]

Anyone suffered from overheating while beach driving?
Beach driving:
With its good power-to-weight ratio the Territory tackled the sand of Stockton Beach without too much fuss. However, despite a moderate ambient air temperature, the engine coolant temp started to nudge up towards the red zone. With plenty of stops for photography and the like, it didn’t overheat, but it left us concerned about what could happen in the sand on a hot day.
http://www.overlander.com.au/pg/vehicle_search.php?id=232

[Territory]

I just read the article and given the environments evaluated and the sorts of vehicles T was driven against - I wonder if they got very enthusiastic and it packed sand in the underbody shield etc - that would increase the heat load as they described.