Awd vs 4 wheel drive for sandy beach

[DWBOX2000]

What is better for driving on a sandy beach?

[908/930]

True 4wd would be better, with locking differentials on each axle. AWD usually has a differential in the middle and open differentials on each axle, really can end up with one wheel spinning.

[gregpark]

And tire deflation as low as you dare

[cockerpunk]

whatever vehicle is lighter is probably the most important.

[upsscott]

Whatever vehicle that has the ability to turn off traction control is best. A locking differential makes it better. Airing down your tires makes the biggest difference.

[JavaBrewer]

air down the tires (^gregpark) and keep a steady speed. Doing that a 2 wheel will get you far as long as the route is flat. I would pick 4x over AWD for reasons already mentioned.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

go to youtube and random search for "(the awd you are thinking) on beach"

The subaru drivetrains seem to do well, but not all awds are created equal. I would not dare take my volvo on the beach. It's awd sucks. I'd much rather have real 4wd/locking.

[LWJ]

Reminds me of a saying. “You’ve never been stuck until you are stuck in four wheel drive.”

True story.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 908/930

True 4wd would be better, with locking differentials on each axle. AWD usually has a differential in the middle and open differentials on each axle, really can end up with one wheel spinning.

I thought AWD (as is the norm in many cars these days) was potentially all 4 wheels being driven via wizardry.

4WD without locking diffs is potentially 1 wheel on each axle
and
4WD with locking diffs is a mechanical version where all 4 wheels turn.

So AWD is most closely related to 4WDw/locking diffs.

But that may depend upon the AWD per make/model.

[Superman]

Washington law allows driving on beaches. Lots of folks do it in all kinds of cars, but the sand is not light and fluffy. It is dense and packed, for the most part.

And generally, it is a bad idea to drive on beaches. It coats the underside of your car in salt. Beaches kill cars, albeit somewhat slowly, but they do kill them.

Then there are the folks who park their cars too close to the surf at low tide and walk away for a few hours. Guess what happens.

[stevej37]

^^^ No salt on the 'Great Lakes Beaches'.....lots of driving on the sand.
No idea where DW is.

[gregpark]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Reminds me of a saying. “You’ve never been stuck until you are stuck in four wheel drive.”

True story.

Truth. I do a lot of off road wheeling, rock crawl and snow, and many times it's taken a lot of equipment and imagination to get unstuck. My Jeep is set up pretty well for extremes. I have a Detroit locker rear, selectable true lock forward in combination with a high biased limited slip. It does better in LSD in snow and sand as opposed to true lock. But tire deflation is by far the most important factor in loose crap. I air down to single digits in sand or snow.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by gregpark

Truth. I do a lot of off road wheeling, rock crawl and snow, and many times it's taken a lot of equipment and imagination to get unstuck. My Jeep is set up pretty well for extremes. I have a Detroit locker rear, selectable true lock forward in combination with a high biased limited slip. It does better in LSD in snow and sand as opposed to true lock. But tire deflation is by far the most important factor in loose crap. I air down to single digits in sand or snow.

I've read that here several times. I've read that 5-10psi is the ideal target. It makes sense. When a tire is that low, the bottom of the tire usually turns into a concave cup. I assume that cup aids in not sinking and also provides more traction. You just have to have a way to air back up when you're done.

Granted, I've never done any serious/crazy off-roading.

I've always thought that rock crawling looked fun, but some of the situations that end up on youtube, Yowza!

[gregpark]

The difference of airing down at 5 lb.s and airing down to 10 lb.s is night and day in snow or sand but to run at 5 lb.s you better have bead locks or a big drop down from tire to wheel width or you'll be sorry. I carry long handled shovels, high lift jack, 6 ton come along and lots of rope and chain. I've had to bury my high lift jack to "dead man" with my winch when no trees are handy. It's always an adventure in snow and sand! Usually lots of fun but that gets questioned from time to time

[LEAKYSEALS951]

The coolest beach vehicle I've ever been on was a friend's deuce and a 1/2.
It had an onboard in air compressor, he could deflate and reinflate tires on the spot.
(the 10 wheel drive also helped)

[gregpark]

^ten tires, that takes awhile to re-inflate!
I have a high pressure (3,000 lb.s) COČ bottle on board to inflate before getting back on pavement. Inflates much faster than a compressor. I have several air tools on board too since I carry the bottle anyway. I also have quick deflate valves on the tires. 35x13.5 tires take too long to deflate otherwise

[porsche930dude]

the problem with awd stuff these modern cars all control it with computer wizardry. not designed for actual off roading they get all confused shutting down power and applying brakes to whatever wheel is spinning. you end up not being able to go anywhere because it wont give you any power.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

^bingo!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by gregpark

^ten tires, that takes awhile to re-inflate!
I have a high pressure (3,000 lb.s) COČ bottle on board to inflate before getting back on pavement. Inflates much faster than a compressor. I have several air tools on board too since I carry the bottle anyway. I also have quick deflate valves on the tires. 35x13.5 tires take too long to deflate otherwise

3K Impressive.

I think (when we'd do this), we had this very CD to listen to as we reinflated the tires: