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What Speed

Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 11:45

Member - Troll 81 (QLD)

Hi Guys

When I am on the beach in the soft sand I have my front lockers ingaged...but my question is how fast can I go with them on? My brother in his Hilux sail over the sand like he is not oven on it, yes I know his car is allot lighter but I have allot more power so I should beat him on the soft stuff. I would hate to go to fast and brake something...

How was do you drive with your front locker in?

Thanks

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Regards, Troll 81

ThreadID: 28621 Replies: 10
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AnswerID: 142463   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 14:15

Rosco - Qld replied:

Mate

I'd be inclined to try it without the front diff locked. Not usually necessary for anything but really really soft sand on inclines.

You really should power past the Lux without any probs.

Cheers
Reply 1 of 10
AnswerID: 142468   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 14:32

Brew69(SA) replied:

My understanding of a locker is its something you use to get yourself out of trouble or somewhere you may not have been able to get. If u get bogged without the locker then you have it up your sleeve so to speak. If the lux is doing ok without one then don't use it.
Beer is evil.........And i am an evil man.
Reply 2 of 10
AnswerID: 142469   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 14:36

flappa replied:

Having your front lockers engaged makes it difficult to steer.

Turn em off.

Lockers are for low speed , difficult terrain , not zipping over sand.
Reply 3 of 10
AnswerID: 142470   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 14:55

gramps replied:


What's the rush? An incoming tide?
Reply 4 of 10
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AnswerID: 142472   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 14:56

Wayne (NSW) replied:

Troll,

How fast can you go with the front locker on while driving on the beach? As fast as the speed limit on the beach will allow. Some beaches have a speed limit. Frazer is 80kph and Stockton Beach is 40kph.
But why have you got a front locker on for??? If you have all four wheels on the ground there is nothing to be gained, and the steering will be harder and you will run the risk of over steering. I have front and rear lockers on the Troopie and don't use the lockers at all, and the Troopie is a vehicle that has nothing going for it when it comes to driving on sand.

On sand weight is all important and the power to weight ratio will show up the vehicles that can drive on sand and go just about ever where and the vehicle that gets stuck.

Tyre pressure and tread type will also play a big part of sand driving. Big balloon tyres with no tread are the best but no good for the black top. Many years ago I saw a Hilux on Stockton beach that had aircraft tyres on it plus a petrol V8 with auto transmission. It was running rings around every other vehicle on the beach.

Wayne
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Reply 5 of 10
AnswerID: 142473   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 15:07

Member - Jeff M (WA) replied:

I think it would have more to do with tyre pressures than the locker... What pressure's is he running vs you?

If he's at 16psi and your at 20psi he'll kick your but everytime without question. But as others have said, don't use the locker until you need it. Otherwise your just going to dig a bigger hole when you do get bogged and make it very hard to get yourself out.

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Reply 6 of 10
FollowupID: 396046   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 20:32

Jeepster-WA posted:

G'Day Jeff check your emails, Jeepster
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AnswerID: 142479   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 16:02

Member - Troll 81 (QLD) replied:

Thanks for all the replies so far...BUT I run my tires at about 17 when I am on the sand. The main difference is his got dif locks on the front and I don't have them and the air lockers replaces that right?? I normally don't have a problem in the sand unless I have a fully loaded car with 4 people and gear. I find putting the front lockers on help allot, but the question is will I brake something if I go to fast?

Thanks

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Regards, Troll 81

Reply 7 of 10
FollowupID: 396025   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 18:19

Brew69(SA) posted:

You will be better served running at 14psi or even lower. No idea if u will break anything. Diff locks and air lockers get more people into trouble than they get out because they are engaged too early, and then its too late.
Beer is evil.........And i am an evil man.
FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 396034   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 18:50

Exploder posted:

I don’t think you will break anything; all you are doing with a diff-lock is locking the spider gears up in the diff to give equal drive to both wheels, Similar to welding the Diff or installing a mini- spool, I even think the XY GTHO came with a optional Detroit diff-lock.
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 396043   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 20:01

Crackles posted:

Troll I think you are missing the point everyone is politely trying to make.
A DIFF LOCK WILL NOT HELP ONE BIT AT SPEED ON SAND! Turn them off. Any percieved advantage you may think you are getting is in your mind. Any time you turn a car on sand with a locker engaged the wheels tend to fight each other, losing a little power in the process. In my experience there is nothing to be gained by turning them on until you are travelling over uneven ground or trying to restart after stopping. Even then 2 psi less in the tyres will make far greater difference.
Cheers Craig............
FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 142507   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 18:54

Member - Brian (Gold Coast) replied:

At under 16 psi tyre pressures you risk rolling the tyre off the rim... be careful! You shouldn't need Lockers on in the sand...... sand driving isn't a race!
My Chrissy Prezzy
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Reply 8 of 10
FollowupID: 396040   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 19:16

Willem posted:

I run my tyres at 15psi regularly and have never come near rolling a tyre off a rim. 10psi might be a risk though.

Have also done thousands of k's of sand driving over the past ten years without getting bogged. I just take it easy it high range and have had no probs.
Karoo Jackal
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Willem

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FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 396048   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 20:48

Member - Brian (Gold Coast) posted:

I said "you risk rolling the tyre off the rim..." Not that it was a pre requisite. You might do with lockers on and going too fast trying to turn...... which is my point. It hasn't happened to me either, but I have heard guys tell me it's happened to them. I haven't been bogged either, I use low range in soft sand and all is well. That suits my driving, it may not suit anybody elses.
My Chrissy Prezzy
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FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 396049   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 20:55

Member - Jeff M (WA) posted:

Yeah I hear this "risk" alot to, but I have driven for hundreds of k's with tyres at 10psi fully loaded and not slow either with no problems, I think it also must have a lot to do with the type of tyres and the size rim... My tyres are the biggest size I can fit on the rim though and (touch wood) never have had a problem like that.

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FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 142541   Submitted: Monday, Dec 05, 2005 at 21:50

Member - Stephen M (NSW) replied:

Hi there troll, mate I have a 2.8 hilux diesel d/cab power house NOT !!! I just drop my tyres to 16 psi high range I have bfs all terrain and dont have a bit of trouble. As said above you wont brake anything but you are not gaining anything either. As said when you are trying to turn on the sand you have one front tyre fighting the other, keep it switched off unless you get yourself bogged. If the old hilux can do it with 4 people in the vehicle not light weights either than you should have no problems in that patrol of yours yeah you are a bit heavier than me but shouldn't be a problem with the extra grunt you have compared to the ever so powerful 2.8. But over all will you brake any thing no not unless your being a total tool than we can all break something. I normally only go about 20/30klms on stockton beach, fast enough, can be very hectic in holiday period plus you need to look out for the beer bottles that tossers leave everywhere + kids. Take Care Steve M

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Reply 9 of 10
AnswerID: 142551   Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 06, 2005 at 00:45

Member - Troll 81 (QLD) replied:

Thanks for all the advice guys I will do some testing when I go to Fraser and experiment a little, I think that is the only way to know for myself. I have tried both ways and I have been doing beach driving for years now and I am not new to the concept and I must say that I am guilty as charged your honor....for not letting my tires down enough, I always have that things in the back of my mind that it's a Troll and we can't get stuck...LOL

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Regards, Troll 81

Reply 10 of 10
FollowupID: 396079   Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 06, 2005 at 07:03

Redback posted:

Mate i don't think Fraser Is is a real sand driving challenge, i'd be more inclined to do a test on Stockton, from memory i think i used 4WD twice on Fraser getting on and off the ferry at Inskip point and that was only a precausion as i was towing a trailer.

High range remember not low as much as possible.

Baz.
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 396161   Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 06, 2005 at 15:06

Member - Duncs posted:

I am with Redback here.

I did Fraser in an old MQ with the SD (slow diesel) 33. It was never a quick vehicle and was overloaded for the Fraser trip. The best I got out of it on the highway heading up from Brisie was about 90 km/h on the island 80km/h was easy so no real test. I used 4wd 'cause I had it and it was new. Some of the soft tracks heading to the west coast might require it's use.

Stockton is much softer than Fraser. I ran my Patrol 4.2TD, 5 on board no diff locks, at 20psi on Stockton and felt it would have been better with lower pressures but it was not really a prob at that.

I only ever used the diff locks on my GQ when I was lifting wheels or in real trouble. I found that using them on the sand all I did was dig a bigger hole faster.

Duncs
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