Very good to know it does so well

 

Thanks for sharing. I saw a youtube video a while back where a Touareg was taken on sand and it was getting struggling and got stuff a few times. Not sure if others have seen this video and want to comment if this is normal depending on the sand and driving style.

BTW, What did you use to pump the tires back up from 20psi?

 

that guy didnt have ESP disengaged i think

 

I think you may need to turn the electronic traction control off so the engine doesn't bog down like the car did.

 

And the tyre pressure is critical. Too high and you will sink right in and get bogged. Lower them down and the tyres will tend to float over the sand.

Very handy in all types of sand, not just the beach, and may save your life.

A few years ago some tourists were visiting Lake Eyre in South Australia. Normally it is a huge dry salt pan but occasionally it gets some runoff and can fill in part or rarely completely (part of it is below sea level).

This was out from William Creek and when they decided to return back the way they came they got stuck in the sand as they turned the car around. Unfortunately they were bogged so much they could not move. The two of them decided to set off back to William Creek on foot, 65 kms away. After a night walking one returned to the car, the other continued on foot. After several more days a search party went out and found the person at the car alive. The other was not so lucky and she died of dehydration not far from a water bore.

When the police sergeant got there to investigate and organise to recover the vehicle he went around the car, lowered the air pressure to about half and drove out, no tow needed. It was not stuck, if you lowered the tyre pressure.

Several morals of this story

• when in sand lower tyre pressures
• if bogged in the outback dont leave your vehicle
• tell others where you are going, and tell as many as you can
• dont go outback in summer as when things go wrong, they go very wrong
• If you don't know what you are doing, don't go on your own, go on an organised trip with experienced people

Have a read of the fuller story here
1998 Death at Halligans Bay - Caroline Grossmueller @ ExplorOz Forum
or here
Newspaper article about the death at Lake Eyre

With an uncle who had a station on the Birdsville track (other side of Lake Eyre) we always had lowering tyre pressures drummed into us.

 

yep remember that one

One of the top ten rules in out back Oz is stay with the vehicle. Amazing how many people still think they can conquer nature on foot in out back Oz

 

Thanks for the advice pjod.

BTW, how did you end up inflating the tyres after you finished having fun in the sand?

 

Personally I have a 12 Volt air compressor which I can hook up to the battery - ARB sell some ARB Air Compressors | ARB 4x4 Accessories
Also Opposite Lock 4WD and 4x4 Vehicle Accessories.Opposite Lock ShopHome - Recovery Kits & Gear - Compressors -
or TJM TJM Portable Compressor | TJM Australia | 4x4 Accessories
and plenty of others.

Now I have an 18V Ryobi One Plus compressor along with the car charger kit and this (with a 4.5 AmpHr battery) is sufficient for one air up on all four wheels (maybe more but I have not tried that). Car some other stuff for camping in that series (light, fan, impact driver) when travelling too.
inflator 18V ONE+ Inflator / Deflator - RYOBI
12V car charger 18V ONE+ Dual Chemistry In Car Charger - RYOBI
Advantage of these is that they are available at Bunnings so service back up (generally they just replace with new) is available over a wide area in Oz, better network that the others, though perhaps not quite as robust. I might consider a built in compressor if I was doing more remote travelling.

 

Hi Guys,
Just checked in before heading to work.
nm2203, noobytoogy is correct. If you turn off the traction control, turn the dial to the 'off-road' setting, raise the suspension and let the tyres down you've covered all bases. The height and therefore clearance you get in the 'special off-road' suspension setting is impressive. I don't think the guys on the you tube vids went to too much trouble to prepare for their adventure. Especially the guys with the jetski.
We were in much more powder than them plus some chewed up entrance tracks and worked through it without any issues.
I used the built in compressor to reinflate at north shore which is ok to get some air in until you find a pump, on straddie there is a service station about 200m off the beach and on Moreton there are air hoses on the barge which is great.

 

Venturing off-road alone is not a good idea. Cars get stuck, accidents happen, people get hurt, and without back up of at least two more vehicle in convoy you'll find that situations can turn dangerous if you are alone. Carry all essential kit - do not rely on someone else having what you need. As a bare minimum you'll need: tow strap with shackles, a couple of long handle shovels, a jacking plate (a 30-40 cm square block of thick solid wood to use as a firm base when removing a wheel in the sand and ideally some sand ladders. Cheap polypropylene roll-up beach mats sold in every corner store can be almost as effective as aluminium sand ladders if used correctly to help bogged-down vehicle drive out of sand. For most off-roading driving in sand the recommended pressure is 16-18 psi, depending on the firmness of sand. Off-roading is not about the speed, but bringing the vehicle and its occupants home in one piece after adventure.

 

Great info guys, thanks.

Can you pass on your wheel and tyre size please? maybe the tyre make and model please as well.......

Looking for some 18" wheels currently for my V10 then will be on the tyre hunt. As i work for a tyre supplier it may be restricted to what they deal in but all information be useful to know.

Thanks guys....

 

Andy ... work for a tyre supplier yeah ...... any deals for members ??

 

I am a lowly forman in the workshop part of Argy Tyres in Newcastle NSW, but the parent company 'Tyres 4U' are willing to sell stuff for the right money. Sure if i asked nicely there wouldn't be a problem for discounted tyres........

 

I wonder with the 20inch low profile type tyres, does it really help that much by lowering the pressure in those tyres? They are very wide tyres already.

 

that why anyone serious goes for 17" rims for off road tyres ... more room to move .... any way you put it

 

Cant get the 17" over the brakes on a V10, 18" minimum ......

 

Nor the Hybrid I think.

 

Here in the UK, the first T4s have come through with no spare wheel at all, just a can of gunk.

VW did the same with early T3s before eventually delivering them for the last year of production with a space saver.

So God only knows why the T4 came with no spare wheel to start with because VW have now started fitting the spare again!

I don't think VW understand the premium 4x4 market at all in any of the countries they send the Touareg to.

 

Live on Sunshine Coast near Noosa North shore and Double Island Point. Have never had any issues at all and have assisted many vehicles that have been stuck.

The thing about sand driving is that the conditions change very quickly and what you did a few days or weeks ago can be completely different.

I find the biggest issue is Very dry sand that is like powder. If you have had a run of windy dry conditions for a month or so the conditions are a lot more challenging. Even been up the beach for a long weekend and the sand conditions change and get worse quickly.

My tips.

1. Always ESP OFF
2. Air Suspension on at least Off road mode (If on Fraser where the big tourist buses go then sometimes need Extra Off road.) You do not want to be a sand plow.
3. Drop tyre pressures. Completely dependant on conditions. Have been up the beach plenty of times when they had rain a few days earlier and the base is firm and don't need to let them down at all. Generally I go to 20 PSI which 9 times out of 10 is plenty and is still a good pressure.
4. Highly recommend a Mobile compressor. Had a cheap crappy one that didn't cope well with sand or heat. Got a new one on sale at Super Cheap only $160 Ridge Ryder with I think 170 litres per minute and has pumped up 12 tyres in a row with out any issue. Similar to the ARB stats but cheaper. It takes my 18 inch tyres from 18 PSI to 40 PSI in 1 minute per tyre. That is the same time as in takes to deflate with a key.
5. On our recent round Australia trip I have needed to deflate tyres at least 10 times in different conditions. Recent on the WA Coast in amongst Sand Dunes which I had trouble getting out of needed to drop pressures to as low as 15 PSI which then walked straight out. (Can go as low as 12 if really need to for short period. Hence need to have a compressor)
6. Ensure you have recovery gear including Max Traks of some type. Have also needed these on 2 occasions last year. Amazing the benefits.
7. MOMENTUM is your friend in soft sand. Without being stupid you need to keep moving when very soft. Can be hard to get going hence max traxs if you stop in VERY soft sand.

8. NOTE: Dropping tyre pressure extends the length of the contact point which gives you better traction. It is not the ballooning side wall that a lot of people think.

Love Beach driving. Have a go as the Treg is Very Capable.

 

5. Recent on the WA Coast in amongst Sand Dunes which I had trouble getting out of needed to drop pressures to as low as 15 PSI which then walked straight out.

Cape Leveque per chance? Hunter's Creek 4WD Tag Along Tour - tour guide mandated 15-18 psi. In my 4XMotion, I preferred High Range to Low Range when climbing sand dunes - Treg has more than enough grunt to use Hi Range in soft sand.

 

Tried to look at this post again and couldn't find it.

Maybe could be moved to Australia and New Zealand section.

 

I had to go down even further in the hot sand last time. At 14psi it was performing well until i gave it a bit too much and rolled the tyre off!

 

ALL TERRAIN TYRES ON 20" WHEELS

I am looking to upgrade my 2005 Petrol Touareg running Cooper AT3's. I have done beach work in SE QLD as well as Birdsville Track. Strezlecki Track and up to the Gulf.
Looking at a 180TDI with Air suspension but am concerned regarding All Terrain tyres for 20" rims.
The dealer has recommended Cooper LTZ - 275/45/R20.
Is the aspect of 45 a worry for beach and offroad use?
Tks

 

Yes. But you know that already!

 

I am thinking of taking my T3 on a beach tour but concerned as I do not have 4XMotion nor the required experience. Apart from some driving sense, some tips from here and here.......
Will my 180 TDI (non 4XMotion) engine with 18" ATRs hold up?

 

great to hear that the Touareg handles the sand. I have always had Toyotas and loved them. I wanted a different driving experience than the Toyota but I was concerned that the Touareg would not be s capable. I regularly go to Straddy and love driving on the beach.

How do the brakes handle the sand? Do the big rims shed the sand? or do they build up in the brakes and cause wear?

 

I am thrilled to hear is does so well on the sand

 

depends on the sand, hardish maybe ok.

besides the 275/45R20 having less traction in sand than a higher profile tyre.
I reckon if you air-down and then hit a rock,
the rock will probably hit the rim with a 45 profile tyre!

You would need a much bigger rock to damage a rim/tyre with a high profile tyre on it.

 

I have an '08 VR6 Treg, and have been ripping her on the beach recently with 275/45/19 Conti DWS's. Of which VW told me I do not need to air out, due to the great width, and low profile. Our outer beaches here on Long Island, NY are pretty soft, and rutted up quite well. I was having a little bit of a problem last night coming off the beach where I had to forge my own rut. Also trying to make a 90 degree turn into existing ruts. Traction control was off. Is there something I'm missing? Something I'm not doing correctly? I'm thinking I need to go with less wheel and more tire.

 

Ridedirt311,

If the sand is dry and fine and you are trying to turn, then you DO need to let air out of the tyres. If makes a HUGH difference.
You mentioned that you don't need to air down due to their width.....When you air down it is the length that improves that gives you the advantage...a little like a pozzi trac. I am not sure if you use PSI but normally I guess you would run around 38 psi. If you air down to 20 PSi you will see massive improvement...If you really get stuck it still gives you room to go lower.
Sand conditions change quickly and a section you drove the day before could today be near impassable on full air.
Just my 2 Cents

 

x2, absolutely (that makes 4c) Dub

 

Ok, so you guys think I should ABSOLUTELY be going down to 15-20psi on 275/45/19s??? Sorry for asking so many questions. Just so much input. Trying to make perfect sense of it all.

 

18 - 20psi is a good all round rule to start with. I wouldnt go under 15