Bogged on a sand slope - 4x4 recovery

[@brian_brockleigh]

This is such an outrageously helpful video. Thanks Robert!

[@cannonsovercharged]

9:40 it reminds me of the end of Point Break [Keanu] "Via con Dios Brah!"

[@veryaware]

Nice job, just when I think of something you could say or adjust, you go right a head and say those things and make that adjustment. Of course, the challenge is to fully apply that reflective analytical perspective in the moment. I love the comprehensive nature of your videos, no mucho rubbish, no assumed knowledge, just the right information. Even for poeple with experience, we pick up little things here and there, or simply improve our thinking from your great videos. Additionally, your ability/will to explain things properly is fantastic.

[@L2SFBC]

Thank you, that's my motivation for the week right there!

[@InfinityFishing]

patience and excellence ! i will give an example from a novice like me .. so i was trying to climb a dune hill and i couldnt really keep up the momentum right at the start because i made a rookie mistake when i restarted the engine downhill i didnt notice track control and skid control all become reactivated making me loose significant momentum and car started to slide right at the start because being a rookie i was putting so much pressure on the gas, what happened is that my rear wheels started to slide left and there was a slope there i stopped. my rear is slightly facing down the slope towards a sand hole and front is just have minor ascend so either go front and risk of roll over cause rear keeps sliding or i would just accept the consequences and go backwards try to pass through the sand hole. of course i got stuck inside the sand hole with a steep sloope in front and mild curve behind. it took us about an hour till we got rescued but if i was more experienced id just dig in the front wheels and try to get me to safety front this way roll over chance would be eliminated and i can keep trying on a more horizontal terrain. i think most essential point of recovery is to not screw yourself in a more dire situation and analyse every step and decision without rushing.

[@L2SFBC]

Great point thank you! Yes, patience is the key,

[@Malc664]

That's showing a good tricky scenario and all without the maxtrax. Well done and thanks for the tips.

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@warp2288]

great job, excellent recovery.

[@nealesmith1873]

Great technique demonstration!

[@L2SFBC]

Thanks Neale, please share :-)

[@geofflines60]

Very useful. I dug out my Subaru about 10 times at Eyre Peninsula and then slotted max Trax underneath. Super soft sand. Shovels rule.

[@blikkiesblignaut6999]

Great video. I agree with everything you said, but I always go to the lowest tire pressure first. I have 40 years of sand driving experience in all types of sand, beach, Namib , Kalahari, RSA Westcoast etc. I started beach driving in 1992 with a beach buggy. I do not own any kind of tracks and only needed my spade once in fine river sand, towing an off road trailer. But, one is never to old to learn new things. Thanks for the tip to dig tracks with a spade. I never thought of that. It would have helped a lot last year when I mistook a quad track with a Jeep track in the dunes at Atlantis. I don't know why people are afraid of low tire pressures. When I get to sand, I always take the time to air down to 0.8 bar (11.6 Psi) or 0.6 bar (8.7PSI) in extreme cases. Not one flat in sand yet.

[@L2SFBC]

Thanks BB, agree...I decided not to use Maxtrax or lower pressures here to demonstrate shovel use. All three together are amazing. Yes, 9psi can work well too.

[@mjwise]

Another fantastic how to video Robert. Good to see these things happen to you too lol.

[@L2SFBC]

That's how we learn...and if you have all the kit, it's not a problem :-)

[@almamdani6564]

This is really useful information and I really learned a lot thank you for making this video

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it was helpful! Please share :-)

[@7kyro]

You know what would have been a fun experiment? If you let the air out of the 2 tires on the high side only. In any case, I think putting max tracks on the low side would have helped to tilt your truck back the right way and give all the wheels more chance to spin together.

[@L2SFBC]

yes that would help too!

[@7kyro]

For bigger and heavier vehicles it is so important to stay on the high side. When the wheels start spinning it almost always results in sideways movement because of how top heavy they are. I always dissuade people from putting their huge spare tire on the roof rack for this reason as well. These scenarios are the scariest in rear 2WD because even a winch might not be able to save you if your whole back end starts to slide sideways. I really appreciate how you show the importance of stopping early to reassess the situation instead of digging yourself deeper.

[@fatmanfaffing4116]

Once again, you present arguably some of the most realistic, practical and (in my experience and opinion) correct instruction in dealing with the situation. Most in that situation will rev and rev and wheelspin their way down so the chassis now drags against the sand. They will get out the shovel as a last resort and wonder why they have so much digging to do. They will do half the job and then just wheelspin deeper, then half dig, rinse and repeat. What was your tyre pressure if I may ask? Was it low enough?

[@L2SFBC]

Hi - 15psi or so. I could have lowered it to 10, but decided to show how to do a shovel recovery only. Similarly, I could have used my Maxtrax. For maximum effect, the quickest way would have been shovel and Maxtrax. I chose to use shovel only as not everyone carries Maxtrax.

[@CurmudgeonExtraordinaire]

Ahhh... That feeling of when you have a winch, but there are no trees within sight (much less the length of your winch rope and extensions)...

[@L2SFBC]

Even with a winch I'd dig out, lessen the load ahd chance of sliding sideways!

[@iangoodwin345]

One essential beach recovery accessory you overlooked was "the passenger". Always carry one of those so that (a) they can do all the digging, or (b) assist with the digging if you are feeling sympathetic to their plea for help. Also, a question from a technical novice: did you have any of the diff locks engaged for this exercise? Just wondering whether a rear diff lock would have assisted with rear propulsion given that your left rear tyre seemed to have better traction than the right hand side.

[@L2SFBC]

Yes passengers and other vehicles are very useful for 4x4 recovery. The Ranger has a rear locker but I didn't engage it. The reason is that doing so disables the differential action and therefore creates understeer/drag when turning. Yes the locker would stop a wheel spinning but there is not usually enough traction on the remaining wheel on the axle to move the car. However there are exceptions so lockers remain a useful item in these situations. What would help more is flexible suspension such that all four wheels have a more even weight distribution - you see lack of this at the front which is why the front left spins. I would take a pliant suspension over lockers in sand any day.

[@iangoodwin345]

@@L2SFBC thanks for the explanation Robert. I'm not a fan of sand dunes, but sand access can get you to some very nice places. When in Dubai I went on a fast paced desert drive in a Landcruiser. Opened my eyes to what a good driver in a good vehicle can achieve on sand!

[@MiniLuv-1984]

Robert, thank you. I learnt a bit today about extracting my vehicle. I fully expect to get caught like that somewhere sometime. I'm sure you purposely ran the wrong line to demonstrate extraction though. It was clear as daylight from your video. If the track angles down to the left, don't you just naturally go wide to the right?

[@MiniLuv-1984]

PS, is that a bunnings long handled fiberglass spade? That's what I've got - strong and light.

[@L2SFBC]

No, I didn't run the wrong line by intent. I'd driven that one before but mis-remebered it. With dunes like that, it can go left or right over the top, you just don't know for sure. But it doesn't take much sideslope on sand to slip. It was only 10 degrees, measured it from the video later :-)

[@L2SFBC]

No, it's a 4x4 Equip, but the design has been much-copied.

[@HardstylePete]

Good video. Which beach or tracks is this?

[@L2SFBC]

South Australia

[@mendi1122]

8 psi will solve almost any sand problem and in extreme cases 4-5 psi.

[@L2SFBC]

often does!