Beach Driving.

cmohr · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:41 pm

I think "I" should have a "Normal" button, that way people around me can just press it and get some sense out of me... :lol:

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:27 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

I've driven in all types of sand,from all over the world(litterly) in many vehicles(but not a KJ).Never used 4low,but when you have 1300ft-lbs of torque and 8-wheel drive,who needs it :lol:

! Plus airing down the tires was a breeze,just hit the "MUD,SNOW,SAND" button on the CTIS system while driving,drops the tires to 15psi,then when you get back to a harder surface just hit the "NORMAL" button and the tires air back up to 55+psi(whatever is the normal for that certian vehicle),all while still driving

.

Once again, Troy makes us ALL feel like rookies.

The best sourse of inof I have ever seen.

Thanks Troy.

ohv_kj · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:47 am

i guess i should say somthing sence i live there...4 low in 2nd is best in that typ of sand...just like mud you need momentum...really don't need to air down...i go to the inlat alot and never get stuck...don't dig your self deeper and don't gas it of the start...once you get moving slowly push the gas to get the tires turning...if you start to bog down, let off the gas, let a light brake and the sand slow you down which will not take long because your bogging down...put it in reverse and start slow...the engine should get the tires moving w/ a little burp of the throttle...and try to stay in tracks that have been made...

signed your obx tour guide...lol have fun and come down to wilmington too somtime

ohv_kj · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:49 am

oh one more thing...look ahead and if you notice the sand might get deeper...give alittle more throttle to get goingthrough it...and stay out of the water...

ohv_kj · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:54 am

now i have read everyones responses...i live at the beach and airing down is great...the station at the inlet has a air station...still use 4 low 2nd gear is the best cruise speed because the limit is 15 mph...trust me

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:22 am

BeepBeepJeepJeep wrote:

All of you recommending 4-HI on sand have apparently never driven a 5-speed liberty. Sand eats up my power like crazyy. I will never buy a manual for off-roading ever again... Unless of course they start making a manual with a torque converter.

Then again, I never air down on sand. Maybe now that I can air down my experience will be different.

Isnt a manual liberty geared a heck of a lot lower than a auto? Ive seen a 6 speed offroad and it did just fine other than burning the clutch a tick(kinda hard to avoid). Seemed to have a lower crawl ratio than I did.

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:18 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

I've driven in all types of sand,from all over the world(litterly) in many vehicles(but not a KJ).Never used 4low,but when you have 1300ft-lbs of torque and 8-wheel drive,who needs it :lol:

! Plus airing down the tires was a breeze,just hit the "MUD,SNOW,SAND" button on the CTIS system while driving,drops the tires to 15psi,then when you get back to a harder surface just hit the "NORMAL" button and the tires air back up to 55+psi(whatever is the normal for that certian vehicle),all while still driving

.

Troy, not meaning to play "one-up" but I have also driven in the sand all over the world. The CTIS is pretty good but nothing beats 24" wide tracks on either side driven by an air-cooled, twin-turbo, diesel V-12 pushing 1250hp and who-knows-how-much torque. Point it where you want to go and hit the gas, it will get you there (though much slower than your mode of transportation). Of course, now I just breeze right over all the sand. :wink:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:08 am

KW AV8R wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

I've driven in all types of sand,from all over the world(litterly) in many vehicles(but not a KJ).Never used 4low,but when you have 1300ft-lbs of torque and 8-wheel drive,who needs it :lol:

! Plus airing down the tires was a breeze,just hit the "MUD,SNOW,SAND" button on the CTIS system while driving,drops the tires to 15psi,then when you get back to a harder surface just hit the "NORMAL" button and the tires air back up to 55+psi(whatever is the normal for that certian vehicle),all while still driving

.

Troy, not meaning to play "one-up" but I have also driven in the sand all over the world. The CTIS is pretty good but nothing beats 24" wide tracks on either side driven by an air-cooled, twin-turbo, diesel V-12 pushing 1250hp and who-knows-how-much torque. Point it where you want to go and hit the gas, it will get you there (though much slower than your mode of transportation). Of course, now I just breeze right over all the sand. :wink:

All hail the M88!

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:03 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

BeepBeepJeepJeep wrote:

All of you recommending 4-HI on sand have apparently never driven a 5-speed liberty. Sand eats up my power like crazyy. I will never buy a manual for off-roading ever again... Unless of course they start making a manual with a torque converter.

Then again, I never air down on sand. Maybe now that I can air down my experience will be different.

Isnt a manual liberty geared a heck of a lot lower than a auto? Ive seen a 6 speed offroad and it did just fine other than burning the clutch a tick(kinda hard to avoid). Seemed to have a lower crawl ratio than I did.

Yes, the gearing in the 5-speed is a bit lower compared to the autos... Gets eaten up quick, though. My largest problem with it is that there is no torque converter. My engine either makes enough power to get me through the terrain I'm in, or it stalls. There is no in between.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:13 am

When I drive in the sugar sand down here, I put it into Part Time and off I go.

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:02 pm

Multiple opinions here so let me add my story as a somewhat cautionary tale about driving on the beach. I live in Wilmington, NC and drive on the beaches here almost every weekend. I used to air down to around 20-25 psi and drive in 4-hi (4-lo on the entrance to ft. fisher). However after a trip to good ol' ft.fisher with my wife, sis' in law & ma in law it appeared the ol' lib had to much sand blasting, overheated and messed the whole darn engine up. (thats what the mechanic at the dealer stated, even though my eyes stay partially glued to the gauges all the time, and I never saw it overheat) So now after I had pretty much the whole engine replaced I'm going to keep it safe. By that I mean I drive it in 4 lo, 2nd gear, aired down to 15 psi and I go slow, staying in ruts and not trying any agressive manuevers.

The first time I brought the lib out with the reworked engine it did heat up a bit & the trans temp light came on. However after it cooled I drove it around for almost a 1/2 tank of gas on the beach and there was no other issues. It works for me.

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:19 pm

I do nothing but Sand in South Jersey. Air them down 15lb, if you air them up you will cut yourself right into the sand and you will defenetly be using your new strap.

dirtykj · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:40 pm

Should not be afraid of 4-low ... KJ likes it.

Remember, 4-Low you go ... 4-Hi you die

LIV42DY · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:42 pm

dirtykj has a point. Well said.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:07 am

dirtykj wrote:

Should not be afraid of 4-low ... KJ likes it.

Remember, 4-Low you go ... 4-Hi you die

Or get the 45RFE tranny :lol:

No you shouldn't be afraid of 4low but I wouldn't consider sand to be one of those times.Anyway soon my 4low will only net me about 10mph in OD anyway,but I preferr big rocks.

MadRiver · **Joined:** Thu Jul 14, 2005 1:17 pm **Posts:** 10

Spent a bunch of time on the beaches of Nantucket with our KJ this past weekend. Our tires weren't the best for sand -- T/A KOs (a bit too much tread, IMHO), but we took her down to 15 psi, kept it in 4W hi, and never got stuck. Our lack of a lift was a problem from time to time, but we were just extra careful, and made sure she didn't bounce too much. Made me realize that I need to put on the rest of my skid plates to be really safe!

We got lots of thumbs-up from the LR Defender crowd, most of whom appeared surprised that our Liberty could keep up with them.

dog_party · **Posted:** Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:40 pm

ramlebliberty wrote:

Multiple opinions here so let me add my story as a somewhat cautionary tale about driving on the beach. I live in Wilmington, NC and drive on the beaches here almost every weekend. I used to air down to around 20-25 psi and drive in 4-hi (4-lo on the entrance to ft. fisher). However after a trip to good ol' ft.fisher with my wife, sis' in law & ma in law it appeared the ol' lib had to much sand blasting, overheated and messed the whole darn engine up. (thats what the mechanic at the dealer stated, even though my eyes stay partially glued to the gauges all the time, and I never saw it overheat) So now after I had pretty much the whole engine replaced I'm going to keep it safe. By that I mean I drive it in 4 lo, 2nd gear, aired down to 15 psi and I go slow, staying in ruts and not trying any agressive manuevers.

The first time I brought the lib out with the reworked engine it did heat up a bit & the trans temp light came on. However after it cooled I drove it around for almost a 1/2 tank of gas on the beach and there was no other issues. It works for me.

Do you have the manual transmission? I recall someone posting about how his manual trannied KJ kept overheating when he'd drive on the beach. Turned out that there was a good-sized hole that sand was getting in. Can't remember all the details 'cause I'm an American, so I can't have a manual diesel :roll:

, but you might want to do a search for that old thread.

htkrph · **Posted:** Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:48 pm

i still not get it. how did i get to drive around all corrolla beach with my stock kj, even the tires aired down to 17psi in 2wd and made it there and back and drove a lot, like a lot. i did drive out of the ruts and into them. like i was really trying out my kj and it did amaziiiing. i did my 4hi from time to time, but it felt it didnt need it most of the time. does the sand where u drive depend on?

pinecone · **Posted:** Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:32 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Quote:

As for tires, I would think that you want to air up, inside of down. Keep it at the maximum 44 psi. Deflating your tires cause more rolling resistance, in the sand you don't want that.

Nope you want to air down.Reason is,when you air up you reduce the contact patch of the tire,when you air down you increase the contact patch of the tire.The bigger the contact patch the better you "float" over the sand by spreading your vehicle weight over a greater area thus reducing your chances of sinking.If you air up you will sink,air down you "float" over the sand better.

Like snowshoes. Snowshoes spread your weight over a wider area. :idea:

ohv_kj · **Posted:** Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:56 am

htkrph wrote:

i still not get it. how did i get to drive around all corrolla beach with my stock kj, even the tires aired down to 17psi in 2wd and made it there and back and drove a lot, like a lot. i did drive out of the ruts and into them. like i was really trying out my kj and it did amaziiiing. i did my 4hi from time to time, but it felt it didnt need it most of the time. does the sand where u drive depend on?

that beach area has some hard packed sand...but you where aired down and thats the key...have some sand hills that we climb down here...in 4 low 2nd auto, 4:10s w/ my usallual tire pressure at 30psi it take me a good hard run to get up it...same thing only rired down i can go twice as slow...beach driving for me now consists of 2wd unless it get soft then quik 4 hi to get going the back to 2wd...one main thing to stop your tranny to overheat is not let it change gears so much...if you have an auto...starw/ it in 1 then go to 2 then d if it starts to change alot go back to 2 slow down alittle also...

Beach Driving.

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