Sand - Low Range vs High Range

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Werner
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Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by Werner »

Hi,

I have a question....I was looking at that 4x4 program from Andre from Safari Centre. He said that you must use high range when driving sand and only use low range when you are stuck and want to get out.

Now everytime I went sand driving (with my old 2.4 Hilux) I used low range. Now with the Cruiser I still use Low range.

When the sand is hard I will use High range from time to time otherwise I use low range.

So what is the correct one to use when driving sand?

Thanks
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by CasKru »

I think it all depends on the power of the vehicle. With the Lux you would probably need to run in 4L if you are running in deep sand but with vehicles like the Prado, Land Cruiser and Fortuner there is more than enough power on tap to travel in 4H. m2cw
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by blom »

i agree cas
the newer more powerful trucks just dig themselfes in in LOW
but a 4y will not go in HIGH :roll:
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by ThysdJ »

You see I have a problem with tv programmes that makes a blanket statement like that. Some vehicles need to use LR and some dont, and the terrain also determines what is the right ratio to use. The consistency of sand also varies, from dry and loose to wet and tightly packed, and even in those 2 different conditions will you use different gears to do the same dune/route with the same vehicle.

If you feel comfortable with driving in LR and you know what your vehicle can do then that is the ratio you use.
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by Mud Dog »

blom wrote:i agree cas
the newer more powerful trucks just dig themselfes in in LOW
but a 4y will not go in HIGH :roll:
No it does'nt .... if it's soft like dry beach or dune sand, then you gotta use L4-2 or L4-3 with the foot wedged against the kick-panel to avoid any accellerator jerking.
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by 2.8 d/cab SFA »

he actaully mentioned that you need to maintian momentum, if you go too slow you dig in.
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by coz it can »

Hi Werner...I've got the 2200 and i'm on the beach every weekend fishing, and only use low range when I see the sand is very loose and soft...either than that..high range all the way-wet sand or dry sand...
and i've learnt the hard way :mrgreen:
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by andrevt »

with high range you have more momentum and flotation if you can use the word and save on fuel even vehicles with less power
do well in hr once they have momentum this works well when you need to avoid the wavesgoing from the hard sand to the soft sand this we expierenced now in angola
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by ThysdJ »

talking about floatation, the correct tyre pressures are probably more important than whether you should use high or low range. Ask Wolffie.. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by pietpetoors »

Depends on the power of your vehicle. Even at Atlantis I always use 1 or 2 high with my 2.7 Hilux but the 4y and even some of the 2.4 Hiluxes do it in low range. I prefer high range in sand.
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by Danman »

I agree,
You need to listen to your vehicle, find out when she is happy and drive her like that. Engine should not over rev and also not labour too hard. I found that my lux labours too hard on Sodwana sand in 4H and I always run her in 4L but in Moz sand she is fine in 4H(different conditions=different results).
My Landy ran on sodwana sand in 4H with ease(different vehicles different results).
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by ToyX4 »

There is a difference between flat beach driving(Sodwana) and dune driving.
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by Werner »

Thanks for the replies guys.

I will have to play around with this.

In Atlantis with the 2.4 Hilux I usually used 2nd-3rd low range....no problem at all. Never been to Atlantis with the cruiser....will have to go and play a bit to see what gear I need to be in.
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by Borntofish »

New post Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range
Hi Werner...I've got the 2200 and i'm on the beach every weekend fishing, and only use low range when I see the sand is very loose and soft...either than that..high range all the way-wet sand or dry sand...
and i've learnt the hard way :mrgreen:
Wait a minute? Where on the beach do you drive? I thought the only place left to fish out of your vehicle is in Namibia?
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by Mountain Man »

The rule of thumb is to use the highest possible gear in both mud and sand. This as mentioned before will vary with the power of the vehicle and tyre pressure etc. However one wants to be able to maintain your RPM in the torque range without driving foot flat. This will leave some power in reserve as well as being the most "economical" as well as being less likely to cause over-heating problems. So this is going to be a different gear and RPM for different vehicles with some managing to use the high range and others being restricted to low range. So knowing your vehicle well is important. One needs to experiment with different gears to see the different results.
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by DOELLOOS »

CasKru wrote:I think it all depends on the power of the vehicle. With the Lux you would probably need to run in 4L if you are running in deep sand but with vehicles like the Prado, Land Cruiser and Fortuner there is more than enough power on tap to travel in 4H. m2cw
So does that mean that I will have to install a 4 High-High-High range racing box?

:twisted:
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by Mud Dog »

V8 Interceptor wrote:
CasKru wrote:I think it all depends on the power of the vehicle. With the Lux you would probably need to run in 4L if you are running in deep sand but with vehicles like the Prado, Land Cruiser and Fortuner there is more than enough power on tap to travel in 4H. m2cw
So does that mean that I will have to install a 4 High-High-High range racing box?

:twisted:
Ewald, you would then probably be able to turn sand into glass .... :D:
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by coz it can »

Borntofish wrote:
New post Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range
Hi Werner...I've got the 2200 and i'm on the beach every weekend fishing, and only use low range when I see the sand is very loose and soft...either than that..high range all the way-wet sand or dry sand...
and i've learnt the hard way :mrgreen:
Wait a minute? Where on the beach do you drive? I thought the only place left to fish out of your vehicle is in Namibia?
Durban-From beachwood down to glenashleigh... (Is this legal?)

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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by Buff »

I wouldn't brag about it, you give the rest of us a sh!t name :evil:
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by DOELLOOS »

Don't stress, sure he's only dreaming...
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by Spook »

Die belangrikste ding wanneer jy swaar sand ry, is jou regtervoet, op die petrol. Of jy gaan bly voortbeweeg op die sand hang af van die verhouding tussen die draai van die dryfwiele en die momentum van die voertuig. As jou wiele te vinnig draai vir die momentum, dan begin jy grawe en ry jy al swaarder en verloor momentum en uiteindelik sit jy vas.
Dis vry algemeen aanvaar dat jy nie met harde bande op sand lekker kan ry nie. Blaas af vir 'n begin tot 1.5 om die dryfspoor langer te maak. Om momentum te kan kry, kan jy nie dadelik krag maak nie want dan gaan die wiele 'spin' en jy begin grawe. Dis met 'n sagte voet op die petrolpedaal wat jy geleidelik die kole bygooi soos jou voertuig begin momentum optel. As dit momentum dalk verloor, LIG jou voet op en jy sal voel hoe styg die voertuig op in die sand!
Dis om hierdie rede wat ou sandryers selde donkiegear gebuik op die sand. Te veel krag en te min momentum. Die beste sandryers is juis die 4Y's! Die swakste in die sand is die monsterenjin-voertuie.
Kom dit op duine-ry, dan verander dinge effe. Nou moet jy op geleyke dele genoeg momentum opbou sodat jou voertuig nie momentum verloor teen die tyd wat jy die duin wil oor nie. Daarom brand jy hom van onder af. Met die nuwe TD's en die groot petrolenjins is daar heel genoeg skielike krag om in die gewone 4xx4-ratte genoeg momentum te vang sonder groot geraas, maar met 'n standaard diesel gebeur dinge mos maar effens langsaam en moet jy hom in 3de rat donkiegear sit en dan tjaarts jy daai duin dat die swart roke tussen die duine hang soos jy hom kook. Op met die duin en oor. Jy kan nie teen die duin om van rat verander nie want dan verloor jy momentum en sit vas.
Vir dieselfde rede moet jy die 4Y ook soos die diesel tjaarts teen die duin op, oorlat hy ook nie skielike versnelling het nie......
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by ThysdJ »

sela! :thumbup: :thumbup:
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Re: Sand - Low Range vs High Range

Post by KZET »

Hi Guys

I have a 2001 3.0Kzte Hilux DC
I generally found on flat loose sand 2nd&3gear L/R works best

Where as my buddies with 3L V6 Colts is much more comfortable in H/R.
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