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Emilio
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2003
16:00:43
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 Subject: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Hi,
I'm planning to take my '99 2WD Dak to a meadows area; Read many postings about loading the box for snow/mud driving but what about for soft sand? The lighter the better? Plan to put some good AT tires only in the rear, need also the front? So far in my only two experience in the beach I end up stuck, ok it was using stock Wrangler tires.
Am i too crazy in attempting driving a 2WD in such conditions? Just can't handle the idea that the Dak won't be able to do it..
Comments? Thanks!
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Heath
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2003
16:03:17
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Message:
All you have to do on sand is air down your tire to distribute(sp) the weight.
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Emilio
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2003
17:07:29
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Message:
well, already tried once airing down to 10 psi in soft sand unloaded and with stock tires but it just moved few yards forward then got stuck again an so on. Finally got out using the floor mats but not before messing around for 1/2 hour. That's why thought that adding some weight to the box may help…
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2003
17:58:34
|  RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Forget the weight, the idea is not to sink into the sand. Wide bald tires with low pressure is the way to go.
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Buzz
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2003
18:30:48
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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From experience... weight on the rear will help.. but not too much... and you want the widest tires possible... I have driven my 2wd with the R/T suspension and wheels on sand... but at 6-8psi.. with the stock 235mm tires it will bury it's self.. the front push too much... the key is to float.. I am running 275/50/17 and they do ok.. but always stop on a down hill... or you will never get going... stay out of OD... probably keep it in second... or the tranny will let go if it's an auto...
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Demon-Xanth
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2003
20:51:30
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Out of curiousity, I'm running 285/60R16's on the rear now, and am considering running those on the front (when they wear down) and putting 295/65R16's on the rear, how would those do on loose surfaces?
2WD 4.7+5 speed, 3.55LS
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Buzz
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2003
01:01:41
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Message:
that would be good for sand.. .you want the tire with the most flotation possible..
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2003
10:14:42
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Message:
Emilio,
You left out one very key point,
Is your truck LSD? Sounds like probably not.
I've had my heavy quad cab, 4.7 5spdmanual, in sand, mud, etc. at times, didn't lower the press. or anything, and think the LSD pulled me thru!
It's 2wd.
Now if you already have a working LSD rear end, then sorry, never mind. If not, you could have a 'locker installed, or DIY, for not to much $.
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2003
10:16:48
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Oh, and your original ?,
I vote not to load on sand, as said, you want to float, not sink. Ice doesn't have that problem, so some weight over the axle is a good thing.
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Emilio
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2003
13:13:34
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Message:
Hey, thaks all for the inputs!
I conclude that should not load the box for sand driving, go for the widest tires and keep pressure between 6 to 12 psi.
My Dak is a 2.5L Diesel(sorprise!)with DANA 4.10 rear axle. Not shure about having or not LSD, at the Dealer they told me to jack one wheel up and if it turns freely (gear in neutral)is because it has LSD. Any other way to now? by diff. case numbers may be? thanks!
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IntenseDak39
*GenIII*
2/05/2003
13:38:34
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Message:
when i had my truck jacked up, i had 30/9.5/15 BFG Allterrain KOs and those were crappy in sand.. outstanding in mud but sucked on the beach. I would break one tire loose and it was all over in a matter of seconds. I had better luck with my 255/60 radials than the all terrains. One suggestion is to go never slow down or stop unless you need to
Turbocharged V6
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2003
15:58:07
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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A 99, should say in the glove box on the sticker on the door, if it hasn't been modified(the rear end).
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2003
15:59:16
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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A 99, should say in the glove box on the sticker on the door, if it hasn't been modified(the rear end).
Also, do both wheels ever spin in the sand?, then both are getting some power ,hence, LSD.
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Buzz
Dodge Dakota
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2/05/2003
16:17:57
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Message:
radials are generally better tires on the sand... the all terrain KO are the one of the best if you need a large off road tire... but look at what the race trucks use... BFG Baja radials... they look like huge, very soft street tires.. the last thing you want on the sand are huge knobs to dig in... you need to float... low pressure and wide tires... and hopefully enough power to turn them...
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Emilio
Dodge Dakota
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2/06/2003
12:14:46
| RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Message:
Texas Todd: Yeap! it was in the glove box label: no spin diffrential. Thanks!
I almost 100% sure that means LSD.
Since seems that all I need are wide bald tires, I may get some used radial ones and change wheels before and after going drive in the meadows...this way don't need to buy dedicated sand tires that will use just time to time. thANKS ALL.
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Emilio
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2004
10:15:15
|  RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Message:
Well folks, last week I went back to the same lonley beach in Patagonia where last year got stuck in the sand and wanted to share this new experience; This time I've replaced the Goodyear stock tires 235x75x15 by A/T 31X10.5, no weight in the box except by sand ladders (just in case). I've set the tire's pressure to 15 psi at the front and 12 at the rear, we drove about 20 miles back and forth along the shore of this desertic beach finding different types of terrain and sand, from wet and sticky sand close to the water to very soft and deep as we approched the meadows, in the middle the soil was a mix of sand and small sea-shells very noisy as they broke under the wheels. I've kept it in 3rd and occasionally in second, the rear end was fish-tailing more than once and revs. went down rapidly in deep sand but I understood the message, down shift, and changed my course.
I've learned to keep always forward momentum, to pay atention to changes in the traction on different types of sand, to stop always in a down hill, to down shift fast before getting stopped and to use reverse to stay out of bigger troubles. To infalte the tyres I've used an electric compressor to get to 25 psi enough to get to the nearest gas station. It was pure fun and I'm glad the Dak performance was outstanding!
Thx for the advises.
'99 Ext. Cab. 2.5L Turbo Diesel, LSD, Manual Trans.
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Dave Mitchell
Dodge Dakota
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2/04/2004
17:21:45
|  RE: 2WD on Sand: to load or not to load
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Message:
Hey Emilio! Amigo!
Any chance of a group buy on some 2.5L diesel engines? Is that engine made by Detroit?
Thanks,
Dave
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