How to drive the Land Rover LR3/RRS in Sand

A number of people have ventured out onto the dunes in their shiny new “Go Anywhere” Land Rover LR3 or Range Rover Sport, only to be stuck in sand and teased by all the Jeep and Toyota guys, or worse, pre-IFS Land Rover owners! I see this discussion pop up on forums all over the world. So to help, here is my quick primer for newbies on how to drive in sand with this modern vehicles and all their high-tech electrowizardry:

The stock Goodyear Wrangler HP’s are going to disappoint you in the sand (and everywhere else too!). The Nitto Terra Grappler, Copper Zeon LTZ’s, or BFG AT’s, etc… are all MUCH better tires.

Once you are out on the sand, try experimenting with:
1. Air way way down – 15 to 20 PSI
2. Use Sand Mode with your Terrain Response, because it disables DSC
3. Physically turn off DSC
4. Use Low range
5. Use Command Shift. Your truck will work best in deep sand in 2nd or 3rd gear.
6. Keep the rev’s up! If you are hitting the rev limiter on occasion (hill climbs) you are doing it right.
7. Momentum is your friend
8. Know what is on the other side! If you crest a dune you don’t recognize, assume it is a sheer drop off on the other side.
9. Have a portable air compressor with you.
10. Have a large plywood plate (18″ sq) with you to act as a base for your tire jack should you need to change a tire or lift your wheels out of a hole
11. Buy a nice bottle jack to replace the silly sissor lift contraption Land Rover provides
12. Full size spare tire!
13. Buy a nice 30′ recovery strap, and at least two shackles to fit on the front or rear recovery points (they are hidden behind the plastic panels that easily come off with a large flat blade screwdriver or a small coin (10 cent dime works great!)

Photos of Pismo Beach with an LR3:
http://blog.nextstepdesigns.com/?cat=15

Cheers,

NW