[gregdixon]

atari4x4 wrote:

if AT's/HT's are so good in the sand why do dune buggies & motorbikes run sand paddles instead of a slick?

Just to contradict you atari A lot of the guys working in sand quarries don't run mt tyres. Even on the loaders they buff the tread off, it helps with floatation and reduces fuel consumption.

[Chop]

why do dune buggies & motorbikes run sand paddles instead of a slick?

Probably because 90% of buggies are for racing and motorbikes need all the help they can get in the sand.

[gregdixon]

I think floatation isn't a big issue for those vehicles, forward momentum is. That it's what I have noticed with my bike in the sand.

[nato78]

Motor bikes need to run aggressive tyres so that they DO dig into the sand a bit in order to track straight, plus they're not heavy enough to sink into the sand far enough to get stuck anyway.

[atari4x4]

nato78 wrote:

Motor bikes need to run aggressive tyres so that they DO dig into the sand a bit in order to track straight, plus they're not heavy enough to sink into the sand far enough to get stuck anyway.

a zook isn't exactly heavy.

[MrRocky]

Lockie666 wrote:

Independent suspension + lack of height = bottoming out on the sand. I've recovered multiple GV's from the beach. I can tell you in all honestly, they don't go that fucking great in the sand. What would I know though.

my new gv pisses in the sand, the power of the 2.4 and the decent gearing means i can do 120km/phr on the beach while most sierra's struggle to do that on the road. With a lift/underbody protection and tyres they would be unstoppable.
Keep in mind some of the ppl posting have never been out with anyone that knows how to drive in a new gv and are basing there conclusions on newb drivers and first timers.

[nato78]

atari4x4 wrote:

nato78 wrote:

Motor bikes need to run aggressive tyres so that they DO dig into the sand a bit in order to track straight, plus they're not heavy enough to sink into the sand far enough to get stuck anyway.

a zook isn't exactly heavy.

Yeah but I bet you can't pick your zook up

[Scrawny]

MrRocky wrote:

i can do 120km/phr on the beach while most sierra's struggle to do that on the road.

Not real wise doing that speed on the sand.

[joel]

Scrawn wrote:

MrRocky wrote:

i can do 120km/phr on the beach while most sierra's struggle to do that on the road.

Not real wise doing that speed on the sand.

not real wise doing that speed anywhere unless signed....

[MrRocky]

fuck off if your p.o.s. could get up and boogie im sure you would give the gas a tickle at least once on the beach with no one round

[joel]

nah mate, i had a roll over at 70kmh and nearly killed myself, so i dont do that sort of stuff.

[atari4x4]

MrRocky wrote:

fuck off if your p.o.s. could get up and boogie im sure you would give the gas a tickle at least once on the beach with no one round

[Lockie666]

MrRocky wrote:

Lockie666 wrote:

Independent suspension + lack of height = bottoming out on the sand. I've recovered multiple GV's from the beach. I can tell you in all honestly, they don't go that fucking great in the sand. What would I know though.

my new gv pisses in the sand, the power of the 2.4 and the decent gearing means i can do 120km/phr on the beach while most sierra's struggle to do that on the road. With a lift/underbody protection and tyres they would be unstoppable.
Keep in mind some of the ppl posting have never been out with anyone that knows how to drive in a new gv and are basing there conclusions on newb drivers and first timers.

Makes sense, most of the drivers really didn't have any experience. I'm just saying that the lack of (STOCK) height makes the car suffer in a big way.

[MrRocky]

your not wrong the lack of height is the only reason i went for the 2dr

[scott12]

Good cross section of opinions re tyres, sidewall strength seems like it will be my biggest problem, so maybe I won't do stick infested inland tracks on the HT's.

By the way this is an '03 GV, not a new one, and it will be a daily driver for my ball and chain (she's happy to let me mod it - within reason).

Whilst I haven't been 4wd-ing for a few years, I learnt a few things from some very experienced old timers, and have successfully driven through some very bad conditions in my old Landrover, (surprised the hell out of me when I drove around far superior 4wd's that bogged on an uphill soft sand trail in front of me).

I agree, that the driver has as much to do with 4wd-ing as the vehicle.


Re - recovery gear, yes I'll have a snatch kit, high volume compressor (to re-inflate the tyres when back on road) and probably a set of max-trax for self recovery (they double as a shovel - for sand at least) .


I'm quite resolute to the fact that the the standard GV needs more ground clearance, so the suspension lift will be happening in the next few weeks.


Is Dobinson's 40mm lift kit a good choice (other threads are saying OME aren't reliable of late) ?

I don't want to have to wear a kidney belt after the suspension lift, can anyone comment on ride quality (who's actually been in GV's with different lift kits) ?

Can anyone advise the actual difference in length and travel of struts / shocks compared to a standard GV's - for Dobinson, OME and iron man ? (want to keep a good amount of droop so I don't lift wheels so easily).

[scott12]

underside of '03 GV looks like this, thinking a front underbody plate might stop that front cross member digging in.

Depends how deep the sand is I guess....