Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Valve stem remover
- Air pressure gauge
Step1
Make sure the vehicle has enough ground clearance to make it possible to drive on sand. A vehicle that rides close to the ground will never make it on sand. If an average-sized adult human body can roll up under the vehicle, it's usually safe to say it can drive on sand.
Step2
Let at least half of the air out of your tires in order to drive on sand. Low tire pressure is a must because fully inflated tires put too much pressure into the sand and cause the vehicle to dig in. It's a good idea to have a valve stem remover and an air pressure gauge in your vehicle so you'll be prepared to let air out. Also, take along extra valve stems in case you lose one when letting air out. That way you'll be able to properly re-inflate your tires when you are back on paved roads.
Step3
Keep your momentum going at all times when you drive on sand. Don't stop. Try not to rev up the engine too much, but keep moving forward. Make wide turns, not sharp. If you turn too sharp, the front tires will push sand into mounds and you'll get stuck.
Step4
Allow the vehicle to drift to a stop if it becomes necessary. Only stop if you absolutely have to and don't use the brakes. Braking can result in being stuck in the sand.
Step5
Try to back out of the sand if you do get stuck, providing your tires are not completely buried in the sand.
Step6
Aim your vehicle straight up a slope. Don't try to drive along the side of a hill or your tires can lose traction and cause you to roll over. Drive straight up, but don't drive over the top of the slope/hill unless you can see what's on the other side.
