Driving in sand

[Suzi]

Good afternoon
My husband and I have had our California Coast for a year but have not yet driven in deep sand.
Everything else we did. We are considering going to the Central Kalahari in Botswana and we
don't know how it will cope with the very deep sand.
Should we reconsider?
Also - for extra fuel - how best to transport it.
Regards
Suzanne de Villiers

 

[tobyprivett]

I have driven motorbikes in sand and typically put the the tyre pressure really low. Not sure how my California Coast would cope. But, I'd have thought there are plenty of hard-packed routes through the kalahari and, unless it rains, probably fairly do-able.
If you have a bike rack, you could put jerry cans on the back - or wedge them inside, wherever there is space.
Sounds like an amazing trip. And you'll only know when you get there how do-able it is. Have a great adventure!

 

[bvddobb]

In sand, bring the tyre pressure down some 50%, we have gone down to about 2 bar. Make sure you have sturdy enough tyres that can cope with it. And bring sand boards: you may still get stuck!

And when rolling in loose sand: don’t stop! We have had the mrs ask to stop for a better photo: no way!

 

[SanderR72]

There is sand and there is sand. Many differences. Very loose sand (like on a beach) I wouldn’t try with your Cali. Even a full blown 4x4 (like a Toyota Landcruiser) can get stuck in that.

As said by others, bring down your tyre pressure as much as you can without them rolling of the rim. Bring a compressor, so you can inflate them after. Bring sandboards too, put them outside your car so you can easily reach them (and they get very dirty). If you don’t have 4motion, two of them are enough (only front wheels have traction), otherwise four. Also bring a shovel so you can dig out your Cali and put the sandboards under the wheels.

Last but not least, practice practice practice before you go, so you know what to do when you get stuck. Keep momentum when driving, don’t steer at great angles.

Getting your car out can take hours if you are really stuck, so make sure you have enough water and food with you.

Another option is to bring a kinectic towing rope but then you probably need to fit decent recovery points in the front too. That’s expensive.

Whatever you do, don’t panic when stuck and good luck.

Ps. I used to drive a Toyota Landcruiser and have all the gear mentioned. When I got stuck in mud (even with my all-terrain tyres), I was glad there was someone to help tow me out.

 

[Kev56]

There is sand and there is sand. Many differences. Very loose sand (like on a beach) I wouldn’t try with your Cali. Even a full blown 4x4 (like a Toyota Landcruiser) can get stuck in that.

As said by others, bring down your tyre pressure as much as you can without them rolling of the rim. Bring a compressor, so you can inflate them after. Bring sandboards too, put them outside your car so you can easily reach them (and they get very dirty). If you don’t have 4motion, two of them are enough (only front wheels have traction), otherwise four. Also bring a shovel so you can dig out your Cali and put the sandboards under the wheels.

Last but not least, practice practice practice before you go, so you know what to do when you get stuck. Keep momentum when driving, don’t steer at great angles.

Getting your car out can take hours if you are really stuck, so make sure you have enough water and food with you.

Another option is to bring a kinectic towing rope but then you probably need to fit decent recovery points in the front too. That’s expensive.

Whatever you do, don’t panic when stuck and good luck.

Ps. I used to drive a Toyota Landcruiser and have all the gear mentioned. When I got stuck in mud (even with my all-terrain tyres), I was glad there was someone to help tow me out.

All the above 100%. I've worked in Namibia, South and North Africa, Sahara. Think you know it all, you don't. Do not go anywhere without letting someone know your plans. prepare for the worse.
Carry enough supplies for more than your anticipated journey. For me communication was paramount.
This is all dependant on your intended journey. be safe.

 

[AndrewCook680]

I used to have a landcruiser and spent a couple weeks in Morocco and driving on many sandy pistes and dunes. We dropped tyre pressure down to around 18psi and used our maxtrax to help recover some stuck vehicles.
If you get stuck, and digging, make sure you rest in shade and drink lots water, I was carefull and still got ill with heatstroke

 

[Velma's Dad]

Tyres are obviously key. You want something with a blocky tread and reinforced sidewalls so you can run them at low pressures without rolling them off the rim and/or damaging them. I love the Michelin Latitude Cross, although haven't used them on a Cali and if you're in SA doubtless there are lots of good 4x4 tyre options.

Re fuel carriage, do you actually need much even for Botswana? Standard Cali has 70 litres I think (ours has the 80 litre option). If you do need extra, unless you have physical issues that would limit your ability to lift there's no substitute for proper Nato-standard 20 litre steel jerricans. And a couple of ratchet straps to secure them in the van.

 

[Hawthorn37]

My son often drives through mixed terrain in Africa for his job - sand, mud, rocks, brush etc. His key advice is to drive in convoy and carry tow ropes. So find a friend to share the adventure?

 

[mrkjd]

I have driven extensively in deserts. The Cali will be useless proper off-road in sand and poor on typical rutted or jebel type tracks. I assume you would be sticking to tracks and gypsum roads. Soft sand (fesh fesh) often encroaches and it only takes a few meters to get stuck. Tyres with strong sidewalls to take low pressures help, as does minimum use of brakes / technique (you’ ll bog down to the axles if you brake to a halt quickly as you would on a hard surface).

The best advice is as Hawthorn37 says - travel in convoy with long kinetic tow straps. Recovery by the other vehicle will likely take minutes and you’ll owe your mate a beer whilst alone it could take hours to dig out and risk heatstroke or worse. Sounds like it would be a great adventure with a bit of planning - good luck!

 

[Defender90]

Good afternoon
My husband and I have had our California Coast for a year but have not yet driven in deep sand.
Everything else we did. We are considering going to the Central Kalahari in Botswana and we
don't know how it will cope with the very deep sand.
Should we reconsider?
Also - for extra fuel - how best to transport it.
Regards
Suzanne de Villiers

You need to change your tyres to 235/65/17 bf Goodrich this will allow you to deflate which will give a bigger footprint.bfg have strong side walls designed for this situation also get some maxtracks