How to drive on sand: Offroad driving techniques

Whether it’s beach or desert, sand driving requires a set of skills that, once mastered, will open up some of the most enjoyable and scenic drives that Australia has to offer.

Some four-wheel drivers bemoan the perils of a sandy track, but while it’s true that sand driving can be tedious at times, nothing beats cruising down a beach to an idyllic seaside campsite.

So, step one, lower tyre pressure; step two, load up a shovel and some traction boards; step three, have fun.

The setup

If you’re new to sand driving, then you will get bogged — it’s a fact of life. The best defence against getting bogged in sand is low tyre pressure. By dropping down to around 20psi, the load of your vehicle is spread over a far greater surface area, which greatly reduces your chances of sinking in.

You may need to re-inflate and deflate tyres on varied tracks, so a compressor and deflator are two of the sand driver’s favourite things; a shovel and traction boards are the other go-to tools to get you rolling again.

Unlike on other offroad surfaces, torque is not the mightiest weapon when driving on sand. Constant forward motion is what you’re after, so that you can float along the surface and avoid sinking in. There are few scenarios in which you’ll require low range on sand and in any case it’s wise to avoid stopping your vehicle; if the sand takes hold it can be tricky to get going again.

If your vehicle has a suitable pre-set then select it (i.e., sand mode), otherwise you’ll do well to disengage stability control and traction control. A little bit of wheel spin can be useful on sand, but pay close attention to excessive wheel spin, which will quickly dig your tyres in; aggressive mud-driving tread patterns will dig tyres in even faster.

Beaches

Driving on smooth, hard, compacted beach sand is an absolute pleasure, but you’ll need to keep a lookout for protruding rocks and creek runouts.

Areas that show evidence of water flow will often consist of soft boggy sand, even if they don’t appear to be flowing at that exact moment. These areas can be unpleasant to hit at high speeds, so back it off to a steady pace when you see those tell-tale signs.

Tides are another factor that can turn a sandy sojourn into a seaside horror. It’s annoying for the tide to come up and cut off your intended path, but it’s a whole other matter if you get bogged and the ocean quickly creeps up to your door handles. Driving close to the water’s edge is favourable, since the surface is harder, but if the tide’s coming in it’s a dangerous place to get bogged — if there’s one thing your vehicle doesn’t enjoy, it’s saltwater. Check out local conditions and familiarise yourself with the speed and behaviours of the tide, to be on the safe side. Having all your recovery gear handy (such as recovery boards) and knowing what to do with it will also aid in a speedy escape.

Beaches where driving is permitted also have a speed limit. These are generally displayed at the entrance or along the beach and must be obeyed. Generally, they’re in the vicinity of 60–80km/h.

Sand dunes

This can be a bit of a Goldilocks exercise. The trick to driving up and over a sand dune is to approach with enough speed that you’ll make it to the top, but not so much as to launch off the apex. The correct speed will depend on the depth and softness of the sand, the weight of the vehicle, the height and gradient of the dune and several other factors. Drive in a straight line up and down, as driving sideways on a dune can easily result in slippage. Avoid changing gear on the way up and try not to rev too high.

When driving in deserts or other undulating sandy landscapes, vehicles must be fitted with sand flags that protrude high above the roofline to allow oncoming drivers to see one another well in advance of the moment where they simultaneously crest a steep dune. Radio calls are also advised for particularly big sand slopes.

Fuel and engines

Low tyre pressures, high revs and increased rolling resistance all result in dramatic increases in fuel consumption and heightened stress on your engine. Assume the worst when it comes to fuel economy; always start with a full tank and don’t try to cross long stretches of unknown sand with little to no fuel in reserve.

Sandy conditions also require engines and automatic transmissions to work harder than they normally would. As a result, your engine will run hotter. This is normal, but keep an eye on the temperature and take a break if it’s climbing into the red. Before heading onto sand, it’s worth ensuring all fluids have been topped up.

Other vehicles

When travelling with other vehicles, keep a good distance between each one, so that in the event the leader hits a soft patch and gets stuck, the followers can avoid it and aid in recovery. When possible, follow in existing tyre tracks where the sand will be firmer.

Otherwise, note that regular road rules apply on beaches and dunes where driving is permitted. This includes signalling, overtaking on the right-hand side, keeping to the left of any defined path and so forth.

Top tips

• The aim when sand driving is to float across the surface without digging in; this means low tyre pressures and constant momentum
• Use low gears, gentle acceleration and avoid hard cornering
• You won’t need to brake so much, since the rolling resistance of soft sand will slow you easily
• If there are tyre tracks from vehicles before you, drive in those, as the sand will be compacted and easier to manage
• Always give your vehicle a good hose-down after beach driving to get rid of any saltwater and residual sand, which can be abrasive — paying extra attention to the undercarriage

THE NEXT STEP

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