What is your experience on sand/dunes????

[Can007]

Heading out on a trip to pismo beach soon with the h3 and wanted to ask if anybody here has 4x4 on sand/dunes with the hummer? Not to many videos out there and was wondering what to expect?

 

[Chocflip201]

I've been on them my whole life. In the dead of summer in an H3, expect to get stuck and have a way to get out. (Shovels, snatch straps(NOT TOW STRAPS), another vehicle etc) Low tire pressure (10-15ish psi) will be a night/day difference on traction (increase your surface area). Make sure you have a way to reinflate the tires. If you start going up a dune and you find out you won't make it, immediately stop as soon as you feel your momentum give up, and back down slowly and keeping as straight up and down with the dune as you can. If you start turning your wheels you will get sideways and that's when you roll. I like to keep it in 4hi and put the gear selector in 1. You can go 4lo if you need, but you may find that your trans shifts at inconvenient times

 

[Chocflip201]

I have a bunch of video, but only have a link for this one.

[video=youtube;xNo1eIWCG_Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNo1eIWCG_Y[/video]

 

[cgalpha08]

Basically what chocflip201 said. Low tire pressure and be prepared to be stuck.

I got stuck in a bowl on a dune and 2 h3s strapped up couldn't get me out, it took a snatch strap and a built buggy to do the job (not saying the h3s couldn't but we didn't have a snatch, that kinetic energy is a huge difference)

 

[08H3]

Chocflip201-- Awesome pic, man.

 

[amrg]

As they said. Main thing in sand and sand dunes, keep your momentum all the time. If you dont have 35s, keeping your truck in auto is fine, ull probably spend most of your time in 2nd/1st, with 35s more first. Keep your eye on the temp gauge and if you feel that ur putting too much load on ur trans, shift the truck to a lower gear manually to keep trans temp to a min (less wear on ur transmission)
4 Low is not an option in sand, 99.9% of the time when your stuck not having lockers is the issue more than not having enough torque ( as one wheel would be spinning while the other one isnt). Diasable traction/stabilitrack as they would kick in when doing a steep climb and it will make your truck feel as if ur powering down and eventually ull stop half way.
Also,when you do stop, make sure you stop in a way thay would let you come out easily once you want to drive again (if you have 35s ignore as ive never been stuck)
Last, air down as low as possible. With 1 passenger and some camping stuff, I air down from to 13, rear to 11. If you have an I5, you can drop the front to 11 too (big diff in traction). If you have more people, i guess 1-2 psi more air in your tires for each person as you need to account for the extra weight since ur tires will deflect more. Just fyi, if you air down this much dont do extremely hard turns at speed, you dont want to pop a bead of worse flip your truck.

 

[RamRod]

This is a very timely thread for me! Next week at this time i should be hitting the Florence sand dunes in Oregon

Can't wait!

 

[amrg]

This is a very timely thread for me! Next week at this time i should be hitting the Florence sand dunes in Oregon

Can't wait!

Let us know hw ur S.C. truck does with those 37s on the dunes. Im wondering what should be my next mod, and rancho + 37s is on my list. Not sure about regearing to 4.56 vs saving more money to spend on a S.C. thou

 

[RamRod]

Let us know hw ur S.C. truck does with those 37s on the dunes. Im wondering what should be my next mod, and rancho + 37s is on my list. Not sure about regearing to 4.56 vs saving more money to spend on a S.C. thou

Oh I'll be sure to let you guys know!!!

 

[Can007]

Good information, I have been in dunes all my life but haven't been with the H3. I am concerned I don’t have enough power tohit t he bigger dunes. Will post pics

 

[06 H3]

I personally would use for 4lo in your case. Heres why, your on 37s (or 36s I cant remember) with a 3.5L I5. You also dont have the 4:1 low range you have 2.64:1 because you dont have the adv. package. With 2.64:1 and 36-37s I think the tire size and higher low range will actually work out perfect for you. This motor will get power in the higher RPMs so let it rip. If it were me 8-10 psi and 4lo (only because the bigger tires and no 4:1 make up for it and doesnt keep it super low.) Disable all traction devices and manually shift your way through 1 2 and 3 I doubt you would need 4 and overdrive.

Have fun!

 

[Steve #1]

Last, air down as low as possible. With 1 passenger and some camping stuff, I air down from to 13, rear to 11. If you have an I5, you can drop the front to 11 too (big diff in traction). If you have more people, i guess 1-2 psi more air in your tires for each person as you need to account for the extra weight since ur tires will deflect more. Just fyi, if you air down this much dont do extremely hard turns at speed, you dont want to pop a bead of worse flip your truck.

I belive Can007 has said that He has 16.5" wheels. If this is the case, unless they are bead locked, I would sugest being VERY conservative when aring down if at all. If you air down a 16.5 to a point that it makes aring down worth doing you are putting yourself at serious risk of blowing a bead.

 

[Mb30sdl]

[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A_neliSuRgU[/video] starts ~2/3 min in.

 

[USMC_TOP]

I use to drop my 38 boggers down to 7 psi on silver lake in michigan with 16.5 rims, had to have 16.5's to clear calipers on a Dana 60. I would pop a bead on the trails from time to time but never on the dunes. I had my 3.5 H3 on the dunes this summer and it did well.

 

[amrg]

Same here, never on the dunes. The sand is too loose to grip on the tires enough to let it pop, but offcourse thats with proper driving habits. I tried doing donuts with 32s and 35s, no matter how hard I push and turn, no problems. The wheel didnt even slip around inside the tire. But I wouldnt do that on a regular basis.

 

[Neo]

it's been covered but Low tire pressure and high lock. keep your momentum up, pismo can be pretty crowded so get a flag too...

 

[Pappibri]

Yup. I run mine at around 12 and have never gotten buried out at Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Just use momentum as your friend. I stay in high lock, if you have 35"s or bigger 4 lo is okay. If you start bogging down and digging in, stop and back up.

 

[beadyeye]

This has been some good reading as I'm going out tomorrow to fish along the texas coastline. I've recently seen quite a few vehicles stuck IN THE WATER around the area where I'm going. I think tides and people not knowing what they're doing is the main problem but it still kind of scares me. Any advice for a basic stock H3? I don't think I have lockers or any other fancy stuff some of you other guys on here have .

 

[Can007]

I was a little surprised I didnt come across to many videos of H3 in dunes, that's why I was worried that I would be more stuck than dune hoping. Lol

 

[Can007]

Yup. I run mine at around 12 and have never gotten buried out at Silver Lake Sand Dunes. Just use momentum as your friend. I stay in high lock, if you have 35"s or bigger 4 lo is okay. If you start bogging down and digging in, stop and back up.

Too Sweet!!!

 

[Zach]

Been to Ocotillo in the dunes. Aired down to 15 and 4hi lock was awesome. Tried 4low and was not happening, just dug in bad. Last time I went aired down at 30, couldn't make it up. Best thing, reverse and I popped out

 

[Pappibri]

Too Sweet!!!

Yep, the main thing in sand is tire pressure. You can try a higher number and if you are still digging in, let some more out until you find that sweet spot. Mine is usually around 12psi. And yeah, 4 hi is the way to go unless you are just creeping over the smaller hills. Mine never came out of 4 hi. Just watch the heat in the dunes...

 

[Can007]

Yep, the main thing in sand is tire pressure. You can try a higher number and if you are still digging in, let some more out until you find that sweet spot. Mine is usually around 12psi. And yeah, 4 hi is the way to go unless you are just creeping over the smaller hills. Mine never came out of 4 hi. Just watch the heat in the dunes...

Yeah, my h3 runs 3/4 temp all the time. I took it to the dealer and they told me that's the way they run. It has never overheated but running high there is always that possibility. Well I hope my 36 tires will help in regards to surface area but will probably slow me down going up the dunes.