IDI & off road
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Elder User
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From: socal
IDI & off road
So I am in the process of hunting down a new (to me) tow vehicle. I'm not picky but an F350 CC 4x4 will fit the bill nicely. While discussing this at an impromptu meeting of the idiots an idiotic point was brought up. My desert buddy says "you don't want an idi for the sand" we tow about 3 miles up a sandy wash to our camping spot. When I asked why he said "wheel speed, it will bog down in the soft stuff." Then they pointed out an old timer with an NA 6.2 Chevy and he always needed a pull, I mean every time he was with us, and he pulls a small tent trailer. Some years later he added a turbo and re geared to 3.55 and went with a 32x11.50 tire and that was the end of him getting stuck.
How about it? Any truth to this? I've always had 460's and can attest to high RPM's pulling up the wash just kinda wondering if this idiotic theory has any merritt at all.
How about it? Any truth to this? I've always had 460's and can attest to high RPM's pulling up the wash just kinda wondering if this idiotic theory has any merritt at all.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: metairie, LA
what did he have before? if he went to a higher gear, and a taller tire, it would cause the tires to spin fast enough to clean themselves, and the torque of the diesel would make up for the power loss.
Hotshot
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From: Semper Fi tell I die!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: CASA GRANDE AZ
i have one , im in az and get stuck pretty easy with bald tires ( 235-85-16 ) at 60 psi .
when i put on my set of 12 - 16.5 with around 25 psi and these tires are old and almost dry rotted the truck keeps on going !!
sand running has more to do with tires than engines , flotation is what you need on sand !!
when i put on my set of 12 - 16.5 with around 25 psi and these tires are old and almost dry rotted the truck keeps on going !!
sand running has more to do with tires than engines , flotation is what you need on sand !!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Spanish Fork, UT
I've never been stuck. Not once. In a variety of conditions, snow, ice, sand, mud, gravel... It's the tires that make the difference. Knobby tires for mud, sand and loose dirt and street tires for rock climbing.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Elk City, OK
2hp or 2000hp, you will still get stuck with too narrow of a tire. That's why you see these sand tires built to be aired down. So you get more surface. The wider the tire, the less PSI you have on downforce. As stated above, flotation is key. Stay on top of the sand and your fine. Get a 12.50 tire or better yet a 13.50 and your good to go. I've got the same truck you want and never had sand issues with my 13.5's. Only some soft mud problems lol. Like, I dropped a dime and it sunk 6" down I was also 1000lbs heavier then you'll be No seats in the plymouth you called about. Needs fuel pump, interior is thrashed and needs paint.
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From: socal
I am well schooled on the sand issue, never had issue with my gas truck on 35" tires. Ben's old truck was an 86 3/4 ton chevy 6.2 TH400 small lift and 35's 4.56 gears and he would start to bog and just stop not even buried just slow down and start digging. I really think he lowered it and re geared for economy and easy entry and exit, he was pretty old. I think this time around I am not going to lift it as the truck I found is a 1990 and will clear a 33-35 stock and will be more ideal for the long tow to the sand than running a larger tire to gain width. Now if only Mickey Thompson still made those 31X15.50 Baja belted.
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Duluth Georgia
I have an 85 f250 with 285x75x16 and it dose great in mud snow sand and soft soil. They are micky thompson mtzs and i have never gotten stuck. i have had the truck up to the doors and she was still goin. its the tires not the motor.
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Elder User
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From: socal
I think the real issue for me is the 95% towing 5% sand. The truck will excel at towing and will be just fine in the sand. The point of wheel speed even with a 12.50 tire got me thinking. I know my buddy is a knuckle head but he has rare moments of brilliance and I thought this might be one of them. If you cant spin any tire in the sand fast enough to pull forward your done. You either have to float or fly and it's hard to do either with a 7k lb. F350.
Methanoholic
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 6,442
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From: Maine (NorCal Native)
If you spin at all in sand, the wheel speed better be high or you'll sink ...
One of the things I was taught in bottom dumps when dumping on sand is to keep the motor at (or near) redline. Same speed, but lower gear and wound right up tight!
It works, typical for me, I don't like free revving that hard so I didn't, got stuck, next load did as told and never had a problem again. Bottom dumps typically dump rolling at a slow consistent speed to form nice even rows. Thats is hard to do on sand!
-Enjoy
fh : )_~
One of the things I was taught in bottom dumps when dumping on sand is to keep the motor at (or near) redline. Same speed, but lower gear and wound right up tight!
It works, typical for me, I don't like free revving that hard so I didn't, got stuck, next load did as told and never had a problem again. Bottom dumps typically dump rolling at a slow consistent speed to form nice even rows. Thats is hard to do on sand!
-Enjoy
fh : )_~
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Elder User
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From: socal
Bottom dumps huh? I have a truck & pup. Sand is a weird animal, I'm not hitting the dunes in my tow vehicle but the tow up to the sweet camping spot has sections of super soft sand that just sucks you in. Floating over it is fine but with a 7k trailer in tow with pizza cutters on it (the trailer) and you are done. I have found the best all around tire for me is the old style BFG mud, if you can keep forward momentum and RPMS up, like you said being in the right gear, you could just sail through it. My thoughts were that the IDI may not be able to turn the RPM's necessary to do it but after seeing the video above as well as others I think it's fine.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Semper Fi tell I die!
i would have flew down into it but my dalmation was sitting in the back seat, didnt want to toss her around to much