Ocotillo Wells - Steep Dune Climbing Tips

[dtcarlso]

Simple question. I was fully aired and just messing around in Ocotillo this weekend. I was kind of a wuss and didn't try to climb up blow sand after watching my friend fail at it (4wd drive Ford). In any case, what are your tips for climbing steep dunes?

I was thinking of doing the following:
4Lo, with diff lock on
Shift into manual mode and leave it in second gear.
12 or lower PSI in the tires

Second method would be 4 hi and just mashing the gas at the bottom. It is rocky at the bottom though.

The hill is odd since I have seen the most random vehicles make it up, while others fail miserably.

Has anyone climbed this dune in their 5th gen? What are your tips? Would you recommend switching Atrac on to prevent wheel spin? I did get slightly stuck climbing some dunes because of wheel spin (I easily got out).

 

[4Running Daily]

The people who fail miserably most likely have incorrect tires or tire pressure.

4Lo with diff locked, aired down to 10-12 psi and you should be fine. You have to do something pretty stupid to pop a bead.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I wouldn't drop below 20 unless your using beadlocks. Weight vs contact patch area is the next issue. I had a supercharged K1500 with winch and bumpers, and a heavily packed tool box. Even aired down, couldn't make it up half the dunes that my buddy could in his NA taco. My setup was just too heavy.

 

[jrandom]

In any case, what are your tips for climbing steep dunes?

Sand is totally brutal on your drivetrain, all of it. (some types of sand more than others of course)

Avoid, only drive on it when it is wet enough to support the weight, only if absolutely necessary, go around if possible.

 

[JB.]

Simple question. I was fully aired and just messing around in Ocotillo this weekend. I was kind of a wuss and didn't try to climb up blow sand after watching my friend fail at it (4wd drive Ford). In any case, what are your tips for climbing steep dunes?

Never been to Octillo but here's what I liked at Pismo in a 4th gen. I've only been there the one time and wasn't with anyone to compare results with, though.

1st gear hi
10 psi -- de-beading shouldn't be a concern going straight
center locked

Probably a good idea to go to low range for just driving around to keep the trans fluid cooler, but I preferred 1st hi on the steep hills for the quicker acceleration with no shifting.

Btw, you can trash a stock skid plate with too much speed into the hill. If you go again and want to be more aggressive, take a few escalating runs at the hill to gauge the right approach speed.