Skillz or the rig...

[TopRunner]

I am having troble getting up over this hill.

Thats me running up it to check it out before my first atempt. I had no idea what the top was like and I didn't have a buddy to help me out if I got into any trouble.

Here's a pic from the top

and a few more

The tera firma is sand and clay (thats why it has that redish color). My only mods are OME 2" springs and Bill's HD's. Michlen ltx 275/75/16. I used every option my 96 lmt has to offer and can get right to the top but then I lose momentum and then lose traction and I have to back it down the hill.

Now I am blaming my tires, What do you guys think?

Here's a pic I missed

 

[TopRunner]

looking at that last pic, you can see the sand has filled in the groves between my blocks, turning my tires into slicks.

I still think I NEED some Wrangler MT/R's

 

[Cybercannon]

I'm not the most experienced off roading, so hopefully someone who is will chime in.

In the meantime... did you try airing down the tires. I seem to remember another thread talking about dropping the psi to 15 or 12. This article is linked to a lot: http://www.4x4now.com/sfjun96.htm

Your tread is definately packed in with sand also. From a lot of other threads I've read All Terrains aren't much better in the mud than street tires because the tread fills in like those pictures. I bet knobby mudders would make it.

 

[Thai]

TIRES. You need to air them down...to at least 18 psi. More aggressive tire would help, but also increase your chance to digging down if you lose momentum. Get a lot of momentum.

BTW, Wrangler MT/Rs are good on rocks due to their super duper construction...however, their tread design does clog up with mud quite easily. It does not self-clean very well, unlike other mud tires.

Do you have a rear locker on your 4runner?? If not, then get one...it will help in these situations.

 

[TopRunner]

My model has the "RR diff lock" button.

I started with 4H. Then turned on the ECT Power, then 4low and finally 4low w/ rr diff lock. On my last run I got the closest.

Its hard to maintain momentum because the top has lots of digs and bumps, so it tosses your rig around and at the same time your trying not to smash into the walls.

Should I air down all my tires or should I start with just the rears?

I carry an air pump with me for that reason, I've just never tryed it and was't sure how much air to drop.

Whats the lowest I could go with out haveing the tire completely deflate and come off the rim?

As for the GY Wranglers, I have read reviews and lots of people complained about the treads not self cleaning. However, I prefer trail riding and rock climbing with the occasional romp through the mud pit. Besides I think they are the Badest looking tires out there!

 

[Thai]

Should I air down all my tires or should I start with just the rears?

I carry an air pump with me for that reason, I've just never tryed it and was't sure how much air to drop.

Whats the lowest I could go with out haveing the tire completely deflate and come off the rim?

As for the GY Wranglers, I have read reviews and lots of people complained about the treads not self cleaning. However, I prefer trail riding and rock climbing with the occasional romp through the mud pit. Besides I think they are the Badest looking tires out there!

Air down ALL YOUR TIRES.

As for air pump, do you have one of those $20 pumps that you can buy at Walmart?? If so, then go to PEP BOYS and get yourself a true air pump (for cheap) for around $60. It connects to your battery terminals and airs up your tires MUCH faster than those $20 pumps.

For those tires (LTX M/S), i would air down to around 18 psi without any problems.

As for tires, have you checked out BFG M/T-2?? They are even badder looking than MT-R!!

 

[tacundra]

air down to at least 18, probably less.

Momentum! it is all about the momentum in that sandy hill climb.

As you are getting to the top and have lost most of your speed, turn the wheel back and forth as you are going.


** Where is this area?? Is it large or a small place? I am in Panama City and hard to find places to ride anymore.

 

[fourwd1]

1. Air down closer to 12 lbs. You want as wide a footprint as possible. You want to float on the sand.

2. Use low range, and lock your diff.

3. In low range, use whatever gear that gives you enough momentum, but without spinning your tires. Nothing wrong with upshifting once you get going.

 

[TopRunner]

** Where is this area?? Is it large or a small place? I am in Panama City and hard to find places to ride anymore. [/B]

Dude, go to this site CLICK HERE

You need to register and its not very 4x4 oriented but go to the Meet's forum. I have a tread in there for the next trip out to that clay pit.

As for air pump, do you have one of those $20 pumps that you can buy at Walmart?? If so, then go to PEP BOYS and get yourself a true air pump (for cheap) for around $60. It connects to your battery terminals and airs up your tires MUCH faster than those $20 pumps.

Are you psychic? If you didn't tell me that I would have been out there for an hour filling my tires back up. Look at me, Pro.. haha

I'll have to check out those BFG's

OK, so next weekend I'll bleed down the tires and see how it goes.

Thanks guys

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Try it in reverse:lmao: :lmao: I couldn't resist. Thai and a few others may get it...





















Really, don't do that. Just kidding. I used to 4wheel in a similar looking place but bigger and posted this: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=314632#post314632
:cheers:

 

[Thai]

Try it in reverse:lmao: :lmao: I couldn't resist. Thai and a few others may get it...

Smartass!!

 

[Thai]

Are you psychic? If you didn't tell me that I would have been out there for an hour filling my tires back up. Look at me, Pro.. haha

Here is what you can buy at Pep Boys: Master Flow model Tsunami MF-1050. It should be around $60. Trust me, this is a freaking bargain! It works just as good as my brother's "professional" air compressor for 1/4th the price! It connects straight to your battery terminals...so, run your engine while running the unit.

 

[TopRunner]

Try it in reverse:lmao: :lmao: I couldn't resist. Thai and a few others may get it...





















Really, don't do that. Just kidding. I used to 4wheel in a similar looking place but bigger and posted this: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=314632#post314632
:cheers:

Nice. I am pretty surprised the amount of suport he got.

No pep boys areound here but they have it on Amazon $56.99 free ship

 

[fourwd1]

The Master Flow-1050 is also sold as the Super Flow MV-50, and Costco has it for $49.

I got mine a few years back when Pep Boys had them on sale for $39.

 

[Good Times]

1. Air down closer to 12 lbs. You want as wide a footprint as possible. You want to float on the sand.

2. Use low range, and lock your diff.

3. In low range, use whatever gear that gives you enough momentum, but without spinning your tires. Nothing wrong with upshifting once you get going.

Ditto

 

[Ulfr]

I'd actually say, air down until you make it, but that's just a hint from a crazy Icelander... lol
Sand is quite similar to "salty snow" which is probably one of the harder circumstances in snow drivin'.
I usually air down to 0,5-1,5psi on my 38s and 44s. But when I had the 32s on I rarely went lower than 4psi.
Just be careful when drivin' at that low psi that the tires are not very "stuck" on the wheel, might cause the wheel to spin inside the tire, or make the bead fall inside of the wheel.

Also don't go much over 15mph on that low air, 15-20psi should be okay up to 40mph as long as it's not very hot outside. The sides of the tires will heat up when drivin' at that low air pressure.

But also, there is a good rule of thumb, release the air and wait until the tire does not "widen" more. i.e. is turning flat. Air it abit up and that should be the pressure you need for the worst cases on these tires. (The softer the tires are, lower air pressure they can handle)

My few cents!

 

[Thai]

I would probably NOT air down to 4 psi with those highway tires that he has on.

My opinion.

 

[Ulfr]

I would probably NOT air down to 4 psi with those highway tires that he has on.

My opinion.

Well, the tougher the tires are, it's more likely that they'll overheat. But one should always pay attention wether the tires are gettin' too warm or not.

Some tires are quite risky to BLOW UP if they have gotten too hot too many times.
My ol' mudders could take alot of abusement, once drove for three hours in 3psi at 50mph. Never had a single problem with 'em. Some of the tougher tires (like IROK and BFGs, Boggers and SuperSwamper, Pirelli and more...) can't handle that much heatin'

6-8psi should be enough for these tires that TopRunner has on, Michelin don't have that very thick sides IIRC.

And of course, it's okay to air down as low as you want, as long as you air it up again after you've passed that little obsticle, or are movin' at very slow speed. I'm yet not sayin' that every tires should be aired that low in EVERY bad circumstances. Just in a sandy hill like that, it's quite okay.

 

[TopRunner]

I just ordered my Master flow pump and I am taking down that hill on Saturday:cannon:

:rocker: :driving: :xnuts:

(just found the extra smilies)

 

[Ulfr]

I just ordered my Master flow pump and I am taking down that hill on Saturday:cannon:

:rocker: :driving: :xnuts:

(just found the extra smilies)

Nice. Be sure to be cautious when airin' down. Just small steps. 20psi first, if you don't make it with 'em, try 15, then lower abit until you make it. (don't go any lower than 5psi!)

P.S.
I'm not sure if this goes for all electronic air pumps or if it's just the few I've used.
When pumpin' air I usually raise the idle up to 1500rpms or even 1800rpms, 1500 seems to work well, and it goes abit faster as well as the battery's life is extended abit. Because the Alternator isn't chargin' fully at idle.