Over the next few weeks I'll be explaining to you how to drive and handle different types of terrain in your trusty 4x4...

This week: Sand

To start off with it's advisable to choose a gear that allows the engine to rev slightly high, which allows you a safety margin in the event of deep patches. When you feel a wheel-spin beginning, ease off on the accelerator. If you have the feeling that you're getting stuck, take your foot off the accelerator and ease to a stop. If you can, reverse. If not, get help. It's pointless trying and trying to get out of a sticky situation. You're only going to 'bury' your car more, and make the recovery process alot harder.

You should avoid using the brakes when driving in sand. When you brake, little mounds of sand form in front of the tires, and the chances of burying increase when you try to pull off to and get over these mounds.
Try parking your vehicle facing downwards. This will make pulling off easier.

Sand driving is easier in the early morning due to the effect morning condensation hason the sand particles.

Beach driving is very similar to general sand driving and it is alot of fun. Deflate your tyres to as low as 1,2bar. Engage four-wheel drive and keep low speeds. Reducing tyre pressure increases the tyre’s footprint, reducing the pressure that the tyre exerts on the surface, spreading the vehicle’s weight over a larger surface. Reducing the tyres’ pressure will improve your traction, but remember that it will decrease your ground clearance and can expose the tyres’ sidewalls to damage in a rocky area.

The safest time to drive on a beach is with an outgoing tide. If you manage to get stuck or break-down, this should give you enough time to get a vehicle unstuck before the next tide comes in. Always drive close to the water’s edge, but avoid splashing into it. The sand is easier to drive on near the edge.

There is a rule when driving up a slope of dune. Never do it at an angle. The lower wheels will sink into the sand and the chances of rolling your vehicle will increase. You should always approach slopes/dunes at right angles.

The most important aspect of dune driving is to maintain momentum. Choose the correct gear before you start climbing, as changing gears while climbing will affect your momentum enough to bring you to a halt. Try to keep the power constant on the slope, as this is the best way to maintain your momentum. You’ll also need to deflate your tyres when driving up a dune. If the rear end starts sliding down, turn downhill and nudge the accelerator.

Never go flying over the top. There may be people, other vehicles or even a vertical drop on the other side. The idea is to stop on the tip of the dune slightly nose-down, even if it means perching the vehicle on its belly. To do this you’ll need to start decelerating slightly as you near the top.

If you manage to do this successfully, get out and inspect the other side of the dune, making sure it is safe. Then start digging at the crest on which your vehicle is resting. Once you have done this, engage low-range first, keep your feet off the pedals, and start the descent in the lowest gear possible.

There will, however, be times when you will bcome stuck. The first thing you should do is stop turning the steering wheel, take your feet off the accelerator and brake. Take some time to work out why you’re stuck. Dig away any sand in front of the wheels and place items such as car mats, branches etc under the wheels that will give you traction Another tip you should try is to rock the car from side to side. This allows the sand to fall into the holes made by the wheels, slowly lifting the car out.