HACKED BY CYBER-ATTACK - ALPERENBTN

[Dr.]

My dad has this same truck and didn't think the 4x4 was working so the dealer said the auto lock in 4 wheel drive locks when slipage is detected. Anyway if we are in alot of loose sand we will lock the hubs manually.

[repofish]

let more air out of your tires. I have a F250 4dr 4x4 powerstroke with ranchhand front and rear replacement bumpers=====HEAVY TRUCK. I air down the tires and pretty much drive the beach without problem. Slow down when there is the hopping action. If you get stuck then drop into 4 low to get through it. Drive cautiously in 4high through the deep stuff and stop imediately if you are feeling as if you are gonna get stuck and drop into 4low. This should get you out of your situation without much of a problem. I've driven the lenght of PINS in all sorts of driving conditions and have yet to be stuck. You can most of the time drive the beach in 2wd with low tire pressure and steady speed but on occasion you'll need to jump to 4high and then the even rarer occasion you'll need 4low. I am driving one of those trucks you see going down the beach with everything but the kitchen sink in it and do it with ease most of the time.

[spoonfish]

Everyone, thanks for your comments!!!! One more question...what air pressure do you run at? I have E range tires with a street pressure of 50. Should I drop to 28-30lbs to get more traction?? I really want to get past big shell and see what is on the other side!!!!!!

[repofish]

i would go down to at least 25. Just my suggestion. Send me a PM when you go and i might be going also. you are welcome to follow me down.

[BigDaddy]

I think you need more floatation from your tires (Wider Tires) and Better shocks.

When I first built the BigDaddy Surf Truck (82 Chevy LWB 4x4 350 bored 40 over 700R4 tranny), it had 30's and stock shocks. I experienced the shudder thang all the time in the High Banks. Then, I switched to 33's a lift (aftermarket front leaf springs & rear blocks) and better shocks, the ride changed completely.

I remember clearly the first time in the High Banks area heading south, I gave the right away to 2- Ford F250's heading north and I was so nervous about getting stuck (I was alone). I pulled over to let them pass and made it out with little to no wheel spin. Only 1 made it. It was the short bed, the long bed high centered and stuck himself to the frame trying to get to the road. The long bed truck had stock tires (real tall and narrow). I tried to help, but my truck just was not heavy enough to help pull that beast.

Floatation is the key to riding on sand. Ask Flakman, His Ford had the super camper on it and he drove that thing all over the beach.
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BigDaddy
aka. Paul S. Perez
01 Trooper 4x4
82 Chev 4x4 "BigDaddy Surftruck"
05 Suzuki 700 KingQuad 4x4 ATV

[snakecan2]

my buddy's ford was like that.. if you have check all the mechanical possiblities and recheck, it is just a ford.. and good luck..

but chevy do run better down there except the heavy 3500...

as for me, i have absolutely no problem at all with my chevy 1500... i mean i have never ever been stuck in my 2 wheel drive..
yeah right.
i usually go down there by my self with a shovel, bucket for watering sand down, air pump and a guardian angel.. i just make sure if i go, i have excorts.. else no matter how well your truck handles, something can happen.. that is what fishing buddies are for to laugh at us when we mess up and give us a hand when we do get a little stuck or in trouble

[rutro]

Spoonfish, did we ever find out if you had it in 4 wheel drive? I say this because I've been there done that. Not in the Ford but in the Dodge, 4x4 3/4 ton w/heavy duty suspension. That diesel motor puts so much more weight on the front that the limited slip rear end will start "chattering" as the sand starts getting softer. When one wheel starts to break loose power shifts to the other side and as this goes back and fourth you get the chatter. It also leaves the tracks behind you like a washboard. I hate when I hit those in the Jeep...... but back to the subject. I've done that more than once because I forgot to lock the front wheels in. Even though you've shifted the transfer case to 4-high you have to lock those front wheels in.......... did you? If you did is it locking in? Only sure way to see is to punch it and have some one watch and confirm that the front wheels were digging in too. We used to ease one up against a big tree then give it gas and see if all four were digging in but that's not an option anymore with air bags. So if you're doing everything right and still getting that cahttering make sure everything is as it should be. Just a though........ see ya on the sand!!!

[Big John]

Rutro,

I always wondered what made those tracks too. Whne I hit those in the Durango, its a teeth shaking ride. Some of them are so bad, I just pull of the road, and ride along side it in the soft stuff, only using the road to avoid debris.

Never had to use 4 wheel low yet. Put it in low once, and found out I didn't need it.

Have cruised right on past Chevy's, Fords, Nissan, and Toyotas stuck with no problem. Just keep on cruising. The Durango has really surpirsed me at what it will take on. Have been so deep in sand and shells, that I have literally washed 40 lbs of sand out from under my truck, and once about two 5 gallon buckets full of shells from Big Shell. That was a very noisy ride from the beach to the car wash!

Drove around a F-250 with a huge lift stuck right at the 4wd sign spinning all 4 wheels in really soft stuff, up to his frame on the high road. Thats when I actually put it LOW for one time. Looked behind me and my tracks were less than 8" deep, so I could stayed in HIGH. Floated right over the soft stuff like a pro! After that, I have never even given low a thought anymore.
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Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, he'll be broke and hungry the rest of his life!

John Sullivan
Native Corpus Christian
Currently Displaced in San Antonio

[spoonfish]

Rutro, I have automatic hubs, not by choice! I had my wife watch as I punched it and she said that it looked like they were engaged. I think I will pay the $ and get manuals, then I will know for sure. I think that I also do not have enough weight in the back. How much do you put in the back?? I had problems with the first set of hubs when I bought the truck and they replaced them. I think it is time to go to Warens!! i have spent a lot of time pulling other people out in cars but I do not want to impact anyones time like that if I can learn to hit the deep sand better!!!

[puretexn]

I have a '95 f350 and hit PINS often and never had a problem getting stuck. When I see the soft sand coming I put a little more in the pedal to keep the momentum. My only problem is my tranny (E4od) getting a little warm. My experience in the long bed crew cab is that the less weight in the back, the more "chatter" from slippage which in turns make the back wheels hop.

I'd try airing down the tires, 50#'s is mighty rigid. I don't air down, but I only run 25#'s max on the street. (my tires are a little larger than stock).

Try different things like posted above and see what works for you.

Cheers
PT

[rutro]

Spoonfish I think puretexn has a good idea about trying some different things. I never experanced any of the wheel hop in the Dodge excpt when in 2-wheel drive. I never ran that much air either, unless I had a load on it. What is the max presure on those E serries? I would definatly try airing down, that is a free and easy mod and if it works it's more better than spending the bucks for something. It will also ride a lot better. Back when I first started 4-wheeling a lot of folks would always go into an area in 2-wheel and wouldn't ever go into 4-wheel until it tried to stick. Then they put it in 4-wheel and backed out a little and then went through in 4-wheel. When out of the soft stuff they went back to 2-wheel. New process transfer cases and electronic shifting has changed a lot of the thinking on that and with full time 4-wheel drive systems like Jeep and some others use now make things easier. The problem is a lot of people think "I've got 4-wheel drive, I can't get stuck" ............. famous last words!!!! I'll take some Warens any day. Wish I still had that Dodge Diesel Too.......

[spoonfish]

Rutro, I have a manual tranny. Me E range tires have a 90# max rating. I carry a camper hunting. I run 50# lb in the front for even street wear and 40# in the rear. I will put the Warens on and lower my air to 28# while on the beach and put more weight in the back behind the rear tire wells. Thanks for your help as with all the other commenters. I also liked the recommendation to carry a bucket for watering down the sand if you get stuck. Great idea!!

[The Irishman]

Super crew 4x4 lariat F-150 smooth sailing right past the chevy's stuck in the sand all the way down to South Padre. HA HA J/J
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"Fish On"!