Seeking the Truth About AWD in the Sand

bwarfel

New Member
Joined
May 17, 2010
Location
Fayetteville
I've never driven a 4X4 of any kind in my life, but I'm now considering an AWD vehicle such as the Suburu Outback, Highlander, or Honda CR-V. The place I'm most likely to take it is the south end at Fort Fisher. I've been told I'll have no problems with these cars, and I've also been warned that if I go there there's no doubt I'll be pulled out by a wrecker. Could anyone advise me?
Thanks,
Bill
 
Completely depends on the AWD programming in the car.

Wife's Explorer is AWD. Whenever anything goes "weird", it just locks the tcase, effectively putting it in 4hi. That said, I usually just put it in 4lo to keep the transmission happy.

On the other hand, an AWD BMW will absolutely, without question, dig itself to China. Seen many, many of the X5 things sitting on the frame rails 150ft from the pavement.

No firsthand experience with the three you mentioned, though.
 
I pulled an AWD Astrovan or Caravan out of the north end of Carolina Beach or Ft. Fisher....he made it in about 30ft before he sank. The guy couldnt understand why he got stuck...it was 4x4 in his mind. I bet his tires were still pumped up to 35psi. I just yanked him back to pavement.
 
wife has 05 Jeep Grand AWD and it works better in the sand then any 4x4 out there..

I love driving that on beach..
 
97 CRV Stock tires at road pressure... Had no problems with Ft. Fisher, North End and Hatteras.. Does a lot better then my 2500 Suburban.

have driven it several times!
 
Have a friend that used to drive his honda element @ carolina beach all the time, only time he had issues was when he 'slid' to a stop in deep sand. Other than that, air down and have fun.
 
My family used to have a 1990 Aerostar that was AWD, we never had a problem with it going to our beach cottage on the Currituck parts of the OBX.
 
One word of caution. AWD vehicles don't always have a low range transfer case. If that is the case, you have to drive the vehicle around in the sand in high range. That puts a lot of strain on the transmission. Watch the temp gauge carefully and have fun with it. Air down the tires and it will go great.
 
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