hardtail_pride Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 So i am going to be taking a trip to moab ut area to do some running in the sand dunes with the family. Im debating taking the Loyale. Is it even worth the bother of driving it down there or will i be stuck all day? It only has the single range 4wd and open differential. And stock 175 70 13's. Any input? Thanks Oh and i do have tire chains. Not sure if those would help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superu Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 (edited) So i am going to be taking a trip to moab ut area to do some running in the sand dunes with the family. Im debating taking the Loyale. Is it even worth the bother of driving it down there or will i be stuck all day? It only has the single range 4wd and open differential. And stock 175 70 13's. Any input? Thanks Oh and i do have tire chains. Not sure if those would help I could (try to) help pull you out! Which dunes you talking about? Shoot, you may know more about these parts than me, I've been here (moab) a little over a year and a half. Drop me a PM for when you're coming down. I'll probly be around Edited October 3, 2009 by superu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyewdall Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I've never done much sand driving, but a friend of mine had an '88 GL wagon he said was gutless in the sand. And it had the dual range. I have done alot of snow driving, and sometimes you get the snow that acts alot like sand -- dense, granular, and no structure, kind of like a big pile of sugar. My GL did okay in that, but lack of low range could be bad if you stop... then you just have to slowly churn your way through. But... if you've got someone to pull you out, why not. Remember to air down the tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I was just in that area with a my 89 GL. 4EAT automatic. it did OK. but I have 205/70/15 tires. With 175/70/13 you will need to stay light, and stay out of the deeper sand. But you should have the power if she's running well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superu Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 (edited) I was just in that area with a my 89 GL. 4EAT automatic. it did OK. but I have 205/70/15 tires. With 175/70/13 you will need to stay light, and stay out of the deeper sand. But you should have the power if she's running well. Gloyale, I swear you're stalking my posts today You mean you were in Mobe and didn't give me a haller? Jeez! Edited October 5, 2009 by superu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperchargedRS Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I'm not a dune guy, but I did live in the desert for a while. My thoughts would be that a dual range isnt going to help that much, the big factor is going to be getting a big enough footprint / tread to not sink and to keep your speed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardtail_pride Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 Sorry for the long awaited reply. I will be hitting up the white wash sand dune area. The motor is running pretty good, but i am on the skinny 13" so i am kinda worried now. Any one had experience with my same set up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iluvdrt Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I had an 87 GL10 with the single range 5 spd and 13" tires. On the beach (I know, but it still sand), as long as your moving you are fine. As soon as you stop, you cannot get rolling again in the powder sand. The engine doesnt have enough power, and the tires dont float enough. The D/R swap helped a lot, but it still wasnt a cruiser with the skinny 13" tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 make sure all your boots are good. sand destroys axle joints extremely fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardtail_pride Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 on that note gross gary, what can you do to keep the boots good? Mine are all good, and maybe one has slight cracking though, is there something you can spray on them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mechanical_misfit Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 my `87 gl 3 door would do anything i needed it to here in Michigan at the Silver Lake ORV Park. The only problem I had was on "Test Hill" which is the biggest hill out there, and just as many full size pickups couldn't make that hill. I was running the same size tire than you and had no problems. It's just all about tire pressure. I Run 5lbs front and 4lbs in the rear, as long as you don't turn super sharp or drive like an idiot, you won't blow them off the bead. my friend's impreza does even better than my GL. this is a massive sand dune, and on this day, the top was almost vertical for the last 25 feet or so... I've even taken a `91 Lincoln town car to the same dune area, and it actually did better than the GL, its all about tire pressure... also note my friends lifted impreza sedan in the back ground shots... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardtail_pride Posted October 5, 2009 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 That gives me a little hope. Were you in the low range though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallaby Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 ^ +1 about tire pressure if you get stuck - let 'em down more just enough to hold them on the rims low range shouldn't matter its about being in the power band but not spinning wheels - dig in soobs don't have much power anyway so you won't have to worry about that enjoy!!! sand is the most fun you can have - very hard to do body damage:banana: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mechanical_misfit Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 i only use low range for major hill climbing, otherwise, it never even needed to leave 2wd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwilson87 Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 So when are you going? I'm wondering if the brat has the gumption to make it to moab... Me and the wife want to get out there for some biking. Maybe we could find some people and get a lil subaru group out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phizinza Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) If you drive easy with 5 to 10 psi in the tires then it would probably do alright. Biggest issue I think you will have is over heating. EA82's hate sand as it gives them extended hard work. I've only driven on beaches and sand dunes next to beaches so I dunno if they differ to inland dunes. But I've driven on some soft beaches even my EJ22 5sp Brat with 27x8.5R14 at 10psi had trouble with. Just gotta know when to stop I guess. Those videos: looks like that sands pretty hard vs what I'm used too. Edited October 8, 2009 by Phizinza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardtail_pride Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 So when are you going? I'm wondering if the brat has the gumption to make it to moab... Me and the wife want to get out there for some biking. Maybe we could find some people and get a lil Subaru group out there. Me and the Fam are going down next Wednesday. They are all big jeeping nuts so Thursday we are doing jeeping off roading, then Thursday sand dunes around white wash or sand hollow area. Then Saturday me and my brother are going to either ride dirt jumps, or some slick rock on our dirt jumping bikes. I'm crossing my fingers the Loyale makes it down. I just finished replacing just about everything you can to make it reliable short of timing belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwilson87 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Mmm... Dirt jumping and riding in moab... If I only had the money. Hopefully everything works well and the sub gets some moab action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardtail_pride Posted October 9, 2009 Author Share Posted October 9, 2009 Alright its on. Im comitted to driving down and seeing how it does in the sand. Look for an update next sunday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superu Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Me and the Fam are going down next Wednesday. They are all big jeeping nuts so Thursday we are doing jeeping off roading, then Thursday sand dunes around white wash or sand hollow area. Then Saturday me and my brother are going to either ride dirt jumps, or some slick rock on our dirt jumping bikes. I'm crossing my fingers the Loyale makes it down. I just finished replacing just about everything you can to make it reliable short of timing belt. I'd love to join you on mt bikes if that were an option, but I'll be up in the mountains stalking spikes this week. It'd've been cool to meet another USMBer. Have fun though!! I'll look forward to your Moab report later on.. -mw- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 ...waiting (impatiently) for trip report Personally I'd pass on Subies in sand esp. with no low range. Sand is just hard on everything. I've had my Subie on sand--back when it was a hatchback. It did ok but it's not a sand rail. Sand eats power! ...waiting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardtail_pride Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share Posted October 18, 2009 Ok just barely got back, and tired! I will get all the photos from the trip from the family tomorrow and report back. Good news! It made it under its own power there and back with no problems! I love my Subaru. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardtail_pride Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share Posted October 18, 2009 Ok here are some pics for now. I need to collect more. I didn't wheel it too hard for fear of breaking parts, but still got it stuck in sketchy places. I think it would of been a lot more fun with the DR tranny, or the EJ swap so i could power through sections but still worth the trip! Oh some commentary on the pics- First- I was dubbed the "chase vehicle" So i was packed with the gas, porta potie bucket (never used) blankets, pick nick food, and my camping gear. I actually slept in the back 2 nights. Not too bad. Second, this is in the white wash sand dunes. Kind of a horseshoe bend area. Third, i was feeling confident about my speed, but yes i am buried to the axles and floorboards on this one. The picture doesn't do it justice, it seemed to be on the point of rolling. Fourth, another pic of the horseshoe area. Jeep pictured is an 80 cj-5 rebuilt by me and my dad years ago. FI 258 6cyl, and converted to T5 5 speed. Oh and my super random sister doing dumb poses. Fifth, just back at camp. Loading up for the day. It was overall a great trip! I surpirsed many by what the subaru can do stock and even surpirsed myself because there were no issues mechanically at all. Just a squeaky door. hope this helps anyone looking to do some sand dune fun in thier subaru. It made a world of difference airing down the tires also. I ran about 18 psi in the front, and 13 in the rears. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now