4 wheel drive modes at the dunes?

[ZephyrS4]

What are you guys putting your FJ's in when you go out to the dunes? I went to Honeyman last week and spent some time out in the dunes. Stayed close to the beach for the most part.....didn't want to get stuck way out in the middle of the dunes. Anyways, I had the FJ in 4H with the rear diff locked. In reading I don't know how that's possible....seems like you have to be in 4L to lock the diff. I've also found that I can get the rear diff. flashing on the dash even when I'm just sitting parked in 2H. To my knowledge there are no hacks, seeing as how we got it straight from the dealer.

As far as best results, what 4x4 mode would be good to do it all in the dunes....steepish hills included.

[shane4x4]

If the rear diff light is flashing, that means you have the button on - but you're not locked. In 4L with the rear diff button pushed - that light should be steady, which means that you're locked.

I've not run dunes yet, but I think i'll just air down to about 15psi & roll in 4H

[ZephyrS4]

shane4x4 previously said:

If the rear diff light is flashing, that means you have the button on - but you're not locked. In 4L with the rear diff button pushed - that light should be steady, which means that you're locked.

I've not run dunes yet, but I think i'll just air down to about 15psi & roll in 4H

LOL....I was at Honeyman last week and had it in 4H with the rear diff. light blinking, thinking I was locked in. Luckily it worked out fine with just 4H and 12lbs. of air. I didn't try to get up any super steep hills, but it was fine for everything else. Now that I know how to get the diff. locked for real it should be a little more fun and safe out there to try some steeper stuff. Gonna hit up Sand Lake this week.

[Chris W]

I have been out there and used 4h and a lot of skinny pedal and it worked out fine. There are some big hills down there.

[georox]

Air down and dont use the dif lock. 4H as everbody else is saying. Different types of sand call for various driving techniques. For example when going down a steep dune-face and you start to go a little sideways, dont brake or turn the wheel. Give it a little gas and it will straighten out, counter-intuitive but it works!

[ZephyrS4]

mbdevri previously said:

Air down and dont use the dif lock. 4H as everbody else is saying. Different types of sand call for various driving techniques. For example when going down a steep dune-face and you start to go a little sideways, dont brake or turn the wheel. Give it a little gas and it will straighten out, counter-intuitive but it works!

Sand Lake was pretty fun. We went down there last night and tooled around before watching the sun set. 4H was perfect. It was pretty quiet out there so we had some time to mess around and try a few different attempts at getting up steep dunes from a stand still. No matter what we did, it was pointless it seemed. 4H didn't get us up them and neither did 4L. We had 4 dogs in the back, so some extra weight was definitley there. The only way we made it up the steeps was by getting a good run at them and keeping our speed up in 4H. It's alot harder in 4L though. Not very good at getting a quick start in 4L. The stand still starts were fun, but I think with more air out of the tires and less weight in the rig would help a ton. I left my air guage at home so I only got to about 20lbs. on the tires before heading out....didn't want to let too much out trying to guage it by feel.

Over all the FJ does well out there if you have smooth transitions up the steep hills. Otherwise the woops that develop before the incline prevent us from getting any real head of steam to power up the dune.....this rig doesn't like the woops at anything more than a few mph....bucking bronco comes to mind.

We live in Portland, so it was nice to explore a fun place alot closer than Honeyman. If you haven't been out to Sand Lake yet, you should go. More than enough easy terrain out there even if you don't air down your tires.....though it is alot smoother with less air as well as more traction. From the parking lot it's not even a minute out to the beach.

[BOBTAILFJ]

Sounds like fun, I will have to give a try.