Does it need to turn on the diff lock on beach?

[sydneysider Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sydneysider]

Hi all,

Planning to wander on Stockton beach and Simpsons Desert in the future, is it necessary to turn on the diff lock, or just on climb the big dune like the Big Red?

Cheers,

Sydneysider

[fishfinder Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishfinder]

Just the same as when flicking from high to low range if in low range an loosing traction lock the diff/diffs

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

I haven't tried it - all the beaches I've been on were too soft to even consider it.

When unlocked you'll be pretty much relying on one wheel to start your momentum, which is likely to just dig a hole. Whilst if you lock the centre you'll always have at least two wheels spinning to start the momentum, much better odds. Once at speed, maintaining the momentum will be easier so I guess it's feasible at that point, but why? There's no risk of trans wind up on sand, and I doubt it'd make any noticeable difference to fuel economy (on road, removal of a driveshaft = different story).

[Way2go Member Find all posts View Profile Close Way2go]

Does your model have stability control?

If so, you'll need to lock the centre diff to turn the stability control off - a number of people have reported that stability control kicking in on soft sand is a quick way to stop the vehicle in its tracks.

I've always just locked the centre diff when I've gotten onto the sand anyway, both with the current Grande and also with my old 80 series. As Glen said above, it will help with traction and won't cause transmission windup being such a loose surface.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Hi all,

Planning to wander on Stockton beach and Simpsons Desert in the future, is it necessary to turn on the diff lock, or just on climb the big dune like the Big Red?

Cheers,

Sydneysider

Others have answered the question, I would however suggest that if you need to ask a question like this you are a long way short of the experience needed for a Simpson desert journey. Maybe join a club or join in a few PP trips and build your experience level before even thinking about tackling something like the Simmo!

Cheers Andrew

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Others have answered the question, I would however suggest that if you need to ask a question like this you ae a long way short of the experience needed for a Simpson desert journey. Maybe join a club or join in a few PP trips and build your experience level before even thinking about tackling something like the Simmo!

Cheers Andrew

I definitely agree with that. Stockton fine, but forget the Simpson.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Presume your meaning "centre diff lock" ?? not a diff lock eg rear ARB air locker. If I've presumed correctly as soon as I'm about to hit the sand I lock the centre diff lock, even though they are AWD the power will go to a single wheel with the least resistance making it work extremely hard, by locking the centre diff lock it spreads the power out 50/50 front to back. You dont have stability been a 02 VX V6 but you do have traction control. Unfortunately there is only one way to turn this off and that is by pulling the fuse but I wouldnt sujest doing it as it will leave you codes. I had two 90 series prados both auto's one V6 one diesel, the V6 was a grande but early model so I didnt have any form of traction aids but my grande 01 diesel had the lot. I never had an issue with the traction control causing me problems on stockton even on the softest of sand dunes. If any thing one day I reckon it saved me from digging myself in. I went to take off and felt the traction control cut in and had I kept on with the power it would have buried itself, I wacked in low range and gave it a gutfull and it just walked straigh out (bit of trial I think with low and high range) generally Im in high all the time but I think some times depends on vehicle to ?? I always run 16psi as well..........You can do a tag along tour to stockton where this will hep you to get to know the correct procedures for different things and be tought by a proffessional, well worth the money before you tackle some thing like say the Simpson, big big difference........Cheers Steve

[sydneysider Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sydneysider]

thanks. it has got centre lock and VSC.
i did a few times of sand without lock and it worked fine with a bit moving left & right. think lock would help but worrying about if it's really necessary and any damage for long travel with lock in sand.
I'll try to lock next time now that there's no windup.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

You sure its got stability ?? Is it a VX or a grande, VX didnt come with stability control but grande did or are you getting mixed up with traction control ?? I may be wrong (wouldnt be the first time lol) but Im very sure your VX doesnt have stability. When you push the button for centre diff lock do you get a light for VSC come up on dash ?? or are you mistaken with the centre diff lock light ?? And traction control (which you will have) will not show up on dash as on or off as you cant control it BUT it will flash if its activated. Anyway if you do have it thats even more of a reason to make sure centre diff lock is locked, if you have VSC it doesnt work real well in sand as it will take the power away from you when you need it most and also puts the brakes on to which ever wheel it needs to, the VSC in the sand is thinking the vehicle is getting out of control and is doing its job just you dont want it doing it on sand, causes more work for the auto box as well especially if you dont have it locked into a certain gear to stop it hunting from gear to gear. There should be no reason for throwing the wheel left to right when just cruising along on sand this can also heat up the power steering in some cases. You wont get wind up on sand with diff lock engaged dont worry about that. Fill her up with fuel, Drop your tyres to roughly 16/18psi (you may need lower depending on conditions), lock centre diff lock, hit the gas and have fun, presume you know the basics but never ever try and turn if you get stuck on a dune, if you dont make it or feel your not going to make it, stop hit reverse and go back down the same track you did going up, Trying to turn mid way will more then likely see you on your side and worst case roll a few times possibly hurting/killing some one. Make sure you take recovery gear (dont see it on your list) snatch strap, shovel, and rated recovery hook/s and dont use the towball for recovery, you can remove the tongue of the towbar and put the strap in and use the pin to hold in place. People have been killed using the towball for snatching..........Cheers Steve

[sydneysider Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sydneysider]

thanks Steve.
It has both TRC(Active Traction Control) and VSC(Vehicle Stability Control). it appears VSC needs to be turned off(ie get centre locked) on sand.
yep, i got some recovery gears and usually use 15PSI and D/3 transmission within low range at Stockton.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Cheers Mate, next time I head up that way will give you a yell and let you know, see if you want to come along for the day. I havnt had the 120 up there yet so will be its first time. My other 2 90 series prados had been there quit a few times and found the petrol certainly had it over the diesel in the sand. Im hoping the 120 should do it fairly well been V6 ?? We'll wait and see. Cheers Steve

[fishfinder Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishfinder]

Just the same as when flicking from high to low range if in low range an loosing traction lock the diff/diffs

woops failed to think you were asking about centre diff

[sydneysider Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sydneysider]

sure Steve!

[sydneysider Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sydneysider]

woops failed to think you were asking about centre diff

no worries! any comment is warmly welcome :-)

[sydneysider Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sydneysider]

had a play at Stockton beach last weekend with different setting and here's the result as follows:
-Central diff lock: locking didn't help but digging deeply. So suggest not to enable diff lock.
-Low range: tried to engage low range at the beginning and it worked not bad, but later it couldn't maintain the speed around RPM2000, had to go back to high range(normal driving mode) with D transmission and it worked fine to end.

not sure if any others have different experience from mine above.