How would you rate the VX in sand? [Text View]

deermagnet

08/18/2010, 10:13 PM

I was kinda kiddin' there. That's at the Dakar rally in Africa and not a stock VX.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l76/jenee_ellann06/8732_980756154664_2318717_58069470_.jpg

http://images.4wheeloffroad.com/roadtests/p23819_large+2000_Isuzu_Vehicross+Passenger_Side.j pg

http://image.fourwheeler.com/f/9541543/38326_large+2000_Isuzu_Vehicross+driver_rear_side_ view.jpg

This is generally considered one of the best VX photos ever taken. From a Four Wheeler Magazine shoot for their review over ten years ago.
http://image.fourwheeler.com/f/9566013/38377_large+2000_Isuzu_Vehicross+driver_side_jumpi ng_view.jpg

http://image.fourwheeler.com/f/9566016+w750+st0/38378_large+2000_Isuzu_Vehicross+passenger_front_s ide_view.jpg

http://image.fourwheeler.com/f/9566019/38379_large+2000_Isuzu_Vehicross+passenger_front_s ide_view.jpg

Mark

surf-life

08/18/2010, 10:15 PM

OK thats more like it and what I hoped for :)
Thank You Sir

RamAirZ

08/18/2010, 10:27 PM

honestly, it ALL depends on your tires and driving style. I basically have shovels for tires when in sand (my mud terrains) but they aren't meant for sand. Now I can still get through sand but you feel it bog down ALOT with my tires in the real soft stuff. A good all terrain tire would be best or the dune grapplers from Nitto are supposed to be good too

ScottinMA

08/19/2010, 06:26 AM

Here on Cape Cod we are often on the sand. It's not just the tires...it's the pressure of the tires that is most important. When on sand I drop in down to 10 lbs in each tire.

crotchrocket

08/19/2010, 07:28 AM

10 out of 10 !!

Wet Sand

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/hogmore%202/IMGP5044.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/hogmore%202/IMGP5039.jpg

Dry sand :D

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/hogmore%202/DSCF1874.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/hogmore%202/100_5260.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/crotchrocket3000/hogmore%202/100_5232.jpg

MSHardeman

08/19/2010, 08:47 AM

Here's a quick vid of Ldub and Suzie in the sand on Poison Spider Mesa (Moab '09). The sand was SUPER fine and Dub is running Nitto Mud Grapplers which are very chunky and probably acted more like paddle tires.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/Poison_Spider_Mesa_09_03.MPG

There where a few others out there whooping it up in the sand and no one seemed to have a problem with it.

surf-life

08/19/2010, 10:15 AM

Ok so it seems that the VX is for sure the ultimate off road machine.....snow, sand, mud, gravel whatever you throw at it it will make it through. Only thing that it cant do it go over water huh?

tom4bren

08/19/2010, 10:29 AM

Actually, we don't like mud too much. Performance is there but the altenator is mounted low & suseptable to water/mud damage.

RamAirZ

08/19/2010, 10:35 AM

Here on Cape Cod we are often on the sand. It's not just the tires...it's the pressure of the tires that is most important. When on sand I drop in down to 10 lbs in each tire.

X2 forgot to mention that. Have any of you guys driven in the sugar sand of Florida? You walk on it and your feet sink, alot different than that west coast sand lol. The VX is the ultimate offroad machine though and will do just fine in any condition if you prepare for it and drive sensibly. As far as water, why over, just go through it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDNeBbJ5EO4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ivM_tINlU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEq5gzYNHes

vt_maverick

08/19/2010, 10:38 AM

Definitely very good, although as Scott said, lowering tire pressure can be very important depending on the grain and depth of the sand. I've driven on beaches where you didn't even have to put it in 4LO, let alone lower the tire pressure. But I've also been places where the ruts were deep enough to require 10 lbs. per tire and 4LO to dig out and/or turn.

The other tip on running in the sand is to try to keep up momentum to stay on top of it. Slow down too much or stop and you'll sink.

RamAirZ

08/19/2010, 10:38 AM

Actually, we don't like mud too much. Performance is there but the altenator is mounted low & suseptable to water/mud damage.

She may not "like" it but she makes it through it just fine, just keep the alt clean lol

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/RamAirZ/1999%20Isuzu%20Vehicross/100_0129.jpg

Ascinder

08/19/2010, 11:19 AM

A good all terrain tire would be best or the dune grapplers from Nitto are supposed to be good too

The Dune grapplers are great in the sand and very great on road too. They are quiet and give a nice ride. I was running them with 20's(not a lot of sidewall) and a 4.5" lift which made the ride harsh when going over bumps or washboards. It was however fantastic on the road and on soft sand or dirt with some of the best traction I've felt. The 285-55-20's I have look like steam roller wheels.

Luna X

08/19/2010, 01:03 PM

Ok so it seems that the VX is for sure the ultimate off road machine.....snow, sand, mud, gravel whatever you throw at it it will make it through. Only thing that it cant do it go over water huh?

surf,
Did you come out to Tempe and pick up that Ebony? I went to pull up the ad this morning and it's gone...

tom4bren

08/19/2010, 01:05 PM

She may not "like" it but she makes it through it just fine, just keep the alt clean lol

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/RamAirZ/1999%20Isuzu%20Vehicross/100_0129.jpg

You said what I said ... just better ... with fewer words ... I H8 U:)

RamAirZ

08/19/2010, 01:41 PM

You said what I said ... just better ... with fewer words ... I H8 U:)

:laughing:

Triathlete

08/19/2010, 03:10 PM

Since pictures are worth a thousand words....here ya go!

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo150/Triathlete/09moab%20day%204/09Moabday4077.jpg

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo150/Triathlete/09moab%20day%204/09Moabday4078.jpg

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo150/Triathlete/09moab%20day%204/09Moabday4079.jpg

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo150/Triathlete/09moab%20day%204/09Moabday4080.jpg

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo150/Triathlete/09moab%20day%204/09Moabday4081.jpg

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo150/Triathlete/09moab%20day%204/09Moabday4082.jpg

And they do well on petrified sand also...:bwgy:

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo150/Triathlete/09%20Moab%20day%203/09MoabDay3HellsRevenge002.jpg

surf-life

08/19/2010, 04:57 PM

Thank You all for the pictures

Marlin

08/19/2010, 05:17 PM

Since pictures are worth a thousand words....here ya go!

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo150/Triathlete/09moab%20day%204/09Moabday4077.jpg

I was hauling *** when I hit that hill!!!!!

Riff Raff

08/20/2010, 01:51 AM

Here on Cape Cod we are often on the sand. It's not just the tires...it's the pressure of the tires that is most important. When on sand I drop in down to 10 lbs in each tire.

The only downside to lowering tire pressure is the possibility of getting sand granules/dirt caught inbetween the tire bead & rim. This happens very easily when high "torque" (skinny pedal) input is applied as the tire bead will be slightly pulled away from the rim edge allowing sand/dirt to get trapped within the tire bead. This will cause a slow tedeous air leak when the tires are re-inflated as the tire bead can't properly seat against the rim due to the stuck sand granules/dirt. If this happens, the tires must be unmounted and both rim & tire thoroughly cleaned and then re-mounted-- a real P.I.T.A.!!!

Marlin

08/20/2010, 04:51 AM

The only downside to lowering tire pressure is the possibility of getting sand granules/dirt caught inbetween the tire bead & rim. This happens very easily when high "torque" (skinny pedal) input is applied as the tire bead will be slightly pulled away from the rim edge allowing sand/dirt to get trapped within the tire bead. This will cause a slow tedeous air leak when the tires are re-inflated as the tire bead can't properly seat against the rim due to the stuck sand granules/dirt. If this happens, the tires must be unmounted and both rim & tire thoroughly cleaned and then re-mounted-- a real P.I.T.A.!!!

x2, my trip to Moab was on brand new wheels and tires. When I got back, had slow air leaks in 3 of 4 tires? WTF?!!!! Turns out sand had gotten in there, was enough damage to score the seating surface of the tire, and they had leaks forever after. Not bad, had to put air in every month. Those tires went with the truck we traded in:)

WormGod

08/20/2010, 08:12 AM

And for your urban sand crawlers, we like it more relaxing....

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/547/thumbs/41oc05_info.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/2370)

RamAirZ

08/20/2010, 09:39 AM

x2, my trip to Moab was on brand new wheels and tires. When I got back, had slow air leaks in 3 of 4 tires? WTF?!!!! Turns out sand had gotten in there, was enough damage to score the seating surface of the tire, and they had leaks forever after. Not bad, had to put air in every month. Those tires went with the truck we traded in:)

X3, after my trip to Mobile Swamp and running about 10psi all day, I had leaks in my front 2 tires, one of them was from a tree branch getting wedged in between the rim/tire and allowing crap in there and the other I figured was from the sand/dirt/mud.