I recenty returned from a trip to Carolina Beach, NC. I took my mostly stock 1998 XJ out on the beach for the first time and it was a blast. I was talking with a friend of mine at work that following Monday and he began to tell me that his mechanic buddy told him that driving on the sand in 4HI was a sure way to kill a tranny. I tried to Google the topic and find some answers but I can't seem to find anthing. So what do you all think? Is 4LO the way to go?
As far as the tranny is concerned, there is no difference between 4hi or 4lo. In a Jeep TC, sand is the kind of surface 4hi and 4lo are designed for. I would go with 4hi in sand, as it will have less of a tendency to dig the tires in. I'm sure your buddies advise is valid for some other wanna-bee brand of 4x4.
By far the biggest issue for the auto trans is temperature. Driving in sand can drive up transmission temperatures. If you have little tires and are always digging/spinning to get moving that can drive up heat. More load = more heat. Driven with some degree of moderation and a transmission cooler should pose no problems for the AW-4. I tow a 3,000 lbs boat with my XJ to the lake in 80-100 degree temps and with the A/C on. I worry about my trans with the boat far more than when in the sand. At least in sand I am not always on the throttle and the trans gets a chance to cool. In addition, it is much cooler at the sand I go to. Bottom line I don't worry about it. FYI: I use a Ford Explorer Auto Trans cooler from the JY. I use 4 HI.
Just make sure you AIR DOWN your tires to 10-12Psi & you will not have any problems. I have been driving on the Soft Sand beaches here on Long Island for 40+ years & never had to use Low range.
If you are worried about your tranny install a fluid cooler, I did after lugging up some steep hills at highway speed while fully loaded in Upstate NY.
This may be true. But bogging in sand is usually caused too high tire air pressure and too heavy a right foot. Tendency of excess weight of the right foot is why I recommend against using 4LO on sand. In sand you don't want to bag yourself. In sand momentum needs to be generated to move, not power.
I've driven up to 60mph in 4Lo with various vehicles. But sand/gravel etc gives the tires the slippage that the 231 t-case needs so it wont bind up. A 242 can be put in FT4wd and there are no issues on any type of terrain. 4WD was basically made to get you where 2WD normally wouldnt go.
iratefla
