Boondocking in the sand -- how soft is too soft??

[profdant139]

We are gearing up for a trip to Utah, and several of the boondocking sites we are considering are on BLM land near the national parks.

Looking at Google Earth, I can see that the little access roads sometimes cross over sandy creek beds. Once I've got "boots on the ground," is there a way to determine when the sand is just too deep and soft to cross?

I've got big tires on my truck and also on my trailer, but I don't plan to air down -- none of these sandy patches would be more than 50 feet wide or so. Airing down would be a big hassle, mostly because of the time and effort it would take to re-inflate the tires.

I understand that serious sand towing is one of those skills that requires experience, and often painful experience. But, as part of that skill set, is there a way to tell when the sand is not suitable for towing? Some kind of a rule of thumb?

For example, you stomp your foot and it goes in six inches. Not good. Or it goes in a quarter inch. That's good.

Any and all wisdom will be gratefully accepted! Thanks in advance.

[garyhaupt]

Just a note...if a person has duallies, unless they have spacers, they do not air down. Can't let those tires rub or pick up rocks that will tear the tires to shreds.

And, not every tire set-up allows for spacers...mine, for instance. a 99 E350.


Gary Haupt

[profdant139]

wopachop, I've never felt my axle hop. That does not sound like a fun feeling. I wonder if putting the truck into 4WLO might reduce the hop??

[wopachop]

I'm boondocking in sand right now. Good test is walking. You can feel how soft the sand is by how much effort it takes.

I would put the truck in 2nd gear and be ready to give quite a lot of throttle when you start to feel the resistance of soft sand. It's all about keeping momentum and you need to be very aware of when you start to lose it.

The back axle might start to hop on you. Becomes tricky because you need to let off slightly to stop the hop but you can't let off too much and lose that momentum.

Sometimes you have no choice and have to keep on the gas and just let it hop and shake until you're back on harder ground and can stop and regroup.

Reducing air pressure will help a lot. But its understandable not wanting to. I never do because the sand I'm camping on right now is hard enough that we dont sink. My friends who camp on soft sand drop their trucks and trailers to 10-15psi.

[profdant139]

Lots of great tips -- thanks! Someone asked why I pre-screen possible boondocking sites on Google Earth. The real answer is "because I can!" In the old days, even ten years ago, the quality of the imagery was not sufficient to permit me this luxury.

But now, from the comfort of my own home, I can fly around, looking for good sites and "bookmarking" the waypoints on my phone, using the iHikeGPS app. (It works without cell service!)

Especially now, with so many RV newbies competing for campsites, it makes sense to me to plan ahead as much as I can, rather than just driving around hoping to get lucky and find a good site. Also, if we are planning to arrive in the late afternoon, I'd prefer not to run out of daylight while prowling the back roads in search of a campsite.

Plus, hunting for campsites at home online is way more fun than doing household chores! 😉

[garyhaupt]

Sand driving...know your limitations and stop before you get in over your head. I have taken a 4x4 driving course, thank you US National Parks Service, and the lesson to be learned...get out and go look...don't just drive into something hoping for the best.

I read you are towing a trailer...if you are going to be driving thru a creek bed..a dry river course? Be aware of the angle of approach and exit. Will your trailer tongue get caught going down or the back of the truck get hung up, going up/out.

Best tool is a shovel. More than one. And a proper weight rated tow line for the person that comes to help, but doesn't have one.


Gary Haupt

[cptqueeg]

Call the BLM district office and ask for a recreation officer or range con(servationist) They will be glad to help you out. Just wait till mid-afternoon, they'll be happy to bs on the phone and have an easy way for them to locate the spot.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Just remember the old adage: If it’s starting to get bad, it ain’t going to be any better out there.

[FWC]

These rarely run, and when they do it is apt to be with a storm during the monsoon, if it is a legal numbered road there will almost certainly be tracks - Utah is crazy busy already.

PS I have to admit I never knew anyone planned a dispersed camp site in advance, we always see where we end up and wander down a road.

[time2roll]

Looks easy with hard large granular sand. BLM road looks like an Interstate. Forest? lol

The shadows on the lower side indicate a bit of a shelf but looks like a good ramp to the left of that large bush. That is what I am talking about on following the tracks to lead you to the easiest exit point. If it looks bad walk that part first as you may not want to stop short in the middle. Could be small or could be a 2' lip to get up. Easy in the vehicle alone but a bit more complex with the trailer. Bring a small shovel for if you want to take the edge off.

Looks like some semi deep ruts at the top entrance to the wash but I doubt that will slow you down.

I would take this.

[profdant139]

Here is a better version of the image -- this time, instead of using Google Earth's "save image" utility, I used the new screenshot app on my Mac -- the pin labels are clearer. If you are running Mojave, the shortcut is shift-command-5.

Anyway, here is the picture:


Click For Full-Size Image.

[profdant139]

I will for sure scout on foot before plunging ahead. And FWC, that was a great point about looking at the tire tracks. The problem, of course, is that when I am crossing a stream bed, recent storms will have erased the tracks.

Here is a sample of what I am talking about -- although this stream crossing is more, well, extreme than what I would probably attempt -- this stream looks to be about 80 feet wide.

In this photo, the main BLM road is on the left. The access road drops down at the center. You can then see where the access road continues, on the other side of the stream:


Click For Full-Size Image.

As I said, this particular crossing is too tough for me, but I am thinking about sites that involve easier sandy stream beds.

[2oldman]

time2roll wrote:
All part of the adventure is not really knowing. 😉

Yeah, I gave up most of the 'adventure' part years ago after getting stuck. If I don't know what's ahead I'll scout it by walking or a scooter, not with the train I'm driving.

Nothing quite as exciting as getting to where you cannot turn around.

[time2roll]

Rough forest road? By the description I was seeing a wide sand bar maybe 100 yards of sand to cross in the UT desert to cross a dry wash bed. Or maybe crossing the flatish edge of a sand dune area maybe 1/4 mile in length. By all means go slow-slow when needed.

If this is a bit of a narrow rocky creek bed you will be going slow but I don't see much sand.

All part of the adventure is not really knowing. 😉

[FWC]

If there has been other traffic (which there will have been at this sort of site) then the easiest way to tell how soft the sand is to look at the previous tire tracks. If you can still make out the tread pattern of the tire, then the sand is firm (or at least was when they crossed). If you can see the tread pattern on the road, but in the sand in the tracks is largely flat on the bottom with no tread pattern, then it is getting soft - use your discretion. If the tracks in the sand look like V-shaped valleys, then stay out unless you really know what you are doing.

Can you give us an example of what you are looking at?

[valhalla360]

If it's a relatively smooth entry and exit, keep moving. If you stop, is when you are dead.

On the other hand, check it out ahead as mentioned. Hitting a 12" drop off at 20mph is not a good thing.