Greg
Getting a little OT, and sure what motor you have, but are you in low range or high range? Correct gear selection is critical before you start the dune, because a successful snap change near the top is vey difficult to achieve - a) one is robbed of momentum and b) the big increase in power will get you bogged down.
As a matter of course I use 1st high or 3rd low for most big dunes. A diesel can't rev high enough for these gears generally
Thanks for the advice - I'm driving a SWB DiD Auto (just added my signature).
I tried low-range at first, but found 2nd gear high-range to work best for most dunes, so that you have sufficient momentum at the start. I'll do some more experimenting with other gears. I've never tried changing gears while going up the dune. I know that the petrols do very well though - I saw a Hilux this weekend (4.0 v6) going up the biggest dune very slowly (very little momentum at the start of the dune) - could not believe it!
I'll try some more experimenting maybe this weekend (different gears and with TC off).
I tried low-range at first, but found 2nd gear high-range to work best for most dunes, so that you have sufficient momentum at the start. I'll do some more experimenting with other gears. I've never tried changing gears while going up the dune. I know that the petrols do very well though - I saw a Hilux this weekend (4.0 v6) going up the biggest dune very slowly (very little momentum at the start of the dune) - could not believe it!
I'll try some more experimenting maybe this weekend (different gears and with TC off).
2008 Pajero DiDc LWB GLS
2005 Pajero DiD SWB GLS (sold)
2005 Pajero DiD SWB GLS (sold)
Zantus claims the Di-D engine (Triton) is the best dune-driver he has owned, so I think it is just experience (to get the correct combinations).
Gerhard Fourie
If you want to shoot somebody, make sure you aim at his head, not your own foot.
Me
If you want to shoot somebody, make sure you aim at his head, not your own foot.
Me
Thanks Gerhard.
I think I loose a lot of speed on the dunes when hitting the bumps caused by other vehicles - not sure if the Triton suspension copes better in these situations? Anyway, I'm sure more practice will help.
I think I loose a lot of speed on the dunes when hitting the bumps caused by other vehicles - not sure if the Triton suspension copes better in these situations? Anyway, I'm sure more practice will help.
2008 Pajero DiDc LWB GLS
2005 Pajero DiD SWB GLS (sold)
2005 Pajero DiD SWB GLS (sold)
I don't think the problem is the TC. By the time the TC starts kicking in on a dune, then your goose is already cooked.
Are you sure you get the best momentum/run-up possible? 4EPajero has it spot on, you need to rev the old oil burner and get the best run at the dune.
I got into a stupid childish contest with some locals at Port Nolloth some three years ago. We ended up going to their secret spot in the dunes, where we put my 2006 LWB DiD (with TC) against the best selling diesel double cab in SA. I went up and over the dune. Eventually the best D/C in SA had the tyres so far down that one of them came off the rim, but still could not get up the dune.
I think what I'm getting at is that the DiD with TC may not be the perfect Pajero for the dunes (I suppose a 3.8V6 with difflock will be the best), but it is still a very good dune rider. The strongpoint is the powerfull engine and quick gear change that allows you to build up a real good head of steam, even in a short run-up. That is where you must win the dune, before you get to it. I crossed the Namib desert in a 2000 DiD LWB (before TC), never had to take a second bite at a single dune and NEVER touched the DL button either. I beached the belly twice on top of a dune by lifting off too soon, but never failed to get to the top 1st time every time.
I hope you get your dunes sorted out.
Roelf
Are you sure you get the best momentum/run-up possible? 4EPajero has it spot on, you need to rev the old oil burner and get the best run at the dune.
I got into a stupid childish contest with some locals at Port Nolloth some three years ago. We ended up going to their secret spot in the dunes, where we put my 2006 LWB DiD (with TC) against the best selling diesel double cab in SA. I went up and over the dune. Eventually the best D/C in SA had the tyres so far down that one of them came off the rim, but still could not get up the dune.
I think what I'm getting at is that the DiD with TC may not be the perfect Pajero for the dunes (I suppose a 3.8V6 with difflock will be the best), but it is still a very good dune rider. The strongpoint is the powerfull engine and quick gear change that allows you to build up a real good head of steam, even in a short run-up. That is where you must win the dune, before you get to it. I crossed the Namib desert in a 2000 DiD LWB (before TC), never had to take a second bite at a single dune and NEVER touched the DL button either. I beached the belly twice on top of a dune by lifting off too soon, but never failed to get to the top 1st time every time.
I hope you get your dunes sorted out.
Roelf
Thanks for the feedback...
I probably just need to practice and try out different techniques
I have done quite a bit of sand driving in Namibia, and a trip to Sandwich Harbour via the dunes and beach. The Pajero did great.
The dunes that I am attempting are the more difficult ones, I think. I do give a good run-up, but sometimes feel like the suspension bottoms out at the base of very steep dunes. I saw today on the way home that the DiD Auto gets to about 40km/h in first at about 4000rpm. Faster than I thought! I have been using 2nd most of the time - maybe first will do better for some of the shorter, steeper dunes. I'm probably not revving enough
I might try organise a trip to Atlantis with someone else with a DiD, to compare notes.
I probably just need to practice and try out different techniques
I have done quite a bit of sand driving in Namibia, and a trip to Sandwich Harbour via the dunes and beach. The Pajero did great.The dunes that I am attempting are the more difficult ones, I think. I do give a good run-up, but sometimes feel like the suspension bottoms out at the base of very steep dunes. I saw today on the way home that the DiD Auto gets to about 40km/h in first at about 4000rpm. Faster than I thought! I have been using 2nd most of the time - maybe first will do better for some of the shorter, steeper dunes. I'm probably not revving enough
I might try organise a trip to Atlantis with someone else with a DiD, to compare notes.
2008 Pajero DiDc LWB GLS
2005 Pajero DiD SWB GLS (sold)
2005 Pajero DiD SWB GLS (sold)
On both trips through the desert, Lüderitz to Walvis Bay and the Conception Tour, I always switched off the TC (and you need to do this whenever you start the engine again), used high range and mainly the 2nd gear in manual mode (mine is an auto as well). We even went up and down the "long drop" between Sandwich Harbour and Walvis as well as drove many slipfaces up on the Conception Tour which goes mainly from east to west, so often against the natural shape of the dunes.
I never used low range in the sand !
I never used low range in the sand !
Thanks MR2-Blue. FYI, it is only possible to disable stability control, not traction control, via the switch near
the gear lever.
the gear lever.
2008 Pajero DiDc LWB GLS
2005 Pajero DiD SWB GLS (sold)
2005 Pajero DiD SWB GLS (sold)
Greg,
I started a short thread in this section called "Centre diff lock question" - scroll down and you will see it. There followed a description by Gerrit Loubsher that was brilliant and worth a read, if you haven't done so already.
Roelf
I started a short thread in this section called "Centre diff lock question" - scroll down and you will see it. There followed a description by Gerrit Loubsher that was brilliant and worth a read, if you haven't done so already.
Roelf
Like Gerhard mentioned, my 3.2DiD Triton is phenomenal in the dunes.
I had a chat with Sarel vd Merwe about the Paj, dune driving and TC. He was convinced that TC makes it struggle in the dunes, and he always disabled the it in the dunes. He simply loosened an ABS sensor and pulled it back a bit to let the system think a sensor is not working.
I've only driven a Paj with TC on a dune once before and I could feel it doesn't go as well as my Triton, but the dune was badly rutted so the TC was kicking in quite a lot.
Another factors is that my clubcab is about 300kg lighter than the SWB Paj.
I had a chat with Sarel vd Merwe about the Paj, dune driving and TC. He was convinced that TC makes it struggle in the dunes, and he always disabled the it in the dunes. He simply loosened an ABS sensor and pulled it back a bit to let the system think a sensor is not working.
I've only driven a Paj with TC on a dune once before and I could feel it doesn't go as well as my Triton, but the dune was badly rutted so the TC was kicking in quite a lot.
Another factors is that my clubcab is about 300kg lighter than the SWB Paj.