Stuck in Sand was Coach for Sale- TZE

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papa glenn

New member
Apr 12, 2000
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Thanx for the tip on backing out. Is this because backing out would throw
the weight to the front axle? Are the GMC's just back heavy? Could I
compensate with lead weights in front like the hi-lo trucks use? tia
- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2000 12:39 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Stuck in Sand was Coach for Sale- TZE

> Packed sand is not too big a problem if you back out. ALWAYS back out.
Going
> forward will immediatly dig you a hole. Hanson 73-23-gmc
 
Hi Papa Glenn,

Having wasted my youth on many Texas beaches and learned to do donuts
before I could spell it, I can tell you that there is typically loose sand,
moist sand and saturated sand on most Texas beaches. If they'll let you get
to the moist sand (many places have paving to that point) then you'll
probably be OK. Don't try the really loose stuff -- it's really going to be
hard for the GMC to negotiate. If you get in the saturated stuff, do dally,
or you'll be up to your axles before you know it. And thoroughly rinse the
frame and the whole coach with fresh water, even after only being near the
salt water for a few days.

Be sure to have some boards on hand if you need them -- driftwood only
works in the movies unless you get lucky! (Ask me how I know -- not :-) And
yes, backing will give you a little advantage if you need it.

Regards,
Steve

> Thanx for the tip on backing out. Is this because backing out would throw
> the weight to the front axle? Are the GMC's just back heavy? Could I
> compensate with lead weights in front like the hi-lo trucks use? tia
 
OOPS! DON'T dally... sorry about that!

> Hi Papa Glenn,
>
> Having wasted my youth on many Texas beaches and learned to do donuts
> before I could spell it, I can tell you that there is typically loose sand,
> moist sand and saturated sand on most Texas beaches. If they'll let you get
> to the moist sand (many places have paving to that point) then you'll
> probably be OK. Don't try the really loose stuff -- it's really going to be
> hard for the GMC to negotiate. If you get in the saturated stuff, do dally,
> or you'll be up to your axles before you know it. And thoroughly rinse the
> frame and the whole coach with fresh water, even after only being near the
> salt water for a few days.
>
> Be sure to have some boards on hand if you need them -- driftwood only
> works in the movies unless you get lucky! (Ask me how I know -- not :-) And
> yes, backing will give you a little advantage if you need it.
>
> Regards,
> Steve
>

>
> > Thanx for the tip on backing out. Is this because backing out would throw
> > the weight to the front axle? Are the GMC's just back heavy? Could I
> > compensate with lead weights in front like the hi-lo trucks use? tia
 
Thanx for the info. I will still try to park on beach but now I will be more
careful on picking a spot. Maybe I can tote a roll up traction ramp of some
kind. At least I am aware of the hazzards of sand and gmc front wheel drive.
- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2000 7:06 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Stuck in Sand was Coach for Sale- TZE

> Papa Glenn, I have had a few weird experiences with front / four / rear
> wheels drives which have shaped my opinions and one of my 'rule of thumbs'
is
> front wheel drive sucks. I jeep alot and was running around the beach in
> Northern California, Solid near the water and soft in the dry stuff away
from
> the water. Broke a rear axle the first day of a 3 day trip. No big deal-
kept
> going on the front wheels.....until I hit the soft stuff. Dig a hole
> everytime. The weight is over the front wheels on the jeep. Back up....go
> anywhere I wanted. Go forward...dig a hole. I have successfully backed out
of
> many icy, snowy, soft and muddy spots with my GMC and gone up and down
boat
> ramps that would swallow me whole if I was turned around. I can only say
what
> works for me. Trailer ball on the front does add some weight also.
Hanson's
> 73-23-GMC
 
I got my new (3000 miles) RX-7 stuck on South Padre Island a good 4 ft below the
high tide mark on my "I finished grad school, I will have fun before I start my
job" tour. It was stuck with the floor pan resting on the sand. We dug it out
by hand and with pots from our camping gear. The water was up to the exhaust and
was sizzling when we managed to raise the rear on the jack set on drift wood and
drop it at about 4000 rpm on to some dry wood. I ran it for about a mile in
reverse until I got it onto hard packed sand. We were at it for about two
hours, two 4wd pickups drove by, one didnt even wave, the other threw us a can
of Lone Star and kept on driving.

After that, all three of my four cars have 4wd (the TR-6 doesnt...yet)

Ron

> Hi Papa Glenn,
>
> Having wasted my youth on many Texas beaches and learned to do donuts
> before I could spell it, I can tell you that there is typically loose sand,
> moist sand and saturated sand on most Texas beaches. If they'll let you get
> to the moist sand (many places have paving to that point) then you'll
> probably be OK. Don't try the really loose stuff -- it's really going to be
> hard for the GMC to negotiate. If you get in the saturated stuff, do dally,
> or you'll be up to your axles before you know it. And thoroughly rinse the
> frame and the whole coach with fresh water, even after only being near the
> salt water for a few days.
>
> Be sure to have some boards on hand if you need them -- driftwood only
> works in the movies unless you get lucky! (Ask me how I know -- not :-) And
> yes, backing will give you a little advantage if you need it.
>
> Regards,
> Steve
>

>
> > Thanx for the tip on backing out. Is this because backing out would throw
> > the weight to the front axle? Are the GMC's just back heavy? Could I
> > compensate with lead weights in front like the hi-lo trucks use? tia
 
Who makes those oversize 9.50 X 16.5E mud & snow tires?

From:
To:
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2000 2:14 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: Stuck in Sand was Coach for Sale- TZE

>
> > Could I
> > compensate with lead weights in front like the hi-lo trucks use?
>
> Sure. You need about 2 1/2 tons of lead. ;-) Actually, Jim
Anstett
> does this by putting about 6 (4?) golf-car batteries up front of his 23
> footer. That's a lot of lead, and he says it goes real well in snow. On
a
> 26 footer, you'd need so much weight (ie: 2 1/2 tons +/-) that you'd
overload
> front suspension, bearings, etc.
> FWIW, I believe I get a bit better traction in loose stuff with my
> oversize 9.50 X 16.5E mud & snow tires. And of course, just as with a
car,
> deflating your tires to ~10 psi increases flotation and gets you
through/out
> of sand (usually).
>
> HTH.
>
> Rick Staples
> '75 Eleganza
> Louisville, CO
>
 
- -----Original Message-----
From: Doyle Todd [mailto:mary]
Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2000 2:23 AM
To: Gmcmotorhome; Org
Subject: Re: GMC: Stuck in Sand was Coach for Sale- TZE

I am on the Texas gulf coast and tooo use to drive my SOB on the beach
all the time. I wish I could do the same with my GMC. I would go in and
come out at low tide. Never got stuck ever. But I did carry a shovel
and 2x12. I had to use them on occations.

What it the problem? Is it that the rear end sinks and the front tires
spin before it gets free? Does the motor have enough power to pull it
out.

>From what I have read. It sounds like the Front in is just too light and
their is no traction. And there is no real flotation problem

Here is something I have playing with. Tell me what you think. I just
put new alcoa on and have my old rims in tires. What about seting up
the rear with Duals or the Front with Duals when you get to the beach.
Should increase flotation.????

Jack Todd
1977 Transmode
Harlingen, Tx
 
That sounds good, but where are ya gonna carry all these tires???
- ----- Original Message -----
From: mary todd
To: GMCNET
Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2000 4:06 AM
Subject: GMC: FW: Stuck in Sand was Coach for Sale- TZE

>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Doyle Todd [mailto:mary]
> Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2000 2:23 AM
> To: Gmcmotorhome; Org
> Subject: Re: GMC: Stuck in Sand was Coach for Sale- TZE
>
>
> I am on the Texas gulf coast and tooo use to drive my SOB on the beach
> all the time. I wish I could do the same with my GMC. I would go in and
> come out at low tide. Never got stuck ever. But I did carry a shovel
> and 2x12. I had to use them on occations.
>
> What it the problem? Is it that the rear end sinks and the front tires
> spin before it gets free? Does the motor have enough power to pull it
> out.
>
> >From what I have read. It sounds like the Front in is just too light and
> their is no traction. And there is no real flotation problem
>
> Here is something I have playing with. Tell me what you think. I just
> put new alcoa on and have my old rims in tires. What about seting up
> the rear with Duals or the Front with Duals when you get to the beach.
> Should increase flotation.????
>
>
> Jack Todd
> 1977 Transmode
> Harlingen, Tx
 
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