Off Road Driving (Beach)

[Transporter]

Maybe this is just my ignorance speaking, but could some please explain to me why you would want to drive your Tiguan or any vehicle for that matter, through salt water? I cringe every time I see people drive their expensive motor vehicles through salt water on the beach. Talk about signing a death certificate for the car. Don't people know that salt and cars don't mix or am I just showing may age here and people just don't care. I for one had to work hard to earn the money to be able to buy my Tiguan. You will not find my Tigga anywhere near a beach let alone in the salty sea water.

The salt and grit is/was used during winter months in EU countries to ease slippery conditions on the roads. Car still lasted 10-12 years or longer, if you looked after it and did the rust proofing when the car was 3-5 years old and re-done it every 2 years.

So taking the car to the beach is not that bad I took our Forester to the beach many times no sign of rust on it. I always used hi pressure water to clean under the wheels.

[Transporter]

I guess it's horses for courses - there are many of us who ouldn't buy a 4x4 without at least dreaming of taking it on the beach or into the bush. And make no mistake, you have all bought a 4x4. These modern names "SUV", "soft-roader", AWD" are just for marketing. My 1983 subaru proudly displayed the "4WD" badge on the bonnet and went anywhere I wanted to go on Fraser Island etc.
So, if you want to take your Tig on Stockton Beach, use the Birubi Point entry and exit, let the tyres down to about 15 PSI BEFORE leaving the gravel bit and going on the sand, take the corners fairly gently, consider using the tiptronic and holding the gears so you are running between 2000 and 3000 RPM all the time.

Yeah, that's the spirit. Why else one would buy the car that doesn't need the roads?

[Sanman]

I always think of those photos of those poor goofs whose shiny new car is bogged up to the axles in sand with the tide coming in.

[Moonan]

I always think of those photos of those poor goofs whose shiny new car is bogged up to the axles in sand with the tide coming in.

Don't worry, I once pulled a 60 series Landcruiser off a log on Fraser Island (sideways) using a Suzuki Stockman, you know, a 1978 800cc jobbie. We were cruising in the subaru and the suzuki and decided the zuke was probably a better tractor with its VERY low range when confronted with the situation. The Tojo had been through a tide-in, tide-out, water up to the dash, and we eventually got it going! It was 2 weeks old, had less than 1000km on the clock, and the "victims" had tried to drive across a tidal estuary in it! We used to carry a gallon tin of WD40 and a pump spray in those days and started it by taking out all the fuses, putting the ignition one back in, and drenching everything with the WD stuff. The air cleaner was full of water but none had gone into the carby. Those things used to draw air from the top of the air cleaner.

There are plenty of photos of those poor goofs you refer to, and often they have done something to contribute to their problem. Mostly the trick is to learn your vehicle and drive to the conditions.
I'm taking the Q5 out for its first outing with ClubTouareg next weekend, and I'm sure that I'll learn a bit about what you can (and can't) do with it then. For all of its apparently "limited" off-road capability, a Tiguan shouldn't be too far behind the Q5 if driven with the right way. Track & Field approach and departure angles would go a long way!

[jimby]

we took our Multivan 4motion to Stockton beach today with a friend from Medowie who owns a mitsubishi triton 4wd. we went in at 18psi all round and the ESP switched off and we didnt get stuck once. we entered at the north end and drove down to the shipwreck and out at the exit just north of the wreck. we did some dune bashing just near the tin city and the van didn't get stuck once. it was very busy and we were the only vw on the beach at the time. i think the conditions were about as much as you'd like to push the haldex system as the system relies upon the wet clutch to transmit torque to the rear and it can overheat after a time and switch off. when we stopped near the shipwreck and jumped out the sand was very deep and soft, there was a subaru outback stuck and a landcruiser helping him out. the speed limit on stockton beach is 40kmh which meant we were sitting around 3000rpm in second or 2000 rpm in third but when the sand got deep and rutted the van didnt have enough torque in third so it was back into second to rev through.
I'd recommend anyone with 4motion that they spend some time on the beach as it really is an eye opener as to the limits of the 4motion system.

[T&M]

As others have said, air down, esp off, keep the momentum up, take a snatch strap with you (limited to where you can attach) and always always always go with another vehicle so they can extract you from anything unforseen.

[barrenjoey owl]

As others have said, air down, esp off, keep the momentum up, take a snatch strap with you (limited to where you can attach) and always always always go with another vehicle so they can extract you from anything unforseen.

Excellent advice!!!!!!

[Arctra]

I took my Tig onto the beach around new year and have to agree that it handles it well. There were 4 fully grown (and rather large) adults in the car, I dropped the pressures to 18psi and off I went. As ever, clearance was the biggest issue. I first drove over soft sand keeping up momentum, then did a standing start from soft sand, and she was fine. In the really soft sand when the engine was working harder the aircon cut out, but that was it really. If I had dropped the peressures further I probably wouldn't have made the engine work as hard. (Oh, had offroad on and esp off. I would be a lot more careful if you don't have offroad)

Only other advice I would give if you're going on the beach is know when the high tide it going to be, take a shovel (can get cheap small fold up ones at camping stores), and take 4 nice sturdy rubber mats to help you get out of trouble in case you do beach yourself.

[jimbomort]

Arctra, great to hear. Yeah clearance was the only real concern we had on Moreton Island.

I've got spacers now from jcubed, will post when all installed, but that will give us an extra 20mm all round. With tyres later i nthe year, hoping to achieve a net increase of at least 40mm all round, which should be enough to be handy and enough to venture back out to Moreton without the Mrs freakin out and to be fair she had a point, while the Tig romped it in, it is supposed to be our family car - not a grader!

[jcubed]

Hi Jimbomort,

Try first with just the spacers, prior to changing the tyres also. And deflate to 12psi.

Don't worry, the tyres wil stay on as long as you don't do "doughnuts".

You may just save yourself some money.