Air Down Pressure For Henalopen???

Quote from Flav

Well I went to Henalopen today with my group of buds and family. I aired down to 30 from 45 and I got stuck. My buddy pulled me free and I aired down to 25. I limped to the site we fished at and I aired down to 15. Seemed way better, but she still struggled on the way out. I am wondering if it's the 4 Cly. or is it my air down tech.? I didn't have to air down at Broad Kill Beach...

What size tires do you have.

AT 45 psi the ride must be horrible.

The sand varies from location to location and when we have a dry spell it can get pretty soft.

Quote from Flav

I am running 32's with 50 psi and I don't mind the ride. I used 1st gear in high. The wheels felt like they were locked as if something was binding.

You should drop down to like 30-32. Your tires will last a lot longer.

I've run out on Assateague in the winter time when the sand is packed without airing down in 2 wheel drive. I've also aired my 32x12.5's down as low as 8 lbs when the sand was soft and dry and/or the Jeep was loaded down.It's just a judgement call, you're safest to air down to 12-15 lbs then if the Jeep isn't straining to run in 4-hi next time you encounter those same conditions you know what to do. There could be times you're aired down and in 4-lo and the Jeep's still straining.

Quote from Flav

well I couldn't get her to do anything in low gear except die out.

Then you have other problems. Low gear should give you more torque and you should need less throttle to make it move

I use 4-Lo and 2nd gear to start out, sometimes upshifting to 3rd once I get moving.

i go 4-low in 1st, then 2nd. sometimes i go into 2nd OD. i keep the 31" tires at around 30psi

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Quote from MiniTubbedNova

Its about right tirepressure, the right driver, and the rig. I have all three.

I run 33's and always run at 28 and never have a problem.

We've several of you guys in the Durangos have to dig themselves out. LOL

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Jeeps are light, they float much better, but 45 30.. will make no difference.. You need to get to at least 20 lbs. to flatten the tire enough to see the real benefits of airing down. The whole idea is that your tire becomes a mini tank tread. The more aggressive the tread, and the stillfer the side walls the more air down you need. With my suburban, I do great at 20. I'd go lower but I'm usually to much in a rush to get out there and fish Try 10lbs as an extreme, you will be amazed at the difference.

Quote from Erock

regardless of tire type and pressure (which does make a huge difference), when the sand is really soft, it just takes power to push through it. the 4cyl doesnt have alot. picking a good a/t (bfg at is great on the beach) and airing down to 10lbs for when its really soft can make a night and day difference, but you are just going from terrible to ok when you are starting with a 4 cyl

When I had my 4cyl YJ w/31s, I used to run in 4 Lo and it did fine. 4Hi had no real power for that.

All I can say is there is definitely something abnormal if you can't enjoy the beach with a CJ on 32's. I would certainly not accept this situation as typical if I were you...