Possible to climb over HUGE sand dunes ?

'72 Bullet · 23rd June 2010, 13:18

I found this picture on the internet. It is literally the mother of all dunes. Do you think there's any vehicle which can clamber over that?

Descending should be fine although a little hair-raising, but what kind of power would you require to climb?

prateek99 · 23rd June 2010, 13:26

Climbing this

??? May not be possible.

Sand doesn't offer enough friction. Even with loads of power, wheels will keep rotating without going forward.

Spitfire · 23rd June 2010, 13:47

Almost:

YouTube - Crazy sand dune hill climbing race truck roll over crash-nice save

Or get the craz icelanders in their hill climbers. Should be a piece of cake for them.

jacs · 23rd June 2010, 13:57

OMG! Descending itself seems to be challenging in those angles especially through the loose dunes.

The Wolf · 23rd June 2010, 13:57

@Bullet:

Stock offroaders might not be able to ascend this one...but nitro/methanol/alcohol powered 3L 2JZ's/22R's might find this a piece of cake

'72 Bullet · 23rd June 2010, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wolf

@Bullet:

Stock offroaders might not be able to ascend this one...but nitro/methanol/alcohol powered 3L 2JZ's/22R's might find this a piece of cake

Piece of cake? I have my doubts about that.

Even the Icelandic 'Formula Offroaders' may run out of breath by the time they reach the top.

The Wolf · 23rd June 2010, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by '72 Bullet

Piece of cake? I have my doubts about that.

Even the Icelandic 'Formula Offroaders' may run out of breath by the time they reach the top.

Check this out...

YouTube - ‫?????‬&lrm;

The Arabs have the know-how of taming their dunes

s3va · 23rd June 2010, 14:52

in the Spitfires' vid, thats called presence of mind ! Awesome

DHABHAR.BEHRAM · 23rd June 2010, 15:19

Dear all - I remember to have come down a huge sand dune the height of a 4 storied building during a Great Escape in 2002 in Mandawa in Rajasthan. It was quite a task coming down in low range. Going up the thingy? At least I have not attempted.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

The Wolf · 23rd June 2010, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Dear all - I remember to have come down a huge sand dune the height of a 4 storied building during a Great Escape in 2002 in Mandawa in Rajasthan. It was quite a task coming down in low range. Going up the thingy? At least I have not attempted.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Behram Sir, your jeeps are way too under powered to take it up the other way around

The only hope is the biggest buzz word in town- "Thar", when are we trying this one at Mandawa??

MexXxentric · 23rd June 2010, 21:25

remember seeing a video in which a nissan patrol(swb) climbing up even steeper slope.

Its possible if the right machine is on the right hands.

TaureanBull · 23rd June 2010, 22:07

Nothing is impossible. But we have to see if it is really feasible.IMHO the gradient here is about 60-70 degrees. The best of the tanks which have tracks may be able to climb it. In addition to gradient another factor is the height of the dune. It may be possible to cross a sand dune from knuckle end of this gradient if height is very less.

As far as sliding down is considered, if the vehicle is in speed its likely to topple down. It happened to me once when, while negotiating the dunes I came across a sudden downfall in the height and the vehicle was in a decent speed. I dont know how we survived that fall.

Guna · 23rd June 2010, 23:33

Anybody who has taken desert safaris in Dubai would be somewhat familiar with such things. In order to climb anything (even with partially deflated tires and 4X4) you need momentum, which can only come when you are descending another larger hill. These drivers know exactly how much they can climb with such momentum and the moment they are about to run out of momentum, they, kind of take a U turn and descend back. There is not enough traction with loose/dry sand to climb against the gravity.

'72 Bullet · 24th June 2010, 16:40

@ wolf and spitfire

p.s. wish i could get the tongue to hang down a few inches. The videos are amazing, those guys are insane.

23rd June 2010, 13:18	#1
'72 Bullet BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Semi-nomadic Posts: 143 Thanked: 11 Times	Possible to climb over HUGE sand dunes ? I found this picture on the internet. It is literally the mother of all dunes. Do you think there's any vehicle which can clamber over that? Descending should be fine although a little hair-raising, but what kind of power would you require to climb? Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 13:26	#2
prateek99 BHPian Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pune Posts: 113 Thanked: 20 Times	Climbing this ??? May not be possible. Sand doesn't offer enough friction. Even with loads of power, wheels will keep rotating without going forward.
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 13:57	#4
jacs Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 1,499 Thanked: 1,047 Times View My Garage	OMG! Descending itself seems to be challenging in those angles especially through the loose dunes.
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 13:57	#5
The Wolf Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,119 Thanked: 75 Times	@Bullet: Stock offroaders might not be able to ascend this one...but nitro/methanol/alcohol powered 3L 2JZ's/22R's might find this a piece of cake
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 14:52	#8
s3va BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dubai Posts: 646 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	in the Spitfires' vid, thats called presence of mind ! Awesome
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 15:19	#9
DHABHAR.BEHRAM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 3,060 Thanked: 5,406 Times	Dear all - I remember to have come down a huge sand dune the height of a 4 storied building during a Great Escape in 2002 in Mandawa in Rajasthan. It was quite a task coming down in low range. Going up the thingy? At least I have not attempted. Best regards, Behram Dhabhar
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 21:25	#11
MexXxentric BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 248 Thanked: 11 Times	remember seeing a video in which a nissan patrol(swb) climbing up even steeper slope. Its possible if the right machine is on the right hands.
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 22:07	#12
TaureanBull Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,071 Thanked: 329 Times View My Garage	Nothing is impossible. But we have to see if it is really feasible.IMHO the gradient here is about 60-70 degrees. The best of the tanks which have tracks may be able to climb it. In addition to gradient another factor is the height of the dune. It may be possible to cross a sand dune from knuckle end of this gradient if height is very less. As far as sliding down is considered, if the vehicle is in speed its likely to topple down. It happened to me once when, while negotiating the dunes I came across a sudden downfall in the height and the vehicle was in a decent speed. I dont know how we survived that fall.
	() Thanks

23rd June 2010, 23:33	#13
Guna Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,182 Thanked: 4,620 Times	Anybody who has taken desert safaris in Dubai would be somewhat familiar with such things. In order to climb anything (even with partially deflated tires and 4X4) you need momentum, which can only come when you are descending another larger hill. These drivers know exactly how much they can climb with such momentum and the moment they are about to run out of momentum, they, kind of take a U turn and descend back. There is not enough traction with loose/dry sand to climb against the gravity.
	() Thanks

24th June 2010, 16:40	#14
'72 Bullet BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Semi-nomadic Posts: 143 Thanked: 11 Times	@ wolf and spitfire p.s. wish i could get the tongue to hang down a few inches. The videos are amazing, those guys are insane.
	() Thanks