This weekend I went with a club to Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Michigan.  I took our Montero Sport.  There is a large sand dune called 'Test Hill' that everyone tries to go up.  Many vehicles don't make it on the first try.  It took me 5 tries with the Montero.  The trick is getting up enough speed that you don't bog down at the top.  I finally made it up by putting in in second (automatic trans) so that it didn't go to third at the top and make me loose momentum.  I was wondering how the Tracker would have done there.  It is much lighter than the Montero but doesn't have nearly as much engine power.  How would an automatic Tracker do on this type of hill with just 235 BFG ATs?



I grabbed the pic off google images.  Funny that there is a Tracker in it starting it ascent.

I as going to ask, how did the Tracker in the picture do? 

With the 5 speed I've been pretty happy with my Tracker in the dunes, but you need to be in low range to climb the bigger hills.  Still runs a bit low on power if I don't keep the speed up.

I hit dunes like that in the Sidekick, with the turbo at full boost
and in 2nd gear, stock low range, would blast up that like a champ.

Horsepower and wheel speed is the name of the game in the sand

Wild

So what motor, suspension, and gears would be best to make real duner out of a Tracker 2dr 4x4-----Here's the hard part----And be able to drive it to and back from the dunes, (on the street) with just changing of the tires to paddles.

Would the 1.8 VW diesel turbo be plenty enough???

Happy

My old lwb and swb auto 2.0 Kicks on 29 A/T's would walk up that fine. I've seen 1.6 autos do the same but with a bit more effort.

A diesel in the dunes, hmmm don't know that the engine would be
able to do the high speed and RPM needed, but I haven't run a small
diesel in the sand

I live at Silver Lake and have used my Tracker on the dunes for over ten years ,3lbs of air in the tires and it will go anywhere.  I put a locker in it last year and can do most hills in two wheel drive.  TShaw

I live at Silver Lake and have used my Tracker on the dunes for over ten years ,3lbs of air in the tires and it will go anywhere.  I put a locker in it last year and can do most hills in two wheel drive.  TShaw

Do you by chance have a 4 door?  I met a guy with a 4 door and another guy with a total beater 2 door (had a plate welded on the back for a tailgate) at the local gas station on the circle in town.

1995 2dr light blue I live behind the Chassis Shop right outside the parking lot  TShaw

I live at Silver Lake and have used my Tracker on the dunes for over ten years ,3lbs of air in the tires and it will go anywhere.  I put a locker in it last year and can do most hills in two wheel drive.  TShaw

What is your Tracker-----Is it completely stock etc----In my post I was actually referring to duning, (bowls, razors, hill climbs, and keeping up with the quads etc), not just slowly poking up a hill.

Happy