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[FINS]

anyone know how AWD vehicles do in the sand. New girl im seeing has a 2013 nissan rogue that is AWD and was curious if anyone has one or any AWD for matter how it does in the soft stuff, it has a "Lock AWD" button Which i assume should help as i can lock it before hitting any soft stuff. any info would be appreciated

[magadorm]

Not the same as 4WD. Only AWD I know that works in the sand is Subaru's. AWD generally sucks in the sand.

[rawlbay]

I drove a suzuki gran vitara that was awd with a lock 4wd while I lent my truck to a friend. traction was fine; ground clearance was the limiting factor - as in deep ruts. it did fine in soft stuff as long as it wasnt getting high centered in ruts. not sure if your lady's nissan is comparable, but that is my only experience with non-traditional 4x4's in sand, for whatever its worth.

[IrishTR]

I roll my Yukon XL Denali AWD all the time no problems. Only thing you may need to do is lower the air in the tires depending on if the sand is super soft and not packed but I've yet to have to do it.

Usually aired to 34-36psi, and have seen others say they drop down to 21-26psi range and continue going. But in regards to true 4WD vs AWD you have more utility with a full 4WD system than the AWDs.

Albeit my vehicle is full sized truck based SUV compared to a Nissan Rogue aka station wagon crossover mess.

[bmfdop]

I had an AWD jeep commander. The thing was just awesome on the beach. I had a 2 inch lift and a bit bigger bfg all terrains, and I could go thru some sand no prob. After 3 years, traded it in last week for F150 4x4. Hoping to hit pins this weekend to break the new one in, but we shall see if its open. My buddy and sister both have Subaru Crosstreks, also AWD, and they do well also, but don't have as much clearance.
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Fortune favors the brave...

[Boy]

[FIDO]

My brother's Volvo XC90 V8 did awesome. Had many trips to the Mansfield jetties back in 2005-2006. He pulled out an F-250 once. I called BS on it He just laughed and shrugged.

Just got to drive it for what it is I guess. If nothing else, we're here to pull you out
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Fish hard. You never know when you'll make you last trip south.

[justimm]

my wife had an 04 Mountaineer with some all terrains that was AWD. We went down the beach all the time in it and never even kinda had any problems.
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A woman once told her husband to tie her up and he could do anything he wanted, so he tied her up and went fishing!

[sapepper]

Any 4 wheel drive vehicle without differential locks is really just a 2 wheel drive vehicle. One tire in front one tire in back that drives the vehicle. That said, a two wheel drive vehicle without a diff. Lock is really just a one wheel drive vehicle. On both, the wheel with the least amount of traction will spin, front or back. AWD vehicles usually have a traction control system that will apply the brake to the spinning tire, front or rear effectively activating the tire that has the best traction. Ergo, AWD is actually better than a 4 wheel drive vehicle, unless the 4 wheel drive has diff. Locks which causes all tires to move at all times, being the ultimate best off road scenario . All wheel drive vehicles can also have diff. Locks, but as with most 4 wheel drives, has to be added to the vehicle.
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Taught my dog everything she knows!

[ReelBIGfish]

I think the ground clearance issue is the biggest one. As already mentioned. Traction wise, I'd take a light AWD over a big 3/4 or 1 ton. Any day. My wife's RAV 4 had as good traction as any pick up I have owned.......

[2LIGIT]

I have a Subaru Crosstrek and it goes through the sand fine. I sometimes have to air down when it is soft. It is actually better to turn off the traction control in sand because sometimes you need the momentum.

[fnG]

we have a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the quadra-trac system and it works flawlessly. you cannot even tell when it switches from 2 to 4 wheels. they state it's a full time 4 wheel drive, but it's like most AWD's.. just uses one set of axles until the other set is needed.

i think it works a little better than my 4wd Ram with big tires.

[blackhawk78418]

Yes it will do fine. Jus know the limitations of the vehicle.

[Big John]

Did you read the manual yet?

Every manufacturer had a different version of AWD, some have several, and you may or may not be able to do, and what, if any adjustments you need to do.

For instance, several guys with truck based SUVs , or vehicles designed with offroad capabilities in mind, have AWD systems that are based on an open differential 4wd system, that uses the ABS system to direct power from slipping wheels to those with traction in small increments. They also have the ability to automatically lock the hubs using that 4wd system automatically or manually, and use a transfer case that splits the torque equally to each axle. This forces half of the power to the front axle and half to the back. Some may have a locking rear differential option as well.

There are some vehicles that have traction control that reduces throttle when wheel slippage is detected. If you have this, you must turn this off going offroad, or you will get stuck. Turning off traction control may or may not turn off the ABS system that directs power to wheels with traction. This is in trucks and cars.

The AWD systems in car based SUVs rarely have a 4wd system, and use the ABS system exclusively to direct power. The hubs don't lock, etc. There is nothing forcing power to the non drive axle. Often, the amount of power that can be effectively forced by the ABS system to the non drive axle without a transfer case is rarely above 25%.

My Ford F150 has a 4wd system with locking hubs, but open differentials. It had both the Electronic Limited Slip system and the throttle clipping system. Turning off the traction control turns off the throttle blipping, and the manual tells you to turn it off when in sand or mud. You can't turn off the ABS power directing system. Offroad, in 4wd, it works so well, it's like have a locking front and rear differential. It's a marvel of combining traditional transfer case mechanics with modern ABS system technology. Almost impossible to get stuck in.

So, read the manual, and find out what you have, what it's capable of, and stay in the limits. Nissan has fantastic 4wd systems, but whether any of that carries over from the Titan and Frontier to the Rogue is the question.

[IrishTR]