Dune bashing
Encyclopedia
Dune bashing, also known as desert safari, is a form of off-roading
, using an off-road vehicle
to explore sand dunes. Whilst in some parts of the world, such as the fragile coastal dunes of Australia, it is illegal, in others such as the Middle East, it is a booming attraction for tourists. In the United States
, there are a couple of areas as well, most notably the Silver Lake
area in Mears, Michigan and portions of the Glamis Dunes
in California
.
vehicles are capable of dune bashing, the smaller, lower vehicles like most mini SUV
s and compact SUV
s are not used because they have a higher risk of getting stuck. Larger sport utility vehicle
s such as the Toyota Land Cruiser
are more common. The vehicles used for this activity are usually equipped with a roll cage
to prevent the roof from caving in on passengers in the case of an overturn.
Before entering the desert in an everyday-use SUV, it is essential to reduce the tire pressure. This is done to gain more traction by increasing the footprint of the tire and, therefore, reducing the downward pressure of the 4wd on the sand as there is a greater surface area (much like the head of an axe, the axe must be sharp in order to split the wood). For example, tires with a recommended pressure of 35 psi would be reduced to approximately 17 PSI.
Upon entering the desert, it is common to meet with a pack of vehicles and a group leader before proceeding. The group leader then leads the pack through the stunts in single file. The main reason for this technique is to prevent vehicles from losing track of direction and getting lost.
Prices for such an activity vary according to geographic location. In Dubai
, UAE, half a day of dune bashing with a tour company costs between US$ 40 and US$ 60 per person or US$ 300 to rent a six-seat vehicle, with a driver included.
Off-roading
Off-roading is a term for driving a vehicle on unsurfaced roads or tracks, made of materials such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain.-Off-road vehicle:...
, using an off-road vehicle
Off-road vehicle
An off-road vehicle is considered to be any type of vehicle which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface. It is generally characterized by having large tires with deep, open treads, a flexible suspension, or even caterpillar tracks...
to explore sand dunes. Whilst in some parts of the world, such as the fragile coastal dunes of Australia, it is illegal, in others such as the Middle East, it is a booming attraction for tourists. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, there are a couple of areas as well, most notably the Silver Lake
Silver Lake State Park (Michigan)
Silver Lake State Park is a state park in Michigan, located on Lake Michigan near Mears.It is composed of mature forest land and over of sand dunes. The park is wide and long and is divided into three segments: The northern area is an all-terrain vehicle park, and is the only dunes area east of...
area in Mears, Michigan and portions of the Glamis Dunes
Algodones Dunes
The Algodones Dunes is a large erg located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of California, near the border with Arizona and the Mexican state of Baja California. The field is approximately 45 miles long by 6 miles wide and extends along a northwest-southeast line that correlates to...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Vehicles used
Although most four-wheel driveFour-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
vehicles are capable of dune bashing, the smaller, lower vehicles like most mini SUV
Mini SUV
Mini SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length under . This class should not be confused with compact SUV, which refers to slightly larger vehicles, from ....
s and compact SUV
Compact SUV
Compact SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length roughly between . This class should not be confused with mini SUV, which refers to smaller vehicles.- Background :...
s are not used because they have a higher risk of getting stuck. Larger sport utility vehicle
Sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
s such as the Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser
The is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese car maker Toyota Motor Corporation. It is not related to the Studebaker Land Cruiser car produced in the US from 1934-1954....
are more common. The vehicles used for this activity are usually equipped with a roll cage
Roll cage
A roll cage is a specially constructed frame built in the cab of a vehicle to protect its occupants from being injured in an accident, particularly in the event of a roll-over. Roll cages are used in nearly all purpose-built racecars, and in most cars modified for racing...
to prevent the roof from caving in on passengers in the case of an overturn.
Technique
Similar to auto-racing, experience and skill is required to manoeuvre the car and prevent accidents. Hence, in most cases, a professional driver accompanies the group. A group can consist of as many people as there are working seatbelts in the vehicle.Before entering the desert in an everyday-use SUV, it is essential to reduce the tire pressure. This is done to gain more traction by increasing the footprint of the tire and, therefore, reducing the downward pressure of the 4wd on the sand as there is a greater surface area (much like the head of an axe, the axe must be sharp in order to split the wood). For example, tires with a recommended pressure of 35 psi would be reduced to approximately 17 PSI.
Upon entering the desert, it is common to meet with a pack of vehicles and a group leader before proceeding. The group leader then leads the pack through the stunts in single file. The main reason for this technique is to prevent vehicles from losing track of direction and getting lost.
Costs
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, UAE, half a day of dune bashing with a tour company costs between US$ 40 and US$ 60 per person or US$ 300 to rent a six-seat vehicle, with a driver included.
Further reading
- SaharaSafaris Club, Egypt - Guide on How to do Desert 4x4ing
- pilotguides.com - Full Throttle Bashing in the Desert
See also
- Off-roadingOff-roadingOff-roading is a term for driving a vehicle on unsurfaced roads or tracks, made of materials such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain.-Off-road vehicle:...
- Off road parkOff road parkAn Off-Road Vehicle Park is an area of land that may be accessed by all-terrain vehicles such as 4x4 vehicles, Pickup Trucks, ATVs, and many other types of off-road vehicles.-Off-Road Parks in the United States:* Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area...
- Silver Lake Sand DunesSilver Lake State Park (Michigan)Silver Lake State Park is a state park in Michigan, located on Lake Michigan near Mears.It is composed of mature forest land and over of sand dunes. The park is wide and long and is divided into three segments: The northern area is an all-terrain vehicle park, and is the only dunes area east of...