Stuck in sand but not enough power to spin wheels?

So I got my 98 suburban K 1500 stuck in some very soft sand over the weekend. I didn't slack the tires a lot (they were at 23 PSI) and I was just plowing sand in front of them before everything stopped. I did not bury to the frame or the suspension but I was in the sand up to the rim at least.

I have '11 Silverado rims running 305/60r18, recent (15k mikes ago) tranny rebuild and recent (25k miles ago) crate motor.

The question is in four wheel high should I have been able to apply enough power to get the tires to spin and throw sand? Wide-open throttle only resulted in the engine RPM coming up but no spinning tires.

Ultimately I droped the air to 12 psi, removed some sand and was able to crawl out with gear selector in first gear But it seems strange that I didn't have enough power to spin my wheels. Is this normal or am I not applying power correctly through the drive train?

Are you sure you weren't just spinning the wheels with least resistance and didn't notice it because there was very little sand under them to throw? Even the factory lockers that came in these trucks will one wheel peel anytime your wheel speed is over 15MPH. The front ends are always open.

I find it hard to believe that you weren't spinning at least two tires in 4 Hi.

Seems like your down on power a bit or you have some worn out drivetrain components causing the power not to get to the ground. How many miles does it have? Run good?

Sounds like not enough gear and factory tune with KR killing your fun. That and the crappy front half stock exhaust. And heavy ass Burb.

Agree with sc111. What gears and tire size are you running?

90halfton said:

Agree with sc111. What gears and tire size are you running?

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Gears are stock, tries 305/60r18

kooshball said:

Gears are stock, tries 305/60r18

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They came with lots of different gears. But I'm guessing they didn't come with enough gear for 34"ish tires. Makes for a mechanical disadvantage.

Plugged cats will kill the power as much as anything. I had a 49 Willys back in the 70's and used to go around stuck Blazers and Broncos with V8's and big tires. When they asked why I never got stuck I told them I didn't have enough power to spin the wheels. I think it had about 60 hp. Geared to death though. I had the equivilent of a 215/75 /15 on 8" rims and ran 8psi rear and 10 front on the dunes. Seldom bothered putting it in 4wd.

90halfton said:

They came with lots of different gears. But I'm guessing they didn't come with enough gear for 34"ish tires. Makes for a mechanical disadvantage.

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My tires work out to 32.4" diameter vs 31" on stock 245/75r16 so yes a bit taller overall but not crazy different

Don't forget about how heavy those suckers are and how much more of a footprint that is to swing. Regardless, my 98 wouldn't do crap when it was stock it was held up really badly by that stock tune.