1. Not getting stuck
The best way to not get stuck is to have really wide tires, and the horsepower to turn them really fast! It also helps if you know where you are going so you don't find yourself in soft sand and approaching a steep hill that you can't climb with no way to turn around...
Something around 10 inches wide is the minimum for the rear, i'd say. My 30 X 9.5's aired down to 13 psi were handeling some really steep/long hill climbs, like dunes 50 feet high. But, i also have plenty of power with the 1835 cc. For the front, again, wider is better. The biggest tire that will fit up front with a axel beam of stock width is a 215/75R15. This tire is about 7 inches wide and 27 inches tall. Baja's have heavy frontends conpared to rails so wide tires in the front are an important addition, while rails can run stock front tires.
I couldn't get started from a dead stop going uphill but i could get started on level sand. Momentum is very important with bajas being relativly heavy, compared to sandrails. (It also helps if you can go 50 m.p.h. in second gear, he,he,he...)
I don't feel that paddle tires are necessary to have a really fun time at the dunes. Sure, you could probably go more places with less suspension abuse, but hey, paddles are really expensive.
Airing down all four tires helps soften the ride quite a bit, 10-15 psi all around works well. I wouldn't go lower that 10 psi because if you don't have on-board air then you have to drive on pavement to the nearest gas station to air up. Use descretion.
2. Keeping the nasty stuff out of your engine.
I'll cover general filtration in a later article, The main thing here is to install a "sand seal pulley". The stock pulley has a spiral cork screw thing machined into it so that it pulls oil back into the case. There isn't a proper seal of any kind. It can pull sand into your engine which can destroy it in no time. A sand seal is also important for any baja going off-road in general. I'd go as far as to say that it is a necessity.
The one i have is a "bolt in" kit, a seal with a degree wheel crankshaft pully. The seal fits tight in the case, you just tap it in with a piece of wood and a hammer, use red loc-tite to keep it in. Bolt in the pulley just like a regular one. The rubber part of the seal fits flush with the shaft of the pulley, thus, sealing out sand.
There are also kits that require machining the case. Obviously, this requires more work, though.
If you go, there are some things to bring that could really help.
1. A flat bladed shovel with as long a handle as you can carry
2. Sand mats. Pieces of plywood 2 foot by 2 foot. Put them under the rear tires for instant traction.
3. High-Lift jack. Very important, very versatile, get one. The 48" one will fit where your back seat used to be. Maybe have a shovel that long as well and make some clamps to hold them down tight...
