Island Sand or High Country Mud

[scrapsD40]

I cleaned the Nav today and finally scrubbed out the accumulated mud, sticks and gravel from all the nooks and crevices from this seasons trips and as I saw the accumulated detritus laying on the drive, it got me wondering.

What's harsher on our 4by's and CT, sand or mud.

Predominantly playing in the High Country, the bash plates underneath and bush pin stripes showing on the duco are all proud camping/touring battle scars. Each one a memory.

I've heard that sand and salt in the north can play havoc with one's metal, but can clearly see in the HC mud signs of silica and salt, so while maybe not as prevalent, definitely still a possible issue for us in the south. Any geologists (or just anyone with an opinion) on board that can clarify my pondering?

[edz]

Generaly Id go with sand and salt being harsher as it seeps inbetween joints panel to the uncoated steel easier.
Like everthing though, if you dont do a thorough thorough clean and oil after a trip, its going to corrode ..
Countless times Ive cut open a rusted chassis section or sill / removed an under body channel to find it packed with sand or a dried lump of mud / dust that would hold moisture when wet and rusted it out from the insides .

[Bad Scott]

I have heard you put fish in the rails to combat rust

[Beachman]

I would say that sand/salt is more corrosive, but I would also guess more people are aware of these dangers and take appropriate action straight away.

But with mud/dust were are more relaxed and say to ourselves I will wash that off next week which turns into next month and before you know it the mud has been sitting there wet for weeks.

I personally find washing the underbody after a beach trip much easier then washing dried mud off. The dive home is enough to dry the mud rock hard.

[loanrangie]

I have heard you put fish in the rails to combat rust

Yeah but keeping the water in for them is difficult otherwise they die 

[tk421]

Mud has a habit of working its way into your seals if you don't wash it off causing all kinds of grief. There's a reason Tassie has a track called $1000 track ( You'll do $1000 worth of damage driving it according to the locals), and some of the mud along that is like silt - It will block your radiator.

I wash mud/sand off religiously after each outing.

[Troopy_03]

A good under body mud, or salt treatment after a trip, before you do a thorough wash, is to put a couple of whirlygig garden sprinklers under the vehicle and let them run while you go and have a beer or two. Then after half an hour or so, most of the crap has just fallen off. Do it on your grass, and not during water restrictions, so as to be responsible though.