I don’t know ... The test-drivers and editors at "Peterson’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine" gave the Expedition high marks for its off-road abilities (including sand, and sand dunes) One editor wrote that the Expedition started poorly at first (it acted like it wanted to bury itself in the sand) until the test-driver notice the "Advance-Trac" Traction Control System was still enabled. After the TSC was disabled the drivers noticed the Expedition's performance increased and was quite the sand runner.