I have an '02 Scrambler 500 4X4 with no mods and it does great in sand. On occasion I have been known to climb a dune or two backwards. This will be my second summer with the quad and I have yet to even get remotely close to being stuck. True, my friend's Banshee is faster, lighter and gets more air than I ever will, but for me the Scrambler is just the ticket. Aside from hard riding, I pull my kids on a snow saucer nice and slow. I can stop half way a dune and start again with next to no tire spin. The 4X4 is great.