The trick to getting traction in loose sand is to drop the air pressure in your tires way down, like 20 PSI or lower.
This will increase your contact patch and allow you to float on top.
It also has the advantage of a smoother ride over washboard roads.
In extreme cases I've gone as low as 10 PSI and driven a stuck truck, buried to the axles, straight out of the hole created by the driver that was running 60 PSI for towing his trailer on the highway.
Having a small air compressor or hand pump is mandatory as driving at high speeds with low air pressure is not safe for long distances.
The first thing I do as soon as I hit the dirt is air down to 25-28 PSI, depending on road conditions and the load I'm carrying.
Running offroad with reduced air pressure also helps in avoiding punctures from sharp rocks or other objects.
This may be old hat for some people, but it's something most people don't think about, until it's to late.
Good luck Jeff, following this thread has inspired me to plan my next prospecting adventure to new ground.
I've been researching an area outside Salome, planning to head out there this week.