Navigating Sand Dunes with a Ronin 2 and V-RAPTOR XL

On a recent docu-style shoot, we needed to capture stable tracking shots of a subject traversing steep sand dunes, which proved to be a real test for our gimbal setup. We opted for a DJI Ronin 2 with a V-RAPTOR XL and a Sigma Cine 50-150mm T2 lens, mounted on a remote head attached to an ATV for mobility. The initial plan was to just have the operator on the ATV with the remote head, but the constantly shifting sand and unpredictable terrain made maintaining consistent framing a nightmare, especially when the ATV kicked up dust. What worked surprisingly well was having a dedicated Ronin 2 operator tracking on foot behind the ATV, using the Master Wheels to remotely control the pan and tilt. This allowed for more precise, natural-feeling movements as we could react to subtle shifts in the sand and the subject's path, rather than being limited by the ATV’s sometimes jerky motion. We also tried a Cable Cam system for a few hero shots over the dunes, which gave us incredibly smooth, high-perspective glides, but the setup and breakdown time was significant in the challenging environment. The walk-behind remote operating with the Ronin 2 was a great balance of stability and agility. Have others found that splitting the gimbal operation (driver vs. operator) is always the best approach in difficult mobile scenarios, or do you have a go-to method for unstable camera platforms?