Most of the early "AWD" vehicles--like Priestberger's Astro mini-van and my wife's Exploder--were actually full time 4wd, with power permanently distributed in the ratio of 60% to the rear wheels and 40% to the front. Same with Jeep's old Quadra-Trac full time 4wd. None of them had low ranges. The original Quadra-Trac Jeeps had a switch inside the glove compartment whereby you could lock the transfer case so that the front and rear axles would turn at the same ratio, but that was about it for tough going. I've run a Grand Cherokee, a small Cherokee, an old Wagoneer and a K-5 Blazer on beaches all over the Northeast and I've never had to drop any of them into low range. My current vehicle has never been in low range, ever. When I had a old box on wheels Trooper with an anemic 4 banger under the hood, I ran that in low range, but not because I had to to avoid getting stuck--I did it so I wouldn't be constantly driving in first gear.
Of course, I air down and I've been driving on beaches for almost 30 years, so YMMV
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