2010 4Runner Limited - beach driving question

[dbjasper]

Hi guys. I am interested in a 2010 4Runner Limited 4x4 and was wondering what you guys thought of it's ability off-road at the beach. I love to go to the Outer Banks in North Carolina and would love to be able to take the 4Runner on the beach to fish and just party/tailgate on the beach. From what I've seen, there are plenty of vehicles that can make it on the beach (in deep sand), but I wanted some opinions on this particular model and what to expect from it.

I would love to have the trail edition, but it isn't an option for me because of the luxury requirements. So, that's the reason I'm looking at the Limited.

Thanks for your advice!

DJ

 

[M1911]

I take my 2003 V8 4WD Limited out on the beach at Cape Poge on Martha's Vineyard every year:

The beach isn't the Rubicon, and isn't all that challenging. I air down to 15 psi, lock the center diff, carry all the recovery gear (that I've never used), and drive with a bit of caution. I've never gotten stuck.

The only concern that I would have about the 5th Gen Limited on the beach is the 20" wheels. For the beach you really want a flexible side wall, so that when you air down to 15 psi you have doubled the size of the contact patch. I worry that the 20" sidewalls would be too stiff.

If it was me, I'd get the 5th Gen Limited, then swap the 20" wheels to someone with an SR5 who is more interested in style than offroad performance.

 

[kinnakeettom]

Air Down

I start at 20psi and in the summer have gone to 12psi in the soft coquina sand.
Jarvis at cape point exxon loves to come and get you unstuck, but have a thick wallet. Join the beach buggy assoc.great tips there.

 

[dbjasper]

So do you think the limited will get me where I want to go at Hatteras? I would absolutely love to do exactly what you have pictured!!!

 

[M1911]

So do you think the limited will get me where I want to go at Hatteras? I would absolutely love to do exactly what you have pictured!!!

If the beach at Hatteras looks like that, I'm sure it will. Like I said, I'd go with 17 or 18 wheels in place of the 20's. He and I both have 4th gen 4Runners, and the 5th Gen Limited has basically the same 4WD system and similar ground clearance. The only difference is the 20" wheels on the 5th Gen Limited.

This part of Chappy is quite soft, but I've never had any problem there:

Just use some common sense. Park above high tide. If there aren't tire tracks where you want to go, there's probably a reason, so don't go there. If you start to bog down, stop and try to back up the way you came. Use slow inputs -- brake slowly, accelerate slowly, turn gently.

 

[M1911]

kinnakeettom: darn nice tackle station. You make that yourself?

 

[Jeffrey_VB]

Hi guys. I am interested in a 2010 4Runner Limited 4x4 and was wondering what you guys thought of it's ability off-road at the beach. I love to go to the Outer Banks in North Carolina and would love to be able to take the 4Runner on the beach to fish and just party/tailgate on the beach. From what I've seen, there are plenty of vehicles that can make it on the beach (in deep sand), but I wanted some opinions on this particular model and what to expect from it.

I would love to have the trail edition, but it isn't an option for me because of the luxury requirements. So, that's the reason I'm looking at the Limited.

Thanks for your advice!

DJ

Where are you coming to the Banx from? Va Beach guy here. Love to get down to the Outer Banx and play in the sand.

 

[dbjasper]

We normally come from the Greensboro NC area. I like to go windsurfing at Canadian hole in Avon and fishing on the beach. I have always been with other people when driving on the beach, but would love to start being able to do that myself. Take some windsurfing gear and fishing gear onto the beach... If I let the air out of the tires w/ 20s, would that be sufficient?

I come from a 1996 Tacoma 4x4 w/ 31x10.50 tires on a 8.5" wide wheel, so that truck would go anywhere without any air out of the tires. I want something comparable in a 4Runner, as long as I take air out.

 

[adrift]

Hi guys. I am interested in a 2010 4Runner Limited 4x4 and was wondering what you guys thought of it's ability off-road at the beach. I love to go to the Outer Banks in North Carolina and would love to be able to take the 4Runner on the beach to fish and just party/tailgate on the beach. From what I've seen, there are plenty of vehicles that can make it on the beach (in deep sand), but I wanted some opinions on this particular model and what to expect from it.

I would love to have the trail edition, but it isn't an option for me because of the luxury requirements. So, that's the reason I'm looking at the Limited.

Thanks for your advice!

DJ

You will have no problems on the beach with the 20" wheels. I have been to the beaches(OBX) fishing several times with no problems. I did switch to Nitto terra grappler 275/55/20 on the stock wheels. 18-20lbs of air.

 

[Brian Keeler]

I have been to Nags Head and Hatteras many many times in the last 30 years + in many different vehicles including a heavy Suburban! The key is to air down before going on the sand. Use Hi range and keep your momemtum going following other tracks. Try to only stop where the sand is packed and not loose. Carry a shovel and a tow strap with you. I always loved pulling others out! If you do start to get stuck (maybe air down more?) ease back and forth first in High range then you can try low range if that doesn't work or locker if you have it. But try to avoid spinning deeper into the sand. Usually you are stuck because you differential, frame or something is hung up in the sand. That is what the shovel is for. Get down there and dig it out and remove the sand in front of the wheels for a few feet to get a start out. Once you feel you moved enough sand, I usually put it in Hi range and gas it out and don't stop again until solid ground! :lookout:

Can't wait to try out the 4R at the beach this summer! I see a lot of them on the beach and they are usually skimming along beautifully!

Good luck and have fun! :driving:

 

[kinnakeettom]

kinnakeettom: darn nice tackle station. You make that yourself?

no fish biting in the winter so drew up the plans and built it.
Out grown it and have ordered an adventure 4x4 trailer that will hold even more.

 

[dbjasper]

thanks for all the help guys. I bought a 2010 Limited. How much should I air down the tires on the 20" wheels? I believe they are the Dueler HT tires. The sidewalls look a little small, but not too bad. I like the wheels, so I'm not wanting to swap them for anything smaller.

Also, I noticed that they had the green caps for nitrogen filled. Any problem with adding air back to these?

kinnakeettom, what is this beach buggy association you speak of?