Beach Driving

[M1911]

Probably a dumb question, but to air down, do you just push the needle and keep checking the PSI or does the air compressor have a setting to air down?

Not a dumb question. I use deflators. Far easier because you are 1) deflating all four tires at once and 2) they stop deflating at the correct pressure (no check, release air, check again, rinse, lather repeat). Mine are Stauns: Staun Tire Deflators, Automatically Deflate, Staun Valve, Automatic Tire Deflators, Preset Pressure, Reduce Tire Pressure

 

[Mtn.Rush]

Not a dumb question. I use deflators. Far easier because you are 1) deflating all four tires at once and 2) they stop deflating at the correct pressure (no check, release air, check again, rinse, lather repeat). Mine are Stauns: Staun Tire Deflators, Automatically Deflate, Staun Valve, Automatic Tire Deflators, Preset Pressure, Reduce Tire Pressure

X2, yup this is what i use and they are already pre-set to 18psi, which is what I always aired down to anyway. Its great pulling up to the beach and watching everyone airing down one tire at a time and buy the time these guys are getting to tire #2 im done with all 4 and heading onto the beach. They are kinda expensive but worth every penny.

 

[sandcrawler]

The OP has a 5th Gen Limited, which does have a locking center diff. He should lock his center diff when on sand.

I've used both 4L and 4H on sand. I more often use 4L -- it seems as though I can travel at the same speed at 4L with less throttle input. It seems as though the truck isn't working as hard in 4L. YMMV.

i was recently out on the sand and when i first pulled up the ranger was like, "be sure to air all the way down. the sand is real soft and i've done nothing but pull people out all day." i only aired down to 24psi and put it in 4L but it will still a bit dodgy. then i put it in 4H and it was smooth sailing all the way; crazy better. while it felt like it was bogging down in 4L, it was just butter in 4H. ymmv.

M1911: this was on chappy/cape poge.

 

[M1911]

i was recently out on the sand and when i first pulled up the ranger was like, "be sure to air all the way down. the sand is real soft and i've done nothing but pull people out all day." i only aired down to 24psi and put it in 4L but it will still a bit dodgy. then i put it in 4H and it was smooth sailing all the way; crazy better. while it felt like it was bogging down in 4L, it was just butter in 4H. ymmv.

M1911: this was on chappy/cape poge.

I always air down to 15 psi on chappy. As I said, my truck seems to do better in 4L. YMMV.

There's only a few places on Chappy that are bad -- South of the piers on East Beach, in the pull-off areas on the bay side, just north of Dyke's Bridge, etc. But even in those you have to work to get stuck.

 

[LBI Fluke Drifter]

This thread has given me very helpful information for bringing my 2012 Limited 4Runner on the beach. Here is what has been working for me.

1) Air tires down to 18 PSI using automatic tire deflators (Note that I swapped out the stock limited wheels and tires for the 265/70R17 that are stock on the SR5 and Trail edition)
2) Turn dial to H4L to lock the center differential
3) Press and hold the RSCA Off button in order to deactivate curtain shield airbags
4) Press and hold the VSC off button to disengage the traction control system
5) Drive on the beach and catch some fish

Here are some pictures from my December 8th fishing trip to Delaware Seashore State Park.

 

[BobsTrail]

Sand Driving

I'm not sure how it is with the 245's and low profile tires in an LE.

I have a trail with 265x70's. For very soft sand I have good results dropping to 15 pounds. I use both 4H and 4L depending on the hills. I turn off Trac and VSC in 4H and in 4L it all turns off. I use the locker for steep dunes.
I'm able to follow the JK's just fine.

Don't make fast sharp turns, you may roll a tire off the rim.
A CO2 tank does the refill in about 1 minute per tire, would probably be faster if the TPS stuff was not in the valve stem.

 

[phillyd2]

This thread has given me very helpful information for bringing my 2012 Limited 4Runner on the beach. Here is what has been working for me.

1) Air tires down to 18 PSI using automatic tire deflators (Note that I swapped out the stock limited wheels and tires for the 265/70R17 that are stock on the SR5 and Trail edition)
2) Turn dial to H4L to lock the center differential
3) Press and hold the RSCA Off button in order to deactivate curtain shield airbags
4) Press and hold the VSC off button to disengage the traction control system
5) Drive on the beach and catch some fish

Here are some pictures from my December 8th fishing trip to Delaware Seashore State Park.

Do you also drive at Island Beach State Park? Been there a few times but never signed up to drive on the sand.

 

[LBI Fluke Drifter]

Do you also drive at Island Beach State Park? Been there a few times but never signed up to drive on the sand.

I’ve never driven on Island Beach State Park but I know that is a good place to fish. I have the beach buggy permits for Long Beach Island, NJ and Delaware.

 

[phillyd2]

I’ve never driven on Island Beach State Park but I know that is a good place to fish. I have the beach buggy permits for Long Beach Island, NJ and Delaware.

Can you use your LBI permit at Island Beach State Park? And LBI only allows driving on the off season, no?

 

[thejuice]

here are my 2 cents..

Spent a lot of time on sand in various trucks. 15-20 psi is my suggestion. I've driven heavier trucks without deflating, even in deep sand, so if you're only going on hard pack and will be entering/exiting beach frequently, you might get away without deflating.

Momentum is key in deep sand, just like on snow. Before you stop, consider how you'll get going again, i.e. if there's hard pack or a downhill area park there rather than pointing uphill in deep sand.

So, Which should you use in sand, 4H or 4L and why? Also, can you turn off the traction control in 4H so it won't go crazy?

Stay in 4H. There's no reason to go into 4L unless you get stuck. (I've seen honda elements and CRV's out on the beach doing just fine.) Keep traction control on!! Especially at higher speeds! Back when I was younger and stupider I'd roll down the beach at low tide going 60+ mph, and if a wheel suddenly hits a soft spot very bad things can happen. Traction control saved my a-- a few times! The only times I would say to turn it off is if you're driving in another vehicle's tracks and your wheel width doesn't quite match up, you'll be bouncing from one track to the next, and your traction control will be on nonstop. I usually turn it off at that point to increase the lifespan of the system.

Another note on speeding and/or night driving - it's hard to see what's coming up in front of you, and so you'll sometimes hit a tidal pool that will have a 6" or more drop off. It's a good way to give your truck a thorough salt water bath and really work the suspension. If you're carrying gear and firewood in the back that isn't strapped down, it'll fly everywhere. Seatbelts are good at keeping your head from hitting the ceiling - that happened to me more than once. And although this never happened to me, every year or so somebody rolls because they sink a wheel into a fire pit... yep - believe it or not, some jackasses don't fill in their fire pits when they leave.

Lastly, if you see rods up, don't cross their lines!

 

[thejuice]

Is that the new DE record?

 

[LBI Fluke Drifter]

Can you use your LBI permit at Island Beach State Park? And LBI only allows driving on the off season, no?

The LBI permit cannot be used on Island Beach State Park. Actually each township within LBI issues a different beach buggy permit. I only have the Long Beach Township permit which covers the majority of the island. Beach driving is only allowed off season but due to all of the work being done on the beach to recover from Sandy beach driving is currently not allowed on LBI even with the permit.

Is that the new DE record?

Yes this fish is the new state record striped bass in Delaware! 52 pounds caught Saturday December 8th from the surf!

 

[thejuice]

dang.. nice catch! i'm reading about it now on surftalk

 

[M1911]

This thread has given me very helpful information for bringing my 2012 Limited 4Runner on the beach. Here is what has been working for me.

1) Air tires down to 18 PSI using automatic tire deflators (Note that I swapped out the stock limited wheels and tires for the 265/70R17 that are stock on the SR5 and Trail edition)
2) Turn dial to H4L to lock the center differential
3) Press and hold the RSCA Off button in order to deactivate curtain shield airbags
4) Press and hold the VSC off button to disengage the traction control system
5) Drive on the beach and catch some fish

Agree with everything here. Losing the 20" wheels is a very good idea.

Holy cow! Now that is a fish. :cheers: