Beach Driving

[Raz]

I'm a new owner of a 5th gen T4R Limited and about to head off to the beach for vacation. I plan on doing some driving on the beach and was wondering how much air, if any, I should let out of the tires before driving on the beach. I've never owned a 4Runner before and just want to make sure i don't do something I'm not supposed to. Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

Raz

 

[4ShoreRunner]

I'm a new owner of a 5th gen T4R Limited and about to head off to the beach for vacation. I plan on doing some driving on the beach and was wondering how much air, if any, I should let out of the tires before driving on the beach. I've never owned a 4Runner before and just want to make sure i don't do something I'm not supposed to. Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.

Raz

I don't have a Limited so I'm not sure if I can give you 100% sound advice, but the only thing I'd take into consideration is the fact that you are rollin' on 20s with very little sidewall. You may want to consider letting out less air than typical. I do know that quite a few people take their Limiteds on the beach on their stock 20s and haven't had any issues. I'm sure there is a thread around here discussing if they've aired down.

Also - side note. Took my TE on the beach over memorial day and had all the windows + back window down. Sand was everywhere inside my vehicle! Its been awhile since my Wrangler beach driving days so I hadn't even considered this. Really was a pain trying to clean out a lot of sticky sand!

 

[mpaquette]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/67653-limited-beach-245s.html

 

[9Hooker]

Wife and I took the SR5 to OBX two weekends ago and didn't let any air out. Probably should have let some out in hindsight.. the signs said 20 psi but it did just fine. The sand was pretty thick and super soft. In 4H the traction control was going crazy. Going to 4L took all that stuff out of the equation but you were stuck going 3 mph down the beach. 4H was good enough. The only thing that would have helped was something to control L/R wheelspin, e.g. a locking diff.

My $0.02

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Rear lockers normally only work in 4L.

I think a limited slip would have been better in that situation.

 

[Mtn.Rush]

I have been out on the beach several times with no problems what so ever. I air down to 18psi, lock the center diff and turn off the skid control crap, goes fine.

 

[timothy9988]

I have taken our 2010 limited out on the beach a few times here in Delaware - I air down to 20 psi and throw it in 4H and good to go. Never had a problem.

 

[M1911]

Someone explained to me that when the '10 SR5 is in 4WD mode, all four wheels rotate with the same speed/angular velocity (that all four wheels are locked).

That's not true. The SR5 has a part-time 4WD system. That means that when you put it into 4WD, the front drive shaft and rear drive shaft turn at the same speed. But the SR5 has open differentials front and rear, which means that on either axle, the left tire may not turn at the same speed as the right tire. The ATRAC system is what transfers torque side to side, by differential braking.

The only way that all four wheels would rotate at the same speed is if you had a locking front and rear differential (which you don't).

As for driving on the beach, I have an '03 4WD Limited. I use either 4WD low or 4WD high (usually low). I lock my center differential, which makes it perform just like a part-time system in 4WD. I lower my tire pressure to 15 psi.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

The wheels turn at different rates while you are turning which causes binding. The binding causes things to break.

My '98 is also part time 4WD. I run it in 4WD on dry pavement every month, but am very careful not to make sharp turns with it engaged.

 

[M1911]

That's great news to hear! Others have been saying that I don't have rear/front lockers, and I know for sure that I don't have a rear locker, but I could've sworn that the one time I accidentally left the car in 4WD for a few moments that one of the two front tires had "jumped" a little on the dry pavement.

Why is it not recommended that 4WD be active (on my '10 part time 4WD system) on dry pavement? Does it just wear out the transfer case for the front axle? How does a center Torsen differential, such as the '10 Limited, put less wear on the front transfer case or does the '10 Limited not have a transfer case at all?

Don't drive your SR5 in 4WD on dry pavement. When you go around a corner, as you probably realize, the front and rear of the car take a different line. That is, the rear wheels take a shorter path -- the front diff takes a longer, larger radius path than the rear diff. A center differential, like the Torsen, allows the front and rear diffs to turn at different rates, which lets you go around corners in 4WD. With a part-time system, that works offroad, because the tires simply slip enough to reduce any binding in the drivetrain. On the road, you are adding stress to the drivetrain.

The '10 Limited basically has the same system as all of the 4th Generation 4Runners -- a lockable Limited Slip Torsen diff with a two-speed transfer case.

 

[Koz]

Just avoid the expensive donuts!

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/96146-post14.html

Koz

 

[4x4CPOSEADOG]

If you go down to 15 psi, will the TPMS sensors kick in?

 

[4ShoreRunner]

Hmm, that's a good question -- wonder if the '10 4R TPMS looks at absolute pressure as opposed to pressure difference. Anyone have insight?

Not positive how it works, but when I went on the beach I dropped it to around 20-25 and the TPMS light was on

 

[dbjasper]

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?

 

[Koz]

I found that locking the center diff gives better traction in the sand and if I’m not mistaken it automatically disables VSC and leave traction control on. Not sure about 5 gen.

Koz

 

[9Hooker]

I found that locking the center diff gives better traction in the sand and if I’m not mistaken it automatically disables VSC and leave traction control on. Not sure about 5 gen.

Koz

We don't have center diffs. We have transfer cases and open front and rear diffs, unless you've got something other than the stanard setup (LTD, TE?)

 

[Koz]

We don't have center diffs. We have transfer cases and open front and rear diffs, unless you've got something other than the stanard setup (LTD, TE?)

Sorry, I forgot I was in the 5th gen forum. That sucks! Lower the air pressure or will not get far in the sand. Try 20 lbs. and if you still are having problems drop it to 15. Make sure you have a portable compressor (Look at output or you be filling tires for a long time) to drive on the pavement after you are done (Like this pump; http://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-85P-Portable-Air-Compressor/dp/B0036E9VB6/ref=pd_sbs_auto_6 ). You will damage the tires if you don't get them back to the normal pressure.

Pump like this

Koz

 

[Ryan_S]

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?

Spent some time on the beach last week, it was stamp sand so it's a little different than regular sand but the idea should apply.

I'd say 4H is the best, you want some speed to keep on top of the sand. Put it in "S" and drop it down to first or second, the only time I've ever gotten stuck in sand was when it was downshifting for me and it hesitated (in my Jeep, not 4R). I had the tires at 36psi, down from the regular 44, but you might want to go lower on soft sand. I used the TE's "mud, sand, dirt", just to see if it was any different. I'd say the traction control didn't beep at me quite as often as it did with multi terrain select off, it only did when I cut the wheel sharply.

 

[M1911]

We don't have center diffs. We have transfer cases and open front and rear diffs, unless you've got something other than the stanard setup (LTD, TE?)

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.

 

[SeattleMike]

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?

Push the needle or buy something like the Staun deflators that take the tires down to a preset pressure.