Can my 4Runner handle this?

B

BrandonS

New member
Hey all. The wife and I bought our 4R this past Saturday. It's a regular SR5 4x4. We didn't get any of the fancy offroad features though.

In 2 weeks we are going to going on vacation in it and one of the stops will be the Outer Banks, NC. The one thing I had hoped to do is go up north of Corolla and see the wild horses. They have tours where you get a 4x4 jeep and drive it, but from reading it isn't hard to find the horses.That makes me think I don't need the guide.

So since I have 4 wheel drive, would I be able to drive on the beach or will I sink with the stock tires. I know these vehicles are capable of a lot and it was a selling point to me, but I just am not sure what they are capable of. If I can what pressure should I lower the tires to? I have an accessory ran air pump to put the tires back up to norm when done.
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Your 4Runner will be able to handle the beach. IIRC, there are a few pictures of some members with their 5th gens on some NC beaches. Just air down the tires a bit to provide more surface traction on the sand. I'm sure some others can give you better advice than I as to how much. Colorado isn't known for it's ocean views. ;)
 
Drove mine on the beach at Hatteras completely stock in 4-hi. Air down to around 18 psi and you will be 100% fine.
 
I didn't keep the stock tires on long enough to try them.

However, you do want something better than the wal-mart special 12V air pump to pump the tires back up. The cheap units have neither the air volume, duty cycle, nor heat dissipation to do that job in a reasonable amount of time.

Even a floor pump for mountain bikes will do better.

I have both, and personal experience with that :-/
 
The 4runner is so awesome you won't even need to put it in 4wd or air down!

Seriously though, when you cross the metal grates to get on the beach, make a bee line towards the water (stop before entering the Atlantic). It's pretty much a soft street there. That wouldn't be so fun though. At some point, you're going to want to blast some sand!
 
Same topic, differnt question - If I wanted to take my Limited on the beach with it's massive 7 inch wide rims and low-profile mud tires ( sarcasm).. what can I air them down to for the same kind of beach driving?

Don't have much experience with these kinds of tires - I've only offroaded in my Jeep CJ7 w/ 33's.
 
GP_Pete said:
Same topic, different question - If I wanted to take my Limited on the beach with it's massive 7 inch wide rims and low-profile mud tires ( sarcasm).. what can I air them down to for the same kind of beach driving?

Don't have much experience with these kinds of tires - I've only offroaded in my Jeep CJ7 w/ 33's.
Click to expand...

IMO, do not reduce the air in those tires. Those sidewalls are so small , without proper inflation I fear you will damage the tires themselves, even driving in just sand. In addition, due to the way the tires are built, I do not think you would gain any larger foot print by deflating them, (which is the purpose of deflating other tires while driving in sand). Other more knowledgeable folks may have different opinions or experience's on this issue as I have never owned such tires on a 4x4.
 
GP_Pete said:
Same topic, differnt question - If I wanted to take my Limited on the beach with it's massive 7 inch wide rims and low-profile mud tires ( sarcasm).. what can I air them down to for the same kind of beach driving?

Don't have much experience with these kinds of tires - I've only offroaded in my Jeep CJ7 w/ 33's.
Click to expand...

I saw a limited on Assateague the weekend before last, (I think FlyNavy saw him too), and it didn't look like he aired down or even locked his center diff.

Someone noted that airing down isn't really necessary. He's right, but it increases the chance of getting stuck, which means you have to trot out with boards, the shovel, maybe the lift or whatever. A little bit of work up front can save a lot of hassle. It's up to you - it's not a law made by man, just physics ;)
 
You will need 4WD and to air down! You will not get far in the dry/fine/loose sand without airing down.

On the Limited you should lock the center diff and air down. The tires will be fine.

Make sure you air up before going back on pavement!!!

Koz
 
I took my Limited with stock tires before I got my BFG AT's to the Texas beach and had no problem whatsoever racing around in the sand by the water's edge. I had great traction, and I tried both with and without locked center differential, and it made no difference.

YMMV, I take no responsibility if you drive your truck into the ocean or get stuck in the sand. :)
 
I'm from NC and have been going to the outer banks beaches all my life. I've had every 4x4 I've ever owned on those beaches (Corolla, Oregon Inlet, etc.) and been in many other friends' vehicles on those beaches. I know people that stop and air down their tires but I never have and have never gotten stuck. A lot of it is knowing what areas to try and stay away from - deep ruts, very deep soft sand, etc. Be sure you know the tide schedules if you are going to flirt around with driving by the water. Every year, somebody does that, gets stuck, and the tide comes in before they get unstuck - not fun.

In my opinion, you are in the right vehicle for the job with what it comes with "out of the box". Don't need the other fancy features to go 4 wheeling on a beach.

Most of the vehicles I have driven out there have had little to no modifications, including the tires. They include the following:

Chevy 1500 4x4
Chevy S10 Blazer 4x4
2000 Dodge 1500 4x4
2004 Dodge 1500 4x4
Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4x4
Jeep Cherokee Classic 4x4
Jeep Liberty Limited 4x4
Nissan std. 4x4 pickup
Toyota std. 4x4 pickup
Probably some others I'm forgetting


You can't go wrong letting some air out and filling back up. Just letting you know it can be done without doing that. My tires are filled with Nitrogen so it's a bit more of a pain to let pressure out, put air back in, and then go get them refilled later on.

By the way, there's always some locals around with snatch straps just waiting for a tourist to get stuck so they can save the day and laugh under their breath. :)
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the advice and encouragement on this guys. Looks like I'll forgo renting a Heep.

T4R_Finally said:
You can't go wrong letting some air out and filling back up. Just letting you know it can be done without doing that. My tires are filled with Nitrogen so it's a bit more of a pain to let pressure out, put air back in, and then go get them refilled later on.
Click to expand...

Mine are to. I didn't even think about that. It would be re****ed to fill mine back up with air.
 
Ducmonsta said:
The 4runner is so awesome you won't even need to put it in 4wd or air down!

Seriously though, when you cross the metal grates to get on the beach, make a bee line towards the water (stop before entering the Atlantic). It's pretty much a soft street there. That wouldn't be so fun though. At some point, you're going to want to blast some sand!
Click to expand...

THIS! +1

Okki
 
I'm actually very surprised that so many say no air needs to be removed as I have always been told its the thing to do. Have not taken my Limited on sand yet but the question on my mind was how low to go on the thinner tires.
 
phillyd2 said:
I'm actually very surprised that so many say no air needs to be removed as I have always been told its the thing to do. Have not taken my Limited on sand yet but the question on my mind was how low to go on the thinner tires.
Click to expand...

I bring mine down to 18 psi, not 1 problem.
 
If you've never driven on sand, DON'T WORRY! Just follow the other tracks that you see and remember to look ahead and plan your route. Maintain your momentum. Don't mash the gas, smooth starts. If you start to get stuck, stop, reverse and head forward with a little more momentum.

Don't do this :lookout:
Toyota 4Runner With Surfboards On Top Flips and Rolls on the Beach in Mexico - YouTube

I head down there a lot and always bring mine down to 12psi. Keep a lookout for the high tide flotsam line, and drive either below that or up next to the dunes. So you know, north of Corolla the beach is considered a state road, you will see emergency vehicles up and down the beach. If you're going to stop, park in the middle of the beach, they gave my cousin a ticket for blocking the "road". :lmao:

Have fun, it's awesome up there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 184 (members: 1, guests: 183)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,309
Messages
3,554,071
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top