Driving in the Sand

[BigDogMoney]

Never actually driven in the sand before. I've read a few threads here about PSI and driving on sand, but is anybody aware if you would need to drive in 4LO, or lock the differential? I plan on driving on the Jersey beaches if the type of sand makes a big difference. In one of the threads a person mentioned driving in the 20 MPH range on the beach, and I believe 18 is the limit when locking the diff.

Thanks!

 

[BigDogMoney]

Thanks Mark. I think the air pump station is about a mile or two from the beach access point. I saw some pics of some people in the sand with their Runners and it almost doesn't look like they've aired down at all. Anyway, I guess I'll go with 15PSI and see how that works. If I feel the vehicle struggling, maybe I'll drop it down to 12, but since I have a mile or two to drive on a paved road to air back up, I don't want to set the pressure too low. I'll be going alone (the only 4-wheel drive car), so do you have any advice for the novice beach goer?

 

[dcampen]

and I believe 18 is the limit when locking the diff.

There is no limitation on speed due to the center differential being locked.

Anyway, I guess I'll go with 15PSI and see how that works.

Airing down to 15 psi may not help a lot compared to standard street pressure. If you only have a couple of miles perhaps you could wait and only air down if you get stuck.

 

[BigDogMoney]

I'll try that. I'll pressure down if I need to. So, I should be in 4Hi with the diff locked - should I be in a certain gear, like 2nd?

Thanks for your help.

 

[rando]

...also you can always buy a $50 air compressor to refill your tires or least bring the pressure high enough to safely drive to a service station.

 

[SHICKS]

I'm from NH too. I'll be going to cape cod next week and hope to drive in sand. Tire pressure at 15psi is good, but I am worried about the stupid traction and skid control. I know how it behaves in deep snow, I don't want to get stuck in the sand.

I went on a beach once when I had a Ranger with 33inch tires. I left it in 2wd and cracked the transfer case from stress. Oh well.

Steve

 

[Guest]

locking the diff is all you need to do. Leave it in 4hi. You don't need 4lo unless you are going up/down STEEP dunes.

12-15psi is ok especially if air is only a mile or two down the road. Just drive slowly and corner slowly.

Don't turn while on a dune incline or decline- you can roll over if it's steep enough or you are carrying too much speed.

Try to be easy on the brakes so you don't dig into the sand when you stop.

I have aired down to 5-10psi which is great for traction. You float on the sand, which is what you want to do.

If you get stuck don't be afraid to air way down, it really helps.

 

[live4swell]

I am far from experienced but i have been driving on the beach a lot this month and I air down to 20 psi and have no real problems. I don't lock the diff and stay in 4Hi and again have had no problems. So far so good. Good luck with it...i love it, its a lot of fun

 

[lojeff]

Where in NJ?

I'm from NJ and I'm guessing you are going to Island Beach State Park (IBSP) as it is one of only a couple open for beach access during the summer months.

If so, I have a 04 4runner that I use on that beach. My suggestions: air down to about 15psi, keep it in 4-HI, lock differential (which also automatically shuts down the vehicle stability control) and keep it to about 15 mph. You'll love it. In addition, if you use the middle (2nd of 3) beach access entrance, the air compressor is less than 50 yards from the sand.

Good luck with the fishing.

As for Cape Cod, I spend time there too. It appears that the sand and dunes in the Cape make travel much more difficult. I go down to 11-12 psi on the Cape. Once I tried to get away with 15 psi and stuggled with some dunes. After deflating more, I had no problems with the basic dunes. (Some were too much for me to try being out there solo)

Have fun!!!

 

[BigDogMoney]

Thanks all for your help and suggestions. Lojeff, yes I'm going to Island Beach. I was there with a couple friends years ago, and we had a camper which had no problems in the sand. We actually had a clam bake which was a blast. I'm not sure if you're allowed to build a fire on the beach (for some reason I don't think you are), but we dug a pit in the sand, lined the bottom with rocks and built a fire on top. After the fire burned down to ashed we threw on corn, potatoes, sausage, chicken, clams, lobster tail, mussels - man, just thinking about makes my mouth water. Anyway, I want to try and do that with the wife.

Mark, thanks for your suggestions - I think I'll go with 15 PSI since the compressor is so close to one of the access points. It seems that most folks on this site suggest to air-down. I suppose more ground coverage is desired when in the sand, but I will experiment.

I'll post pics when I get back. Thanks!

 

[lojeff]

When are you heading down to NJ? I may raid your claim-bake. That sounds great!!!


If you use that middle beach entrance and head south, you can build a fire. Once you get closer to the southern tip, fires are prohibited but there is a sign clearly showing the end of the permitted area.

There is nothing better than a little fishing, some beer... (oops, I mean soda, we all know alcohol is prohibited on IBSP) and a fire after the sun goes down.

As for your claimbake, do you line the bottom of the pit with anything or just use the corn as a base for everthing else? More details please!!!!

 

[BigDogMoney]

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it, although it will only be a day trip; sometime soon. I'll keep my eye out for the second entrance - thanks.

One of the most important things is to get the rocks really hot so a second batch of wood might be necessary. I think instead of wood I'll bring charcoal. After the rocks are nice and hot (usually it takes about 1-1.5 hours, depending on the size of the rocks), you start to layer the food. The items that take longer to cook, you throw on the bottom, like potatoes, corn, onions, etc. (Wrap everything in aluminum foil.) Then you put on some seaweed over the layer for steam. On top of this first layer you might want to put like sausage, marinated chicken breast, maybe some broccoli; then more seaweed over top. The last layer is usually your quick things like clams, mussels, lobster. You top the final layer again with more seaweed, then over that put on a heavy cloth tarp, or some thick cloth material that you've soaked in the ocean. Snug the edges in real nice, and then cover the whole thing with sand. Wait about 1.5 hours (or, check the first layer to see if it's good and done), and then uncover everything. It's a wonderful experience. I'll post some pics.

 

[kimboy]

Qustion regarding compressors.

Does condensation usually occur while reinflating your tires? While checking my tire pressure I realized that the tip of the compressor was cold, and that there was moisture.

Is this a bad thing to have?

 

[Thai]

Here is a basic thread on off-road driving:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17

Just scroll down for sand driving techniques.

 

[BigDogMoney]

Thanks for the links Thai. I actually read a few of those before I braved the sand, which I decided to do yesterday. I have pics and will post them soon. It was a great time, and something I will do again. One thing I will say, drawing on my vast experience of one excursion through the sand, is that a lower PSI seems to make a world of a difference. I didn't try tackling the sand with street pressure because I was a little apprehensive about getting stuck, so I lowered my tires to 18PSI. The access road, or trail, to the beach had deep, worn tracks. I did not have any problems while I was in the tracks, but when I tried to get out of the tracks, and onto the firm sand, I simply could not pull myself out of the steepness of the tracks. I accelerated to about 15-17 mph, and sort of jumped out of the tracks, using momented to propel me forward. Anyway, when I left the beach I decided to go down to 15PSI - what a difference 3PSI makes. The vehicle drove through and over those tracks with a lot less difficulty. Next time I will try 12PSI. I will also try street pressure just to see what that gets me.

 

[.o2 Lost Hiker]

I drive the beaches here in Washington and Oregon, last weekend I towed a stuck Honda Passport off the sand, this will be the 3rd time I tow someone stuck in that same area each time me and my daughter go to the beach. When I drive on the sand, I keep mine on 4High with the VSC on off position. When I tow the stuck vehicles, I put on 4LO and VSC off. Seems to work.
And It's fun. I have a 65MB video of me towing out that stuck Honda passport but it's too big of a file to post. Hahahaha.

Check out my pics to see some sand driving.

- Manuel in WAshington State.