Driving on Sand (East Coast-Mid Atlantic)

S

Seafury

New member
So I took my new runner to the beach for the 1st time.....what an adventure :surfer:

98' SR5 4x4

It was fun, never got stuck, never had any issues with the runner, she turned 207k otw home from the beach 3 1/2 hours 1 way. Carried me 230lbs, wife 130lbs, stepdaughter 130 lbs, full medium cooler, full small cooler, dual 12's sub box/amp 140lbs, beach tent, dry foods, blankets. No hitch carrier thing, nothing on roof rack. Truck showed minor sag with this load (I know for a fact my rear shocks are gone, front are fair at best)

I aired down to about 18-20psi, had it in 4H the entire time, and I am running General Grabber AT's in I think 265 75 R16 (Raining to heavy outside to check atm)

But I have some questions...

Is it normal for the truck to bounce around side to side driving in the ruts of others? and I mean we almost got sick from running up and down the 35km beach at about 20-30 mph, soft powder sand sometimes damp, either way same result.

I could not get the truck to go even kinda straight to save my life, hell if I went over 30mph we were in danger of spinning out/tipping over the wag was so bad.....

I watched all the big domestic 2500-3500 non-dually rigs with bed campers, lifts and not, big tires and not, plow through all sand like it was pavement....is this simply an issue of weight?

They can plow through and I get pushed around by the sand?
I am stock as far as I can tell minus rims/tires btw.

I do have some wander in my road driving steering, I think I need to tack weld that steering colom telescoping shaft I read about in another thread. My balls and rods are all in good shape (I checked before trip)


So can anyone explain to me how a 3rd gen runner should handle on the beach, please?

:lookout:
 
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i havent taken mine yet but ive driven a bunch of rigs on the beach, last was a 2010 full size quad cab ram, i think everything sways/wanders a bit as its just the nature of the sand. yours sounds like it might be something else if its that bad

edit: 20-30 seems kinda fast to me, i never really go over 10-15 if that
 
That sounds about right, at least what I have experienced with driving on sand. It might have something to do with the 4runner being on a coil sprung rear. The panhard bar in the rear tends to push/pull the axle laterally with suspension travel.

Of course, if you got some stiffer suspension under there, it might handle a little better.

Believe me, from what I have seen from driving on the sand for 25 years, a light Toyota will do much better than a larger truck. The larger trucks tend to dig into the sand very easily. In the past 3 years I've pulled out a Chevy suburban on 33's, a Chevy Silverado on 33's, and an F350 on 37s. Two of which were in the middle of nowhere in Baja, where they had been there for 2 days. ;)
 
Opi said:
i havent taken mine yet but ive driven a bunch of rigs on the beach, last was a 2010 full size quad cab ram, i think everything sways/wanders a bit as its just the nature of the sand. yours sounds like it might be something else if its that bad

edit: 20-30 seems kinda fast to me, i never really go over 10-15 if that
Click to expand...

Some sway I would expect, but even watching my tracks in the mirror I couldn't alter even the soft sand ruts I drove in. It really beat us to hell.....

Truck handles safely (imho) onroad with some wander. Mostly I went about 20mph, affraid to go to slow/stop in the soft sand ruts...... the larger rigs I mentioned would really cruise by fast sometimes, with little movement.


Thanks
 
I notice driving in ruts as you mentioned wether it is snow sand or mud I get bounced around alot side to side. I think what is happening is the side of the tire grabs the wall of the rut and then pushes you away or pulls you into it. Then the natural reaction is to countersteer and you hit the other side of the rut and repeat the process over. On hard pack they tell you not to ride in ruts as it steers you where it wants you to go and not you steering in direction you want. In mud and sand they will tell you to follow the ruts in certain situations because it has already been compacted with better chance for traction. Downside is that the rut steers you around.
 
Seafury said:
My balls and rods are all in good shape (I checked before trip)
Click to expand...

:lmao::boink:

yeah stay out of the ruts next time and try to stay in the clean/virgin sand, i think that will help a lot. i have had my runner on the beach before and was able to drive around in 2wd, had to be very careful with my usage of the throttle but it was doable. so yeah if you leave yours in 4wd all the time while on the sand you should have no issues. i wouldnt worry about it. the less weight you have the less you will notice the swaying. sure those bigger trucks didnt look like they where swaying but i bet if you were inside of them, youd feel like you were about to tip over.
ive had my runner up to about 50 on the beach, it was fine, but you have to be SUPER careful at that speed, sand is so unforgiving, probably the most unforgiving, it can grab a tire and flip you faster than you could even blink or react so yeah i wouldnt do much more than about 30 unless you are used to sand
 
sounds like a great time!!!!!
does anyone have any exp with the check engine light in a 98 4runner?
took to a local garage that ran the code which said.... coolant temp too low to run continuous loop? level is normal and temp is perfect...any ideas?
 
98 4runner mom said:
sounds like a great time!!!!!
does anyone have any exp with the check engine light in a 98 4runner?
took to a local garage that ran the code which said.... coolant temp too low to run continuous loop? level is normal and temp is perfect...any ideas?
Click to expand...

no hi-jacking threads
 
98 4runner mom said:
sounds like a great time!!!!!
does anyone have any exp with the check engine light in a 98 4runner?
took to a local garage that ran the code which said.... coolant temp too low to run continuous loop? level is normal and temp is perfect...any ideas?
Click to expand...

do a search for your issue, use the search box in the upper right section of the screen. see what you come up with, i know you cant post a new thread, but it would be best if you posted your question in a relevant thread or topic, just an fyi
 
In my experience driving in sand you should have aired down much more. I usually sit around 10-12 psi and get much better flotation.
 
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