First Beach Ride

[Redsoxx1918]

Took my first beach ride yesterday. East Beach in Charlestown, RI. You can only drive directly on the beach starting in the fall so you don't interfere with the breeding of the Piping Plovers. We're very environmentally responsible here.

You have to drive on the sand beach trails and there are plenty of parking spots that allow you access to the beach on one side and the salt pond in the other. The salt pond offers some great kayaking and clamming.

The pictures don't do the trails justice. The sand is super fine and super soft and about a foot deep in most places. At some of the trail intersections it's well over a foot deep. I aired down to 20psi and disabled all traction and stability control. I took the advice from an earlier post of mine where a lifeguard with 9 years experience driving on the beach said to disable all traction aids. I wanted to try it both ways to see the difference but I didn't wanna risk getting stuck. I got through no problem and just stayed on the gas and built up some speed to blast through the really deep spots at the intersections. The 4Runner did great though and I never felt as though I was going to get stuck.

I'm gonna come back soon with my grill and my kayaks.

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[cjacob316]

Stock tires?
I'll be doing something similar in July to try and get to some flats and oyster beds to do some fly fishing. Can't wait.

 

[ECUDrummer]

Will be doing it for my first time next month at the OBX (Corolla, specifically). Might ride down to Hatteras if I get a wild inkling, but they require a permit. Corolla's beach driving is technically a state road, so no permit and no gear requirements mandated by the authorities.

 

[Ohio Hawk]

Will be doing it for my first time next month at the OBX (Corolla, specifically). Might ride down to Hatteras if I get a wild inkling, but they require a permit. Corolla's beach driving is technically a state road, so no permit and no gear requirements mandated by the authorities.

[MENTION=128138]ECUDrummer[/MENTION] make sure you continue on the beach to Corova, it is north of Corolla. If I remember correctly, the state Route (beach road) extends about 11 miles. There are numerous turn offs into small developments along the way. There are plenty of great sights to see. Enjoy your trip!

 

[ECUDrummer]

[MENTION=128138]ECUDrummer[/MENTION] make sure you continue on the beach to Corova, it is north of Corolla. If I remember correctly, the state Route (beach road) extends about 11 miles. There are numerous turn offs into small developments along the way. There are plenty of great sights to see. Enjoy your trip!

Will do! I've never driven it before but rode shotgun a few years back. 11 miles sounds about right from what I can remember. Going the week of July 4th, so I anticipate seeing plenty of bros with their lifted F-250s getting stuck because they don't know how to air down.

 

[Redsoxx1918]

Stock tires?
I'll be doing something similar in July to try and get to some flats and oyster beds to do some fly fishing. Can't wait.

Yes. Stock tires.

 

[Chipper78]

Will do! I've never driven it before but rode shotgun a few years back. 11 miles sounds about right from what I can remember. Going the week of July 4th, so I anticipate seeing plenty of bros with their lifted F-250s getting stuck because they don't know how to air down.

The sand up there isn't to bad to drive on at all. It's packed pretty hard and it looks like a road. Its weird if you want to fish or swim you have to park in the middle and poeple either drive by right by the water or way up by the dunes. Down around Hatteras is where it's really soft. Ramp 44 and 49 are the softest I've ever driven on. I go every year and last year was the first with the 4Runner and I was very pleased with how it did, bone stock. We actually drove on beaches on Ocracoke island, Hatteras Island and all the way from where the pavement ends in Corrola to Corova last year, 4Runner was great. I aired down to 18 psi for all locations and did okay. Had to use Atrac at ramp 44 but that was the only spot I had issues, and even that was pretty drama free. Have fun and post lots of pics.

 

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[mgreen6616]

Will do! I've never driven it before but rode shotgun a few years back. 11 miles sounds about right from what I can remember. Going the week of July 4th, so I anticipate seeing plenty of bros with their lifted F-250s getting stuck because they don't know how to air down.

You have probably already done it but if you haven't, go to Carova Beach Park on your drive up SR12 and see the wild horses. You can drive Wild Horse Lane to the big open area of land and usually see several of the wild horses in one place.

 

[LR Max]

Will do! I've never driven it before but rode shotgun a few years back. 11 miles sounds about right from what I can remember. Going the week of July 4th, so I anticipate seeing plenty of bros with their lifted F-250s getting stuck because they don't know how to air down.

Took my dad's Yukon Denali out to Portsmouth Island years and years ago. All stock with mostly bald street tires. Aired down to 18 psi and never had a problem. I think that is the key, just getting the air pressure down. Didn't have any issues in the powder nor the beach nor the hard packed stuff. I'm hoping to finish up repairing the suspension damage on my 4Runner by the end of June and head down to Daytona.

On the Island by Max Thomason, on Flickr

 

[ECUDrummer]

Took my dad's Yukon Denali out to Portsmouth Island years and years ago. All stock with mostly bald street tires. Aired down to 18 psi and never had a problem. I think that is the key, just getting the air pressure down. Didn't have any issues in the powder nor the beach nor the hard packed stuff. I'm hoping to finish up repairing the suspension damage on my 4Runner by the end of June and head down to Daytona.

On the Island by Max Thomason, on Flickr

That is absolutely key. For what it's worth, there are several youtube videos by a group called "Oregon Inlet Idiots" that show people that show ignorance or stupidity when going on the sand at OBX.

 

[Gtoninn]

Rhode Island!!

Good to see that there are people here actually getting there 4Runner dirty!

I will be getting a 4Runner soon so hope to see you out there at some point!

 

[LR Max]

That is absolutely key. For what it's worth, there are several youtube videos by a group called "Oregon Inlet Idiots" that show people that show ignorance or stupidity when going on the sand at OBX.

YAS I LOVE OREGON INLET IDIOTS. Haven't seen anything new from them in a while. But I may or may not have sat there and watched their videos on the big screen...

 

[Nervo19]

I always wanted to go to Portsmouth Island. It is an abandoned town for those who don't know. I've heard the mosquitoes are terrible there. I'm sitting here in the OBX waiting to drive home. :Cry: Here's a link to OBX driving info. Not to take away from the impressive Rhode Island beach driving:

Driving in the Sand Info | OBX Connection Message Board

P.S. I saw a bumper sticker in Chincoteague a few years ago that said: "Piping Plover Tastes Like Chicken!". You'd have to see the crapped out native truck it was on to really get a laugh. Those little birds have real estate everywhere.

 

[991-GT3MJK]

Truck was engineered for the sand,desert,you shouldnt have any issues!! I didnt

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[Cymon]

Truck was engineered for the sand,desert,you shouldnt have any issues!! I didnt

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Where is that, anywhere closer to Ft. Lauderdale than Daytona to drive on the beach?

 

[757blackout]

We are heading down to try out the beaches just past Rodanthe on 4th of July weekend. We are really excited to get the runner dirty!


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[Redsoxx1918]

I always wanted to go to Portsmouth Island. It is an abandoned town for those who don't know. I've heard the mosquitoes are terrible there. I'm sitting here in the OBX waiting to drive home. :Cry: Here's a link to OBX driving info. Not to take away from the impressive Rhode Island beach driving:



Driving in the Sand Info | OBX Connection Message Board



P.S. I saw a bumper sticker in Chincoteague a few years ago that said: "Piping Plover Tastes Like Chicken!". You'd have to see the crapped out native truck it was on to really get a laugh. Those little birds have real estate everywhere.

Omg! I'd love to get one of those!


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[Redsoxx1918]

Rhode Island!!



Good to see that there are people here actually getting there 4Runner dirty!



I will be getting a 4Runner soon so hope to see you out there at some point!

Sounds good. In the fall, after plover season, you can get right out onto the beach.

Anyone know of any beaches on the cape that you can drive on?


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[LR Max]

I always wanted to go to Portsmouth Island. It is an abandoned town for those who don't know. I've heard the mosquitoes are terrible there. I'm sitting here in the OBX waiting to drive home. :Cry: Here's a link to OBX driving info. Not to take away from the impressive Rhode Island beach driving:

Driving in the Sand Info | OBX Connection Message Board

P.S. I saw a bumper sticker in Chincoteague a few years ago that said: "Piping Plover Tastes Like Chicken!". You'd have to see the crapped out native truck it was on to really get a laugh. Those little birds have real estate everywhere.

Portsmouth was cool. We weren't camping and after 4~6 hours, I was done being out there.

Just plan on coming back on the ferry in the evening. They are on island time...and heck they even forgot me.

Also learned a very valuable lesson: never go to an island with people you don't like.