Outer banks driving tips?

[jgmx893]

I'll be down in that area on memorial day weekend (next weekend) and I'll be driving on the Carova 4x4 area for the first time. Anyone have any specific tips for that area/type of sand? I think I'll probably start with about 15psi and see how it goes. I'll definitely bring a shovel and a tow strap. That's about all I've planned so far.
Also, if anyone else will be down there and wants to come wheel it would be cool.

 

[zopperman]

I didn't air down when I was there. VSC off if you have the mod, otherwise lock the CDL to disable VSC. Traction control is a pain. It's pretty easy to drive in..

 

[jgmx893]

Thanks, didn't remember just how finicky traction control is. I'll probably leave the CDL off until I decide to drive up through the thick stuff/into any back road areas. Or maybe do the disable mod next week if I have time.

 

[Nervo19]

I didn't air down when I was there.

Locals have pretty colorful words for those out of towners who don't air down. It creates a washboard effect in the trails. I own a house in the OBX and am down most weekends and all of one month every year for the past eight. Carova is pretty much a road that happens to be sand. It used to be fun but there's too many people IMO. You'll probably still have fun.

I got a cheap Viair compressor that makes airing back up really easy. It's only $68. It came from Amazon really fast. Harbor Freight has something comparable. Air down to 15 before you get to the ramp. Do not stop on the ramp. A lot of people stop there and get stuck. Visibility by the on coming vehicles is bad and you run the risk of getting rear ended. Don't stop in the tracks of the other vehicles. Watch out for pedestrians. Memorial Day weekend is among the busiest. I only off road before Memorial Day and after Labor Day for a reason. The traffic from the bridge in Kitty Hawk to Corolla/Carova is bumper to bumper stop and go all summer long. I'd still rather go to Carova than pay $50 for a permit for Hatteras though. If you don't bring your own air the closest is a pay compressor at Wink's and last time I tried to use it, it was broken.

http://www.amazon.com/Viair-00088-8...00116510&sr=1-1&keywords=viair+air+compressor

Sorry for the huge pic. It's actually smaller in person than this photo.

A thread by a local:

http://www.obxconnection.com/outer-banks-forum/forum-thread.aspx?Thread=53010

Also check out the Oregon Inlet Idiots Facebook page. There's plenty there pertaining to Carova.

 

[Lineman]

I didn't air down when I was there. VSC off if you have the mod, otherwise lock the CDL to disable VSC. Traction control is a pain. It's pretty easy to drive in..

Why didn't you air down? It's stated everywhere to do it. It doesn't make your Runner less capable or seem weak. Plus it saves your transmission.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

I think the guy with the shovel is covering the rig rather than uncovering it.:wink2:

 

[zopperman]

Why didn't you air down? It's stated everywhere to do it. It doesn't make your Runner less capable or seem weak. Plus it saves your transmission.

I didn't see any signs for it though, I was at Corolla. My OBA had a short I couldn't find and I had a long drive back to PA and everything was closed and I wasn't trying to drive around at 20 PSI on pavement with the notoriously weak duratrac sidewall looking for an open gas station on a Sunday evening in winter.

 

[T4RT]

Locals have pretty colorful words for those out of towners who don't air down. It creates a washboard effect in the trails. I own a house in the OBX and am down most weekends and all of one month every year for the past eight. Carova is pretty much a road that happens to be sand. It used to be fun but there's too many people IMO.

[MENTION=53465]Nervo19[/MENTION] isn't joking about the Washboard effect. I was down on Mother's Day and you could see who was running fully aired tires just from their tracks. Honestly it is harder on the vehicle to run with your tires aired up verses aired down. I also agree that the traffic on the beach from Corolla to Carova has picked up more now since a pass is required to drive on the beaches further south.
[MENTION=97462]jgmx893[/MENTION] check out this link to some pictures I took this weekend. I will we down picking up my pass to allow me to access Oregon inlet and the Cape Hatteras National seashore on Saturday. I will be further south this year for Memorial Day but if I am up your way I will keep a look out.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1703820-post4426.html

 

[Guitarplaya39]

Ive only been on the Hatteras National Seashore from OI to OI (Oregon Inlet to Ocracoke Island). Airing down definitely makes it much easier to glide around on the soft sand, but the last couple times, I didnt air down at all. I just took it real easy. Constant speed without hitting the accel too hard. I guess I got lucky last time after all the rain so alot of the beach was nicely packed down. If you feel like the truck is bogging down, and ya gotta keep the RPM up to keep moving, its probably a good idea to air down. The truck can get overheated easily since there's less air moving through the radiator at low speeds.
Just remember the "ORV" permit... The NPS down there is brutal. And whatever you do, do not cross over into the BIRD ZONE!
Save the birds! :sniper:

 

[jgmx893]

[MENTION=53465]Nervo19[/MENTION] isn't joking about the Washboard effect. I was down on Mother's Day and you could see who was running fully aired tires just from their tracks. Honestly it is harder on the vehicle to run with your tires aired up verses aired down. I also agree that the traffic on the beach from Corolla to Carova has picked up more now since a pass is required to drive on the beaches further south.
[MENTION=97462]jgmx893[/MENTION] check out this link to some pictures I took this weekend. I will we down picking up my pass to allow me to access Oregon inlet and the Cape Hatteras National seashore on Saturday. I will be further south this year for Memorial Day but if I am up your way I will keep a look out.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1703820-post4426.html

Nice pictures, looks like y'all had a fun time. If you see me it will be in the afternoon driving around either corolla/duck/kitty hawk. Gonna make the trip up to this place called duck donuts at one point, it's pretty good . But yea, shadow mica w/o running boards and a 3ft antenna off the hood, and blacked out center caps. Not easy to miss me if your a 4runner fanatic lol. I'll keep an eye out for you too.

Thanks everyone else for the tips too. I'll definitely look into a compressor in the future, I can see how it would come in handy in a lot of scenarios.

 

[Nervo19]

jg, there's a Duck Donuts in KDH now. You can avoid the northern beach madness. It's next to Slice Pizza, across from Captain Gorge's MP9? maybe. I love the compressor I pictured above. The cords are long enough to reach all the wheels and it runs great. You are supposed to run the engine while you use it. All the bikes and soccer balls are fully inflated thanks to my son who has mastered it. Have fun.

 

[T4RT]

Nice pictures, looks like y'all had a fun time. If you see me it will be in the afternoon driving around either corolla/duck/kitty hawk. Gonna make the trip up to this place called duck donuts at one point, it's pretty good . But yea, shadow mica w/o running boards and a 3ft antenna off the hood, and blacked out center caps. Not easy to miss me if your a 4runner fanatic lol. I'll keep an eye out for you too.

Thanks! I will keep a look out. Unfortunately I don't have anything unique to distinguish me from every other 5th Gen Blizzard Pearl on the road. Since my wife drives the Runner daily, I don't have as much room for modifications as I would like...YET!

jg, there's a Duck Donuts in KDH now. You can avoid the northern beach madness. It's next to Slice Pizza, across from Captain Gorge's MP9? maybe.

There are 6 Duck Donuts locations now believe it or not. You have options that is for sure depending on where you go in the banks.

Duck Donuts Locations / Hours » Duck Donuts

Duck Donuts – Corolla, NC
Duck Donuts – Duck, NC
Duck Donuts – Kill Devil Hills, NC
Duck Donuts – Kitty Hawk
Duck Donuts – Williamsburg, VA
Duck Donuts – Virginia Beach, VA

Their Maple Donuts are pretty good!

 

[jgmx893]

jg, there's a Duck Donuts in KDH now. You can avoid the northern beach madness. It's next to Slice Pizza, across from Captain Gorge's MP9? maybe. I love the compressor I pictured above. The cords are long enough to reach all the wheels and it runs great. You are supposed to run the engine while you use it. All the bikes and soccer balls are fully inflated thanks to my son who has mastered it. Have fun.

Wow, didn't know they expanded to KDH. I'll probably just go to that one then, I'm sure the traffic will be crazy if I tried to go to the one in Duck.
Another thumb up for the maple donuts, good stuff especially if you eat them while they're still hot off the machine:biggrin1:.

 

[Nervo19]

I've heard they're opening one in Richmond. They're okay but I consider them a beach thing.

Back on track. Everyone have a great long weekend! If you see me wave!