Driving on the beach question

[fastfredracing]

We are planning our yearly voyage to Frisco, North Carolina ( outer banks southern shores). We have been going there for the last 15 years or so. You are allowed to drive on the beach there, and I have always wanted to do this. We would love to drive up the beach past Duck and Corrolla, and spend a night camping out in the dunes.
I have a 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I sort of had given to me, and I am thinking of taking it this year. The jeep is my new beater, and would be perfect for a beach vacation . We can beat the snot out of it, get sand all through it , haul sruf boards, spill drinks in it etc...
Will a grand cherokee on stock wheels, and highway type tires go pretty good in the deep sand???. I know it goes like hell in the woods the way it is. I see all of the fisherman down there have huge tires and wheels. I am not planning on doing any serious 4 wheelin', just wouldn't mind cruising up the beach 5-10 miles or so, and finding a nice spot to camp for the night.
I'm hoping I can just air down the tires and go. Just dont want to be that stupid tourist paying for a $400.00 tow to get my dumb yankee arse pulled of the sand.

[924slover]

depends on the tire but in deep sand you really want a wider tire not so much a taller tire. the wider tire will give you more float on the sand. stock tires might or might not work it depends on the sand some beaches are softer than others, some beaches you can take a car across without a problem but others a 4x4 truck has trouble cause the sand is just too soft and fine. If you go take all supplies towrope, couple of wooden planks, a jack, and a shovel. my old land cruiser would go through anything and it only had 31's and it was stock but the tires were wider and allowed it to float. GO PREPARED cause a tow out of the sand costs a LOT!!!!

[johnco]

little secret I've learned working with lots of sand and driving in sand pits... if stuck in dry sand, pour a little water around the tire to wet the sand and out you go. down here they dredge the river and pump the sand into pits where it can be 15-20 ft deep or more. too dry, I get stuck with a couple yards in the bed.. too wet, I can't even get out there. damp sand.... no problem. learned that from a dump truck driver that got stuck on my jobs many times

[Gordo2]

Been there a few times in my old '87 Land Cruiser with 31's (and towed my share of vehicles out).

Most people get stuck right off the bat trying to get to the surf zone. You have to make a run across a 40 yard area of thick, loose sand to get to the hard packed tidal area. Most people who end up stuck there are in rental 4WD's/cars labeled as 4WD's. Your Jeep shouldn't have a problem. Breaking down is a different issue; vehicles (engine and transmissions) tend to run hot trudging through sand, so make sure your vehicle is up to it if you plan to head too far north.

For crossing the sandy area, I recommend dropping your tire pressure down to ~ 15psi and making a run at it; don't slow down. If you get stuck, the wreckers are waiting$$$.

Have a good time, its great to be away from the masses.

Gordo

[willtel]

As long as you air your tires down and pay attention to your momentum you should be fine. If you are worried about it a few sand ladders can be picked up pretty cheap.

What area are you going to? I have heard of one place that lets you car camp right on the sand but I can't remember the name of it. I think we may make a trip out there this year in my wife's Xterra, we usually go to Western NC but it would be fun to camp on the beach.

[mattdavis11]

As Johnco says, pour water around the tires if you get stuck. Ride the tide line. My old Ram Charger made several 60 mile runs down the beach on stock/hwy tires.

[artplumber]

Can't say I've tried it in exactly the same situation, but doesn't sound like a great idea. Fully loaded vehicle on street tires in soft sand? Know anyone with a tricked out truck that you can buddy up with? Otherwise, get some wide off road tires on ugly rims for cheap insurance.

[mattdavis11]

I was pulling a boat on a trailer, just stay off the really soft sand. Tricked out on the beach is a truck with rod holders.

[dad911]

We used to bring a 4wd suburban on the sand. Dropped the tire pressure, and carried some boards/planks to put under the jacks & tires when stuck.

[sailchef]

I have a Jeep Cherokee and and take it out on the Delaware beaches to do a little surf fishin'.
I have all terrain street tires. 15-16 PSI looks like your tires are commin off the rims but this is highly recommended. Obviously take your safety gear, tow strap, shovel, small 12X12 peice of plywood to put under jack to lift car in sand, that and the water trick will get you out of allmost anything. Have this gear easily accessible.
Keep going on soft sand and when you slow down /stop do it easy don't brake hard as you can dig yourself a nice little hole. Wait for someone else and follow along behind. I've found that people out on the beach help each other when stuck. It's all part of the adventure.

Have fun, stay safe.

[sailchef]

Oh yeh, make sure everything inside the vehichle is secured with bungees. Bouncing around on the sand will have everything flying around in the cargo area. Don't wanna spill that Ice chest.

[berettafan]

aggressive off road tires are horrible in the sand, your street tires will be fine as you do not want to dig down. there is no bottom.

air down.

air down.

air down.

air down.

once in the sand:

keep moving

plan ahead for turns, none sharp

if you get stuck don't just spin the wheels.

running closer to the water (wet sand) is a LOT easier.

when leaving:

air up

good rinsing under the truck

[berettafan]

0h, don't brake at all if you can help it

[Mrmerlin]

I took my FJ40 Landcruiser to Pismo beach , lots of fine grain sand, anyway i tried to go up a big hill and could make it up about half way, I had bigger/wider tires that had been aired down to 12 psi.
One of the regulars cam over and asked why i could not make it to the top, i told him i was losing traction, his suggestion air down to 2 psi, since I had a air compressor on board I figured OK why not, so i got my lo pressure tire gauge out and the valve stem remover and let out the air, the tires looked low but they were not flat.
Anyway i tried the hill again and i made it right up to the top like nothing, no drama it was almost easy.
That said if your getting stuck with 15 PSI try lowering the pressure , its amazing how much different the tires work with a lower air pressure.
Have an onboard compressor in your travel kit as well as a tire plug kit in case you pick up a nail

[fastfredracing]

Thanks for the replies, I think I will be in good shape, I may have to add a few items to my road trip arsenal( I always take tools, air compressor, cables, tow strap etc.... The tires that are on it now appear to have a pretty nice flat footprint, if aired down, and If I use some common sense,, I should be O.K..
I am not worried at all about cruising up the beach along the surf, its just that the beach access ramp for vehicles is about 400 yards long of deep soft sand.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I am not worried at all about cruising up the beach along the surf

If you're gonna ride along in that area, try to do it when the tide is receding. That way if something happens, you're not in such a time crunch.

Buddy of mine stalled his mid-70's Scout trying to cross a wash one night near Garden City, SC as the tide was coming in, and we almost didn't get it outta there before it was taken by the tide. There were four of us. They left me with it while they all ran off in different directions to flag down somebody with a winch.

The breakers were beginning to slap the lower parts of the body panels as they left... he told us later he'll never forget that sight.


They found somebody and my bud had to endure (what he considered) the ultimate insult:

Being rescued by a Bronco. Heh heh.

Along with the winch, it two boat anchors, each on 20-30 feet of chain... one on each end of the front bumper. This type... I don't know the name:

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=33575&pdesc=Fortress_Lightweight_Aluminum_Anchors&cname=Anchors&aID=602A&merchID=1009&r=view

They were deployed out to each side, towards the rear at a 45 degree angle outward. The guy set them, then drove forward to dig them in, then hooked up the winch and pulled the Scout right out.

Had to pop the drain plugs to get the water out of the floor areas... the breakers were halfway up the doors by the time it was pulled out.