Taco Doesn't Like The Sand

Let me start by saying that I have quite a bit of beach driving experience. I live on North Carolinas Outer Banks and have driven a 99 CRV, Jeep Cherokee and a 2001 Taco on Hatteras Island. After my 2001 fell victim to rusted frame syndrome. I bought a 2004. I've had it on the beach twice and it doesnt feel right. It feels like the front end is digging in. My 2001 never felt like this. The two differences I see are the 2001 had a camper shell and the 2004 has rear helper springs. I'm thinking that the combination of the lack of weight on the rear axle and the back end being jacked up in the air is causing the rear wheels to skip on the sand rather than push. Anyone else experienced this same situation? Ive attached some pics

 

When I get down there I'll pm you and meet at SOL. I'm long overdue for a trip out to the Gulfstream!

As far as your issue, no idea but when I use to drive my F150 on the beach the sand always seemed a little different depending on which ramp I went on. Not saying it's the sand, could the tire tread have something to do with it?

 

Not a real aggressive tread. In the summer the sand is always cut up at the ramps and you just have to go. A for example of my situation is: Parked at the shore on a flat spot. Sand is moderately packed. Tailgate towards the water. When it's time to go she wants to dig in.

 

No one else?

 

Do you air down ?

 

Holy crap, I hope you don't let that one succumb to any more rust than it has already.

With that said, those tires don't look like they'll catch traction even on the streets.

And as mentioned above, airing down significantly helps.

I air down my E-load tires to 12psi on dirt/rock.

 

That front end looks off to me. Has it been aligned recently? How does it drive on road? I’m sorta wondering if an out of adjustment front could be dragging more than it should.

 

I would try airing down more so your tires float more.

 

Ha I’m in the outer banks now

 

Those look like stock leafs with an extended shackle. I would swap back to stock length shackles, if you don't want the rake, and see what happens.

 

There is a video on YouTube of a guy in the dunes with his Nissan Frontier 2wd. Dude put a set of 30 inch paddles with a 1 inch cup on it and climbed the hill like it wasn’t even there. Sounds like you spend a fair amount of time in the sand so investing in some tires designed for it might be worth while. Maybe not a full paddle but looks like you are running a dedicated road tire. Maybe something like the Baja kr2.

 

Where might I find stock shackles at a decent price?

 

Alignment is recent. She's good on the road.

 

I have a set that are nearly new. Removed after my frame replacement when I put on my OME suspension. I'll give them to you for the price of the shipping. PM me if you are interested. May be a day or three till I get back to you, as I am going off the grid.