Towing in sand

Anyone have any experience towing a trailer in the sand. Planning to haul my Hobie catamaran to Cape Cod this summer to do some sailing. Getting an overland beach driving pass for the week and plan to launch right off the beach. Probably have to tow through the coarse loose sand for about 1/2 mile. Just wondering if anyone can give me some tips. Trailer and boat + gear is about 1000 - 1100 pounds. Trailer has 22" tall x 5.3" wide tires. Truck is Sport TRD 4x4 V6 lifted 2.5" via coilovers and AAL with 265/70R17 tires (32"). Should I use 4 low? Plan to air down tires to 10 psi but what about the trailer tires, will that make a difference? Will it be difficult to back up (probably not necessary to back up as I have a beach dolly to move the boat from trailer to water but still wondering). Anything else I might need to consider?

 

I wouldn't worry about the trailer tires. We used to launch a hobie cat at the beach and never aired down the trailer tires.

 

Stay in four hi, and if you feel like you need to air the trailer down too, floatation is the key and you dont want to have to drag the trailer through sand.

 

I would air down the trailer tires too. But if not you should still be fine.

 

Question for my friends here. Why air the tires down? Are they pushing or pulling anything. NOPE! Listen OP dont air the tires down on truck or trailer. Keep it in 4HI. I live on the Gulf and house sits next to beach. Like to spend my weekends picking up a few extra bucks pulling people out of the. If I can pull multiple cars in excess of 5000lbs off the beach without airing down any tires I think you will be ok. Oh just remember the tides!

 

You air down so you spread your weight out more and have less of a chance of sinking. The pressure in your tires is roughly equivilent to the pressure the ground sees from your tires. You get better floatation at 10 psi vs. 30 psi. You may be able to get by without airing down the truck tires in some cases but it depends on the where you are, sand is not the same everywhere.

 

The tire is only 5.3 inches wide. I dont think airing it down is really gonna help considering the truck is dragging it across the sand regardless of how much air is in the tire. The coarse sand is easier to get arond in unlike the fine powder sugar sand we have here. OP you decide and oh remember after you air the tires down dont forget to air them back up for your trip back.

 

... OP air down your tires

 

X2

 

Depending on where you're planning on driving, you'll probably be required to air down. Where are you headed - Race Point? Sandy Neck?

 

x2...Will be much easier with the trailer tires aired down. if you don't it's like pulling a sled through the sand.

If you want to get stuck, listen to this guy ^

 

Headed to Race Point to enter the sand then out to the light house to launch the boat. Family always heads to Herring Cove beach and it's a short sail to Herring Cove from the light house. Thought about launching out of Province town or the Pamet River launch off Depot Rd in Truro but it's a 5 or 8 mile sail to get to Herring Cove from those spots. Figured it would be easier to launch off the beach (National Seashore actually recommended it). Can't take a trailer into Herring Cove parking lot or that would be my first choice. Like I said, I have the dolly to move the boat from trailer to water over the sand.

 

Didn't mean for this to turn into a air down or not debate. I'm airing down the truck for sure. Just wondered about the trailer tires and anything else I might need to know.

 

as light as the trailer is i wouldn't worry about much except airing down the truck tires some. just my .02

 

Air down all tires! Easier on all equipment...