driving on the beach

Just bought a 2006 Tacoma trd sport prerunner. I'm not going to be doing much oddroad but there is a beach nearby Carolina beach northshore that 4x4 is recommended. Can my Tacoma handle this??

 

Hey, just air down the rear tires to 15-20 psi and you should be fine.

 

Thanks toyotaman29.....nice looking truck, looking forward to doing some mods to mine.

 

A Prerunner is 2WD, so not as easy as just airing down... but you will want to keep up momentum, don't stop or turn suddenly, stop only on wet sand or facing downhill if you do stop on sand. Air pressure may need to be closer to 10 psi (on all 4 tires), not just the rear tires... Advise trying it the first time with a companion vehicle that has 4WD and a tow strap. The advise is based on a lifetime of beach driving, but on the west and gulf coast of Baja California with deep sand and steep beaches. If you have a beach that is flat, hard sand, then no worries. It is the deep, dry stuff that you often need to cross to get to the low tide wet sand. Just zip across the dry sand using momentum!

See 32 psi vs. 15 psi in sand: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/of...a-beach-4wd-32-psi-15-psi-see-difference.html

 

Welcome to TW

 

Thanks David and Hollywood!!!!!

 

Cheers. I do recall reading a thread recently where someone used chains for driving on the beach if I'm not mistaken. That may be an option if you find yourself stuck. Also you may want to invest in a different tire. What tires are you running now?

Although I'm sure Dave would have mentioned the chains seeing as he has been driving on the beach for many years. I am nowhere close to the beach or sand for that matter. Snow is all I see as of late. Good luck.

 

The trick to beach driving in soft sand is to FLOAT on top, not to bite your way through. That is why bald, flat tires work great... and stiff sidewall, mud/snow terrain tires dig you to your death (in sand)! So no on the chains for sand.

 

I often drive on Atlantic Beach. Just keep up momentum and stay out of the soft stuff. I have 4x4 but i do drive on the beach in 2wd and can make it up the ramp in 2 wheel. Just dont stop or floor it in the soft stuff.

Good luck

 

Watch the tides! I've seen unprepared inexperienced drivers get swallowed up fast. Most the beaches in Washington can be driven with anything even some big RVs as long as you stay out of the soft stuff. I have 4x4 but rarely use it besides where it gets really soft but still not needed if you keep momentum. That's the northwest coast though.

 

There you go! Don't listen to me. Lol!!! Maybe someday I'll get to drive on the sand. (And not get stuck)

 

It's a learned skill... and you learn real fast in sand!

Now, as I mentioned, there are different kinds of sand and the humidity or moisture from the outgoing tide will affect greatly how easy it is to drive on.

The wide, flat beaches many states have are little different than parking lot driving... firm and not a problem in 2WD.

Deep, dry sand that is above the high tide line or steep beaches with sand that doesn't compact because of coral, sea shell or gravel mixed in is where my advice comes into play! This is the sand of beaches in Baja California on the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortés) coast and a few other places, too.