About a month or so ago I was on Padre Island National Sea Shore determined to go to the end. It is supposedly the longest undeveloped continuously drivable beach in the country. Its approximately 60 miles of pure sand one way and 60 miles back. Most of it isn't too loose, but there are some spots that are very soft. Needles to say I was thinking about sand driving techniques. Near the end, last 20 miles or so, I decided to turn off the OD (tow/haul on). I had never heard it mentioned on sand driving technique lists. Anybody think this is a good idea for prolonged deep sand driving. My theory is that it will force the engine to remain in gear longer putting less stress and heat on the transmission. I did notice a slight decrease in transmission temperature, but I was also coming out of the softer sand. SO I'm not sure. Any one have any thoughts on this. Would anybody recommend it or not?Or is my logic not really logical?
I'd like to make a thread with listing tips and tricks for beach/sand driving. Does anybody else have any special techniques or wisdom for sand/beach driving they'd like to add?


2WD when able (to save gas),
4HI/4Auto
Air down
Keep momentum up
Only brake on hard pack
OD off
Recovery gear (shovel, boards, tow straps)

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(The worst thing you can do to a Jeep...is never taking it off road.)
'15 WK2 Ecodiesel Overland (My Overland rig)
'11 Green KK Renegade (My Crawler!)
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Keep the OD off, don't need it

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

i would look into some sand ladders there is some that have a shovel built into them but i forget who makes them

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With enough fabbing, time & $, it's certainly possible.
That being said, it's like boinkin' your sister...just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

They're called maxtrax and they look awesome, but there over $200 dollars a set. I cut up some plywood, I think they will work the same way. just haven't tested it yet. I nor anyone else I saw that day were stuck.

_________________
(The worst thing you can do to a Jeep...is never taking it off road.)
'15 WK2 Ecodiesel Overland (My Overland rig)
'11 Green KK Renegade (My Crawler!)
Texans, come join us at Lone Star LOST!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/253493118163702?ref=bookmark&_rdr

The trick us to keep moving and air down your tires. If you have to stop, make sure your facing downhill a little if possible.
I used to take my toyota tacoma prerunner (2wd) to pismo all the time. 15 psi in the rear and good to go.

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2010 KK 4WD BRILLIANT BLACK
Fox/King/Bilstein ATH BUMPERS ATH RACK GY DURATRACS

ATHFAB.com

Overdrive is good for one thing only: saving gas when you are going faster than 50 on flat ground. Often I even keep it in second if I'm going less than 25 on steep hills. Gas is much cheaper than a tranny rebuild.

Whatever you do don't slam on the brakes in the sand. It's fine to slow down *gently*.

Don't park too close the shore at low tide. Seems obvious but it happens.

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07 Liberty Sport
Destination A/T 245/70R16

I have taken my old XJ to Padre a few times. Four cylinder, manual trans and 2WD. I just air well down (15 psi or less) and try to stay on the damp sand. However I have never gone more than 15-20 miles or so south of Malaquite Beach. (Once I came upon this guy in a huge Trailways bus sized RV stuck and buried right down to the axles. How he got that out I can't imagine)

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2005 KJ
1996 XJ (died at 337,000 miles)
....and still crazy after all these years.

Lol the "4x4 only sign" means nothing to some people. It's not bad if you stay on the low road but at some points that's not really an option. Did you ever try yarbough pass? It's a fun little section.

_________________
(The worst thing you can do to a Jeep...is never taking it off road.)
'15 WK2 Ecodiesel Overland (My Overland rig)
'11 Green KK Renegade (My Crawler!)
Texans, come join us at Lone Star LOST!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/253493118163702?ref=bookmark&_rdr