Beach Driving.

Dj S. · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:19 pm

So right now as I am typing this, I am having my Rusty's lift put on my KJ. Now what I need to know is how to drive on the beach. I am planning on going to Nags Head pretty soon, and I'm not trying to get stuck... again. I just need to know when is it good to use 4Lo, 4Hi , and any other tips that could be helpful. I have the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires and they are slightly used. How much should I air down? What type of tow strap should I get and what should be the weight limit on it? You know just in case I have to pull a Hummer out of the sand.

I cant wait to see my Jeep later!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:25 pm

Get a good recovery strap,not a tow strap,a 20' one WITHOUT metal hooks is a good start,about 15,000-20,000lbs is the norm for a good recovery strap.WARN or Procomp makes some good recovery straps at a decent price.Oh and make sure you have front and rear recovery points like the OEM tow hooks or hitches with a shackle reciever.Use 4hi when on the sand and keep your momentum up,if you suddenly stop and the wheels start spinning,STOP,you'll only dig yourself deeper.With the MT/R's I'd air down to about 15psi on the sand,or any other offroad surface.Just use extreme caution untill you air back up,do not drive very far or very fast(keep it under 30mph or so) at that low of psi.

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:28 pm

You want to stay out of 4LO in the sand. 4LO is for rock crawling (under 5 mph). In the sand you want to keep your speed up so you don't get stuck. 4HI or 4 Full-Time is a better option.

As for tires, I would think that you want to air up, inside of down. Keep it at the maximum 44 psi. Deflating your tires cause more rolling resistance, in the sand you don't want that.

durangotang · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:30 pm

High PSI= In the sand

Low PSI= On the sand (much better)

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:30 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

With the MT/R's I'd air down to about 15psi on the sand,or any other offroad surface.Just use extreme caution untill you air back up,do not drive very far or very fast(keep it under 30mph or so) at that low of psi.

Really, I would of thought of the opposite.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:33 pm

Quote:

As for tires, I would think that you want to air up, inside of down. Keep it at the maximum 44 psi. Deflating your tires cause more rolling resistance, in the sand you don't want that.

Nope you want to air down.Reason is,when you air up you reduce the contact patch of the tire,when you air down you increase the contact patch of the tire.The bigger the contact patch the better you "float" over the sand by spreading your vehicle weight over a greater area thus reducing your chances of sinking.If you air up you will sink,air down you "float" over the sand better.

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:36 pm

Cool, you learn something new everyday.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:51 pm

A lot depends of the type of sand. If it's deep and fluffy, then by all means lower your pressure. Compacted or wet sand you don't need to do anything. On the beaches here in Saint Augustine I never air down. Usually I drive in 2WD.

Terry

dog_party · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:01 pm

On Nags Head beaches, assuming you can legally get on them when you go, you should definitely air down to at least 20psi. Don't drive in the wet bits if you can help it. Watch the deep ruts, keep it in 4hi, have a blast.

dirtykj · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:36 pm

Dj S. wrote:

I am planning on going to Nags Head pretty soon, and I'm not trying to get stuck... again.

Easy. 4-Low (soft, loose sand, heavy load). 20 psi. Have fun

If you're light, or on compacted sand, even 2WD might do.

Keep your vehicle off the water.

scoobysnax · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:21 pm

I've found that I use 4L when ever I'm on the beach. I shut the O/D off and keep it in D so it can still shift through the gears. In 4L the shift points are higher which I think helps the KJ in the sand. The beach by me is pretty soft though so for those saying 4H maybe the conditions are a little different. Also, the speed limits on the beaches here (Long Island) are only 10 - 15 mph. When you're in deep sand or tire ruts that still have soft sand I found that 4L helps ease the load on the engine. When driving in sand the tires are pushing up small berms of sand in front of the tire and your tire is effectively always trying to drive over it which makes it work harder. So not only are you driving on the sand you're also pushing through it. Next time you're on the beach back up in and watch your front tire from outside the window and you'll be able to see what I'm talking about. Most of the other people here also seem to use 4L including the park rangers.

That's just my opinion, I know there are lots of different sand types. Try out both options and see what you like better. I'm sure I'll do the same when I'm in different conditions.

And have fun. Beach driving is fun!

raceinfan · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:57 pm

I did the beach in 4HI & after awhile the trans temp light came on, I let it sit for a bit & used 4LOW the rest of the day without an issue & I dropped my tires down to 12psi ( stock rims & tires)

Hood297 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:02 pm

I don't know how coarse the sand is you plan on driving on is, but around here is extremely fine. The term Sugar sand comes to mind.

I had MT/R's and I hated them in the sand. My stock tires were much better, yes goodyear SR-A's. The MTR's dig way too much. If you plan on doing much beach riding, I would advise you get some less agressive, All-terrain type tires. They do much better around here than any mud tires.

Also anything with an interlocking tread design, And just to 2nd what TJKJ said, if you slow down, stop the tires from spinning.

Try not to do any hard turns, or turns at low speeds, it will cause the tires to plow, and add more resistance to your forward motion.

dirtykj · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:08 pm

Hood297 wrote:

I had MT/R's and I hated them in the sand.

You know ... I hate them in sand too

Just about any truck will out manuever me in the sand ... I wiggle around way too much.

smorison · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:33 pm

first time on the sand is easy

and the KJ will out perform all the bigger trucks from toyota and nissan

steps:

1. air down to 15psi
2. 4hi part time (if you have it) works great
3. drive in the ruts of others (it works like auto-pilot) and don't fight it.
4. keep your speed at a level your comfortable with, start slow and get a bit faster during the day.
5. if you drive on sand hills.. DRIVE STRAIGHT UP not at an angle... if you don't make it to the top REVERSE DOWN its perfectly safe, if you try to turn around on a hill you will roll the car.

As a beginner just chuck it in 4lo with air'd down tyres and you'll float around the sand all day long its great fun (you'll use more gas but its the easiest way to learn - i threw a guy who had never been 4wheeling in mine, chucked it in lo and he took off and had a ball, to the point he went out and bought a 4wd afterwards).. as you get more experienced you can speed up and move it into 4Hi part time (or just 4hi if you don't have part time).

last thing, if you are driving on the top of a sand mound and it collapses (assuming its safe to) turn the car into the direction its leaning, don't fight it...

sand is so much fun you'll love it! its a great introduction to 4wheeling and a stock KJ will outperform all the heavier trucks!

oh and give your underbody a long high-pressure clean afterwards to get rid of all the sand as it will start to rust the car real quick

have fun

Stephen

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:39 pm

All of you recommending 4-HI on sand have apparently never driven a 5-speed liberty. Sand eats up my power like crazyy. I will never buy a manual for off-roading ever again... Unless of course they start making a manual with a torque converter.

Then again, I never air down on sand. Maybe now that I can air down my experience will be different.

dirtykj · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:14 pm

BeepBeepJeepJeep wrote:

All of you recommending 4-HI on sand have apparently never driven a 5-speed liberty. Sand eats up my power like crazyy.

I believe you. Sand really highlights the KJ's poor power to weight ratio. It's what kills you on sand dunes

It did to me ...

Dj S. · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:46 pm

All very good points. And dirtykj, its so funny that you live in Holly Springs NC, because I live in Holly Springs VA. And we both have Liberty's!

Thats awesome! Also I just got my KJ back today after being lifted, it looks so good, and it is so much fun to drive. I cant wait to test it out.

DoverKJ · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:14 pm

The beaches here in DE are very fine sand. I usually drop the KJ's tires down to 15psi and drop it into 4lo. Never had a problem before. 4hi works fine, but you have a better chance spinning the tires in hi.

When we take out the TJ, generally I never air down the tires. It is a 5 speed manual and I usually keep it in 4lo. The we have had very little rain of late, so the sand is very soft and fine and many of the other TJ owners are having to drop their tire pressure as well.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:20 pm

I've driven in all types of sand,from all over the world(litterly) in many vehicles(but not a KJ).Never used 4low,but when you have 1300ft-lbs of torque and 8-wheel drive,who needs it :lol:

! Plus airing down the tires was a breeze,just hit the "MUD,SNOW,SAND" button on the CTIS system while driving,drops the tires to 15psi,then when you get back to a harder surface just hit the "NORMAL" button and the tires air back up to 55+psi(whatever is the normal for that certian vehicle),all while still driving

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Beach Driving.

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