I had changed it to 265, guess the change didn't take, but yes, they are 265 although it isn't relevant.
lowering tire pressure to ~20 PSI for beach?
- Thread starter dja4260
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I used to air down on the Outer Banks. 20 works. I’ve driven the entire length from Corolla to the Virginia Border without airing down, though, because how you drive matters, too.
Avoid the softer sand, watch out for the wild horses, take a look at what other vehicles are experiencing, keep your speed about 15-20 mph so that you’re able to ride over the soft stuff, don’t hammer the gas hard enough to cause wheel spin and dig in, that sort of thing.
There are lots of places to air back up, but if you’re going on/off the sand and sticking to the Outer Banks, you’re never getting over 45 mph anyway, so you don’t need to air up to 80, when 35 will be just fine for slow speed/no load driving.
Most of your driving will look like this - not bad, and no real need to worry - but I’m serious about the horses, a couple of them get hit by tourists every year, and irresponsibility of folks that drive too fast on the Outer Banks angers me.
Avoid the softer sand, watch out for the wild horses, take a look at what other vehicles are experiencing, keep your speed about 15-20 mph so that you’re able to ride over the soft stuff, don’t hammer the gas hard enough to cause wheel spin and dig in, that sort of thing.
There are lots of places to air back up, but if you’re going on/off the sand and sticking to the Outer Banks, you’re never getting over 45 mph anyway, so you don’t need to air up to 80, when 35 will be just fine for slow speed/no load driving.
Most of your driving will look like this - not bad, and no real need to worry - but I’m serious about the horses, a couple of them get hit by tourists every year, and irresponsibility of folks that drive too fast on the Outer Banks angers me.
We use these Staun Deflators often for the beach. By the time you screw on 4th one the first tire is almost down to pressure. They come preset at 18psi but you can adjust that if you want. I have a Viair 88P that we use for airing back up. It clips to battery so not limited on power port wiring.
I like rechargeable inflators but I know that the clamp on won't have a dead battery when I need it (unless truck has it and then more issues). One thing to watch is the "duty cycle" that many have a short time. The 88P is very good for that.
The beaches by me have compressors and hoses (if they are working) at the exits. They also have extra hose connections not far away. We bring an air hose and air chuck. We can often use that avoiding the line. Worst case we pull out to parking lot and use the Viair.
Of course don't forget a jack board, a decent jack, recovery straps (kinetic preferred), and other stuff. Our area sometimes inspects and they also want a shovel, fire extinguisher, port-a-potty (5 gallon bucket with WAG bags works), Spare tire (full size if needed) donut doesn't work well.
You can go crazy with setup of just in case. MaxTrax are nice but pricey. I have some 2x8's that fit nicely in back of truck in case I need. Knock on wood with airing down and some common sense have not been needed. My wife and daughter take the Pilot to the beach frequently.
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We're doing some beach driving at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area as well as Corolla Beach. 4 camping spots over a 3 week span. I'm very excited to get underway!
Family of five in a 30 ft travel trailer, what could go wrong!
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I don’t air down for sand - never have - never will - I’m in it often and for long runs … Tires in sand have quite a contact patch already …
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That is very pretty - lucky to not have the Texas brodozers ruin it …
I can't believe any community would allow driving a vehicle on the beach, Up here, we drive our 4x under 230kv transmission line towers.
But I was aghast when I saw many people walking but not curbing their dogs or picking up droppings at our coastal sandy beach last year.
But I was aghast when I saw many people walking but not curbing their dogs or picking up droppings at our coastal sandy beach last year.
It depends a lot on the sand. Here, the sand is almost as hard as pavement where the traffic lanes are. No need to air down.
Some areas (here too) have sand that doesn't settle as well and you get that "squirley" feeling. Might be a benefit to air down a bit.
Some areas (here too) have sand that doesn't settle as well and you get that "squirley" feeling. Might be a benefit to air down a bit.
Back around 1973 I was driving in the Vanport area of Portland, OR. I got stuck in the sand. I let air out of the tires and drove out. I aired up at the nearest gas station, you could do that back then. Better to drive in with tires full of air and then deflate to get out. Same with 4 wheel drive. Better to get stuck in 2wd and use 4wd to get out. Not so easy if you get stuck when in 4wd or already have deflated tires.
Clearly this is based on the ground conditions and in many areas the sand is hard enough to not bother, if that's where you go, great. He is going to NC, the sand is loose and deep in many areas - there are signs on the ramps in the Outer Banks that tell you to air down, it's the smart move to avoid issues, I always did.
15-20 psi was always the ticket back when I frequented the outer banks. Guessing folks who say that isn't necessary haven't been there. The one time I forgot to air down resulted in a very quick minor stuck - know when to stop digging - aired down and a quick tug and we were back in business.
Just use that to get back to 30psi. Any cheapie 12v ones seem to take forever to get above 40 and/or just melt down and die... Maybe not on the first tire, but I would bet on the 2nd!
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I took this first picture in moderate sand - that is allot of contact even at 35 psi. I have a very capable vehicle and have been doing this for years - but yes plenty other vehicles get stuck even in what’s in the second picture …
Many of them don’t have proper lockers etc … lots of wheel spin/hop …
After lifted brodozer WE’s - ground clearance matters most … I normally unlock the sway bar to traverse the worst ruts they leave …
(No pictures from those regions - I don’t stop) …
Many of them don’t have proper lockers etc … lots of wheel spin/hop …
After lifted brodozer WE’s - ground clearance matters most … I normally unlock the sway bar to traverse the worst ruts they leave …
(No pictures from those regions - I don’t stop) …
Geez...lockers and sway bar disconnects to drive on the beach? I used to take an '89 Subaru 4x4 wagon out there all the time to go surfing down in NC...Avon etc. when I was in HS late '80s/early '90s. Air down a set of street all seasons and go. Also have done it a lot in a '92 Toyota 4x4 and a '00 Jeep Cherokee...all on basic all seasons and no lift just airing down and driving sensibly/with a lot of offroad beach driving experience in the area. The wagon was fine b/c it had a hi/lo transfer case so a "real" 4x4 system but ground clearance would high-center it sometimes on the big ruts from the big trucks, it was v. easy to get unstuck if it happened and you just had to drive smart and avoid the hazard.
Have you driven on the beaches of the Outer Banks of NC like the OP is asking about? Airing down IS common sense there - they don't spend moeny to put the signs everywhere telling you to do so for no reason. I can hear your rear axle hopping with those leaf springs in your 3/4 ton pickup as you "give it more throttle than you think you need" at 70psi in that stuff.
It will shutdown if you are lucky or melt burn you. You need a better quality to pump to air back up that runs off 12 v battery directly with clamps and won’t overheat.
Some folks would have slick air tank setups....I have a buddy with a CJ7 with an LS swap that had bumpers that doubled as air tanks for this purpose.
The deep sugar sand on the East Coast isn’t anything like pics I’ve seen from places in Texas. I’ve driven to Carova on the OBX in my Forester and have past a stuck Suburban and two stuck Wranglers. The stuck Wranglers there are usually rentals.
I always learn things here- thanks to all for explaining.
