Tips for sand /beach driving

[Qwerty]

I used to use stauns but now use a speedy deflator (ironman or arb do them). You do tire by tire (instead of running around putting stauns on and then repeating when removing) , it removes the core and dumps air very very quickly. Has an on off slider to cease air dumps, allowing you accurately check the Builtin gauge.

Love it. Fast , accurate.

[cooper92]

Didn't see it covered as I had a look through, but one thing i have seen a lot is guys pulling up on soft sand as they do on dirt, braking heavily generally will push a mound up in front of all tires and causing you to bog down when you take off. Pick where you’re going to stop and try to slow as much a possible before you get there and if you do start to go down don’t jump on the brakes.

[Dazman86]

Good read here. Tyre pressures are so important. Our WA south beaches are as soft as I've experienced and seen plenty of bogged cars running highway pressures.

Qwerty, ill have to keep an eye out for ur rig. Love your trip pics mate,u sure do get to see a bit of our beautiful WA coastline. Keep an eye out for a blue 2012 sr5 dual cab with marlin sticker on back windscreen too and say g'day.

[Qwerty]

will do dazman!

[Cal26]

I live near one of the entrances to Belmont so I'm over there a couple of times a week for a surf or fish. Have found 12psi is definitely best because it's so soft, like everyone else has mentioned here then are alot of idiots flying up and down the beach all the time which chews it up and makes it pretty nasty, had a manual SR5 before and always drove in low range over there but now I have an auto and found that low range wants to dig holes instead of getting momentum??? Loves it in H4 on 12psi, just crawls out of anything.
One thing I hate over there is all the people who go between the car and the water, I park on the water side of the tracks so I don't have to worry about someone getting cleaned up while walking down to the water but idiots still come flying through there (although the majority are quads) There's that much sand down there that they don't need to go through the gap of maybe 10m between my car and the water. Considering I have my wife, dog and daughter down there with me.

Don't think it would be a bad thing if there were permits introduced so rangers could patrol it and stop all the douche bags down there.

[Qwerty]

I live near one of the entrances to Belmont so I'm over there a couple of times a week for a surf or fish. Have found 12psi is definitely best because it's so soft, like everyone else has mentioned here then are alot of idiots flying up and down the beach all the time which chews it up and makes it pretty nasty, had a manual SR5 before and always drove in low range over there but now I have an auto and found that low range wants to dig holes instead of getting momentum??? Loves it in H4 on 12psi, just crawls out of anything.
One thing I hate over there is all the people who go between the car and the water, I park on the water side of the tracks so I don't have to worry about someone getting cleaned up while walking down to the water but idiots still come flying through there (although the majority are quads) There's that much sand down there that they don't need to go through the gap of maybe 10m between my car and the water. Considering I have my wife, dog and daughter down there with me.

Don't think it would be a bad thing if there were permits introduced so rangers could patrol it and stop all the douche bags down there.

Put a fishing bucket, perhaps a camp chair, any other paraphernalia that makes it obvious to stay away. I totally get where you're coming from, annoys me too! I tend to walk out and stand deadset in front of their way if they're barreling along and look like they're going to try going between us and water. Fairly constant eye contact they usually divert and go high at the last moment.

[NimrodAUS]

+1 for the Stauns. I have two at 20psi and 2 at 16, covers most situations.

After 10 years of an auto, got to learn how to drive a manual again offroad! Just need to think a little more about what you are doing. Hit it in 2WD, get stuck, 4WD, stuck again, back out (unless you have diff locks, then you can get further into trouble before being stuck!).

It all comes down to experience and practise. You can't get out of a bog when the pressure is on if you haven't done it when there is no pressure.

Don't be scared to give it a go when close to home / help, it will only make you a better driver. Everyone gets bogged, the difference is some need help, others are self sufficient. But this only comes with practise. When you are confident to travel the Gunbarrel Hwy / Gibb River Rd / Simpson on your own, you are doing OK.

Cheers
Jamie

I got bogged in a v8 land cruiser troopy at work Awhile back. Had to get a D11 dozer to pull me out.

[dr.lux13]

bringing the thread back! this is making me so nervous to hit the beach for the first time!!!!!!!!!! maybe i should head to straddie and do a practice run before fraser! mmm

[Downesy]

Let your tyres down to at least 12psi and you will have nothing to worry about .

[Qwerty]

I managed to get a tad bogged on weekend, infront of half a dozen hot sun baking women no less.

I'd call myself experienced yet there was something my mate showed me that I had been overlooking and that was that when I was rolling the car back and forward trying to get goin I was still doing so with still too heavy a foot, digging slowly. Any wheelspin at all would dig and stop me deeper.

He reminded me to literally idle forward and back a few feet , several times, packing down and then allowing enough momentum to build before putting heavier power down and scrambling out of it.

The slightest wheelspin and she would dig and go nowhere yet ever so slight idle pressure and sure enough she would roll forward or backward a little and stop, then change direction and do same, back and forward ever so lightly making a little runway. Applying Even a couple hundred more rpm and she would dig and screw it all up, start again.

Once momentum established it was back to lots of power n Braun to smash through

Was such a simple, calm trick I will use again. I just hadn't realised I was overlooking it. Learn something new each day.

[BIGFOOTJR]

Bugger that, I would of left the ute and pitched a tent (Literally) next to those hot chicks in bikinis!

[Qwerty]

Well one of my mates managed to nail one in back of his jeep that night so not all was lost! I however have a great fiancé at home so best I could do was drink jacks and store them in the old wankbank!

[BIGFOOTJR]

Well one of my mates managed to nail one in back of his jeep that night so not all was lost! I however have a great fiancé at home so best I could do was drink jacks and store them in the old wankbank!

She must of been a real gem to settle for a jeep......

[Downesy]

Also to add to Qwerty tips , make sure your front tyres are steered dead straight, any angle on the front wheels obviously causes more drag and friction.

[07luxyTD]

Let your tyres down to at least 12psi and you will have nothing to worry about .

On Frazer id be extremely carefull with 12psi. 80km/h on the beach for agood hour or so with few bends in it would probly bring the bead undone. The average pressure for frazer is around the low 20 odd mark, in the lux most of the island can be done with 24psi no dramas

[Richiesupercharged]

Let your tyres down to at least 12psi and you will have nothing to worry about .

On Frazer id be extremely carefull with 12psi. 80km/h on the beach for agood hour or so with few bends in it would probly bring the bead undone. The average pressure for frazer is around the low 20 odd mark, in the lux most of the island can be done with 24psi no dramas

X2

20psi was enough for me on Fraser
Still leaves you with options if you get stuck
sometimes you may have to brake suddenly.eg random drop offs and other idiots driving on 12psi that may not workout the best

[Qwerty]

20 psi is virtually rock hard. The footprint is barely changed from 40. I'd start on 14 and then drop to 12. I do thousands of km each year on soft wa sands (knee deep if you stand in it!) and weeks on end on sand most the boys all using 12-14 , we've had one bead problem in all that Time...

[Qwerty]

Even 16 to 14 the foot print doubles and down to 10-12 it doubles again. But 18+ and the tyres are generally at their "road shape" (depending on the tyre a little)

[kyle300exc]

20 psi is virtually rock hard. The footprint is barely changed from 40. I'd start on 14 and then drop to 12. I do thousands of km each year on soft wa sands (knee deep if you stand in it!) and weeks on end on sand most the boys all using 12-14 , we've had one bead problem in all that Time...

I agree but each to there own, most of Frazer is driven close to the water and its firm.

[Richiesupercharged]

Fraser island is a bit different mate , traveling the beach on low tide is like driving on the road and the speed limit is 80
Anywhere else I'd agree with you ..