Beach driving off road SAND

[LC - legz]

What’s up LC community.

Next weekend, I’m gonna be taking my 1958 on the beach for the first time. I’ve done quite a bit of beach driving before (different truck) I just wanna throw this out there if anybody has any pointers. The beaches where I live when the sand is hot can be very soft and I’ve seen even some of the best off-road vehicles get into trouble.

With that being said, just wondering if there is a specific set up, I should set my car up in when I am cruising on the sand. And also what would be best if I find my self in a bit of trouble.

For example traction on or off. What mode to leave in. Do I just start out in crawl, L4 etc etc. my previous truck just has a “sand mode” and I would leave it in that and it performed really well. 1958 doesn’t have that but I think the LC LC does. any recommendations would be great!

Much appreciated

 

[EveryTacoinLA]

There's a post somewhere on this forum of someone cracking their radiator bc the skid plates are mounted the same place as the radiator bracket. So they slammed the skid plate against sand, and that pushed the skid plate in against the brakcet causing the radiator to slam.

I think it was compounded by them airing down for more traction? I suppose go slow and be careful of dunes as to not slam your front end against sand?

 

[bluenation]

There's a post somewhere on this forum of someone cracking their radiator bc the skid plates are mounted the same place as the radiator bracket. So they slammed the skid plate against sand, and that pushed the skid plate in against the brakcet causing the radiator to slam.

I think it was compounded by them airing down for more traction? I suppose go slow and be careful of dunes as to not slam your front end against sand?

Maybe you are thinking of this video?

 

[LCOceans]

As long as you don't go completely nuts and try to jump dunes, there should be no issues hitting the bottom of your truck much less cracking anything.
I am sure someone will chime in who understands this better than me, but I think you do want to turn off the VSC system. This system applies brakes to wheels that are spinning and can make driving in sand very difficult because spinning is part of the process. (not crazy gunning it type spinning as that will get you stuck / more like a slow but steady acceleration). To turn VSC off I believe you need to press and HOLD the VSC off button for 5 seconds. pressing once and releasing says its off but I don't think it is entirely until you do the hold.
Hoping someone else confirms what I have said or corrects something I may have wrong.

 

[RideWithYanu]

Air down. No more. Way more. Single digits. Now enjoy the sand and stay out of the water!

 

[LC - legz]

Air down. No more. Way more. Single digits. Now enjoy the sand and stay out of the water!

lol I usually do this. Usually 10-15 psi. Never gone single digits tho.

 

[LC - legz]

As long as you don't go completely nuts and try to jump dunes, there should be no issues hitting the bottom of your truck much less cracking anything.
I am sure someone will chime in who understands this better than me, but I think you do want to turn off the VSC system. This system applies brakes to wheels that are spinning and can make driving in sand very difficult because spinning is part of the process. (not crazy gunning it type spinning as that will get you stuck / more like a slow but steady acceleration). To turn VSC off I believe you need to press and HOLD the VSC off button for 5 seconds. pressing once and releasing says its off but I don't think it is entirely until you do the hold.
Hoping someone else confirms what I have said or corrects something I may have wrong.

Ya nothing to crazy. Just getting to our spot for the day and hanging out. Good to know about the VSC I didn’t know that.

 

[EOD Guy]

X2 on the 15 lbs, if you go much lower than that without beadlocks, you'll probably find out why they make beadlocks.....LOL

Me I'd start out at highway pressure and see if it's struggling, then air down to 20 PSI and if needed 15 PSI

 

[highsmith]

I just drove my 1958 for a week on the beach in Carova NC. Been driving on that beach for years, most recently in a Gen2 Tacoma.

Left traction control on. It hardly ever kicked in. Aired down to 20 psi. Went into 4lo once for giggles but didn’t really need to. Didn’t have a problem. Our vehicles are plenty capable on the sand.

Any 4wd truck/suv should be fine with 18-20 psi for typical beach driving. If you are going to climb lots of dunes and stuff maybe go a bit lower.

You can air down more if you want and get a bit better traction, I usually stay at 20 in Carova because I might go back out on the cement once a day or so. 20 psi at slower speeds for short trips on the cement is manageable without having to air back up.

 

[alkioth]

Have a great time and be sure to update us.

In the meantime, here’s a related YT video about the LC250 and sand

 

[LCOceans]

I just drove my 1958 for a week on the beach in Carova NC. Been driving on that beach for years, most recently in a Gen2 Tacoma.

Left traction control on. It hardly ever kicked in. Aired down to 20 psi. Went into 4lo once for giggles but didn’t really need to. Didn’t have a problem. Our vehicles are plenty capable on the sand.

Any 4wd truck/suv should be fine with 18-20 psi for typical beach driving. If you are going to climb lots of dunes and stuff maybe go a bit lower.

You can air down more if you want and get a bit better traction, I usually stay at 20 in Carova because I might go back out on the cement once a day or so. 20 psi at slower speeds for short trips on the cement is manageable without having to air back up.

Carova - such a cool place. I've been saying I need to get the LC down there. Haven't been there in many years as I usually head south in the OBX, but need to go soon.

 

[MSINAL]

I spent many years driving and camping in corolla and carova in various 4x4s. The secret is airing down, maintaining reasonable speed, dont try to turn in the nasty stuff, and picking hard packed areas to stop (or buy an old 80s subaru wagon). We had a trailer tire break a bead (no spare, young and dumb) far from ramp and it was a nightmare. The lighter fluid trick only seems to work on youtube. That said, like others have said, air down to no less than 20 and see how it goes. Take a small shovel or maxtrax, floor mats will work in a pinch.
I havent had the LC on sand but i see a potential risk with the amount of torque available from stand still. Easing into the throttle or figuring out a terrain mode or 2nd gear start might mitigate the risk of digging down when you first start rolling.
Man do i miss the obx.

 

[turbo8]

Air down, like others suggested 15-20psi. 4Lo, lock center diff, and fully turn off traction control. Probably don't need the rear diff lock, but you have that if you really need it.

 

[highsmith]

Carova - such a cool place. I've been saying I need to get the LC down there. Haven't been there in many years as I usually head south in the OBX, but need to go soon.

The fishing is generally better south of the inlet a lot of the time, but I like Carova because you can actually rent a house in the 4x4 area on the beach and stay there. In Carova I actually feel like I'm "staying at the beach." It's way off the beaten path, quiet, and peaceful.

Carova and Swan beach used to get a little crazy on holiday weekends due to all the day trippers that came down to park for the day, but a few years ago the county instituted a parking permit policy that has cut the crowds down a bit. They only issue 500 permits for non-residents per week now I think.

The most annoying thing now are the try-hard Jeep bros that come down and want to overtake everyone driving under 40 mph.

That said, I like the South too. I don't understand the "12 South" vs. "12 North" thing that goes on. Everything south of the bridge has its plusses . I suppose it's because Duck and Corolla are perceived as "Bougie". But once you drive through them and get onto the 4wd part of Hwy 12 it's like another world. You just have to drive through Yuppie-ville to get there, lol.

 

[highsmith]

I spent many years driving and camping in corolla and cordova in various 4x4s. The secret is airing down, maintaining reasonable speed, dont try to turn in the nasty stuff, and picking hard packed areas to stop (or buy an old 80s subaru wagon). We had a trailer tire break a bead (no spare, young and dumb) far from ramp and it was a nightmare. The lighter fluid trick only seems to work on youtube. That said, like others have said, air down to no less than 20 and see how it goes. Take a small shovel or maxtrax, floor mats will work in a pinch.
I havent had the LC on sand but i see a potential risk with the amount of torque available from stand still. Easing into the throttle or figuring out a terrain mode or 2nd gear start might mitigate the risk of digging down when you first start rolling.
Man do i miss the obx.

Agree with this, it's really about tire pressure, throttle control and picking your battles.

I've seen everything from Subarus, to Honda Pilots, to 2wd Ford Rangers make it fine on the beach there. You don't really need 4lo, locked diffs, crawl, etc. unless you're going to deliberately drive on the untravelled areas (which is illegal in any case.)

I haven't pulled a trailer there, but that's a whole other discipline... There's lots of stories about transmissions overheating and catching on fire because folks are trying to tow a trailer on sand near or beyond their vehicle's tow rating.

I came across this several years ago there, the scuttlebutt was this guy was pulling a big trailer and his tranny caught on fire:

 

[LC - legz]

Have a great time and be sure to update us.

In the meantime, here’s a related YT video about the LC250 and sand

great video! only problem is i have a 1958 so slightly different for me. but same idea.

 

[LC - legz]

Agree with this, it's really about tire pressure, throttle control and picking your battles.

I've seen everything from Subarus, to Honda Pilots, to 2wd Ford Rangers make it fine on the beach there. You don't really need 4lo, locked diffs, crawl, etc. unless you're going to deliberately drive on the untravelled areas (which is illegal in any case.)

I haven't pulled a trailer there, but that's a whole other discipline... There's lots of stories about transmissions overheating and catching on fire because folks are trying to tow a trailer on sand near or beyond their vehicle's tow rating.

I came across this several years ago there, the scuttlebutt was this guy was pulling a big trailer and his tranny caught on fire:


View attachment 39032

ouch lol