Beach driving off road SAND

[BlueCruiser]

Wow, picking one of the most demanding environments to start off.

For most, the general simplistic rule of thumb is MTS 4H (Try sport mode and Sand to start and change as desired) until stuck and then Low Range/Lockers/ATRAC/Crawl control to get out. Consider lowering tire pressure (usually about 20 PSI) ahead of time depending on conditions and the type of tires you have. Don't forget to check tides and plan timing for widest choices of routes in the packed sand band.

As mentioned already, digging in is the perpetual threat. Bring shovels, traction pads, tow straps, and ideally a better jack and jack board for bracing. Most importantly use the buddy system.

There are some really good Youtubes dedicated to Toyota trucks in sand if you search for them.

Good luck, be safe and have fun!

 

[cccbryan]

Just purchased my annual ORV pass for Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Planning on heading to OBX in a few weeks. Typically head further south and fish Avon to Hatteras Inlet. Might venture to Ocracoke if the fishing reports are good down there.

I am planning on airing down to 20psi and running in sand mode. It's good to know there is another level of of off roading if needed.

I previously owned an AWD Honda Ridgeline truck and in sand mode it actually did very well. If it only had more ground clearance....

I'll take pictures of my LC on the beach while I'm there. Wish someone would make a bolt on front hitch receiver for the LC. Hopefully someone will soon. Until then the rod rack and cooler will be on the back.

 

[EOD Guy]

Just purchased my annual ORV pass for Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Planning on heading to OBX in a few weeks. Typically head further south and fish Avon to Hatteras Inlet. Might venture to Ocracoke if the fishing reports are good down there.

I am planning on airing down to 20psi and running in sand mode. It's good to know there is another level of of off roading if needed.

I previously owned an AWD Honda Ridgeline truck and in sand mode it actually did very well. If it only had more ground clearance....

I'll take pictures of my LC on the beach while I'm there. Wish someone would make a bolt on front hitch receiver for the LC. Hopefully someone will soon. Until then the rod rack and cooler will be on the back.

I made a rod rack for my father (not an LC) and I used the front tow points as the mounting points, sandwiching a 1/4" plate between the tow hooks and the frame. Welded some flat bar to make a square receiver for some 1" square tubing that stuck out past the bumper and added a 1" tubing cross bar with pipe nipples welded to the top of the cross bar. Two quick pins secured the rod holder to the fabricated receivers, mentioned above. Took about a min to install/uninstall when he went surf fishing and stored in his garage when not in use. I would think any welding shop could fab one fairly cheapy.

 

[cccbryan]

I made a rod rack for my father (not an LC) and I used the front tow points as the mounting points, sandwiching a 1/4" plate between the tow hooks and the frame. Welded some flat bar to make a square receiver for some 1" square tubing that stuck out past the bumper and added a 1" tubing cross bar with pipe nipples welded to the top of the cross bar. Two quick pins secured the rod holder to the fabricated receivers, mentioned above. Took about a min to install/uninstall when he went surf fishing and stored in his garage when not in use. I would think any welding shop could fab one fairly cheapy.

I hope a manufacturer makes an easy bolt on option soon. If not I'll look into other options at some point.

 

[zxrider11]

Bridgestone Dueler AT Ascent 265/70R18 tires at 15psi and no worries here at Silver Lake Sand Dunes off road park in Michigan.

We made it through the sand dunes easily in 4H and just hung out for the day at the beach where the sand is more hard-packed:

 

[ultane]

Bridgestone Dueler AT Ascent 265/70R18 tires at 15psi and no worries here at Silver Lake Sand Dunes off road park in Michigan.

How do you like the Bridgestone Dueler AT Ascent tires? Have you used them on snow and ice yet?

 

[Brian Lynch]

Question from somone who's never been to OBX. Can you drive the beach from Virginia beach to Carova? Or do you have to cut through the mainland?

 

[zxrider11]

The Bridgestone Dueler Ascents seem quiet & smooth at highways speeds with 35psi. No winter driving reports yet.

 

[RideWithYanu]

Question from somone who's never been to OBX. Can you drive the beach from Virginia beach to Carova? Or do you have to cut through the mainland?

You can’t drive the beach from Virginia Beach into Carova. The state line is blocked by Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park, and there is no driving route through them. To get to Carova you have to cut inland into North Carolina, then head back out to the 4x4 beach north of Corolla. The only drivable stretch is Corolla up to Carova - nothing connects it to Virginia Beach by sand.

Edit to add: the DEVGRU and Guided Missile School folks also wouldn’t take kindly to you traversing the beach at Dam Neck.

 

[LCOceans]

Question from somone who's never been to OBX. Can you drive the beach from Virginia beach to Carova? Or do you have to cut through the mainland?

Sure wish you could. Driving in the straight line would cut about 75% of the time off the trip. From Sandbridge to Corova/Corolla would be about 20 minutes I think.

 

[Brian Lynch]

Thanks guys, thats what I suspected.....it would be sweet

 

[highsmith]

There is a way into Back Bay from Carova- and it is actually legal to cross the state line in a vehicle there IF you have a permit.

Back when Virginia "closed" the border there, nearly all of the few Carova residents got "back to civilization" that way.... So they would traverse the Back Bay NWR to get into Sandbridge, then take Sandbridge road back to Pungo.... You can get back to VB that way without having to traverse the Naval station. This is how they all bought groceries, went to work, etc. Many Carova residents worked in VB or Chesapeake. It wasn't an OBX "vacation" spot like it is today. It was much more full-time residential and culturally part of Pungo....

When they closed the border they issued permits to these folks so they could continue to legally traverse this route without having to endure a 2.5+ hour commute each way through Kitty Hawk etc. They also got a key to the gate.

Those permits were good for as long as those folks owned the property.... and the permits did not convey if the property was sold. So needless to say there are very few folks still living in Carova who have them. I had a friend of a friend with one, but he moved to Florida about 10 years ago and had to give his up.

They are building a bridge from Coinjock to Corolla that in the future will cut way down on the travel time to Carova.... But it might be 10 years before that's completed:

NCDOT: Mid-Currituck Bridge

www.ncdot.gov

 

[DubDub]

They are building a bridge from Coinjock to Corolla that in the future will cut way down on the travel time to Carova.... But it might be 10 years before that's completed:

Based on recent County BOD hearings, 10 years might be wishful thinking. I’m up in Currituck County and we’ve all been praying for the south bridge to open and 17 to become an actual freeway. It’s good for our small businesses, but my 168 pass through town becomes a parking lot from June through August. This year is the worst I’ve seen with an onslaught of PA, NY, MA and MD license plates Friday through Sunday in mid-October.

All that is to say, I see the Corolla bridge taking a backseat to an already delayed lower OBX pass.

 

[LCOceans]

There is a way into Back Bay from Carova- and it is actually legal to cross the state line in a vehicle there IF you have a permit.

Back when Virginia "closed" the border there, nearly all of the few Carova residents got "back to civilization" that way.... So they would traverse the Back Bay NWR to get into Sandbridge, then take Sandbridge road back to Pungo.... You can get back to VB that way without having to traverse the Naval station. This is how they all bought groceries, went to work, etc. Many Carova residents worked in VB or Chesapeake. It wasn't an OBX "vacation" spot like it is today. It was much more full-time residential and culturally part of Pungo....

When they closed the border they issued permits to these folks so they could continue to legally traverse this route without having to endure a 2.5+ hour commute each way through Kitty Hawk etc. They also got a key to the gate.

Those permits were good for as long as those folks owned the property.... and the permits did not convey if the property was sold. So needless to say there are very few folks still living in Carova who have them. I had a friend of a friend with one, but he moved to Florida about 10 years ago and had to give his up.

They are building a bridge from Coinjock to Corolla that in the future will cut way down on the travel time to Carova.... But it might be 10 years before that's completed:

NCDOT: Mid-Currituck Bridge

www.ncdot.gov

Cool information. I think I had kind of heard similar but never really paid that much attention as a kid growing up in VB. Is that permit related to those small blue license plates I used to see (now see very rarely) that said "Carova Beach" or something to that effect?

 

[wpage]

Bridgestone AT Duelers are excellent tires on and off the road. They wear like iron and ride well on and off road.

 

[cccbryan]

First time on beach. On the outer banks of North Carolina in Buxton and Avon. Sand is soft and deep this weekend. Air down to 20psi and run in sand mode. Will absolutely go anywhere. Love it!

 

[Brian Lynch]

Post fishing reports please... im looking to go down this time next year

 

[DubDub]

First time on beach. On the outer banks of North Carolina in Buxton and Avon. Sand is soft and deep this weekend. Air down to 20psi and run in sand mode. Will absolutely go anywhere. Love it!View attachment 51080

I was just out there two days ago and thought the sand was hard packed compared to normal for the OBX lol. Enjoy it and post those catches!

 

[cccbryan]

Post fishing reports please... im looking to go down this time next year

Very slow fishing. Few bluefish and sea mullet. We have been fishing off ramps 32 and 34. There is a sand bar about 100 yards off the beach and it's messing up the fishing. We haven't been to 43 or 44 because didn't want to fight the crowd with the NCBBA tournament.

 

[cccbryan]

I was just out there two days ago and thought the sand was hard packed compared to normal for the OBX lol. Enjoy it and post those catches!

We've been between 32 and 34 and south of 34. Not much to report. Sand is soft and deep compared to usual off these ramps but no problem for the LC.

Where did you fished when you were down? Need some secret spots to go. We have only caught blues and a few sea mullet.