Planning on hitting this place up when I visit my in-laws next summer. Is it as crazy as the youtube videos show with all the side-by-sides racing and crashing into eachother? Trying to have a chill day not not deal with accidents.
Beach driving off road SAND
- Thread starter LC - legz
- Start date
- Jul 7, 2025
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- '25 LC 1958 || '25 Sequoia LTD TRD || '05 TJR || '24 Polaris Ranger 1000 Crew
I didn’t/don’t fish that far south, so my sand trip was purely recreational down by Buxton. It was soft, but not nearly as bad as I usually see down there.
I chase mostly flat fish, reds, specs and snapper… exclusively flats when surf fishing and everything else sound side (sans snapper which I’ve only had luck finding around artificial reefs, wrecks and pylons). I’m a northern IBX’er, so I hit Corolla a lot and fishing drops around Tulls Bay. I also have my VA license and have wayyyyyyyy more luck with reds and specs out of North Bay and the Rudee Inlet.
Fresh water is easy because everything down here self-propagates w/ migrations and flooding. My 4 year old neighborhood retention ponds share small mouth, blues and cats with little effort.
Did you get into sand softer than the photo (sweet photo btw)? If so, did you keep it in 4-hi with center diff unlocked and Deep Sand MTS mode? Always love reading real world reports from people on what worked.
Just avoid a Holiday weekend and you will have a chill day. We like to park by the beach and enjoy the water. It is also fun to park on the higher dunes and watch the sand drag races down below.
I always try to stay on the main routes and follow someone that is driving a big lifted truck, so that we can be seen. The SxS and sandrail guys go pretty fast and will come out of nowhere to surprise you.
Keep an eye on the weather reports for high winds, the sand blasts can make the day unbearable.
Thats great info and thank you! Btw what's up with the flags? Do i need to get one as a requirement to enter the beach?
Yes, flag is required by all vehicles that enter the dunes.
There is a store next to the park entrance that sells flags & mounts.
*If you are passing through Allegan, Michigan - you are welcome to borrow my flag and mount.
There is a store next to the park entrance that sells flags & mounts.
*If you are passing through Allegan, Michigan - you are welcome to borrow my flag and mount.
Looks like Silver Lake Dunes.
How did you mount the flag?
Appreciate it!
DRAGON BACK 45° FLAT BAR 16" DUNE FLAG MOUNT W/ BACKER - STAINLESS (TO
Features: Stainless mount, backer and hardware 1/2" flag mounting hole 16" x 1.5" x .25" Stainless Steel 45° angle designed to connect to tow hook Yes, this will work for Silver Lake, Michigan Flags - Please view our other items for flags and quick disconnect mounts Places flag 12" out from tow...
dragonbackmotorsports.com
I miss surf fishing..
Experience here in Cape Henlopen State Park Delaware. Air down to 20 and enjoy...
Bring shovel, jack, and a base for the jack like a 12" x 12" in case you get stuck... Doing this for years in my H3 Hummer on the beach. No problems. Some beaches have requirements for safety gear and that you must be engaged in fishing to permit.
Bring shovel, jack, and a base for the jack like a 12" x 12" in case you get stuck... Doing this for years in my H3 Hummer on the beach. No problems. Some beaches have requirements for safety gear and that you must be engaged in fishing to permit.
Hello,
Resurrecting this old thread about driving in sand. I feel like we should have a guide here for how to do it. I am coming from 3 4Runners that were pretty simple - I put in 4WD lo or hi and just went. Now faced with not only 4 hi/lo, but center lock, rear lock, mode control, and VSC. I am really not sure what is needed although I'm sure could use the same basics and be fine.
But what is best? I did a small search and came up with the following but hoping someone can confirm or add, and again perhaps we could put up "the definitive guide to driving the 250 in sand".
1. Air tires down (15-20psi)
2. Lock Center Differential
3. Never lock rear differential as it will cause tires to dig in when turning
4. Press and hold VSC button for 5 seconds to disengage stability control feature. If VSC is not disengaged, the computer will not send power to wheels that are spinning and all of the wheels will be spinning in sand, so you will get bogged.
5. 4-hi for speeds over 15mph or hard packed sand. 4-lo for slower than 15mph and deep or soft sand. 4 Lo helps transmission from overheating by keeping engine from struggling in higher gears when lower gears provide better torque/less strain.
6. Use sand mode in Multi Terrain Select
Ok wow that is alot now that I write it all down. And I could be wrong on some of this. I just collected it off of the web. How about drive modes - normal or sport is best? I don't think the sway bar is going to have any effect? Hopefully someone will come on here with lots of experience in the 250 driving on sand, and can confirm, change, add, etc to the list.
Resurrecting this old thread about driving in sand. I feel like we should have a guide here for how to do it. I am coming from 3 4Runners that were pretty simple - I put in 4WD lo or hi and just went. Now faced with not only 4 hi/lo, but center lock, rear lock, mode control, and VSC. I am really not sure what is needed although I'm sure could use the same basics and be fine.
But what is best? I did a small search and came up with the following but hoping someone can confirm or add, and again perhaps we could put up "the definitive guide to driving the 250 in sand".
1. Air tires down (15-20psi)
2. Lock Center Differential
3. Never lock rear differential as it will cause tires to dig in when turning
4. Press and hold VSC button for 5 seconds to disengage stability control feature. If VSC is not disengaged, the computer will not send power to wheels that are spinning and all of the wheels will be spinning in sand, so you will get bogged.
5. 4-hi for speeds over 15mph or hard packed sand. 4-lo for slower than 15mph and deep or soft sand. 4 Lo helps transmission from overheating by keeping engine from struggling in higher gears when lower gears provide better torque/less strain.
6. Use sand mode in Multi Terrain Select
Ok wow that is alot now that I write it all down. And I could be wrong on some of this. I just collected it off of the web. How about drive modes - normal or sport is best? I don't think the sway bar is going to have any effect? Hopefully someone will come on here with lots of experience in the 250 driving on sand, and can confirm, change, add, etc to the list.
Thats all good. Usually after air down pushing the auto button works for my needs. Mainly driving to my surf fishing spot...
Attachments
- Jul 7, 2025
- 1,810
- Media
- 242
- 2,752
- Vehicles
- '25 LC 1958 || '25 Sequoia LTD TRD || '05 TJR || '24 Polaris Ranger 1000 Crew
Yessir, good breakdown. I don’t have #6 on my 58, and have never felt I needed it. IRT #5, I’ve only ever engaged 4LO once or twice outside of doing it as a precaution ahead of climbing the dune into and off the beach. IRT #2, I didn’t learn this trick until this past spring, and it absolutely makes a positive difference.
I will say this again: I drive the northern OBX beaches often, and it makes up about 75-80% of the off-roading I do in the LC. Airing down to 20# or less (which I can’t do currently on my 285/65 setup) is the game changer. I’ve run with only that a few times when I had friends I knew could assist and still made it without much effort. The beaches I drive on are pretty much artificial at this point as they work hard to perform sand restoration as part of the effort to keep these transient islands from naturally washing west. This makes for some very soft, rutting sand. The LC is a beach monster.
Only had mine on the beach once last Fall. All I did was air down and change to sand mode. Went through some deep soft sand that my previous truck would have had problems with. Not the LC. Went right through and didn’t miss a beat. I was on the outer banks of NC in the Avon and Buxton areas.
Attachments
Here is a summary of Pearls I garnered when I got my LC 250 in 2024.
Off Road Pearls
Center diff can be locked/unlocked in 4H and 4L. While moving up to 62mph
4L engaged while stopped and in neutral
Rear locker engaged only when in 4L with center diff locked and stopped. Don't exceed 5mph.
Sway bar disconnect enabled in 4H or 4L , while stopped or in motion, as long as vehicle speed is under 19mph. Center diff can be unlocked or locked. Will automatically reconnect after 19mph.
· Gravel / Dirt Roads: 25-30
· Rocky / Muddy Terrain: 20-25
· Muddy / Snow / Sandy: 15-20
· Soft Sand / Mud: 10-15
· Emergency: 5-10
· Speed warning Rule of thumb: % reduction in pressure = % reduction in speed
4L= 8 high torque gears
4L = more torque, less speed
Firm Surfaces love torque, Loose surfaces hate torque: 4L + Loose surface = Bury the Vehicle
4H = E = mc2 Go fast (momentum) to lose weight: Loose surfaces love speed speed=lightness
2nd Start: 4H/2nd gear for getting out of slippery situations
· Variables: Grade / Angle & Road Surface
· Off Road: steeper angles and different surfaces (firm vs loose)
· 4L for steep and firm
o Good for up hill
o Good for downhill (engine braking)
· Mud, sand, gravelly loose road
o EXCEPT side slope of loose conditions
Up and down hills (4L)
When bogged down
o If using momentum, no lockers
· High Stress & Load Situations at Speed
· High Traction Surfaces off road
o High Traction Uneven surfaces OK
· Never use front locker downhill
· Never use front locker in full turn
· Never when stuck between a rock and a hard place
· Corrugation: Decrease 20-40%
· Check Tire Temperature Frequently (& Shock temperature)
· Low Range
· Diff locks rarely needed
o Lockers good when there is a structure in the sand: drift wood, dirt berm, big rock, scalloped sand, hard-packed sand
· Momentum: throttle control
· Drive in Manual: keep 2300-2500 rev range for reserve if needed
· CRAWL Control preferred: seeks to maintain a constant speed and backfills
· Acceleration necessary to build torque
· Works at very Low Speed – 4L
o ~ ≤ 5 mph
· Designed to work from Dead Stop
o For starting /accelerating from slippery / poor traction surfaces
Mud and Sand selection is the only function that can operate in 4H and 4L. All other selection can operate in 4L only.
MTS uses both brake pressure and throttle.
MTS will allow different amounts of wheel spin based on the conditions you are actively driving in.
(1) Mud & Sand, (2) Loose Rock, (3) Mogul, and (4) Rock. The first setting allows the most wheel spin and as you move through them up to Rock, it allows almost no wheel spin.
· Allows wheel spin
· Controls throttle
· ≤ 7 mph in 4L
o MUD & SAND: The front-wheel drive control lever is in 4L or 4H.
o LOOSE ROCK, MOGUL and ROCK: The front-wheel drive control lever is in 4L.
· Active Driving
· Must have engine On, Foot on Brake, in 4L, shift in Drive (not Park or Neutral), Driver Door Closed.
· Select Crawl Speed
o Lo: rocky roads or decline
o Lo-Mid: rocky roads, decline or bumpy incline
o Mid: bumpy inclines
o Mid-High: bumpy inclines, debris roads, snow-covered roads, muddy roads, gravel roads, grass roads
o High: bumpy inclines, debris roads, snow-covered roads, muddy roads, gravel roads, grass roads
Ø Downhill: Mogul & Gravel, Speeds 1-2
Ø Uphill: Mogul Speeds 2-5, Gravel Speeds 3-5
Ø Flat: Rock, Snow, Sand, Mud, Dirt, Grass Speeds 1-5
· Turn Crawl Control On
· Foot off Brake and away you go!
v Not Recommended:
o Extremely Steep Inclines
o Extremely Uneven Surfaces
o Snow-Covered roads
o Other slippery surfaces
§ Uphill with snow, sand & other soft surfaces (mud) requires momentum
v Automatic Cancellation (limitations for prolonged use where lockers may be preferred):
o Brakes Overheat
o Transmission Overheats
o When driver door opens
o Vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph
o Shift in Park or Neutral
o Shift to 4H
o Any system malfunction
v Vehicle Level
v All Tires Touching
v Protect thumbs from steering wheel spin
v Vehicle length
v Stack Rocks, tree branches…
Max Trax
v Bump It
o Controlled Landing
o CV axles at risk for hard landing
· Tool Bag 32 lbs
· Roam 95L Rugged Case 25 lbs
· Shovel 3.5 lbs
Off Road Pearls
Center diff can be locked/unlocked in 4H and 4L. While moving up to 62mph
4L engaged while stopped and in neutral
Rear locker engaged only when in 4L with center diff locked and stopped. Don't exceed 5mph.
Sway bar disconnect enabled in 4H or 4L , while stopped or in motion, as long as vehicle speed is under 19mph. Center diff can be unlocked or locked. Will automatically reconnect after 19mph.
Tire Pressure
· Hwy / Roads: 30-40 psi· Gravel / Dirt Roads: 25-30
· Rocky / Muddy Terrain: 20-25
· Muddy / Snow / Sandy: 15-20
· Soft Sand / Mud: 10-15
· Emergency: 5-10
· Speed warning Rule of thumb: % reduction in pressure = % reduction in speed
4LO vs 4HI
4H= 8 gears4L= 8 high torque gears
4L = more torque, less speed
Firm Surfaces love torque, Loose surfaces hate torque: 4L + Loose surface = Bury the Vehicle
4H = E = mc2 Go fast (momentum) to lose weight: Loose surfaces love speed speed=lightness
2nd Start: 4H/2nd gear for getting out of slippery situations
· Variables: Grade / Angle & Road Surface
· Off Road: steeper angles and different surfaces (firm vs loose)
· 4L for steep and firm
o Good for up hill
o Good for downhill (engine braking)
When to Use Lockers
When traction is low· Mud, sand, gravelly loose road
o EXCEPT side slope of loose conditions
When to Use Rear Lockers
Diff lockers make up for lack of contact with the roadUp and down hills (4L)
When bogged down
When Not to Use Lockers
· Use ONLY in 4L @ low speedo If using momentum, no lockers
· High Stress & Load Situations at Speed
· High Traction Surfaces off road
o High Traction Uneven surfaces OK
· Never use front locker downhill
· Never use front locker in full turn
· Never when stuck between a rock and a hard place
PKSB Off
VSC OffTire Pressure
· Rule of thumb: Decrease OK to ~ rim size (20 PSI)· Corrugation: Decrease 20-40%
· Check Tire Temperature Frequently (& Shock temperature)
Sand
· Sand Mode (disable ESC and Trac)· Low Range
· Diff locks rarely needed
o Lockers good when there is a structure in the sand: drift wood, dirt berm, big rock, scalloped sand, hard-packed sand
· Momentum: throttle control
· Drive in Manual: keep 2300-2500 rev range for reserve if needed
· CRAWL Control preferred: seeks to maintain a constant speed and backfills
A-TRAC
A-TRAC only uses brake pressure. Differential braking to eliminate wheel spin / allow torque of non-spinning wheel(s)· Acceleration necessary to build torque
· Works at very Low Speed – 4L
o ~ ≤ 5 mph
· Designed to work from Dead Stop
o For starting /accelerating from slippery / poor traction surfaces
MTS
Best used for general off-roading and light and moderate hill climbing and descending.Mud and Sand selection is the only function that can operate in 4H and 4L. All other selection can operate in 4L only.
MTS uses both brake pressure and throttle.
MTS will allow different amounts of wheel spin based on the conditions you are actively driving in.
(1) Mud & Sand, (2) Loose Rock, (3) Mogul, and (4) Rock. The first setting allows the most wheel spin and as you move through them up to Rock, it allows almost no wheel spin.
· Allows wheel spin
· Controls throttle
· ≤ 7 mph in 4L
o MUD & SAND: The front-wheel drive control lever is in 4L or 4H.
o LOOSE ROCK, MOGUL and ROCK: The front-wheel drive control lever is in 4L.
· Active Driving
Crawl Control
Designed to maintain a constant speed. You just steer. Lurching, vibration & noise are normal in pre-2024 models.· Must have engine On, Foot on Brake, in 4L, shift in Drive (not Park or Neutral), Driver Door Closed.
· Select Crawl Speed
o Lo: rocky roads or decline
o Lo-Mid: rocky roads, decline or bumpy incline
o Mid: bumpy inclines
o Mid-High: bumpy inclines, debris roads, snow-covered roads, muddy roads, gravel roads, grass roads
o High: bumpy inclines, debris roads, snow-covered roads, muddy roads, gravel roads, grass roads
Ø Downhill: Mogul & Gravel, Speeds 1-2
Ø Uphill: Mogul Speeds 2-5, Gravel Speeds 3-5
Ø Flat: Rock, Snow, Sand, Mud, Dirt, Grass Speeds 1-5
· Turn Crawl Control On
· Foot off Brake and away you go!
v Not Recommended:
o Extremely Steep Inclines
o Extremely Uneven Surfaces
o Snow-Covered roads
o Other slippery surfaces
§ Uphill with snow, sand & other soft surfaces (mud) requires momentum
v Automatic Cancellation (limitations for prolonged use where lockers may be preferred):
o Brakes Overheat
o Transmission Overheats
o When driver door opens
o Vehicle speed exceeds 15 mph
o Shift in Park or Neutral
o Shift to 4H
o Any system malfunction
Rocks
v Tires on Topv Vehicle Level
v All Tires Touching
v Protect thumbs from steering wheel spin
Rock Step Ups
v Approach angle / Ramp Breakover Angle / Departure Anglev Vehicle length
v Stack Rocks, tree branches…
Max Trax
v Bump It
o Controlled Landing
o CV axles at risk for hard landing
Vehicle Height with Roof Rack = 6’6” or 78”
Vehicle Total Weight Capacity = 950 lbs
Dynamic Roof Weight Capacity = 165 lbs
· Morrflate 20 lbs· Tool Bag 32 lbs
· Roam 95L Rugged Case 25 lbs
· Shovel 3.5 lbs
Resources
■ AHB (Automatic High Beam) ®P.244 ■ PCS (Pre-Collision System) ®P.270 ■ LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) ®P.282 ■ LDA (Lane Departure Alert) ®P.290 ■ LCA (Lane Change Assist)* ®P.287 ■ FCTA (Front Cross Traffic Alert)* ®P.302 ■ PDA (Proactive Driving Assist) ®P.296 ■ RSA (Road Sign Assist)* ®P.304 ■ Dynamic radar cruise con trol ®P.307 ■ Cruise control ®P.318 ■ Emergency Driving Stop System ®P.321 ■ Traffic Jam Assist* ®P.324 ■ Driver monitor* ®P.268 *
This is all a really good list, agree with basically everything (though after learning “rules” we should then learn when to break them).
But this part I’ve quoted is one of the more important things I think people just getting familiar with the tools should understand.
Avoid lockers when you need momentum and speed to get through an obstacle. Lockers are reserved for slower controlled driving. On this platform (as you noted previously in your list) center locker can be used in 4H, carefully.
For the visual learners, I highly recommend Ronny Dahl’s channel. Not the usual YouTuber nonsense, he teaches valuable skills in a simple way.
Blessed in so many ways to be in Texas. Generally we can drive on beaches almost everywhere - w/ just few municipalities that put up safety areas.
My son & I have been doing a wade fishing trip right before school starts since he was in kindergarten. We went 2 weeks ago & he’s starting soph. year in college. We saved spots on Matagorda, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi & South Padre for inland specks, reds & flounder. Usually hit the beach when we’re leaving to try for some jacks on the sandbars.
For those that know, early morning bite is pretty special. Getting there is part of the fun in the dark. Same location by year sand can be like concrete, silt, soft, or like quicksand on the back of the island. Taken 4Runner, Sequoia, F250, F150 & Tundras on the trips.
This year took the LC. What a difference just AWD alone makes. Putting MTS in Sand Mode is ridiculous - felt like cheating. 11” wide 275/60R20 did fine. On Facebook marketplace found used Yakima flat ski racks for the roof rack we repurposed as horizontal rod holders. Good times & no issues thanks to the LC. Would really like a 180’ awning that would hold up in a sea breeze, but that pay to play w/ ones that are rugged are just too much $ for limited usage.
My son & I have been doing a wade fishing trip right before school starts since he was in kindergarten. We went 2 weeks ago & he’s starting soph. year in college. We saved spots on Matagorda, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi & South Padre for inland specks, reds & flounder. Usually hit the beach when we’re leaving to try for some jacks on the sandbars.
For those that know, early morning bite is pretty special. Getting there is part of the fun in the dark. Same location by year sand can be like concrete, silt, soft, or like quicksand on the back of the island. Taken 4Runner, Sequoia, F250, F150 & Tundras on the trips.
This year took the LC. What a difference just AWD alone makes. Putting MTS in Sand Mode is ridiculous - felt like cheating. 11” wide 275/60R20 did fine. On Facebook marketplace found used Yakima flat ski racks for the roof rack we repurposed as horizontal rod holders. Good times & no issues thanks to the LC. Would really like a 180’ awning that would hold up in a sea breeze, but that pay to play w/ ones that are rugged are just too much $ for limited usage.
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Oh yeah the sand right at the ramp was very soft and deep. We were on ramps 32 and 34 mostly that weekend. Usually those ramps the sand is hard packed and you don't even have to let the air out of your tires. The northern end of the ORV area was even softer. My neighbor that was in his Bronco had his almost up to his axles in sand at one point and just a little wiggling back and forth and it came right out when we turned around. Same for my LC. I never had to go in 4L. All I did was put it in sand mode and all other settings were normal driving settings.
