Driving on the beach, concerns.

[Sand Flea]

The only 'off roading' that I do is surf fishing, so I'm on the beach regularly.
As others have said, the number one thing to do is to air down. Dry, well traveled beach lanes can be very soft so I typically air down to about 19 pounds using auto-deflators.

In the summer when the sand gets really soft, I also use 4WD Low. It allows me to keep my speed down and the cooling system (including the transmission) circulating well. Engaging 4 Low also automatically disables traction control.

Do not drive thru salt water, and stay off the wet sand and you shouldn't have corrosion concerns. Give your ride a good wash after and you should be fine.

I also carry a 'kit' that contains a bottle jack, plywood jack board, trench shovel, static and dynamic snatch straps, and the hardware needed to connect them to me and the person I need to pull out, in case someone gets stuck.

I have been driving the beach since 1977 and I've never needed my recovery gear for me, but I have used it for others.

Be smart, have fun, and enjoy the beach.

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[Ronwho]

I drive the beaches in nc every weekend.
Bring some recovery gear, air down and have fun.

 

[Deleted Member RoadNomad]

No doubt its a fun adventure cruising down the beach but I wouldn't subject my JL to the added possibility of corrosion. Any yes you can rinse the undercarriage and the body to try to get all of the SALT and sand off but you won't get it all. It's just not worth it.

Consider this, there are tons of places that rent Jeeps, go get one and have a ball. When your all done run it through a car wash before you return it. It will be well worth the rental costs and you won't have shot yourself in the foot with salt in the area's you won't be able to fully get out.

 

[Skeethree]

I concur with Sand Flea, except I usually run my tires at 15 PSI. I've been driving the beaches of NJ for 55 years now. Always carry a tow strap and a shovel, and we've pulled out countless stuck vehicles. If you find your tires spinning with no more forward motion, stop immediately and do not continue to spin tires. Get out, assess the situation, and lower tire pressure then if you haven't already done so. Can also help to have a piece of plywood, maybe 2' square to place a jack on. If you keep spinning tires until your Jeep is sitting on the frame you'll either need a tow or have to do a whole lot of digging. Guys with winches also frequently have a sand anchor, very useful if there's no nearby vehicle to hook up to.

 

[Erievon]

No doubt its a fun adventure cruising down the beach but I wouldn't subject my JL to the added possibility of corrosion. Any yes you can rinse the undercarriage and the body to try to get all of the SALT and sand off but you won't get it all. It's just not worth it.

Consider this, there are tons of places that rent Jeeps, go get one and have a ball. When your all done run it through a car wash before you return it. It will be well worth the rental costs and you won't have shot yourself in the foot with salt in the area's you won't be able to fully get out.

Some use their Jeep, some don't....You bought a Jeep to have fun, use it!!!

 

[LukeDagny]

Like the others have said, air down and fresh water rinse. I used to take my own hose, because I didn't know if the rental houses provided one.

Things have changed from when I made my first trip many years ago. If you're going to Cape Hatteras, you need a permit that costs $50. I would look at doing tis before you arrive. It used to be free.

 

[rickinAZ]

I belong to another forum where a group was planning a Bonneville Salt Flats "outing". Then they thought through it more carefully (i.e. came to their senses), and went to one of those standing start mile events instead. That said, at the Salt Flats you get caked with salt. A little ocean splashing, followed by a thorough wash should be fine. You'd do more lasting damage on one drive though a snow storm, and I bet well over half of our members are in snow country. Have fun - jealous.

 

[Matanzas]

Things have changed from when I made my first trip many years ago. If you're going to Cape Hatteras, you need a permit that costs $50. I would look at doing tis before you arrive. It used to be free.

Yes, they should charge the tourists in Corolla instead of the surf fishermen in Hatteras.

 

[Rampage]

Have fun . We can’t take these jeeps to our graves. Rinse off when you get home and take through a brushless car wash with under carriage wash

 

[Kbinspections]

All good info above!
On Long Island, we go 15 psi.
Pizza cutters are a non issue.
Have a blast!

 

[LukeDagny]

On Long Island, we go 15 psi.
Pizza cutters are a non issue.

My first trip to OBX was around 1984. Pizza cutters was the only thing available

 

[Zandcwhite]

Many different types of soil are as corrosive as salt, but I didn't but a Jeep for the mall. Don't park it at the beach for years, rinse it off after the trip, it will be fine. With the amount of crap I see fall off of trucks on the freeway everyday, We probably drive through bleach, acid, and God knows what other substances that are far worse than some salt water without even going off road. The rusted out frames and quarters you see on beach vehicles are always decades old. 1 trip ain't do anything.

 

[Skeethree]

Have fun . We can’t take these jeeps to our graves. Rinse off when you get home and take through a brushless car wash with under carriage wash

Long Beach Island now charges $50 also. I can't remember when it was free, but that's been a long time. When I was a kid people used to drive VWs (with the body removed) on the beach, a very early dune buggy. I've never washed my Jeep down after beach driving, even back in the CJ-5, 7, and 8 days. Never any rust, but I don't drive in the water at all. Any sand above the frame blows off when you hit the blacktop.

 

[garyji]

Just at Corolla in NC and they have signs for Mandatory air down, and a free station to air back up.

G.

 

[JesseT]

Air down to 18 or so PSI. 4h traction control off.

What I do is I put a water sprinkler under my jeep and let it run for a few hours. You will be amazed at how much salt and sand will get washed off.. I use a sprinkler after mudding too.

You want the sprinkler like this.

I bought one for $6 at Menards. You know save big money ant Menards. lol hahaha

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