Driving on the beach, concerns.

[Sand Flea]

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

These are the signs posted at each beach crossing in Cape Henlopen State Park.
There are two at each entrance, they are 3 foot by 3 foot, and still every year everything from Teslas to minivans bury themselves to the frame thinking they can drive on the beach.

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[Skeethree]

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

G.
[/QUOTE Holgate wildlife refuge at the south end of Long Beach Island, NJ also has free air pump. It's hidden in the bushes north side of restrooms.

 

[_olllllllo_]

I drove on Pismo beach one time and it was a blast. I aired down and ran in 4H as many have recommended. I did not drive in the salt water and did not wash it off afterwards. Irish luck came through when I was driving back to Southern California from Sequoia NP and there was so much rain, I believe I was passed by a few arks.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

I have fluid film (ff) on mine and have driven in the sand up in Michigan. I've done the frame rails and hit every spot I could with ff.

I've had the same concern with sand sticking to the ff. The only major pain is the frame rail. With saying that, sand is going to stick there if you have ff or not. I will usually flush the rails out every year anyways because a lot of grit gets caked up in there. Most of the sand comes out, but it's not 100%.

I've read that ff will stick to the metal and the sand/dirt will float on top of it. Basically, you'll still have that protection for the metal even though there's an 1/8" of sand. If the frame rail fills with water, you still have that protection as the ff will continue to stick to the metal. And for me, since sand is going to get in there, I'd rather have the ff protection than not. So far, after 3 years of it, I have not experienced any rust.

The other thing you may want to do is try to seal up the large holes. I've bought these covers for the large holes up front. They weren't cheap, they do keep the junk out, and you can use magnets or duct tape for a cheaper solution. It won't prevent all the sand or dirt but it's two large less holes to deal with.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092Q129YG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[wibornz]

When you know that you know.

 

[wibornz]

Here is what not to do while on driving on the beach. I was on Cape Lookout and this fool was driving his new GMC truck in the surf. So I started filming him with the Gopro. He drives up and offers me a ride. LOL. I asked him if the truck was a rental or a lease and he was like nope.

This is how you get salt everywhere. Mind you I will run in deep fresh water, but I would never do this!

 

[Earl-Girl]

I live part time on the OBX and drive the Corolla beaches almost weekly.
I previously used the oscillating sprinkler, but switched to this:

https://a.co/d/7DPUQZL

It’s a little pricier, but I already had the power washer, so I get more use out of it.

 

[wibornz]

I live part time on the OBX and drive the Corolla beaches almost weekly.
I previously used the oscillating sprinkler, but switched to this:

https://a.co/d/7DPUQZL

It’s a little pricier, but I already had the power washer, so I get more use out of it.

I like the set it forget it. process better.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Here is what not to do while on driving on the beach. I was on Cape Lookout and this fool was driving his new GMC truck in the surf. So I started filming him with the Gopro. He drives up and offers me a ride. LOL. I asked him if the truck was a rental or a lease and he was like nope.

This is how you get salt everywhere. Mind you I will run in deep fresh water, but I would never do this!

I think the fear of saltwater is way over blown, especially if your beach trip is followed by some fresh water crossings soon after. Road salt is far more of a concern as it's persistent for months at a time and often the weather won't even allow proper rinsing. Splashing through the surf once or twice a year is not going to rust out your vehicle in my experience. That fact is pretty obvious being from the west coast where we have almost no rust issues and yet can drive on the beaches regularly.

 

[LKG]

We were on vacation in Florence, OR this summer. $25 for a beach flag, $10 for an OHV permit, best $35 I've spent in a long time.

 

[20-Willys]

I have been invited to drive on the beach in NC but I am reluctant to do this due to concerns about the salt/corrosion. I also have fluid film on the frame and undercarriage of my jeep. I am concerned about the sand sticking to the fluid film. I have skinny, pizza cutter tires. I'm not sure how they will perform in soft sand. I guess I'm wondering if a beach ride is worth it.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Some of what might appear as a puddle there could be a bottomless hole as well. I have seen some pictures where they were really deep and the driver unexpectedly got buried.

 

[Earl-Girl]

I have been invited to drive on the beach in NC but I am reluctant to do this due to concerns about the salt/corrosion. I also have fluid film on the frame and undercarriage of my jeep. I am concerned about the sand sticking to the fluid film. I have skinny, pizza cutter tires. I'm not sure how they will perform in soft sand. I guess I'm wondering if a beach ride is worth it.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

If you're up at the north end, Corolla/Corova, this is another side benefit to driving on the beach:

(sorry...had the Gladiator for that trip instead of the Wrangler) The grandkids love driving on the beach! So much so that in the past year my three daughters have bought a '24 Wrangler, a '24 Gladiator, and a '23 Bronco Outer Banks edition!

 

[wibornz]

A fast pass on the beach. Note, I am traveling with these guys. We are about 50 miles down the beach on Padre Island in Texas.

 

[mjbenedict]

Most of Padre island is so hard packed you can drive your car on it. No need to air down there unless you it some of the lower parts where they warn you first. In the OBX you can hit a beach that is extremely soft one day and when not as soft it’s still not passable in 2WD. Funny how when you go to pass slower vehicles they speed up 90% of the time .

 

[Flip]

Thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions, they were all helpful and appreciated. Basically it was exactly what I needed to hear, now I have full confidence to go out there and have a nice vacation and utilize my jeep as well.

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