1st time beach driving advice

[magmike]

Hi,
I'm heading to Stradbroke Island next week camping down on main beach for a few nights.

It'll be my first real experience of driving on sand and whilst I know Straddie isn't like crossing the Sahara I'd just like to be fairly well preparing. I've see a few videos and read up a bit about beach driving. I'm sure the D2 is more than capable (maybe not the driver) just looking for a few pointers - Straddie specific great, sand driving in general also.

D2 auto on 235/85r16 and 2"lift. I don't have a compressor so was just going to give it a whirl and drop them down only if i have to. we're not in a group, but i'm thinking there should be plenty of people over there at this time of year should i run into trouble.

Thoughts?

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members/magmike-albums-my+d2-picture4624-photo.jpg

[bee utey]

Running road pressures on sand is never a good idea. You waste fuel and heat up the driveline needlessly. Beg, borrow or buy a compressor before you go and run the tyres at 20-25 psi max.

[Basil135]

Get a compressor !

You will need to air down your tyres to drive on sand. Not only does it make the tyre sit on top of the sand, instead of digging in, but you will also do less damage to the tracks.

Depending on the conditions, a starting point for tyre pressures might be around 18 psi, but down as low as 10 - 12 psi might be necessary.

On top of this, take a shovel, and if you can, Maxtrax's or similar make recovering yourself easier.

You need to be prepared for self recovery, on the off chance that there isn't someone else around to lend a hand.

[superquag]

Get a compressor.

IF you don't like paying for quality... then buy a couple of cheapies from ???, but don't even think about going near sand without one.

Or two. :p

You've got a good size tyre for deflating, the higher profile (like yours) will grow longer and give a better footprint and less drag than poncy 40 and 50 series you see on some 'Pose-mobiles'. :wasntme:

Start off as suggested with 20 to 25 psi, make your turns on sand wide and gentle rather than tight and hard... go for smooothness. From 18 to 20psi up to 25 won't take that long, even with a small compressor.
Another advantage of 25 psi is that you can drive - quietly for short distances - on bitumen.
Watch what other folk are doing and learn from their mistakes !:p:p:p

- PS, take a 'real' shovel, big or small but not a fold-up one. Certainly not a cheap fold-up. Ask me how I know...

[scarry]

Get a compressor.

IF you don't like paying for quality... then buy a couple of cheapies from ???, but don't even think about going near sand without one.

Or two. :p

You've got a good size tyre for deflating, the higher profile (like yours) will grow longer and give a better footprint and less drag than poncy 40 and 50 series you see on some 'Pose-mobiles'. :wasntme:

Start off as suggested with 20 to 25 psi, make your turns on sand wide and gentle rather than tight and hard... go for smooothness. From 18 to 20psi up to 25 won't take that long, even with a small compressor.
Another advantage of 25 psi is that you can drive - quietly for short distances - on bitumen.
Watch what other folk are doing and learn from their mistakes !:p:p:p

- PS, take a 'real' shovel, big or small but not a fold-up one. Certainly not a cheap fold-up. Ask me how I know...

X2

i am also sure there is a garage over there so you should be able to air up even if you don't have a compresser,but check first.

Around 20psi is what i ran in the D2 in sand.If it is very soft,you can go lower.

There is no way i would do ANY beach or sand driving without airing down.You will probably get stuck on one of the tracks or beach access tracks and look like a fool....

And remember,momentum is your friend,once you slow down in the soft stuff,it is all over.......


Anyway,good luck,have fun and see how you go:D

[MR LR]

If your car has a centre diff lock, then lock it, even if you need to climb underneath with a 10mm spanner.

[kenleyfred]

That is all good advice. And should be taken seriously. But really, that is such a capable beach vehicle ( especially with tyres down) that you really should be okay. I had the same vehicle as you before getting my Defender. I had one of the first ARB compressors. It was very slow and after a while I stopped airing down because of how long it took to air up afterwards. Eventually I did get stuck, after airing down it just crawled out and kept going easily.
That was those days, I do know now that even though the D2 did make it through nearly everything at highway pressures I was damaging tracks and making the vehicle work may harder than it had to.
Air down, keep momentum for the tough patches and the vehicle is probably going to make you look great.
But always learn from your experiences

You've got a very good beach vehicle

Kenley

[sheerluck]

If there hasn't been much rain over in Straddie, then you'll find it very soft going, particularly at the beach access points. Airing down is a must, take it down to 25psi to start, take it down further if you start to get bogged.

Where are you looking to go on Straddie?

[Piddler]

Sand is pretty cruisy,
just go to 18 psi you wont have any issues.
Air up when you finish.
Buy a compressor, ARB tyre deflators, snatch strap and a long handled shovel.
If you are cashed up Maxtracks and Air bag jack.

Have fun.
Lock the centre diff and keep up the momentum. Very Very capable vehicle on sand escecially with tyres on 18.
Enjoy
Cheers

[JDNSW]

All good advice. Tyre pressure is the major factor, followed by driving technique. Vehicle and tyre type are irrelevant compared to these.

As suggested, drive smoothly, avoid sharp turns, and avoid spinning wheels and sudden increases in power that might start spinning. keep moving, and never stop on an uphill in sand.

Avoid unnecessary loads - lighter vehicles do better on sand.

John

[Slunnie]

Personally... I would also buy a cheapie compressor (ok, I actually bought a good one and mounted it under the bonnet) and when you hit sand drop those tyres straight down to 15psi. With those rims and those tyres you can air down more than normal retain the tyre on the rim, get a lot of footprint on the ground and never have to think about getting bogged so you can enjoy that trip away. If you dont want to buy a compressor then driver super carefully to the servo when you get off the island.

[Cobber]

If for whatever reason you can't get a little compressor, even a double barrel foot pump would do the trick. I know they are painfully slow when putting air back in but it's still quicker than digging yourself out!! :D

Just a thought :)

[R Miller]

im at Alexandra hills, if you want a loan of my compressor feel free, its just a supercheap one but it does the job,


failing that its only about 10min drive from the barge to a servo

[blue_mini]

Don't brake too hard either. Always funny watching people brake when parking ad dropping straight through the top layer.

Watch how much throttle your applying as well. Too much and you can dig in. I always find it's better to give less throttle than wide open throttle. Youll definitely notice it after filling up as well.

If you can lock the cdl, great. I wouldn't bother getting all dirty underneath to lock it with a spanner otherwise, I never lock mine.

My disco 2 is the best car I've ever driven on sand. And it's totally stock. Ran rings around my defender.

[magmike]

right well, I'm going to head to SuperCheap tomorrow and see what I can pick up, it won't be top of the line but from all the replies it's fairly apparent that it'll keep in handy (this time, or the next or the one after that).

Miller - cheers for the offer though, as above I reckon I'll go and pick one up.
Piddler - can't afford the maxtracks or the air bag jack, there's a long wish list building though. and I'll see what tyre deflators I can pick up in the next day or two.
Sheerluck - no real plans, other than getting out town and relaxing for awhile. i've only ever been to the camp sites at the top end so will ask about for any tips whiles I'm over there but I only have 3 days.

Driving technique - appreciate the tips, I'll bare them all mind - smooth and easy!

Do many people get around with just a foot pump? I remember as a kid we always had one in the car.

Thanks all, really appreciate your input. Mike

[R Miller]

the foot pump will take a good while to get your tyres back up, I think I paid about $150 for my compressor, its still not the fastest ive seen,


I bought a Dr Air deflator, its junk, I plan to throw it out really soon, I am leaning towards a ARB ez-deflator or something similar,

[Slunnie]

If the servo is 10mins away, then I wouldn't bother with a footpump.

[Roverlord off road spares]

If for whatever reason you can't get a little compressor, even a double barrel foot pump would do the trick. I know they are painfully slow when putting air back in but it's still quicker than digging yourself out!! :D

Just a thought :)

You can get by with the foot pump and speed up inflating..... just get your partner to pump much faster
:D

[sheerluck]

right well, I'm going to head to SuperCheap tomorrow and see what I can pick up, it won't be top of the line but from all the replies it's fairly apparent that it'll keep in handy (this time, or the next or the one after that).

Miller - cheers for the offer though, as above I reckon I'll go and pick one up.
Piddler - can't afford the maxtracks or the air bag jack, there's a long wish list building though. and I'll see what tyre deflators I can pick up in the next day or two.
Sheerluck - no real plans, other than getting out town and relaxing for awhile. i've only ever been to the camp sites at the top end so will ask about for any tips whiles I'm over there but I only have 3 days.

Driving technique - appreciate the tips, I'll bare them all mind - smooth and easy!

Do many people get around with just a foot pump? I remember as a kid we always had one in the car.

Thanks all, really appreciate your input. Mike

I wouldn't worry too much about a top of the line compressor, just having one that will run, and reach your desired pressure without dying would be a start. :D

My D1 manages the beach work over there with no problem. The only time it looked like bogging I managed to reverse it out and took a different line.

Beautiful part of the world though, i posted some photos from a couple of years ago http://www.aulro.com/afvb/queensland-reports/134418-north-stradbroke-island-terrible-terrible-place-please-stay-away.html

[Debacle]

Don't confuse momentum and speed. Too many people take a huge run up only to find they need to change a gear then get bogged down.

Put it in a low gear with low tyre pressures and keep it there and follow the tracks.

[magmike]

So what's with the compressors packing out - just badly made or not right for the conditions? You would have thought if it's sold to an Australian market it should be able to do the job here.

re; John's comment - "and never stop on an uphill in sand"
so if I do come to a stop on a dune, straight into rev and back to solid footing and go again.

Also have any of you been over at christmas? We arrive there christmas day so expecting to have to look around a fair bit to find a free camp space. I'm not to fussed but was up an Inskip for NRL GF wkd and it was chaotic - surely it can't get as packed as that down on main beach?

[bob10]

Just go and do it, make your own mistakes, you will find out quick enough where you went wrong, Bob

[JDNSW]

.......
re; John's comment - "and never stop on an uphill in sand"
so if I do come to a stop on a dune, straight into rev and back to solid footing and go again.

....

If you are forced to come to a stop on a dune, yes, just back carefully down to the level before trying to start again. What I meant was to not intentionally stop on an uphill - wait until you get to the top; if there is a vehicle in front, wait until they are clear of the top before you even start.

And as debacle commented - plan your driving up hills so that you do not need to change gears on a hill; start off in the gear you will need to get over the top. Unless you are going very fast and are a very skilled driver, changing down on a hill is a sure recipe for getting stuck.

John

(I don't have a lot of beach experience - but I did spend nearly two years in the Simpson Desert)

[weeds]

Buy a tyre gauge as well.......

You could get away without a compressor as I'm pretty sure there is a servo as you land on the mainland, I have never had to air up during a beach trip. I just lower the pressures as required an re-inflate on the last day

[the_preacher1973]

If you dont want to buy a compressor then driver super carefully to the servo when you get off the island.

Just air up at the servo 1km down the road from the beach access. Close to either George Nothling Drive (Main beach access Pt. Lookout) or Flinders Beach access.


I've got a good ARB compressor and don't bother to unpack it when on Straddie. Just use the servo.


EDIT: Just checked Google Maps. Servo is 1.9 km from main beach access and about 400m from the Flinders Beach access. The road is 60kph from memory. Low pressures for this distance will be fine.

[the_preacher1973]

So what's with the compressors packing out - just badly made or not right for the conditions? You would have thought if it's sold to an Australian market it should be able to do the job here.

re; John's comment - "and never stop on an uphill in sand"
so if I do come to a stop on a dune, straight into rev and back to solid footing and go again.

Also have any of you been over at christmas? We arrive there christmas day so expecting to have to look around a fair bit to find a free camp space. I'm not to fussed but was up an Inskip for NRL GF wkd and it was chaotic - surely it can't get as packed as that down on main beach?


Don't you have to book a camp site?


Main beach itself isn't too hectic along the beach itself as it's very long. Haven't actually camped there (stay in a beach shack at Amity) so not too sure about the camp sites though.


With 235/85's on the car you shouldn't have any problems. I run mine in my county at 15 psi and it will not get bogged over there no matter how many things I do wrong. The D3 on 19's however...

[superquag]

"...With 235/85's on the car you shouldn't have any problems. I run mine in my county at 15 psi and it will not get bogged over there no matter how many things I do wrong. The D3 on 19's however..."

'Poncey -mobiles' .... Rich mum's School bus... Toorak Tractor....

Mechanic mate of mine relishes a tale of being up a holiday beach with his Prado. Some Rich Mates took their RRS, Audi and Beemer out to play in the sand. All had those Impressive Big Wheels... and all got totally bogged.
His Prado on standard, H/T tyres pulled them all out.
He reckons he was laughing so much that he forgot to take pictures....:p:p:p

[the_preacher1973]

"...With 235/85's on the car you shouldn't have any problems. I run mine in my county at 15 psi and it will not get bogged over there no matter how many things I do wrong. The D3 on 19's however..."

'Poncey -mobiles' .... Rich mum's School bus... Toorak Tractor....

Mechanic mate of mine relishes a tale of being up a holiday beach with his Prado. Some Rich Mates took their RRS, Audi and Beemer out to play in the sand. All had those Impressive Big Wheels... and all got totally bogged.
His Prado on standard, H/T tyres pulled them all out.
He reckons he was laughing so much that he forgot to take pictures....:p:p:p


A D3/RRS set up properly and driven well is excellent on sand. Seen many bogged Prado's where the D3 has sailed through. But it does have to be driven properly with lower tyre pressures. With the County it doesn't matter.


I've only had the D3 bogged once. And that was because it was only going to be a quick run and I didn't lower the tyre pressures. Hard to blame the car for my own incompetence.

[carjunkieanon]

I've heard,
> coast to a stop without brakes if possible (so you don't dig in).
> point the nose downhill when you stop (hopefully works with the above).

> DON'T GET BOGGED BELOW THE HIGH TIDE LINE!

[magmike]

Straddie trip went well... Didn't get bogged (this time!) and luckily for us we left a few days prior to the bush fire situation over there.

My confidence was given a great boost because although I'd had numerous warnings on the drive over about the badly cut up state of the access point and beach in general, the D2 never really felt like getting into trouble.

Coming in off Tazi road (tires down) I must have passed 4-5 bogged vehicles in with the first km and heaps more over the next few days.

Some of the camp access points over the dunes are really soft and some very steep, I gave one in particular a good couple of cracks but with a narrow beach I just couldnt seem to generate enough power over a soft run up to clear the brow.

Day 3 headed up to the Creek access and in and along the Fisherman's track was a great little drive. Some pretty deep flooded out parts of the track made for interesting and unexpected obstacles.

I ended up purchasing an EZ-Deflater, which wasn't actually that easy; removing the valve core completely seemed to create a blockage, it was only after fiddling around with the core partially removed that the air flowed freely. Not sure if this is specific to my tires or an issue with the product.

I also picked up an SCA Hurricane compressor which I'm about to take back and try to get a refund. It successfully inflated 2 and a half tires before giving out. It didn't die completely, sounded like it was doing to business, but the pressure wasn't budging and it seemed to be losing air from the compressor meaning a stalemate.

All round though I'm pretty rapt and looking forward to getting out again soon. Thanks again for the tips.

Mike