A question for the regular beach drivers.

[robbotd5]

Evening all.
Here's the thing. We have 2 weeks off in April and we are taking the van up to Manning point. We are there with a couple of friends and they have put the pressure on me to take my beloved Disco on the beach. While I love the beach, I don't like the thought of getting sand everywhere and possable salt water on it and getting bogged. I have never driven on a beach before and neither has my disco. Is it worth it? And words of advice?
Regards
Robbo

[Eevo]

dont go near the water and you wont get salt water on it.

[kelvo]

Drop your tyre pressures is the first thing to do. I run 16psi on sand, but WA sand can be soft.
Engage centre diff lock, if you have it.
Stay out of the water.

[Stuck]

It's not a bad beach to drive on although the accesses can get a bit chopped up so airing down is near a necessity (SWMBO who had stuff all sand driving experience had no trouble in our old manual 200tdi D1 on 205's running about 15psi) and keep an eye on the rising tide if you're at the Old Bar end. It's been a while since I've been up there but you used to be able to get your beach permit from the general store if they weren't "too busy", i.e. holiday time, to sell you one, so if you can get one elsewhere do that. From memory both of the van parks had beach access, I know the Weeroona van park did and both had vehicle wash down areas.

[spudboy]

Your screen icon would suggest differently! (or maybe that is snow...).

Anyway - if you have never driven on sand, give it a go. It is excellent fun. You might get bogged - it's not the end of the world. Dig it out and keep trying. You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. If you are going with others - even better, because they can help pull you out if you get stuck.

Keep out of the water and you'll not have to worry about rusting. I've driven my Disco 1 on beaches from the first year I owned it (1997) and no rust on the chassis at all. Hose down after the holiday - all good.

[robbotd5]

Thanks for that spudboy. And yes, my avatar picture is in the snow. I guess I'll have to man up, realize I'll get a little sand in the car and just enjoy the experience. My mates have a new Pajero and a 04 Playdo.
Regards
Robbo

[bob10]

Evening all.
Here's the thing. We have 2 weeks off in April and we are taking the van up to Manning point. We are there with a couple of friends and they have put the pressure on me to take my beloved Disco on the beach. While I love the beach, I don't like the thought of getting sand everywhere and possable salt water on it and getting bogged. I have never driven on a beach before and neither has my disco. Is it worth it? And words of advice?
Regards
Robbo


Just my experience. Drive to the tides. Low tide will give you harder sand, high tide will push you up into the soft stuff. If your cooling system is not 100%, the soft stuff will give you high temps. . Tyre pressure is king. 25 PSI at the most. If you have to drive off the beach to a camp spot through soft sand, over a dune, 2nd gear low range, keep the revs up. And don't believe the story that sand , on a beach, will not rot your vehicle, just clean it like a demon when you get home. Is it worth it? HELL YEAH!. Bob

[LandyAndy]

Thanks for that spudboy. And yes, my avatar picture is in the snow. I guess I'll have to man up, realize I'll get a little sand in the car and just enjoy the experience. My mates have a new Pajero and a 04 Playdo.
Regards
Robbo

The D2 will slay those vihicles on the beach;)
;););););)
ENJOY
Andrew

[tact]

There are some simple treats the seasoned gurus are not tossing your way - the tiny little things that go unnoticed and can make a difference
- in really soft stuff when you want to stop, coast to a stop, no brakes or engine braking.
- when you plan to (coast to a) stop, have an eye for the lay of the land related to when you will want to get moving again. No harm in having the nose of the vehicle so it's a pointing a little downhill as you come to rest
- turning the steering hard is like putting on brakes when in really soft stuff, plan nice sweeping turns where possible

[d2dave]

I love sand driving. It is so much fun. Here's a blow up of my avatar.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/03/1184.jpg

[cripesamighty]

Love the avatar pic Dave, simply awesome! Now for the obvious question - What, if anything, did you end up breaking?!! :p:D

[Red90]

95% of sand driving is about tyre pressure. It does not matter what you are driving. If you want to look like a champ run a lower pressure than the others.

Don't spin the tyres.

Don't drive in the ocean.

Watch out for creeks. They can create steep cuts in the sand and can be hard to see in certainly lighting.

Don't stop when crossing water.

Give it a good wash underneath when you get home.

[YOLO110]

GREAT PHOTO!!! :>)

[Redback]

Don't do it, go in one of the other vehicles.

Baz.

[simmo]

My car has done a fair amount of beach work. When I come back from the beach I park the car over the garden sprinkler for 30 minutes.
Then get underneath it with the hose and nozzle jetting in all the corners and wheel arches.

I also fill up the chassis rails with water and let them drain out and check the drain holes are clear .

The land rovers don't seem to suffer from corrosion if a little bit of care is taken.

[d2dave]

Love the avatar pic Dave, simply awesome! Now for the obvious question - What, if anything, did you end up breaking?!! :p:D

Two bent rims and one bent axle housing. All up cost me $140 for second hand parts and a days work.

I must point out that it did go higher. The rear wheels also left the ground and then the crest of the dune started to slope away, making the distance to earth even greater.

Combine this with recent rain which had also hardened the sand.

Below is my 2012 Christmas present from my two boys.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/03/1174.jpg

This went straight to the pool room

[Saitch]

Get some of the rubber and mats door the foot wells as you can empty them easily. You can never get all the sand off your feet.
Good luck & don't panic
Steve

Sent from my HTC Wildfire using AULRO mobile app

[cripesamighty]

Dave, that's a great series of photos and a stunning present. I'm glad it wasn't too expensive to fix. Were you airborne by accident? Just asking as a couple of times I have been caught out and got a bit of air without meaning to. I don't think my 300TDi D1 was meant to fly! Ha ha

[Fluids]

Nice photo's Dave !!

[d2dave]

Were you airborne by accident?

Yes and no. I did a much smaller run over the dune and one of our group with a fancy camera took one photo.

When I saw the pic I suggested that I do it again and he use the multi shot function on the camera.

I did not intend to get that high and did not realise until I saw the photos afterwards. I was gobsmacked when I saw them.

[mrapocalypse]

We drive on the beach a lot and there's been some great info in this post.

I always try to be ahead of the sand.. It can change consistency without warning so always look for escape routes and be ready with the pedal to keep momentum up. But don't let the wheels spin too much if you get stuck.. Max tracks and snatch straps are good accessories to have along.

Just run it up on wheel ramps and wash it for at least 45 to an hour to dilute and wash away any salt..

Take beer.