Jonnyfive

New Member
Hi guys,

Im considering taking my 4x4 off to a few beaches my friends and I know allow car access.

Before I got the 4x4 we allways kept close to the slip ways on and off for fear of getting stuck (not a good thing in my Z3 tho a right laugh having huge rooster tails) as we could allways pull one another out (well ok my mate in his volvo could allways pull me out).

I am fancying taking the jeep off for a spin up and down the beach is there anyting I should know?

What equipment should I take?

I have AT tyres winch and a winching kit (no ground anchor though.. not till after pay day at least, tho with a none working winch not much point lol)

I dont have any Woffle boards or anything like that.

Other than the obvious stuff (tide times etc) what other hazards should I look out for.

any and all tips welcome (even if you call me total idot or worse :p)
 
Stay off any mud flats... and take a couple of large shovels. + the usual recovery gear. Oh and a small inflatable might be a good idea if the beaches you visit are subject to fast flowing tides. it's very easy for the tide to come in behind you and cut you off before ya realise it.. Anyone who works on a beach fulltime usually takes a small boat with em for emergency use. end of theday if you have no waffles or winch or ground anchor, if ya get stuck you're likely to stay stuck. as another vehicle is unlikely to get enough traction to be able to pill you out. your recovery gear needs to be as long as possible 3 or 4 10 mtr straps and enough shackle to link em all together is probably a minimum.
 
I don't know what the facination is with driving on a beach or where you are intending to do it but THINK before you act. Anything you do will be blamed on ALL 4x4 owners and enthusiasts.

***DO NOT GO TEARING UP AND DOWN A PUBLIC BEACH***


Rant over..

It depends on wether you mean beaches that allow vehicles which are generally sandy or mud flats.

If you mean beaches that allow vehicles you shouldn't need any recovery gear as a normal car can drive on most and generally speed limits and traffic regulations are in place. If you mean mud flats then good luck to you. The suction involved is likely to stop another 4x4 pulling you out. The best tool you can have for beach driving is a tyre inflator. Keeping the air in your tyres low will give you a wider footprint on the sand and help to stop you digging in. There are very few recovery companies who will get invoved with recovering vehicles that are stuck in sand or mud on beaches.
 
Good advice, Just a normal sandy public beach not going anywhere near mud flatts, I dont plan to do all 4 wheels spinning 80mph up the beach either just more for the fun of exploring and going further than we might dare in our normal cars.

Might wait till after pay day so my recovery equipment is up to scrach before I take the plunge then
 
driving on sand is the opposite to driving on mud-"drive it like you stole it" was a quote i was given. This pretty much means give it a good but of throttle dont change gear. Torque probbaly wont get you out even in a landy. Also if you stop remember you wont get it started again if theres even a slight uphil incline. Good luck and dont tearn sround like an arse, dune bashings ok in dubai but not so good at morecomb.
 
Most beaches in the uk are no go areas for driving. Some allow you on but driving like a tit will get you into trouble. One thing to consider is if you do get stuck and the tide is coming in don't expect anyone else to risk their vehicle trying to drag you out. No one with any sense would even consider it.
 
Yeah low psi for dry sand, you can easily get away with 15psi if your careful. Lots of revs and momentum are definately your friend!!! Stay away from the water if you want your landy to make it to the end of the year, salt water corrodes steel like a bugger, so make sure you give it a good power wash off underneath afterwards. A lad near us bogged down quite recently trying to launch a boat on the inward tide (retard), his fairly new 06 reg disco was recovered the following day with a crane and as far as im aware is a write off!!! So be careful!!!
cheers
Tom
 
Providing your do no sharp turns, just slow long turns, then safe to drop as low as 7 psi.
If you turn sharp, then there is a chance the bead will come off the rim.

7 psi gives a good foot print, and is still very drivable.
 
Most beaches in the uk are no go areas for driving. Some allow you on but driving like a tit will get you into trouble. One thing to consider is if you do get stuck and the tide is coming in don't expect anyone else to risk their vehicle trying to drag you out. No one with any sense would even consider it.

There are still a few beaches that can be driven legally. morecombe bay has a green lane running stright across it, however, like some other sandy areas it also has a specialist guide to guide those who want to drive or cross using the lane. The guide has a proper title and is actually the Queen's Guide. He is one of the few people with sufficient local knowledge to allow safe passage.
 
There are still a few beaches that can be driven legally. morecombe bay has a green lane running stright across it, however, like some other sandy areas it also has a specialist guide to guide those who want to drive or cross using the lane. The guide has a proper title and is actually the Queen's Guide. He is one of the few people with sufficient local knowledge to allow safe passage.

I know there are some. Black Rock sands in North Wales is another one. It's just a few miles of boring flat sand though.
 
I have to say I quite like the idea of a little sand drive some time, I might have to think twice about taking the family though. The morecombe bay info came from an article in one of the landy mags a month or so ago but the dangers they stress are a little too extreme to risk with younger passengers. losing the car would be a calculated risk, losing the kids would prove really inconvenient.
 

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