A day at the beach should be relaxing, not a stress in the world. A day’s driving on the beach should be exactly the same and there are a few tips that will help make it go like clockwork.
Primarily, you need to know how to switch your car into four wheel drive. On modern vehicles, there is a dial positioned near the gear stick which only requires turning it to the desired 4 High range, 4 low range or back to 2 wheel drive. It’s worth saying that most vehicles can be switched to 4 High while still moving, however 4 Low requires you to stop, put the car in neutral, then switch the dial.
Driving on the sand can also be made easier by reducing your tyre pressures. As a general rule, 18psi is a good running pressure to have while on the beach. The lower the tyre pressure, the larger the “footprint” your tyre will have on the sand, meaning you should have more grip. In saying this, dropping your pressures too low can run the risk of rolling the tyre off the rim. If you do find yourself bogged, you can drop down to single digits, but this is not preferable. At least try to reinflate your tyres as soon as possible.
Of course, once you’re on the beach, a touch of shade will make life a lot easier. ARB sell a range of SPF-rated awnings. They attach to your roof racks or basket and provide shade in a flash.
ARB should be your first stop if you’re setting your vehicle up for a bit of beach driving. They stock a variety of recovery gear as well, if your beach drive does happen to go south.
