First trip to the beach - nearly lost her!

[Bodge]

Hindsight is always 20/20 eh?
I was almost at Rainbow Beach and a heap of 4X4s were headed the other way on a sat afternoon. Couldn't work out why they'd all go camping and take off so early on a Saturday.
I'm sure most of you already know the answer!
Yes.
High tide...

Only had a short drive, then chilled out while my friend's kids splashed around and had a ball, then I drove on a couple hundred metres before deciding it didn't look too appealing and stopped waaay too fast. Bit through the sand and I was stuck.
Really was worried until some reverse rocking finally got me out. Plenty of clutch smoke too...
The water got much, much too close!
Embarrassing, very embarrassing...

Hmm, road tyres and single range might not be the best ideas on the beach.
Time for some research into offroading before I get myself into some real trouble.

Just thought I'd share.
:ebiggrin:

ps - I had to laugh, my friend's baby in the back seat was imitating the 'whoosh' of the bypass valve when driving on the road. Was funny as, she is only just saying a few words but talking to the car was too easy "psshhhh". I'll make a petrolhead outta her for sure!

 

[Fuze911]

Great looking car. An off road tire would of helped but what would of done you solid would be to lower the psi in your tires. Someone correct me if im wrong but i think you have to lower it to around 25 psi for sand driving.

 

[Prop1]

There's a lot of sand in New Mexico. I always did 2/3s normal for airing down. That usually put in in the 20psi area.

 

[Kevin]

Lesson well learnt and no harm done - which is great! You're actually better off with road tyres on the sand because you want to float over the top, not dig in; deflate them to 18 psi and if you get into any trouble you can go as low as 10 psi - but no fast cornering or accelerating! And, yes, use brakes only as a last resort or apply only very lightly.

 

[Bodge]

Thanks for the support!
After getting stuck I dropped the tyre pressures as far as I thought I could get away with. Next time I'll do it before getting onto the cutting!

I'll be searching this forum for all the offroading tips I can find after that misadventure!

 

[taza]

Dont feel too bad. I have done the same thing hit the breaks hard in soft sand. Once you do that your gone, least you got out before the tide got to you :biggrin:

 

[mr turbo]

Nothing to be embarrassed about mate. :iconwink:

I remember the first time that I went beach driving & got stuck/bogged big time

Like Kevin said, no harm done & a great lesson learnt. :iconwink:

Regards
Mr Turbo