camper on the beach?

[dblake]

Does anybody out there run their 4x4 on the beach with a camper(if so,what weight is it?) in the bed. I have a short bed 2500 quad and am considering a cabover camper purchase but don't want to lose my ability to run down the beach in it. Is 2k in the bed too much weight to do that?

 

[The patriot]

I havent done it, but I see it all the time. Just remember to lower your air pressure. I believe they have air station at the place by me (Island beach state park, NJ) but you'd be best to check first.

Eric

 

[LarryB]

In sand it is a matter of PSI footprint. The lower the PSI the better. By adding weight you raise the PSI. Like trying to walk in sand with high heels on. By lowering the tire pressure you allow more tire to contact the sand spreading the load and lowering the average PSI on the sand. Bigger tires or duals do even more. I have a Suzuki Samurai with big tires. If I lower the pressure I get a PSI on the sand lower than my actual personal footprint. I calculated the PSI of my shoes and compared them. If I can walk over it I can drive over it. Works out to be true in most cases.



The more weight you add, the more tire "floatation" you need.



Hope this helps.

 

[NVR FNSH]

My best friends dad had a '74(?) F-250 2wd with a service body and CAT V8/5spd with a cab over that NEVER had any trouble getting down the beach at Pismo Dunes. Without the camper I'm guessing the truck weighed ~9500 - 10,000 lbs.



I wouldn't worry about your truck.



Brian

 

[Utah Willie]

camper on beach?

I have run my dually on the fine sand of Lake Powell's Lone Rock Beach camping area with a boat trailer in tow and found that the 4x4 aspect does well. This does mean that one must pay attention to existing tracks, if visible, and terrain. I suppose the real condition to be aware of is the depth of the sand and whether it is blow-sand or washed up... . the latter giving more density. As a fire patrolman many years ago, I drove a '52 Chevy 4x4 pickup with a pump, tank and hose into the wilds of the San Gagriel Mountains of Southern California..... our rule was: Go in with 2x4 and when you get stuck...come out with 4x4.

 

[LRamey]

Years ago (25) I had a cab over camper on my 57 ford. Took it out on the beach ( let some air out first) on the pacific ocean. Drove down the beach about 5 miles and stay'd on the wet sand. Then made a loop to turn around, got off the wet sand and buried that sucker up to the axle:{ No 4x4 on this one so there I sat. Used my shovel to dig under the tires and stuffed drift wood under the tires and that would get me a few feet. (lucky for me there was lots of drift wood) Just barely got out before the tide came in that would have stranded me out there until it went out again!

I would have had the camper to stay the nite in but don't think all that salt water would have been good for the under side, and probably would have buried me even deeper.

I haven't driven on the beach since.

That's my story.

Lonnie

 

[Deezul1]

I have driven in soft sand a bunch of times with a 8ft cab over and a 11 footer too and pulling a trailer with a sand rail and fuel on it. Low air pressure is the key and front is every bit as important as rear so when you try to turn it doesnt plow which makes the rears have to work to hard to push the truck and then its shovel time. Get a good low pressure gauge and experiment a little. I would try maybe 25 rear and 20 front, watch for sidewall bulge and try to gauge that way how much wider the tire is. Dont go fast or turn sharp at any speed with pressure down as its possible to roll a tire off the rim, not a problem though unless you do something dumb. I used to run 12x33x16. 5 tires and would run 12-15 lbs in them but not sure on these tires what works best.