Thanks for the excellent replies! I received another informative reply below by a gentleman('01 DEE/ETH owner) who is waiting for TDR to send him his login info. Below is a copy of what he sent me:
I do some surf fishing at Hatteras, which should be similar to what you
should encounter further north. Here's my comments:
1. Let your air down to 24 or 25 pounds at first, then if you're bogging
down badly, let it out in 2 pound increments until you get
flotation... ... ... believe it or not 1 pound of air pressure makes a
difference. Remember that when you reduce air pressure and your tires are
hot, you'll drop another couple of pounds when they cool.
2. While driveing, take it easy, try not to go too fast, but keep enough
power to keep your rig moving. Driving in deep sand is like going uphill all
the time. If your truck is surging badly (not from what I call sand bumps)
your air pressure is probably too high. If your air pressure is right you'll
feel a floating cushioning ride.
3. Be careful where you park, try to plan ahead so you will have an easy
time pulling out.
4. I NEVER drive below the high water mark, although, a lot of people do. I
feel like if I get stuck, I don't want to worry about the water flooding my
vehicle, this does happen.
5. Watch the wind and tides, certain wind combinations can pile water on the
beach ABOVE the high water mark during high tides, especially around new and
full moons. Not fun if you're fishing only to return and see your rig
bottomed out in the sand.
6. Carry a shovel and 2' x 2' piece of 3/4 inch plywood so you can jack up
in case you do get bogged. If you do get bogged, don't just keep spinning,
get out let some air out, clear the sand from the front of the tires,
straighten the wheels, and use low range to get yourself out. Most of the
time you see stuck rigs it's due to someone just trying to force the vehicle
out.
7. Keep weight to a minimum, I wouldn't add anything additional that you
won't need. I've even noticed a difference in my old 85 K5 Jimmy between
full and half full fuel tanks.
8. When you take off in some really deep sand, use your lowest gears trying
to not spin too much. You want to creep and float over the sand.
9. Be EXTREMELY cautious if driving at night, it's very disorienting, even
with bright lights. I wouldn't advise it unless you've driven the same
stretch of beach in the daytime and know the pitfalls.
10. I dunno if you have them there, but places with a lot of ground up
seashells (which look like pea gravel) can be trecherous with no firm bottom,
try to avoid those.
11. Carry your trash back off the beach.
I'd be very interested in how you make out, I just got a '01 DEE/ETH and
haven't had it on the beach yet. I do see quite a few dodge cummins at
hatteras so I know they will go on the sand, and go with a buddy who has a
ford diesel with a slide-in, he goes where he wants to but remains very
careful... ... never has had to drop his air below 25 pounds, of course he's
pretty heavy and 25 pounds gives him the buldge he needs in his tires.
Also, check this site out:
http://www.ncbba.org/beachdriving.htm
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Martin
------------------
'01 2500 QC ST 4WD SWB, Patriot Blue/Agate.
DEE/ETH, Trailer-Camper-Plow, 3. 54 LSD, rear-slider, cab-lights, 265's.
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