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Got a motorcycle, the Excursion, a track car, a wife, and two kids. Enough money pits.
Besides, a personal watercraft is probably more my style. Don't need the Ex to haul one of those. That's all I'd probably do on a boat anyhow, tool around at high speeds.
Was thinking more about protecting the Excursion from sand and water ingress. It's in the rollers for the sliding doors on my wife's minivan. Makes me cringe every time I open them.
not much you can do down there until you get back. It's going to get in everything, especially if you're going to drive on the beach. Hatteras sand is way too soft to keep it out of anything. I usually hit a manual car wash as soon as I get off the island just so I can see out of my windows, then when I get home it's time for interior cleaning and exterior. Make sure you keep windows and doors closed whenever possible. My sister in law went with us this year with her 2yr old Toyota truck, she left the windows open each day when we were on the beach. When we got back she had flash/surface rust on nearly every exposed surface in the truck. Seat tracks, dash metal, etc.
I get home, plop an oscillating sprinkler under the front bumper and let it run, move it back a couple feet every 10 min or so. That usually does a pretty good job of getting any salt/sand from the underside. A good wash/wax needs to follow as well.
Inside gets a leaf blower to get a lot of the sand out, then it takes while with the shop vac to get the rest. I have a horse stall mat in the back with pool noodles slid along the edges to make a catch pan, thankfully that catches a lot from the cargo area. Best investment this year was front hitch, road rack/hitch hauler in the front held all the chairs/boogie boards etc and kept them out of the truck period.
We usually spend a week there every summer and another in the late fall fishing. I always make sure 4 wd is working properly and can turn the hubs to lock position. other than that have a tow strap and air gauge and dont be worried about dropping your tire pressure to below 20lb. Most important bring lots of beer!!
not much you can do down there until you get back. It's going to get in everything, especially if you're going to drive on the beach. Hatteras sand is way too soft to keep it out of anything. I usually hit a manual car wash as soon as I get off the island just so I can see out of my windows, then when I get home it's time for interior cleaning and exterior. Make sure you keep windows and doors closed whenever possible. My sister in law went with us this year with her 2yr old Toyota truck, she left the windows open each day when we were on the beach. When we got back she had flash/surface rust on nearly every exposed surface in the truck. Seat tracks, dash metal, etc.
I get home, plop an oscillating sprinkler under the front bumper and let it run, move it back a couple feet every 10 min or so. That usually does a pretty good job of getting any salt/sand from the underside. A good wash/wax needs to follow as well.
Inside gets a leaf blower to get a lot of the sand out, then it takes while with the shop vac to get the rest. I have a horse stall mat in the back with pool noodles slid along the edges to make a catch pan, thankfully that catches a lot from the cargo area. Best investment this year was front hitch, road rack/hitch hauler in the front held all the chairs/boogie boards etc and kept them out of the truck period.
So basically its like winter time snow aftercare. Nothing preventative. Gotcha.
So basically its like winter time snow aftercare. Nothing preventative. Gotcha.
bingo, just flush everything you can, sand will end up on top of every exposed part, end up tearing seals and boots up, I went for a week first of july, I'm still getting sand from running boards and springs
How to prepare for sand and silt. the best you can hope for is to keep it out of your engine and systems.
Start with a clean air cleaner
Check all the fittings and make sure you don't have any air leaks.
Install filters on breather hoses so sand/silt doesn't get inside
Make sure various caps are secure. Ie. Power steering, coolant, master cylinder, fuel ect, if you have unused electrical connections make sure they are capped and sealed. Make sure electrical connections don't have broken clips and are secure.
Set tire pressure accordingly.
Have a real tow strap rated for the weight of your vehicle, shovels come in handy and most of all...... Never lift !
It is going to get into every nook, cranny and orfice of your vehicle. When the fun is over clean as soon as possible especially with beach sand as it is also salty and corrosive. Pressure wash, pressure wash and just for good measure pressure wash again. Then using compressed air you can start to blow it out of places like your heater ducts, alternator, radio, headliner, brakes, mirrors and every other place you never thought of. Just about the time you think you have gotten rid of most of it, well then it's obviously time to go wheeling again.
nothing like that here....take a class, pay your $, then you can drive on the beach, you speed or spin your wheels, park rangers will have you paying fines the rest of the week.
there is something to be said about peace and quiet however....
Yeah, I'm not trying to haul butt around the beach. I like keeping the place in good shape. I about cussed out a guy that had his kids climbing on the dunes, right next to the sign that said, "No climbing on dunes."
But that's too many fishing pole holders. My fish comes on a foam tray, wrapped in clear plastic... Or occasionally sliced thin and on a small ball of rice.
Yeah, I'm not trying to haul butt around the beach. I like keeping the place in good shape. I about cussed out a guy that had his kids climbing on the dunes, right next to the sign that said, "No climbing on dunes."
But that's too many fishing pole holders. My fish comes on a foam tray, wrapped in clear plastic... Or occasionally sliced thin and on a small ball of rice.
