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beach driving
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: nantucket usa
beach driving
im going to put 35x14.50 ssr's on my truck for the beach and was wondering if anyone could tell me how superdutys go in the sand?(its my first superduty,formally a jeep guy)i need good sand manners as i live on an island---------p
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
beach driving
What island?
Wouldn't your question depend a lot on the type of sand? As well as YOUR definition of sand manners?
You've certainly got the tires! But you didn't mention the truck in question.
Wouldn't your question depend a lot on the type of sand? As well as YOUR definition of sand manners?
You've certainly got the tires! But you didn't mention the truck in question.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
beach driving
I just did a heck of a lot of beach driving yesterday on Padre Island National Seashore in the "4x4 Only" section of the beach. The sand is deep and soft, like babypowder, from what I hear is like what you guys have in MA. I was running the stock 265's at 50 psi front, and 60 psi rear, and had no problems at all. Never bogged down, hell never even got into 4 low until I had to pull some guy out. The thing I noticed when I drove my SD on the sand was that it's got a hell of a lot of momentum, something my little trucks (Toyota,Isuzu) didn't have. I didn't have go fly down the beach to keep ontop of the sand, I could cruise along. I don't see any problem with the SSR's being a great sand tire, but if you do start to bog down, they'll have you laying frame in no time. I'd love to slap a set of 35's on my truck, air 'em down to 20 psi, and explore the back canals of PINS.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
beach driving
Down here in texas the sandy beaches of the gulf are great Ive got a v8 sd 2wheeldrive that baby in any sand starts to sink. Everytime i go to the beach man i gotta be very careful.But hey dont get me started how well it performs out of the sand and on hard asphalt
1999 dark torredor red ex cab v8
rear slider
2001 updated foglights
2001 "" cupholder
2001 "" tow hooks
2001 "" indash 6 cd factory radio
1999 dark torredor red ex cab v8
rear slider
2001 updated foglights
2001 "" cupholder
2001 "" tow hooks
2001 "" indash 6 cd factory radio
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Moriches USA
beach driving
Where I live on LI some beaches only allow up to 33x12.50 tires. 265's 20lbs might get you by, but if you want to see your truck above the high tide line run 15 to 18lbs. OK, I've only been doing this a 100 times a year for 30 years. Granted each beach is different, but soft sugar sand 20lbs or less. Trimman
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More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 633
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From: Oregon USA
beach driving
The one thing that I have noticed with my stock 2002 F-350 PSD is in soft sand in 4high the front end jars really hard. I guess from grabbing traction so hard. But the whole cab shook bad. A freind of mine with a 2000 V10 had the same problem. Put it in 4low 3rd gear and it crawled right through no problem. Get outt in the hard sand and thatts where the fun begins 
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
beach driving
>Where I live on LI some beaches only allow up to 33x12.50
>tires. 265's 20lbs might get you by, but if you want to see
>your truck above the high tide line run 15 to 18lbs. OK,
>I've only been doing this a 100 times a year for 30 years.
>Granted each beach is different, but soft sugar sand 20lbs
>or less. Trimman
Trimman, I understand the need for dropping pressure in the tires 'cause mine shook the bejesus out of me my last trip to Mustang Island. For a 2wd should I let the pressure out of the front tires too? Or will they have less rolling resistance in the sand aired up to max? Thanks for your advice.
>tires. 265's 20lbs might get you by, but if you want to see
>your truck above the high tide line run 15 to 18lbs. OK,
>I've only been doing this a 100 times a year for 30 years.
>Granted each beach is different, but soft sugar sand 20lbs
>or less. Trimman
Trimman, I understand the need for dropping pressure in the tires 'cause mine shook the bejesus out of me my last trip to Mustang Island. For a 2wd should I let the pressure out of the front tires too? Or will they have less rolling resistance in the sand aired up to max? Thanks for your advice.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Moriches USA
beach driving
Sport, drop all tires to the same pressure as it will float your tires above the sand. That vibration all you guys feel is from lack of traction. If you drop your pressure enough you can get by with 2 wheel in most cases. Try 20lbs instead of 30 and you'll be amazed how your truck just floats in 4 Hi. Sometimes even the difference of 2 lbs can be felt, also watch your temp gauge and see the difference. No low Range needed at all, if thats what you guys are doing just air down and be kind to your truck. After you air down it's like your truck is on pavement, give it a try. Trimman
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 285
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, TX, USA
beach driving
I took my crew cab PSD 4X4 down Padre Island National Seashore to the 20 mile mark with zero problems. I guess you'd have to know that beach to understand the significance of that. There are times when in the really soft sand that I got a little nervous, but I never had any problems. I didn't air down. If I had, I feel I could have easily gone much further down the beach. However, with that heavy of a truck, I didn't want to risk sticking it in the sugar sand. The diesel is a big advantage in the sand because it takes more pedal to spin the tires and your less likely to start digging. Of course, with that heavy diesel engine, mud is a different story. Sinks right to the frame. Just like stated before, the trick to sand is definately airing down. It puts more surface area on the sand. Also, the SSR's are a bit aggressive for sand. They work great in mud, but if the tire spins, it digs. Street tires work really well in sand. I've seen many 2wd's hang with the 4X4's in sand when aired down. Of course, this is just IMHO.
TXTRAILERDADDY
TXTRAILERDADDY
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
beach driving
Hey TX, are you from Texas or FL like your profile says? I've got the urge to plan a day trip to the Port Mansfield cut with all the SD owners in South Texas...maybe even tag along with the Corpus 4x4 Club on their annual beach outing. Anyone else be intrested?
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Annapolis USA
beach driving
Me and my girl are heading to the outer banks this weekend to give the new SD a try! I have 235/75/R16's and I'm going to sheepishly test the beachability with these tires. I'm taking my own air supply so as to experiment with different pressures. I'm hoping I'll be able to get around ok with 235's at 15psi. I plan to buy better tires sometime but I would like to see "where we stand" with the stock tires. Wish me luck guys! and if you see me buried to the axles... well... help a brotha out. and YES i'm taking shovels jacks and tow straps. -Jaseun
ps the rig is a 2k f250 Crew PSD.
ps the rig is a 2k f250 Crew PSD.
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