Hi all,
We are looking at going to Cape Cod this summer and you can drive on the beach/sand dunes there. I know I need to air down (they actually make it mandatory there), my concern is the aggressive tires (Trail Grapplers) wanting to dig holes.
I have never driven a Heavy truck in the sand so I am looking for tips and advice (should be a little like driving in snow I would think?).
Thanks
Driving in the sand, I.E. beach driving TIPS?
- 08TwinStickPW
- 250_Posts
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 9:24 am
- Model Year: 2008
- Location: Ulster County, NY
Driving in the sand, I.E. beach driving TIPS?
08' Dodge RAM PowerWagon (Laramie, 6 Speed)
GO: Diablo tuned, AEM drop in, Magnaflow "Y" and 24" muffler (dumper over the axle)
Traction/Suspension:305-70-17 Toyo AT2's, DT Profab Steering Brace, Carli front diff guard.
See: Silver stars headlights, 9012 fogs, reprogrammed for fogs with high beams, (2)6" KC LED gravity in driving/spread behind the grill
Tunes
ioneer AVH-X5800BHS w/stock infinity amp, Infinity ref. dash/reardoor speakers, kappa component front door, JL rear stealth box and JX500.1d.
Other: Dually marker light under the tailgate, 2013+ Red hemi badges, Bedtred bedliner and mopar rubber mat, Wheel well liners, rubber flaps, Bakflip MX4, W2W Mopar steps (bedlined black), weathertech front mats and rain deflectors.
GO: Diablo tuned, AEM drop in, Magnaflow "Y" and 24" muffler (dumper over the axle)
Traction/Suspension:305-70-17 Toyo AT2's, DT Profab Steering Brace, Carli front diff guard.
See: Silver stars headlights, 9012 fogs, reprogrammed for fogs with high beams, (2)6" KC LED gravity in driving/spread behind the grill
Tunes

Other: Dually marker light under the tailgate, 2013+ Red hemi badges, Bedtred bedliner and mopar rubber mat, Wheel well liners, rubber flaps, Bakflip MX4, W2W Mopar steps (bedlined black), weathertech front mats and rain deflectors.
- Cactus Red
- Moderator
- Posts: 1862
- Joined: Sun May 20, 2012 6:43 pm
- Location: Chino Valley, AZ.
Re: Driving in the sand, I.E. beach driving TIPS?
Low, low pressure is required, as is a light foot. I've been in some pretty soft desert silt, IMO, worse than beach sand, and at 10 to 12 PSI, have towed race vehicles off the course without a problem. I'd start at 15 PSI, see how it floats, and adjust downward if needed. Worst possible thing is too much throttle - the axle hop will dig you in almost instantaneously.
EDIT:
Found a photo from the Parker Challenge of desert silt. I'd pulled forward into the stuff, and the truck went to the rock rails in a few feet. I had the tires at 20 PSI, dropped to 8, and backed out with a few tries. I'd back a little, pull forward a bit, do it again, and the stuff literally filled itself back in under the tires - weird...
It's hard to even walk in it.
EDIT:
Found a photo from the Parker Challenge of desert silt. I'd pulled forward into the stuff, and the truck went to the rock rails in a few feet. I had the tires at 20 PSI, dropped to 8, and backed out with a few tries. I'd back a little, pull forward a bit, do it again, and the stuff literally filled itself back in under the tires - weird...
It's hard to even walk in it.
I'm just along for the ride...
Re: Driving in the sand, I.E. beach driving TIPS?
Low tire pressure, a light foot, and momentum is your friend.
Mike
Mike
2017 Ram 2500 Longhorn Cummins
295 60 R20 Nitto Ridge Graplers
Gooseneck
Pace Edwards elec.Metal Jacket bed cover
yeah and running boards for the wifey
Support Search and Rescue-GET LOST
SOLD 2012 Power Wagon Laramie
w/ 12k Warn winch, Nav, Sunroof, Leer Topper, AMP boards, Spray on-bedliner-rockers-flares
SOLD 2005 Power Wagon w/ 12k Warn winch, loaded incl. leather, rockrails, nav, sunroof, 9.5 ti Warn winch in the rear, Gibson Headers and catback, Pace-Edwards full metal elec. bed cover and elec. tailgate lock, PIAA driving lights behind grill
2009 Victory Jackpot Cory Ness Edition
2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL
2016 Volvo XC90
295 60 R20 Nitto Ridge Graplers
Gooseneck
Pace Edwards elec.Metal Jacket bed cover
yeah and running boards for the wifey
Support Search and Rescue-GET LOST
SOLD 2012 Power Wagon Laramie
w/ 12k Warn winch, Nav, Sunroof, Leer Topper, AMP boards, Spray on-bedliner-rockers-flares
SOLD 2005 Power Wagon w/ 12k Warn winch, loaded incl. leather, rockrails, nav, sunroof, 9.5 ti Warn winch in the rear, Gibson Headers and catback, Pace-Edwards full metal elec. bed cover and elec. tailgate lock, PIAA driving lights behind grill
2009 Victory Jackpot Cory Ness Edition
2016 GMC Yukon Denali XL
2016 Volvo XC90
- coder
- 1000_Posts
- Posts: 1346
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:18 pm
- Model Year: 2007
- Location: Trabuco Canyon, CA
Re: Driving in the sand, I.E. beach driving TIPS?
x2, I also use the locker bypass mod so you can drive in 4Hi and lock the rear axle, it helps with the momentum...MSCH2112 wrote:Low tire pressure, a light foot, and momentum is your friend.
Mike
Vehicle: 2007 Power Wagon Quad Cab - Factory Options (Inferno Red, Premium Cloth Bench Seat, Light Group, Automatic Transmission, Leather Steering Wheel)
Suspension: Carli 3" Hemi Coils, Carli Control Arms, Carli King 2.5 Pin-Tops, Carli Stainless Steering Stabilizer, Carli Trackbar | Synergy 1" Rear Shackle
Performance: Magnaflow Muffler | Magnaflow Y-Pipe
Wheels/Tires: Yokohama X-A/T 35x12.5x17
Steering/Drivetrain/Axles: Carli Front Diff Guard | Dynatrac Ball Joints | Mopar HD Steering Gear
Miscellaneous: Line-X Bedliner | Locker Bypass Switch | Mopar Rock Rails | Odyssey Extreme 65-PC1750T | Performance Friction Brake Pads | Weathertech Digital Fit Mats | Winch Thermal Protection Bypass
Suspension: Carli 3" Hemi Coils, Carli Control Arms, Carli King 2.5 Pin-Tops, Carli Stainless Steering Stabilizer, Carli Trackbar | Synergy 1" Rear Shackle
Performance: Magnaflow Muffler | Magnaflow Y-Pipe
Wheels/Tires: Yokohama X-A/T 35x12.5x17
Steering/Drivetrain/Axles: Carli Front Diff Guard | Dynatrac Ball Joints | Mopar HD Steering Gear
Miscellaneous: Line-X Bedliner | Locker Bypass Switch | Mopar Rock Rails | Odyssey Extreme 65-PC1750T | Performance Friction Brake Pads | Weathertech Digital Fit Mats | Winch Thermal Protection Bypass
Re: Driving in the sand, I.E. beach driving TIPS?
I agree low tire pressure and momentum with a very smooth throttle application with limited turning is best. It is however better with full Leaves, but I have made it with stock leaves as well.
My build 2009 3G
http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =13&t=2305
Beginners reading list:
1) Quigley’s Anglo-American Establishment – 354 pages http://www.carrollquigley.net/pdf/the_a ... shment.pdf
2) Wall Street and the Bolshevik Revolution by Antony C. Sutton 165 pages https://www.voltairenet.org/IMG/pdf/Sut ... tion-5.pdf
3) Wall Street & the Rise of Hitler by Antony C. Sutton 148 pages https://www.voltairenet.org/IMG/pdf/Sut ... Hitler.pdf
4) Wall Street and FDR by Antony C. Sutton 177 pages http://sandiego.indymedia.org/media/2007/02/125049.pdf
5) Dishonest Money by Joseph Plummer 175 pages http://joeplummer.com/dishonest-money.html
6) None Dare Call it Conspiracy by Gary Allen 197 pages http://www.outpost-of-freedom.com/libra ... y_1971.pdf
David Rockefeller: Memoirs (The story of traitors)
http://www.devvy.com/pdf/2006_November/ ... rnment.pdf
http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =13&t=2305
Beginners reading list:
1) Quigley’s Anglo-American Establishment – 354 pages http://www.carrollquigley.net/pdf/the_a ... shment.pdf
2) Wall Street and the Bolshevik Revolution by Antony C. Sutton 165 pages https://www.voltairenet.org/IMG/pdf/Sut ... tion-5.pdf
3) Wall Street & the Rise of Hitler by Antony C. Sutton 148 pages https://www.voltairenet.org/IMG/pdf/Sut ... Hitler.pdf
4) Wall Street and FDR by Antony C. Sutton 177 pages http://sandiego.indymedia.org/media/2007/02/125049.pdf
5) Dishonest Money by Joseph Plummer 175 pages http://joeplummer.com/dishonest-money.html
6) None Dare Call it Conspiracy by Gary Allen 197 pages http://www.outpost-of-freedom.com/libra ... y_1971.pdf
David Rockefeller: Memoirs (The story of traitors)
http://www.devvy.com/pdf/2006_November/ ... rnment.pdf
-
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:28 pm
- Location: Northern, Vermont
Re: Driving in the sand, I.E. beach driving TIPS?
You are only allowed on certain areas at the cape, air down and you will be fine.
You will need a pass, you can get one ahead of time via Internet. Also you need recovery tools, tow strap, shovel, blocks of wood incase you need to use a jack, and I think that's it.
Lots of fun, my buddy camps there every summer it's been a couple years since I was there.
Enjoy
You will need a pass, you can get one ahead of time via Internet. Also you need recovery tools, tow strap, shovel, blocks of wood incase you need to use a jack, and I think that's it.
Lots of fun, my buddy camps there every summer it's been a couple years since I was there.
Enjoy