Originally Posted by smith7200

I'm a relatively new JK owner and christened my new ride on Pismo Beach last week. What a blast!

Going in, I was not sure what to expect or what I needed. I ended up asking all sorts of questions from my local shops, and did extensive research in JK forums. So for any other newbies like me, here's the lowdown I couldn't find in the forums.

Gear I brought with me:

• Tow line and one D ring (didn't need it but still good to have it in case)
• Air compressor purchased at Harbor Freight for $70 (used, at the carwash after leaving for the day)
• Tire deflators (very glad I had them)
• Full tank of gas (for maximum enjoyment)
• Flag for dunes (purchased right outside the gate to the beach $30)
• First Aid Kit

1. Just before getting to the beach, there are a few ATV rental places right there. Pop in for an inexpensive flag for the dunes. I also bought the suction cup mounts for the flag and stuck the set-up to the windshield. Worked like a charm, and saved the paint from unnecessary scratches. You don't need a flag if you only plan on cruising along the sand highway, but you're in a jeep. Let's be real.

2. Buy your ticket and roll in. It is currently $5 per day with in/out privileges until 11pm.

3. Air down before, or as soon as you hit the sand. You will see when you arrive, there will probably be a few other vehicles and RV's all within 200 yds of the entrance all doing the same thing. 15 psi is a good number.

4. You'll have at least a mile of sand highway and 15mph speed limit to get acquainted to driving on the sand. I started in 4WD hi and had no problems. Learn how to shift into 4 low and high before going. There are many good posts in the forums about handling sand. Just stay easy on the throttle and brakes. Momentum is your friend. Hard starts and stops dig into the sand and create situations where you can become stuck. I spent only a few hours at the beach and witnessed at least 5 or 6 vehicles stuck.

5. Be aware of the tides. Sure it's easier to ride over wet, hard packed sand. But getting stuck below the high tide line and not getting a tow out before a tide comes in would be very bad. Be aware of your surroundings, and know that the water line is constantly moving. One of the only things stronger than a jeep is the ocean. Don't get stuck in its path.

6. Head for the dunes. I chose to shift to 4WD low for the dunes and glad I did. Staying in low made driving the dunes very easy. I did not venture too far into the dunes. Maybe a half mile away from the camping area. I made sure to remain in sight of the RV's because I wanted to make sure if I made a rookie mistake, I could be in walking distance back to RV civilization. Take it easy in the dunes until you get some experience. There are serious drops and bowls you will encounter. If you don't know what you are doing, drive around. I took my time to navigate around the majority of the dunes and did not attempt any of the deeper/tighter bowls.

7. Say Hi! Pismo is a friendly community. Take the time to be a good visitor/neighbor. Pack out your trash, or find a receptacle. Don't speed on the sand highway. I was astonished to learn Pismo once offered 15,000 acres of offroading. And now it is down to 1,500 due to some in the local community wanting to take the offroading rights away completely. Whatever you do, DO NOT give anyone a reason to dislike all the people going out to enjoy such a wonderful area. I personally witnessed a few vehicles speed past on the sand highway, and very close to where children were walking from their camp to the water.

8. Air up when leaving. If your hotel is away from the beach, air up after leaving the sand. It's ok to drive for a very short while on underinflated tires if you are careful, but you don't want to risk throwing a bead. I did notice a vendor on the beach near the entrance that inflated tires for $1 per. If you don't have a pump with you, this is probably a great option. And since they are closer to the entrance, you probably will not have too much to worry about driving the rest of the way on the sand with fully inflated tires.

9. Wash you rig. When leaving the beach, there is a do-it-yourself carwash within a quarter mile. Stop in to wash off the sand and saltwater from your jeep, especially the undercarriage. Anyone from the east coast knows that salt can destroy a car. Best to wash it off right away.

All in all, it was a wonderful time at Pismo. Next time, I will add a shovel to my list of "items to bring". I am also contemplating some of the traction boards for under the wheels, but I'm not sure if I'll go there. I've heard some people state they have never seen anyone using them at Pismo. At the same time, I've seen many a youtube video of JKs stuck in the dunes. For the sake of mitigating any personal embarrassment, I just may splurge just to be safe.

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Originally Posted by Niko's Rubi

Blanco562 yes great write up! My wife and I planned a trip to the outer banks at the end of January can't wait to go! Lots of beach driving a head. Getting all my gear together buying a viair air pump and other stuff will post more info and picks from beach. Leaving January 20th😃

Attachment 663937

Originally Posted by Niko's Rubi

Blanco562 yes great write up! My wife and I planned a trip to the outer banks at the end of January can't wait to go! Lots of beach driving a head. Getting all my gear together buying a viair air pump and other stuff will post more info and picks from beach. Leaving January 20thdde03 <img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=663937"/>

Originally Posted by karls10jk

Give me a shout when you go and I'll see if I'm in town. The famed Outer Banks isn't far away and really doesn't "require" dropping tire pressure despite what the internet says. I live here, they live in the internet.

Originally Posted by d. gage

You don't think so??? I watched a bunch of trucks/suvs struggle on spots that I just cruised on. Was at 12 psi