beach driving
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: New York
beach driving
hey guys so i recently bought a 2015 jeep wrangler unlimited freedom edition, so im very new to the jeep community, its currently all stock 17 inch wheels, and i wanted to take it on the beach this summer but i have never done any beach driving before anyone have any tips and pointers they can give me such as airing down and just things of that nature
JK Junkie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 1
From: Denver, CO
Air down to about 15-18psi
No hard starts, easy on the throttle
Keep a traction board with you as well as a tow strap or two.
Keep an eye on the tide
Stay off the dunes if they are posted
If you help out another stucky, make sure you know how so you don't bury yourself in the process.
After the beach, go to a drive through car wash with undercarriage spray. I use to put a lawn sprinkler under mine, done in the yard, leave it in place for about 5 minutes and move it around to get all the areas free of sand and salt.
No hard starts, easy on the throttle
Keep a traction board with you as well as a tow strap or two.
Keep an eye on the tide
Stay off the dunes if they are posted
If you help out another stucky, make sure you know how so you don't bury yourself in the process.
After the beach, go to a drive through car wash with undercarriage spray. I use to put a lawn sprinkler under mine, done in the yard, leave it in place for about 5 minutes and move it around to get all the areas free of sand and salt.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 3
From: Eastern Long Island, NY
I pulled out a JK like yours at the beach, stock with no accessories. Stick to good lines off the loose dry sand. Absolutely get traction boards / sand ramps - they will get you moving if you get out and use them immediately you get stuck (don't spin the tires and bury the axles), or bring cuts of carpet if you want to save $. Bring a tow strap just in case.
Last edited by westchester; Mar 9, 2015 at 04:40 PM.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: New York
Air down to about 15-18psi
No hard starts, easy on the throttle
Keep a traction board with you as well as a tow strap or two.
Keep an eye on the tide
Stay off the dunes if they are posted
If you help out another stucky, make sure you know how so you don't bury yourself in the process.
After the beach, go to a drive through car wash with undercarriage spray. I use to put a lawn sprinkler under mine, done in the yard, leave it in place for about 5 minutes and move it around to get all the areas free of sand and salt.
No hard starts, easy on the throttle
Keep a traction board with you as well as a tow strap or two.
Keep an eye on the tide
Stay off the dunes if they are posted
If you help out another stucky, make sure you know how so you don't bury yourself in the process.
After the beach, go to a drive through car wash with undercarriage spray. I use to put a lawn sprinkler under mine, done in the yard, leave it in place for about 5 minutes and move it around to get all the areas free of sand and salt.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: New York
I pulled out a JK like yours at the beach, stock with no accessories. Stick to good lines off the loose dry sand. Absolutely get traction boards / sand ramps - they will get you moving if you get out and use them immediately you get stuck (don't spin the tires and bury the axles), or bring cuts of carpet if you want to save $. Bring a tow strap just in case.
JK Newbie
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Central VA
You'll want to take a board with you, either a short section of 2x8 or doubled up plywood - something to put under the jack to keep it from sinking into the sand.
When you get stuck, use the board and jack to jack up the tires and fill in the holes they made from spinning.
There are a few different types of sand on the beach, the really soft stuff furthest from the water, the decent stuff (we call it the hard pack) just above the water line, and wet sand. For the majority of driving, stay on the hard pack - it'll be obvious once you 'feel' it.
The trickiest part is getting off the sand ramp and to the hard pack, it's usually a loose, rutted mess. That being said, your jeep shouldn't have too much trouble negotiating it - try not to fight the steering wheel and keep all motions smooth - especially braking and acceleration.
Keep an eye on the tide changing, if you get stuck at the waterline in low tide, you can lose your jeep.
NEVER DRIVE IN THE WATER.
All in all you'll do fine - keep the board and jack in an accessible location and enjoy the trip. Afterwards, you really need to wash the underside REALLY well.
When you get stuck, use the board and jack to jack up the tires and fill in the holes they made from spinning.
There are a few different types of sand on the beach, the really soft stuff furthest from the water, the decent stuff (we call it the hard pack) just above the water line, and wet sand. For the majority of driving, stay on the hard pack - it'll be obvious once you 'feel' it.
The trickiest part is getting off the sand ramp and to the hard pack, it's usually a loose, rutted mess. That being said, your jeep shouldn't have too much trouble negotiating it - try not to fight the steering wheel and keep all motions smooth - especially braking and acceleration.
Keep an eye on the tide changing, if you get stuck at the waterline in low tide, you can lose your jeep.
NEVER DRIVE IN THE WATER.
All in all you'll do fine - keep the board and jack in an accessible location and enjoy the trip. Afterwards, you really need to wash the underside REALLY well.
Last edited by mikejr; Mar 13, 2015 at 09:32 AM.
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Natick, MA.
Some beaches require you to have certain things before getting a beach pass. On the Cape, you need to have a min. 2'x2' 3/4" think plywood, tow strap, shovel, tire gauge and a full size tire (which all Wrangles have)