Taking my 2012 JKU to the outer banks soon. Would appreciate any info.on 4 wheeling there or any heads up for the area. Thanks

 

Best Jeep vacation we have had. Went in 2009 & will return someday.
Traffic stunk inbound Friday and outbound Sunday...my best advice is try to arrive early & leave Monday if at all possible.

All the public air compressors were broke or cost $. Buy a cheap portible that plugs into your cig lighter.

Air down & watch the low clearance SUVs pay $$$ for a pull out.

 

Don't know how soon your going or where on the OBX, but they're requiring a permit now to drive on the beach, and some areas you won't be able to drive on at all.

http://outerbanksvoice.com/2012/02/0...permit-prices/

 

I've spent a lot of time on Cape Lookout. There are a couple other islands where you can get out on the beach but I've always gone there. It truly is a beautiful place and a fishing mecca. It was a well kept secret but over the past 15-20 years more and more people have find out about it. Because of that there have been a lot of legislation and the environmentalist are foaming at the mouth to take that land away from us. So that means you need to be on your Ps and Qs while out there. Have fun and enjoy the land but follow all of the rules to the letter.

4x4 wise, you don't need much. Most of the fishermen go out there in stock rigs, or with only the addition of wider tires, and they do just fine. The best setup I've found is a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup with a slide in camper. There are even a bunch of folks that go out in 2wd bread vans. They call them drumwagons (because they're out there hunting puppy drums) and they are a sight to see. Yeah, they get stuck but the souls that are brave enough to pilot these things have master the art form of sand extraction. They can have their truck free with a shovel and a piece of plywood before you can turn around, get into position and pull out your strap. The trails are good two tracks with pull offs every now and then to let on coming traffic pass. If you're closer to one when something is coming toward you the polite thing is to pull in and let them by. If not one of y'all will have to back up and you won't be happy about it. There'll be some deep sand but not that deep. Low tire pressure and momentum will carry you through 99% of it. You can also drive on the beach. Low tide is the best because you can really do some cruising. Just watch out for the other fishermen and always go high. You may not see someone's fishing poles. I few years ago I had to chase a couple of mine down the beach because of this. There can be some washouts during low tide. These can be 2 or 3 foot holes that can sneak up on you if you're driving at night. Before you know it you've fell into one. Oh and always, ALWAYS, mind the tide. It only takes a quick nap too close to the water and an incoming tide will take your rig. There are pictures of this on the website below. Really, this is a place is all about fishing. The 4 wheelin' isn't very challenging for an experienced driver and is secondary to the surf, the scenery, and the solitude. And, of course, did I tell you how great the fishing is!

Pack in/pack out everything. You'll may need an extra gas can or two. Running in the sand puts a load on the engine and you'll burn a lot. They sell gas on the island but it is expensive. About half way down on the south side there is a $hit house and water supply and the village will have public showers and restrooms but thare are no other facilities that you don't have to pay for. You can get towed off the island if needed but it may be more financially feasible to just leave your rig there to die. Over all, for the best experience you need to bring everything with you to be self sufficient--food, TP, cooking gear, basic first aid, rig repair, etc. There will be people out there that can help you if the need arises and a Coast Guard helicopter is always just a CB call away for life or limp emergencies.

Have fun and enjoy one of my favorite places on this earth. I'm jealous. It looks like I'm going to be stuck for a little while and it will be a few years before I can get back on the island again. But I will be back. Flatfish Beware!

Oh and differently check out the drumwagon website

http://drumwagon.com/

 

Have been going to the OBX every summer for the last 11 years. I never "air down". I'm all stock. Never a problem

 

Where exactly are you going? Been going my entire life.

Heading south of Nags Head over on Hatteras Island there are beach accesses all along NC12. Also the sound side access roads are there as well and some often have larger water holes but it's not like you'll sink or anything is just where the water table is. As for driving on the beach... If youre on a stock size tire just air down to 15-18PSI and you'll have absolutely NO problems. Larger 12.50's etc can air down less and will be fine.

From Nags Head to the North you have to go all the way to the 4x4 area above Corolla.. but it's sand driving all the way to the end of the island from that point. There's potential to see the wild horses up North, unless all the stupid tourists have caused them to be corralled yet. I still prefer the southern beaches (less crowded atmosphere, better fishing, cooler villages, etc.). Drive your jeep out on the sand and park it beside your beach chair...

Do air down... This isnt Daytona Beach and the majority of the ramps stay in BAD shape down south of Nags Head. That way you dont have to be "that buy" bajaing it up/over the ramps, etc. just to avoid sinking. It's just safer.

Also, if you stay down towards Hatteras Village you can leave your tires deflated (not much driving). There is plenty of free air all over the island as well. You are what keeps the OBX alive and they're not going to charge you for air to enjoy the beaches.

IF you want any more info just PM me.

 

Does this affect going on the beach at Corolla??

 

I'm here now and the permit is for Cape Hatteras national seashore. The beach at Carolla is open tons of people even now. Traveling at low tide is a smoother ride because you can drive over the water smoothed sand. But you have a jeep and the trail by the dune is fun and the jeep gets a workout. It's just like driving in snow. I would say this follow the laws there are pamphlets of the regulations and what not it seems the police enforce them pretty strictly even up the beach.

 

Thanks that's good to know about cape hatteras national seashore. I had heard they were making people pay for permits but I hadn't heard how much or where so thank you for sharing. I'll be going there in a couple weeks and then about every other weekend for the rest of the summer, can't wait.

 

Hey I have a question. Where are you staying. Did you get a hotel or are you camping there.


I ask because I'm trying to plan a trip for my family and would like to camp there but I have read and heard you can't camp on the beach unless you pay. Is this true? I'd like to camp and not get a hotel or motel.