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Most cars can handle short passages on the sand when necessary, but for extended drives on the beach, a 4×4 is a necessity. 4x4s allow greater control over all four wheels of the vehicle, enabling you to traverse loose or compact sand, scale dunes, and cover impressive distances along the shore without getting stuck.
Before you head out on your 4×4 beach excursion, here’s what to know to stay safe and get to your destination safely.
What To Know Before Driving on the Beach
Driving on the beach comes with risks, like getting bogged down in the sand, but you can mitigate these risks with proper preparation, planning, and knowledge of how to adapt your driving for this unique landscape.
Vehicle Preparation
Ensure you have everything you need in your vehicle and prepare your SUV, truck, or motorhome for a sandy adventure.
Tyre Pressure
The correct tyre pressure will allow you to move over the sand with better traction, minimising sinking and keeping your momentum strong. Adjust your PSI based on your tyre size, vehicle weight, and 4WD model while considering the type of terrain you’ll encounter.
A good general range is between 18 and 20 PSI—just remember to re-inflate them as soon as you can once you return to pavement.
Pack Recovery Gear
Don’t be caught in a worst-case scenario without the proper recovery gear to get you out of it. Accidents happen; sometimes, even the strongest 4×4 can get stuck in the sand. If you pack your car with the right essentials, you’ll be able to get help or work your way out of being bogged down. Consider packing items like:
- Long-handle sand shovel to get underneath the vehicle
- Cell phone or two-way radio to call for help
- Tyre tracks
- Tyre deflating tool
- Straps
- Winch
- Air compressor
- Other traction aids
- Sand flags (high visibility flags you can easily DIY with PVC pipe and bright orange vinyl)
If you often go on off-roading adventures, these are essentials for Australian van life or extended 4×4 vehicle trips. They can help you get unstuck from sand, mud, gravel, and more.
Check Weather Conditions
Look at the day’s weather before setting out on the beach. If you’re counting on dry sand but an intense afternoon storm is projected, it’s important to know so you can adjust your plans.
Check Insurance Coverage and Access Permits
Check if your car insurance covers beach driving, and check the local municipality’s website to see if an access permit is required. Some permits can be purchased on the day, while others may require advanced registration.
Bring an Extra Power Source
Many 4WD enthusiasts opt to install a 4×4 dual battery system as an auxiliary power source to run camping appliances, entertainment systems, and other electronics without overtaxing the vehicle’s primary starter battery.
Another option is bringing a portable power station like the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max.
You can pre-charge it before you take off, connect it to solar panels for solar charging, or pair it with the EcoFlow 800w Alternator Charger to recharge as you drive.
An extra battery will allow you to recharge your personal devices and electronic gear no matter how far off you follow the shoreline.
Pack for Comfort
If your beach drive will take you to a campsite, don’t forget to bring all the best comforts of home. The EcoFlow Wave 2 Portable AC can keep you cool on sunny days, and the EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator can keep your food and drinks cool, preserve frozen items, and even make ice on demand.
These are just a few of the best motorhome comfort tips we highly recommend.
Terrain Evaluation
Next, it’s time to consider the terrain you’ll be driving on. This is important for safety, driving adaptations, and day-to-day planning.
Type of Terrain
Are you taking a journey through extreme and rough terrain, or will you be moseying along gentle, scenic motorhome routes? Is your entire journey on the sand, or will you move between highway and beach as part of a longer expedition, such as from Melbourne to Adelaide? Knowing what to expect will help you look for specific hazards along the way.
Tides
Depending on your timing and the tides, that sandy beach you plan on driving across might actually be part of the ocean. A solid understanding of Australian tides and an updated version of the latest tide charts will help you avoid getting stuck due to incoming water and stick to dry areas of the beach.
Sand Dunes and Drop Offs
Dunes and drop-offs aren’t the most stable and can collapse beneath a heavy vehicle such as a 4×4 truck or motorhome, so check for them and try to avoid them if possible. The best terrain is flat.
Sand Quality
Sand quality also impacts the type of range you should use on your 4WD. If you’re driving on soft sand, use low range for more power without getting bogged down in the sandy beach. The third gear is a good place to stay for maximum torque and around 2000 RPMs.
If you are driving on hard, compact sand, you can switch to high-range, which will carry your momentum without excessive wheel spinning.
4WD Tracks
Seeing existing 4WD tracks in the sand is always a good sign. It tells you that this area has been driven on by vehicles like yours and that it’s typically safe to do so. Tracked areas also tend to have more compacted sand, which is easier to drive on and carries a lower risk of getting bogged down. Drive on top of existing tracks rather than creating new tracks.
People and Cars
Knowing which areas of the beach may have more people, cars, and other hazards like gutters or wildlife is critical. Popular public beaches may not allow driving, but if they do, drive slowly and carefully and always stop to allow people to cross in front of the vehicle. You also want to stay alert for any incoming cars.
Dust clouds can quickly form in loose sand, making it hard to see oncoming traffic before they’re right in front of you. Attach a large sand flag to your vehicle with high-visibility orange vinyl and PVC piping so other drivers can see you coming.
Driving Adaptations
You can’t expect to drive on the beach the same way you’d drive on a paved road. It requires unique techniques to glide along the sand without getting stuck. Use these tips to help.
Smooth Steering Inputs
Keep a gentle and steady hand on the wheel, making minor corrections to avoid abrupt changes or overcorrection. Don’t turn sharply or stop suddenly, as the vehicle can destabilise and is more likely to get stuck. If you need to turn around, try reversing straight back rather than making a U-turn.
Maintain Momentum
Momentum is key on the sand. You need to create some of it before hitting the sand and maintain it as you drive. Don’t stop if you see a deep and soft sandy patch; keep your speed and continue moving forward to avoid getting bogged down.
Remember Road Rules
Road rules matter at the beach, too. Even if rules are explicitly stated, be considerate of the beach, other cars, and your safety and that of your passengers. Pull off the main track to park, and be willing to help other travellers if you pass another vehicle that’s stuck on your route. You never know when you might need help yourself.
What To Do if You Get Stuck in the Sand
Even if you follow all the above tips and tricks, there’s still a chance you’ll find yourself stuck in the sand. Use your packed gear to get yourself un-bogged or call for appropriate help.
Here’s what to do if you realise you’re stuck:
- Stop Driving: Don’t try to get out of it by pressing hard on the gas. That will only spin the wheels and dig your vehicle deeper into the sand. Once you realise you’re not moving, take your foot off the pedal.
- Reduce Tyre Pressure: Getting stuck might be caused by tyre pressure that’s too high for the terrain. Get out of the vehicle and take a look at the situation. Try to let some air out of each tyre, then get back in the driver’s seat and drive forward and backyard on top of the same track you came in on to compact the sand a bit. Try driving out. If that doesn’t work, use the following recovery methods.
- Clear the Sand Around Your Tyres: Use the shovel you packed to dig out the sand around each tyre to create an easier escape path. Depending on how deep you are in the sand, this may take a while. The longer handle will make it easier to get deep beneath the car and remove more sand.
- Use Traction Tracks or Other Aids: Place recovery traction tracks in front of your wheels, or use mats or boards beneath each tyre to help the vehicle grip something other than sand. Gently press the gas until the wheels are on the traction material, then try to drive out gradually.
- Use Manpower: If the above attempts have failed, use the manpower you have to get all vehicle passengers out of the car and behind the vehicle. Have one person in the driver’s seat, and in unison, have the passengers push as hard as they can while the driver gently presses the gas pedal.
- If All Else Fails, Call for Help: You must call for backup assistance to get out of the sand if nothing works. Some towing companies can help, or someone with a 4×4 can tow you out of a bad spot. This is why it’s essential to have a way to communicate.
Waiting for help might also take a while, so it’s helpful to have a flexible power source such as the EcoFlow Smart Generator, which can run on liquid propane or gas and allow you to charge up your phone or power any electronic traction gear while you wait it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most all-wheel-drive vehicles can go to the beach. It’s best to use a 4WD or AWD with high ground clearance for better control over wheel power distribution. Low-range is better suited for soft sand, while high-range can be used on compact sand.
The most important gear when driving on the sand is recovery gear, which can help you get unstuck if your vehicle gets bogged down along the beach. That includes a long-handled shovel, traction boards/mats/tracks, straps, a winch, and a way to call for help.
Final Thoughts
Driving on the beach is far more exhilarating (and scenic) than a highway road trip, but this type of driving requires careful planning and preparation. Ensure your car can handle hard and soft sand, pack your recovery gear in case you get stuck, and always check the weather, terrain, and tides before heading out.
For peace of mind that you’ll always have power no matter where your journey takes you, don’t take off without a backup battery like the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max.