PurdellMGP

Have a question to all of you.
This summer we are going camping out to Cape Cod, MA...
There is a beach there, only access is by 4x4, you can get permits to drive the dunes to the beach. If I had my old gasser, I would not think twice about driving on the sand...

Now that I just got a my new (for me) diesel, am leary of driving it out in the soft sand, even with airing down the tires...which are stock...

Can this truck handle the sand, or should I avoid it and ride out with someone else?

Thanks,

GlennRMK

With the stock tires, I would be leary as well.

Maybe with some good all terrains with a wider size, but the stock 245 or 265s are awful skinny.

A 7500 pound truck with skinny tires and sand probably don't mix.

Just a guess.

I could be wrong.

dodgediesel4x4

Is your truck 4x4? If so, then I thought the gvwr is 8800lbs. I could be wrong. If it is 4x4, then I would have someone else with a 4x4 with you, just in case. I'm not saying you will get stuck, but any time you go off-roading, its always a good idea to have someone by your side in case something happens. ALWAYS have a good tow strap or chain handy. You shold be fine, I've done alot of dune'in and no prob's yet.

Good luck,
Hunter

erics76

The front ends of these trucks are very heavy, and will want to dig in. If you can keep your speed up, you should be ok. If you stop, you might be in trouble. I got stuck with 305/70's last year because I stopped to pick someone up in a bunch of really dry loose sand, and I couldn't get going again. The front dug in, then the rear followed. For a comparison, stock jeeps run all over that area with stock 235/75's and don't get stuck. It all has to do with weight. I'd say you'd have to have at least 12 inch wide tires to have a chance. 305/70's are 12, and I still got stuck, and I've been driving in sand since I was 12. Also it depends alot on the condition of the sand. Damp sand around here is alot tighter than dry sand. I've seen 2wd trucks drive on it when it was wet. It's also river sand so it varies alot in texture and depth.

PurdellMGP

Yes, it is a 4x4 quad cab short bed...
Stock tires...so from just the few posts, I think I will leave the truck at the campground and ride with someone else...much easier to do that then try to get a diesel outta the loose sand.

Not sure of the conditions, but no sense in taking a chance.

Thanks for the replys.

firepiper

Well, I have good news and bad news......the good news is you shouldn't get stuck out on the dunes. Tha bad news is you are allowed to DRIVE on a beach, and park, and fish etc. BUT, there is no duning or other driving allowed. I live and play in the area. They ( the guys with the guns) are very strict about the behavior out on the beach. Mostly thanks to a few morons and a whole bunch of tree huggers. My 2 cents

duner

i pull the warrior shown in my gallery out through the sand in glamis. have to be pulled sometimes but what rig doesn't?

PurdellMGP

Firepiper,
Is the sand to get to the beach packed, or is it loose...this will be my first time out there.

farmer dave

I have seen some power jokers out in the dunes around here. Some were running stock tires and some not. Not real sure how much these trucks weigh compared to furds but they should be pretty close. Just make sure you air your tires down. Good luck
dave

haulintoys

i take my truck in the dunes all the time. first, air down all of your tires to about 10 psi, this always works for me. i go to pismo beach all the time and haul a 25 foot baja toyhauler loaded (about 10k) across the sand and i never get stuck. i drive as far as i can then when it starts to sink, i get out and air down. the cheap valve stem remover works good for this.
the difference with between aired up and aired down is night and day.
if you do start to lose momentum, keep your tires spinning and start turning the wheel from right to left to keep the tires from digging you in.
in case you do start to get stuck ( if your tires are digging in too much) stop before you sink too far. get a shovel and dig your way out. another 4x4 with a tow strap can pull you out if youre stuck too bad.
must haves for the sand: tow strap with clevis or hook on each end, 12v air compressor (a co2 tank works better), shovel and a ratchet strap (for re-seating beads).
my truck is excellent for pulling my trailer through the sand and i take it in the dunes every so often ( to put the powerstrokes in their place , so you should have no problem.

firepiper

It's pretty loose. But, like I said, they don't let ya play. They enforce a very slow (no wake) speed limit. HTH