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New to the 4×4 world or just want to be a kung-fu master of beach driving? This guide is everything you need to know!
Words by Sam Young
Sand driving is one of the most raw and liberating experiences you can have in a 4X4. Vast expanses of beach to drive, often with dunes on one side of you and the ocean on the other, it’s truly exhilarating.
Australia is adorned with incredible beach driving opportunities whether it’s the West Coast, the beaches peppered around the Cape York region in the North or just a quick Stockton Beach weekend away in New South Wales. With over one and a half million square kilometres of the country being desert, sand driving is a way of life for most Aussie adventurers, and you should be no exception.
Despite how fulfilling beach driving can be, there seems to always be nerves associated with it. Drivers worried about soft sand, incorrect tyre pressures, rising tides and getting bogged. Whilst these are all genuine concerns, there’s an easy recipe to follow to ensure you don’t fall victim, and that’s what we’re here to help you with today. This is everything you NEED to know about sand driving, let’s get stuck in.
PREPARATION IS KEY
Beach driving is one of the best feelings you can have with your 4X4, but let’s not forget that things can get a little hot under the collar for your vehicle. Sand driving will stereotypically take place in the warmer months where you’re more likely to find yourself at the beach meaning the temperatures will be in the high 20s or hotter. The other thing to think about is your tyre pressures will be lowered and the soft sand will be causing much greater rolling resistance meaning your four-wheel drive has to work even harder to get you through it. Making sure your vehicle is serviced, mechanically reliable and the cooling system is flawless is one essential thing to allow a hassle-free time.
Packing your car before a trip is pretty darn important, but what’s even more important is packing it with the right stuff. Beach driving opens you up to a unique world of possible recovery situations that you might not even be at a fault of your own. We see countless situations where prepared drivers end up having to help another bogged vehicle that might be lesser organised. We’re here to help you be that more prepared vehicle!
Things to consider packing before the trip include a tyre deflator, a quality air compressor, recovery boards, ample drinking water, a shovel, and an extensive recovery kit that includes rated shackles and recovery straps. Plus if you’re thinking about dune driving, chuck in a sand flag to be safe.
Whilst this might seem like a lot of things to pack into your car, it’s one of those situations where you’re better off carrying this gear and not using it, than not carrying it and then needing it…
Want to read more? For more great technical driving tips and 4X4 advice, read the full article by logging in to MR4X4. If you’re a Club 4X4 policyholder, CLICK HERE for information on how to gain access.
