Hi guys, Briohny here from Accelerate Auto Electrics and Air-Conditioning on the Sunshine Coast. Today we’re going to take you through our 7 top tips for driving on the beach.
1. Always remember that road rules apply.
So, the same rules that you follow on the bitumen apply when you’re driving on the beach.
2. Lighten your load.
The less weight you have in the car, the less likely you are to get bogged.
3. Know the clearance of the car.
This is the distance between the ground and your car. Generally, the chassis is the lowest point, so just check how much room you’ve got between the chassis and the ground so you know how to attack bumps and tracks.
4. Know the tides.
It’s ideal to avoid driving 2 hours either side of high tide. Instead, plan to travel on the beach in the two hours either side of low tide. Also, where possible don’t get caught driving on an incoming tide.
5. Lower your tyre pressure.
We use these Staun brand of tyre deflators. Basically, we pop one of each of these on a tyre and it drops down to a preset PSI. The reason we reduce the tyre pressure is that it flattens our tyres and increases the amount of surface area making contact with the sand and will give you better traction. Things to watch out for when you have flattened your tyres is the steering gets wobblier, also take care when turning corners as it could cause the tyres to come off the rim if you do it quickly.
6. Momentum is Key
If you’re driving on the beach, particularly in soft sand, momentum is key. If you’re approaching soft sand, make sure you maintain or slightly increase your speed. The slower your vehicle is going, the longer it has to sink into the soft sand. Once your tyre starts to sink in, the engine has to work that little bit harder to get through. To maintain forward momentum, a slight increase in speed will see if tyres float on top of the sand rather than sinking through.
7. Change Your Speed Gradually
Be sure to change your speed gradually, avoid sudden acceleration or slamming on the breaks as doing either will push you into the sand. Rapid breaking will push the sand in front of your tyres and sudden acceleration will sink you deeper into the sand as the tyres spin. The best way to stop is to slow down by taking the foot off the pedal and have the sands traction stop the vehicle. To speed up, gently but steadily press on the accelerator.
So that’s Briohny from Accelerate Auto Electrics and Air-Conditioning with 7 top tips for driving on the beach this Summer.
