Correct tire size for driving truck camper on the beach

Here is a link to one of the beaches I drive on, it gives you tire information and also make sure you have a full size spare tire

I hope this info helps

Cape Cod National Seashore

nycsteve wrote:

Sam Spade wrote:
If the question is just any old beach that you might encounter, the answer is:
Don't do it.

You didn't advise "to be careful" you said "the answer is don't do it"

You have quoted me out of context and it changes the meaning of what I really did say.

One should not just blindly run out on any patch of sand that you encounter. Especially if there is not obvious evidence of vehicles being there previously.

Sam Spade wrote:

nycsteve wrote:

Sam Spade wrote:
If the question is just any old beach that you might encounter, the answer is:
Don't do it.

Many beaches won't support even a small car without VERY wide tires. And having a truck camper towed out of the sand is a tricky proposition.

Wrong.

No it is not wrong.....to advise someone to be careful with what they are about to do.

Either you are a more skilled driver than most or are just lucky.

I have SEEN cars, trucks and RVs stuck in soft sand (both on a "beach" and off) and it isn't a pretty picture.

Just because you can do it doesn't mean that everybody can.

Being careful is never a bad thing and is never "wrong".

You didn't advise "to be careful" you said "the answer is don't do it"
Just because you have seen people stuck doesn't discount the thousands that drive beaches successfully. I've seen dozens of people disabled with flats on the side of interstate highways, conclusion, stay off interstates.
People stuck on the beach have usually made an error causing them to be stuck. I was in Corrolla in NC watching a guy in a Mercedes car buried to the floorboards . No 4x4 , no airing down, what do you expect? Darwins law in action.

Funny story. Parked next to Laguna Madrid bay on Padre Island,Tx with a Conversion Van pulling a pop up trailer. That bay is very placid. Tide came in and found next morning that I was now IN the bay!!! Looked for tire tracks that one could see above the flooded area and followed them out. Stock tires; stock brain. Today that parking area is off limits. Miss the fun!

Skipbee, your humor is not lost on me. I've found that people who poo-poo sand driving have never tried it but are somehow an expert. People who have found the 'edge' in the sand know everything they need to know; and find the edge over and over. Around 1976 we drove 125 miles at the surf line in Baja in a Toyota FJ-55 Land Cruiser between San Felipe and Puertocitos. What a ride! We had to steer around the inlets and outlets. The sand changed texture and consistency many times on that trip requiring lower and lower pressure down to 10 pounds and actually raising it on the sharp rocks. Here Dick is lowering the pressure as we try to race the incoming tide: You can see how the rig 'crabbed' along at too high a tire pressure trying to crest the high tide line. We had (5), five gallon jeep cans ( two on the tailgate) and a 53 gallon gas tank, plus 3 spare tires on wheels.


jefe

We have traveled a good deal over the very soft sand on Assateague Island, Maryland. There are literally hundreds of TC's operating here.
We have been using 16" Nitto Dune Grapplers on our very heavy rig with excellent results. We air down to 20 psi rear and 30 front and should we encounter an extra soft spot we have room to air down a bit more.

We have the benefit of a bank of hi pressure compressors at the entrance to the beach, and a large group of experienced sons of the beach always willing to help if someone is stuck.

Ive run my Truck/Camper on beaches from NC to Cape Cod. Ive run BFG
285 18r tires for the last 15 yrs no issues. Sure you can get stuck, air down take it easy youll be fine.

IVe been out on IBSP many times without issue.

nycsteve wrote:

Sam Spade wrote:
If the question is just any old beach that you might encounter, the answer is:
Don't do it.

Many beaches won't support even a small car without VERY wide tires. And having a truck camper towed out of the sand is a tricky proposition.

Wrong.

No it is not wrong.....to advise someone to be careful with what they are about to do.

Either you are a more skilled driver than most or are just lucky.

I have SEEN cars, trucks and RVs stuck in soft sand (both on a "beach" and off) and it isn't a pretty picture.

Just because you can do it doesn't mean that everybody can.

Being careful is never a bad thing and is never "wrong".

Sam Spade wrote:
If the question is just any old beach that you might encounter, the answer is:
Don't do it.

Many beaches won't support even a small car without VERY wide tires. And having a truck camper towed out of the sand is a tricky proposition.

Wrong. Im on the beach all the time with the TC on. Very soft sand too. I air down my front tires from 65psi to 20 psi. The rears from 80 psi to 25 psi. The tires are what the truck came with , nothing special. Its a f350 4x4 SRW. 4k# camper. Take it slow, don't allow the tires to dig themselves in.If possible stay in existing tire tracks. Carry a jack and shovel. Stay well above the high tide mark. Over the years I have had to use a shovel once or twice , but almost always I can drive out of whatever fix I may be in.

Once got hold of a pressure/loadcapacity list from Michelin.
For different speeds and for in Mud/sand and on Track.
Will give the picture of it, but in short.

For in Mud/Sand you can use even 50% of the pressure for 20km/12,5m/h on the road, wich then is the maximum speed to use.
Can go as low as 0.6bar/9psi for a tire with 6 bar/85psi AT pressure, ofcource if the load on tire is low enaug.

My conclusion is that at that pressure on road the tire would bare on the sides and not in the middle, but in sand/mud the underground forms that way that it supports the total surface .
But this is my conclusion, of a self declared tirepressure-specialist, so not a profesional tire-ingeneur.

For on track 80% of the pressure needed for 65km/35m?/h on road, wich then is the maximum to use speed.

Here 2 pictures