Driving on Daytona Beach

[marc71]

I was just wondering if you can drive on Daytona Beach with a camper in tow? We're in the area and the weather is great, thought it would be nice to drive out on the beach without having to drop the trailer. Don't know if it's legal? I know the sand is hard and with a 4x4 TV it shouldn't be an issue.

[jefe_4x4]

Sno Bear,
Nice catch. I was just trying to level the fridge without getting out the leggo blocks. As a matter of fact, I have been known to rock crawl a bit:
We've stretched our legs a time or two:


sometimes with mixed results:

jefe

[SnoBear]

From the look of your drivers front tire, you rock crawl with your rig as well ...

[jefe_4x4]

Bill and Kate,
With the risk of Hijacking this thread: You are our kind of people. Beach camping lovers. Jeanie and I are planning a four month, counterclockwise tour of the U.S. boundary states, starting in Northern California about September 1st. Just in time to be a 'leaf-peeper' in the NE and work our way around the country always turning to the right. We should arrive back in No. Cal. by New Years Day.
What makes our trek a little different is that we are doing it in an XTC, and extreme truck camper and we are looking for beaches that we can actually camp on. There are many on the eastern seaboard that we know of already. How would that work out?
In the final phase of our lives, we have developed a very flexible touring style which includes applying my old hard-core Jeeping techniques to a fully self-contained, lightweight, 4WD truck camper.
This includes wide super singles/rear that I can air down and up with a 30 pound CO2 tank and a high volume air compressor; lots of recovery gear; winch; which will all help achieve our goal of camping on every single beach that will allow it. We've seen a lot of dunes with this rig and haven't had to leave it yet. Here is our campsite in Nevada on our way to EXPO 2013:

We can and will camp in/at:
1. Federal Campgrounds, USFS
2. State Campgrounds
3. County Campgrounds
4. Federal fisheries, BLM, Corps of Engineers, Wetlands, Beaches,
5. Stealth camp in and around big cities. Yes, right downtown in plain sight. We have developed a protocol that helps us stay invisible.
6. Any place that, 'looks right' for the night. That can be just down he lane, or at Walmart, or a rest area.
7. Luxury hotels, once a week
This is really our bucket trip and I will be PM'ing you about places that you know of. With the 'Quig' you are our kind of people.
regards, as always, jefe
bass trombonist, LAPhil,1969-2006.

[tatest]

You might if the sand is firm enough to handle the usually higher pressure loadings of RV and tow vehicles. Conditions on the beaches at Daytona and Cocoa are changing all the time, one minute supporting 80-100 psi loadings, other times swallowing up 15-20 psi loadings in the top 2-12 inches, usually firm deeper than that.

If you hit weak sand more than 3-4 inches deep, most drivers will get stuck. I've seen drivers cluesless about beach driving bury themselves in two inches, just as they can get stuck on a 1/4 inche of ice on level ground, by doing the wrong thing and digging themselves a hole.

Anoter risk on the beach is parking, it can be firm when and where you stop, and you might settle in a few inches standind still for a while.

I won't take a vehicle onto the beach unless I'm confident I can push or winch it out myself, no power. My RV is too heavy for that.

[Veebyes]

Looking at the video of the toyhauler 5er it never ceases to amaze at the number of people who do not have a clue of how to drive in soft or slippery conditions, especially the 4X4 drivers.

The aim of these fools is to floor it, get the wheels spinning & digging holes real good while seeing how high sand can be thrown into the air. Oh, lets not forget the tow rope breaking part by getting a run at things & giving a good jerk.

Sorry, all of my driving life has been 2wd. Most of that with a clutch. Have to think things through to avoid doing something dumb. Been stuck a few times. Couple times with trailer. Gotten out without assistance. Throwing sand into the air has never been involved.

[Bill___Kate]

We love to surf fish, and places that permit driving on the beach - from Cape Cod, south trough Florida, and around the Gulf through Texas - are our preferred destinations. Driving conditions widely vary - from coarse, loose sand on Cape Cod, Long Island, Long Beach Island, and Hatteras, to the well packed fine sand of South Jersey, North Florida, and the Texas Gulf Coast.

That being said, Daytona Beach is one of the most vehicle friendly beaches around - after all, Dayton Beach is where NASCAR got it's start - however, I don't think trailers are permitted on Daytona Beach - maybe for some special events, but not on a day-to-day basis. I am almost certain that overnight camping is not permitted.

As previously stated - the salt from the beach has to be considered, and proper rinsing and other maintenance is essential to prevent corrosion, but with proper care, a beach vehicle will last many years.

Personally, we have spent many pleasurable days driving on the North Florida Beaches from St. Augustine south through Dayton, but we always leave the trailer in the campground ....

[Allworth]

I have lived in Central Florida for 45 years and the only advise I can give you is:

DON"T DO IT !!!!

[dieharder]

Be aware that, even though it is driveable, there are soft spots. I have seen cars and trucks get stuck in said soft spots and needed to be helped out. Can be more of a problem while towing a trailer, even with a 4x4.

[ryegatevt]

One word: Salt! If you must drive on the beach, rent a car or bicycle!

[AndreC]

Here's a copy of vehicles limitatiosn

Sec. 20-175. Unauthorized vehicles.

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate on the beach any of the following classes of vehicles:

(1)
Any motor vehicle not registered and titled under the provisions of F.S. chs. 319 and 320, except those motor vehicles owned by an agency of the United States Government or which are exempt from registration under the provisions of F.S. § 320.37, and except vehicles authorized under a bona fide concession agreement.

(2)
Buses; however, the beach director or his designee may issue a permit for small special events pursuant to section 20-144 without delay and upon such terms as may be appropriate.

(3)
Truck tractor or tandem trailer trucks (except vehicles actually engaged in construction or repair of premises when authorized under article V of this chapter).

(4)
Any vehicle or vehicle and trailer combination of any description longer than 33 feet (except vehicles actually engaged in concession operations authorized under article VII or construction or repair of premises when authorized under article V of this chapter).

(5)
Golf carts or like vehicles, unless authorized under a bona fide concession agreement or permitted by beach safety for the purpose of transporting handicapped persons.

(6)
Wind-powered land vehicles.

[msmith1199]

Gemstone wrote:
Look that these before you decide to just take a drive on the beach with a 5th wheel: stuck in the sand at Pismo Beach

Folks continue to do so, but It's always good to know what could happen.

Regards
Gemstone

I've driven on Daytona Beach and I've driven on Pismo. Two completely different beaches. I did Daytona in a rental car. I wouldn't take a car out on Pismo.

[Hank_MI]

I've driven on Daytona Beach in a car, would never try it with TT in tow. If you can stay on the beaten path you may be okay but that's a big IF. If there are other vehicles driving or parked you may need to deviate from beaten path. If someone else wasn't having fun and tore up the beaten path you may be okay. If the beaten path was recently groomed you may be okay.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

I've seen a few 5ers and TT and MH on the sand at Mustang Island near Corpus Christi and Padre Island National Seashore.

I would only go there if I wanted to dry camp on the beach - and only have testing the area before hand without the rig. Including the drive to the site, turning and drive out.

The 4x4 TV might not have an issue - but the TT has a lot more weight on a likely smaller footprint.

I would never attempt a drive-by with a trailer. Just too much risk. And if you get stuck - you likely will need a very expensive heavy duty wrecker to get the trailer out. Which will likely damage the trailer.

[Mongo71]

Katuna's right. I would love to have the wheel bearing replacement concession in Daytona Beach. I always chuckle when I see the uninitiated drive through salt water. Probably one of the most corrosive substances on earth. Also, if you deviate even a little bit from the beaten path, you will get stuck. Sugar sand has no mercy either. Park in the lots. Walk on the beach. The locals will appreciate it!