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Airing down?

kohldad
Explorer III
Explorer III
Based on my Compressor Recommendation thread, I now have a nice ViAir 450P compressor to air back up. So now it's time to start thinking about airing down.

I'm use to airing down my jeep to 15psi when I took it off-road, but have never aired down a heavily laden vehicle. I'm figuring with the TC on board, something around 30 psi may give the tire a nice float pattern for soft sand. Since I'm only at 2,500 tire, may be able to go as low as 25 psi.

Was looking for advice and experience for those more practice driving off-road.
2015 Ram 3500 4x4 Crew Cab SRW 6.4 Hemi LB 3.73 (12.4 hand calc avg mpg after 92,000 miles with camper)
2004 Lance 815 (prev: 2004 FW 35'; 1994 TT 30'; Tents)
60 REPLIES 60

sabconsulting
Explorer
Explorer
I think in the Sahara I aired my rears down from around 60 to about 30, maybe a bit less on the front. At that pressure they looked about right, but the sidewall didn't bulge so much so that it was in danger from sharp rocks, as every few minutes we would transition from soft sand to sharp rocks and back.

This is what happens when you forget you still have the tyres set at 60psi. Dropped to below 15psi and drove out:



This was the pressure I left them set at for the rest of the desert - as you can see they don't look very low, but the difference in traction was huge:



Steve.
'07 Ford Ranger XLT Supercab diesel + '91 Shadow Cruiser - Sky Cruiser 1
'98 Jeep TJ 4.0
'15 Ford Fiesta ST
'09 Fiat Panda 1.2

av8rds
Explorer
Explorer
gitpicker2009 wrote:
Are all you guys 4 wheel drive? I'd love to take my 07 Ram 3500 (dually, but only 2 rear wheel drive) and AF1150 down to Bolivar peninsula, near Galveston, but even though the sand seems pretty packed, I'm hesitant to even try it.


Sandy Neck does allow 2wd. I will say I have only seen Class A and C 2wd out there though.
'06 X-cab Powerstroke Dually 4x4
'75 Ford Bronco Rockcrawler
'08 Land Cruiser Buggy

JacintoKid
Explorer
Explorer
I've gone as low as 5 psi (didn't have a choice) the tires stayed on the rims thankfully. I usually don't air down until necessary. When I do, 20-30 psi is adequate for our TX beaches.
2014 Toyota tacoma 4WD
2014 FourWheel Camper Fleet model
OME full suspension swap

steelpony5555
Explorer
Explorer
Are all you guys 4 wheel drive? I'd love to take my 07 Ram 3500 (dually, but only 2 rear wheel drive) and AF1150 down to Bolivar peninsula, near Galveston, but even though the sand seems pretty packed, I'm hesitant to even try it.


Me too......
14 Cedar Creek Silverback 29IK
10 Dodge 3500 Dually Laramie 6.7 Diesel
14 Chrysler 300
07 Pearl White Ultra Classic (My new Baby)

Texas Boomers---Stop by for a Margie some time!

nkrantz
Explorer
Explorer
Great info guys keep it up.
AF 1140 2 optima yellow tops Honda eu3000 honda eu 2000 companion

2012 Ram 3500 DRW Roadmaster Sway Bar, Airbags, stableloads, superhitch, Buckstop bumper, carli lift, Alcoa's with 3970lb toyo AT's

gitpicker2009
Explorer
Explorer
Are all you guys 4 wheel drive? I'd love to take my 07 Ram 3500 (dually, but only 2 rear wheel drive) and AF1150 down to Bolivar peninsula, near Galveston, but even though the sand seems pretty packed, I'm hesitant to even try it.

stuckinthesand
Explorer
Explorer
I measure the distance from the bottom lip of the rim to the ground, when on level pavement and properly inflated for road travel, then I let air out till the distance has decreased 25% and that is my air down pressure. Your results may very.

sailorsmate
Explorer
Explorer
av8rds wrote:

yeah mines the bottom picture...just barely. Jerry on the other hand got a bit damp.

35 huh? I got lazy and only went down to 30 one time. Had no problem getting out and set up. Coming back though I could NOT make the little itty bitty hill from the main beach to the access trail. Aired down to 20 and drove right out.

Hope to meet you this year. I only made it out one time last year...depressing!


We'd rather start a little high and air down a few pounds if needed that have to drag out the air tank.
2013 GMC 3500 DRW, D/A, 4W
2012 Lance 1191
Tincansailor at the wheel.
Tincansailortravels

CptnBG
Explorer
Explorer
Ocracoke, before it became a "NPS bird preserve" :R

'03 2500HD CrewCab SB 6.0 Gas 4x4
'04 Northstar Laredo SC
Bilsteins 5100
2014 1500 Silverado 5.3 Double Cab
1951 Chevy 3100
Formally OBXcamper

av8rds
Explorer
Explorer
sailorsmate wrote:
Got your sneakers a little wet there, Av8rds. We also camp Sandy Neck, in a Lance 1191 and GMC 3500 dually. We do between 35 and 38 on the camper, but 18 on the Jeep. Depends on sand conditions.


yeah mines the bottom picture...just barely. Jerry on the other hand got a bit damp.

35 huh? I got lazy and only went down to 30 one time. Had no problem getting out and set up. Coming back though I could NOT make the little itty bitty hill from the main beach to the access trail. Aired down to 20 and drove right out.

Hope to meet you this year. I only made it out one time last year...depressing!
'06 X-cab Powerstroke Dually 4x4
'75 Ford Bronco Rockcrawler
'08 Land Cruiser Buggy

sailorsmate
Explorer
Explorer
Got your sneakers a little wet there, Av8rds. We also camp Sandy Neck, in a Lance 1191 and GMC 3500 dually. We do between 35 and 38 on the camper, but 18 on the Jeep. Depends on sand conditions.
2013 GMC 3500 DRW, D/A, 4W
2012 Lance 1191
Tincansailor at the wheel.
Tincansailortravels

av8rds
Explorer
Explorer
kohldad wrote:
Didn't expect to get such beautiful pics along with replies, but should have guessed owners would use it as an excuse to show off their rigs.



Oh you wanted beautiful pictures too? ๐Ÿ˜‰ The other one was the only one I had on photobucket you could see the truck.

Sandy Neck Beach, Sandwich MA

'06 X-cab Powerstroke Dually 4x4
'75 Ford Bronco Rockcrawler
'08 Land Cruiser Buggy

kohldad
Explorer III
Explorer III
Didn't expect to get such beautiful pics along with replies, but should have guessed owners would use it as an excuse to show off their rigs.

Since sand consistancy makes a difference, I think it would be helpful if the name and location of the beaches be included in replies.
2015 Ram 3500 4x4 Crew Cab SRW 6.4 Hemi LB 3.73 (12.4 hand calc avg mpg after 92,000 miles with camper)
2004 Lance 815 (prev: 2004 FW 35'; 1994 TT 30'; Tents)

Steve_in_29
Explorer
Explorer
We had to go down to 20psi to get down this beach. The next morning I thought 20 looked a little too low so I aired up to 30psi before moving on but couldn't make any headway until I stopped and aired back down to 20psi.

Of course at such low tire pressures you NEED to travel SLOOOOW and air back up as soon as you hit something more solid.

2007 F350,SC,LB,4x4,6.0/Auto,35" tires,16.5 Warn,Buckstop bumpers
2007 Outfitter Apex9.5,270W solar,SolarBoost2000e,2 H2K's,2KW inverter,2 20lb LP on slide out tray,4 Lifeline AGM bats,Tundra fridge
95 Bounder 28' ClassA sold
91 Jamboree 21' ClassC sold

av8rds
Explorer
Explorer
I use 20psi all around

'06 X-cab Powerstroke Dually 4x4
'75 Ford Bronco Rockcrawler
'08 Land Cruiser Buggy