20 psi is fine. I've been as low as 12-14 without issue. We go to Pismo Dunes 4-5 times a summer and to Dumont Dunes every Thanksgiving. Just take it easy and don't forget to air up when you leave the sand. It's all about flotation and footprint to prevent getting stuck.

 

Air them baby's down, thats the key in the sand.


Last time I went to the Silver Lake sand dunes I watched a Jeep climb test hill while idling in 4 low, while most other vehicles are lucky to even make it up while hitting the base of it a 50 MPH. The key factor with his setup though was less than 5 PSI with 12.5" wide A/T's (but yes, it was a light Jeep).

I have watched dozens and dozens of stock trucks (with stock tires)cruise that entire area with no issues at all, but they are typically aired down to 15-20 PSI. Personally I wouldn't go much lower than that with a full size truck and a stock tire.


Have fun, and enjoy cleaning the sand outa your skivies when you get home! I still get sand blowing outa my heater vents from time to time when the blower is on high

 

I'm not 100% sure yet if I want to go on the beach or not. I have been reading online a bit. But this is a little diff cause this is a truck forum. Not just state runs sites. It's a more vehical spiffic.

 

as long as i've been in nc i still have yet to go to the outer banks.
pm csx fan, he just went to a lake (i think it was a lake) and was playing on the sand dunes all day and obviously isn't checking the updates on this site.
make sure when you're done playing that you power wash the bottom of your truck to get the salt off.

 

Tip go after step the house prices drop off and these is less ppl!!! Not so dam many NJ ***s down there bring there dam trash down there. I think this is going to be our last trip down there. Next yr looks like main or canada.

 

Sherrif is right I did go up to silver lake sand dunes a couple weeks ago, and I just got back from another trip up there Saturday. I aired my 265 dunlop mud terrains down to 10-12 psi and had absolutely no problems. I even had my truck in 2wd in some of the flat areas of the park with no issues. Most of the time I was in 4lo with OD off. I probably could have gotten away with 4hi but I would still leave OD off. The only time I got stuck was when I framed it at the peak of test hill.

If you do bog down and get stuck in the sand, don't just spin your tires hoping to get out. All you'll do is dig yourself deeper until your truck is resting on its axles with the tires off the ground. Then everyone will laugh at you while you spend an hour digging yourself out.

On a side note I raced a trash talking, Dodge hating, half ton Chevy up test hill and kicked his ***. That made my day.

 

i drove on sand once with my bicycle, but i fell over

 

I used to run the sand dunes in Oregon all the time. Airing down is your friend. I used to air my 1 ton chevt crew cab down to 16 rear and 20 front. I almost got stuck once and my friend was with me. He ran the sand alot. he made me stop spinning the wheels and we aired way down and drove right out of it. I would be the first to tell you from my experience , if you dont air down you WILL be stuck. No question about it. Get a cheapo air compressor from Wal mart. It takes a bit to sir them back up. But it beats ruining a tire when you drive off the sand. I have made trips to the dunes several times a week in Oregon. I have ALOT of sand experience.

 

Ok cool guys sound like I need to go down to 20lbs to start. Don't spin the tires and bring the strap and some boards with me.

 

Gee, looks like you learned something despite everyone telling me how dumb you are.