carwash

Hi Guys,

I have a new 2007 Dodge Megacab with the 5.9 L diesel. I am going to the outer banks in about a month and will be taking the new truck to drive in the sand. The manual specifically says not to air down the tires for driving in soft sand? What!!! Anyway, I am planning on airing down the stock michelins to about 18 pounds each (max 80 PSI E rated tires) for this driving as this truck will not get away with not airing down like my Wrangler does. Anybody else air down these tires and to what PSI? Why would the manual say not to? Also assuming that 4 Lo is the way the go? I do have the LSD. Thanks for your suggestions.

jkitterman

My guess, you are risking spinning the tires off the rims with all the torque.

Need95-00CTD

For general sand use, 4hi is fine, because when you need to move, you need to move. You will not spin the tires of at 18lbs as long as your not climbing rocks or doing donuts, just make sure you keep your speed up if it gets soft, and try not to spin a tire or you'll dig. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

CTD03

yes air down i would go to like 25 psi but i havent been on the sand at all heck pulling truck air down way futher than that and make way more torque and this is in the stock diesel class so no bead locks of any sort


air down and enjoy the fun on the beach

EDWRDS

I live 25 miles from Glamis CA when I drive in glamis I air down to 10psi! I have a 2005 2500 dodge 4x4! Never broke the beed yet!

supersonictoys

yea ,I do sand mountain NV, sand mountain utah, glamis, dumont, and we air down to where there is a large bulge on the side of the tire. around 10psi works great

EDWRDS

I've even been as low as 5psi!

ridofpwrstroke

Same here. I air down to 10-15 in the front and 8 in the rear. I do have on board air on the truck which makes it easier to fill back up. This was on my 02 2500. The dually is a pain and havent had to do it. YET!

DiEseLjunKy

Lucky you! My dad's got a cottage in Kitty Hawk but I haven't been out that way since I was a kid. I'd air em down too never heard of going in sand with aired up tires.. Who writes these manuals?

IrishND

Carwash
I was in OBX last month and aired down. 4HI is all you'll need. I think I aired down to 35psi....wasn't to bad plus I am on balding tires. I had to drive 10 miles on the beach to get to my rental house. Stay out of the very top of the sand, stay towards the water and you'll be fine.

One thing to watch for the is the Jeep drivers.....they think they own the beach and barely move to let you through.

TAS

Air down only far enought to sit the tread all the way on the ground. I'm not sure what these tires need to be but, my jeep gets about 10-12 psi when I wheel it (no beadlocks).

surfram

I air down to 18-20 psi. If you get into the soft sand without airing down, you will get stuck. 4H works great for running down the beach if it is relatively firm/flat sand without big ruts. In areas that are deeply rutted, sugar sand, and for driving over steep dune crossings, I usually switch to 4L. 4L allows me to slowly crawl over steep crossings and large ruts on the beach. With the stock tires, 18psi would be the max pressure I would use. 285 or larger ATs are much more forgiving on the sand. Here is a picture of the "road" leading to our OBX rental last year. It consisted of extremely dry/soft sand with some short but steep hill climbs and some water crossings:





Sand conditions can change on a daily basis. During our OBX vacation this year, the beach went from flat and concrete hard to extremely rutted and soft in 3 days. The Delaware beaches where we surf-fish are almost always soft sand with the consistency of sugar:

dadwolf2

Surfram, nice pictures.

THURENfab.

Don't air down in the manual? Haha!! Manual writing dummies...


There is no set psi to air down to, as different tire constructions, and vehicle weights can sway findings. Some tires at 5psi are just as bulged as another brand of the same size at 15psi. Air down ALL 4 TIRES so that the sidewalls come down and just about kiss the sand. 10-15psi is VERY common..

You guys saying air down to 25-35psi are funny... I run 38psi front 26psi rear on the highway..

IrishND

Hey Surfram...were those pics taken near Carolla in OBX? Thats where I stayed a month ago.

bob