first time coming up-=wondering what pressure to set tires at before going on sand-=model 821 slideout, michelin load range e-

Depends, you did not say what kind of truck you have. Is it 2WD or 4X4,is it single or dual wheels, is it auto or stick. What kind of tread is on the tires? How heavy is the camper?
Then, is it dry sand or wet? Is it rocky or not.
All of these things plus more.
Right off I would say, leave them as they are(should be between 65 and 85 psi), if you get into trouble keep airing them down til you can motivate. Take some 3/4" plywood and a saw along to make ramps. Take along a hilift jack so you can get the ramps under the tires. Take along your cell phone to call a wrecker and have plenty of cash on hand to pay them.

Ok I've been running the beach for 35 years. First your truck must be a 4x4. If single wheel drop down to twenty all around. Dually 20 front 30 back. You can go lower if you get into trouble. You need a good air pump when you come off. Take a shovel and jack board, if you do get stuck jack the tire up fill in hole, air down more and slowly drive off. Do not spin your wheels.Take it easy on the speed, most beachs have a speed limit of 10. Also stay above the high tide mark, no matter how inviting that wet sand looks. You get stuck or break down the sea will come in and take your rig

Surfrat, Thanks for the info. I thought I might camp on the beach at Pismo in CA but after seeing the picture you posted I think I'll hold off until I get a rig with 4wd.

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Posts: 2 | Registered: September 15, 2008 Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post

I am a bit younger than the surf rat. I have been running east coast beaches for 34 years. I have done it in 2 wheel drive vans but only on hard packed sand. Most of the time, it has been in 4X4 vehicles. I would never attempt to run a camper on the beach with a 2 wd vehicle due to the weight. With all due respect to the poster that said said start at 65 - 75 lbs, I disagree. I have pulled many a 4 wheel drive vehicle out that did not air down. I would start at 30lbs and air down from there....and I do agree with surf rat, whatever you do, dont go below the high tide line. My experience with a camper on the back is limited to the past year and I will tell you it is very different than running the beach in a standard 4X4.

hey , catch this !!!
heading to portsmouth is first 2 weeks in oct .
you going to meet us there ??
derf

Nice picture surfrat.

Beach camping makes me nervous especially since I have a dually & tow a cargo trailer. I got stuck in sand in Mexico last year. I eventually unhitched the trailer, dug the wheels out & used those orange leveling blocks to drive out on. It worked, fortunately. I had a long hefty tow rope which I used to pull the trailer out with after I got on solid ground. It has made me very nervous about venturing onto a beach especially with the trailer.

Those orange blocks really did work well, the sand fills the gaps between them. I laid about 10 in a row under each rear tire with a nylon rope looped between them and drove right out on them, although I had to dig them up with a shovel after. I am seriously considering getting proper sand mats that I can carry in my trailer, but I've only ever seen them in Africa. I have used them to get out of mud there.