Cars and the beach

movilogo

The best advise I can give that don't take your car to beach.

It will probably invalidate your insurance (as it is not a public road can be treated as off-road driving) unless you specifically confirm with your insurer.

Many breakdown organizations (eg RAC/AA etc.) might also refuse recovery from beach as they are not public road.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

vikingaero wrote: »

My mums old Corsa was brilliant in the sand and snow. It was a 1.4 automatic which had a winter button to allow start off in third gear. The light kerbweight and narrow tyres gave it excellent traction. When the usual 2cms of snow paralyses the South I can still get around safely in her Corsa.

Narrow tyres will just sink in sand.

To the OP, you want the widest tyres you can find, preferably with good tread depth. Try and wash the underside when you return home.

epninety

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Narrow tyres will just sink in sand.

To the OP, you want the widest tyres you can find, preferably with good tread depth. Try and wash the underside when you return home.

Wide tyres, of the largest diameter to increase the available contact area and ground clearance. Low gearing and an engine with good low end torque. Soft compliant suspension to keep all tyres in good contact on uneven sand. Tread depth of most road tyres will be irrelevant as they will clog at the first sign of wheel slip. If they don't clog, the tread will encourage the tryes to 'dig' down, which won't help at all.

Choose your gear and speed before you reach the sand, drive smoothly and don't try to change gear if the sand isn't very firm. Plan your route (ie know where you are going to drive, and where you will stop). Think about how you will get back - don't park leaving yourself to do a three point turn on sand a couple of hours later on when conditions may have changed a lot. If you get stuck, don't spin the wheels, you just make it worse.

I've driven on beaches in Africa, and in the Sahara dunes (and got stuck!), but I didn't think there were any beaches in the UK where it's legal to drive (except for the odd tidal ford)? Where is this beach?

BillScarab

Well Pendine in Wales is one. More of a park on the beach idea than actually drive on it though.

I'm sure when we were kids we parked on Weston Beach as well but I may be confusing it with somewhere else.

For driving on sand you want low ground pressure so wide tyres, preferably wothout an aggressive tread are the best idea. A lightweight vehicle will also help.

photome

This is crazy...salt and cars should not be mixed. If you have to drive on the sand regularly buy a very old "obvious" 4x4

epninety

BillScarab wrote: »

Well Pendine in Wales is one. More of a park on the beach idea than actually drive on it though.

I'm sure when we were kids we parked on Weston Beach as well but I may be confusing it with somewhere else.

For driving on sand you want low ground pressure so wide tyres, preferably wothout an aggressive tread are the best idea. A lightweight vehicle will also help.

I thought I'd read that Pendine was the last one, and public access had been blocked. Wikipedia agrees, but without corroboration I give it no more credence than the bloke in the pub :rolleyes:. After a quick google, it does appear you can still drive on Black Rock Sands though, and Southport as well?

vikingaero

Probably the ideal car would be a tiny Suzuki Jimny 4x4.

jeannieblue

I still want to know where this legal parking beach is.........

and am still worried about the salt.........

I'm such a worrier.............:o

goldspanners

vikingaero wrote: »

Probably the ideal car would be a tiny Suzuki Jimny 4x4.

i would whole heartedly agree with this or the older version sj 410.

the best off roader by miles.with the correct tyres these can go places land rover drivers only dream of.

but the op didnt want 4x4's so i would imagine this to be out of the question. :rolleyes:

by the way my sister has a jimny and running costs are comparible with most small cars.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

photome wrote: »

This is crazy...salt and cars should not be mixed. If you have to drive on the sand regularly buy a very old "obvious" 4x4

So what do you do in winter then?