Living in a country with so much varied and interesting terrain as we do, for avid drivers it is absolutely essential to make sure that you have a vehicle that can cope with all of the different surfaces that you might come up against over the years. Here at Southlakes 4×4 we obviously think that any 4×4 suspension vehicle is the best choice, and this is especially the case when considering one particular terrain: sand. Beach driving can be really fun but only when you know exactly what you are doing. Things can very easily go wrong on the unpredictable surface! With that in mind, here are some tips for driving safely along a beach.

  • Tyre pressure is one of the most important factors when it comes to driving on sand. Experts recommend that you should aim for around the 20psi mark, with a low limit of about 16psi.
  • Don’t forget to bring an old fashioned shovel along with you! You never know when you might encounter a sticky patch and end up getting stuck, but with a shovel in your trunk you don’t have to worry because you will always be able to dig yourself out of a problem.
  • If you have the space to do so, one of the best ways to avoid getting stuck in sand is to drive at a consistently fast pace. The slower you drive, the more force of weight your vehicle is going to put on the ground, and when that ground is soft and unpredictable, it is only ever going to result in some sinking!
  • You need to make sure that you either buy or fashion yourself a sand flag. This is a device that allows others on the beach to see from a distance that a car is coming, potentially at very fast speeds. When navigating things like dunes, you would be surprised by how invisible a vehicle can be until it is right next to you.

If you think that you would benefit from a vehicle with 4wd suspension or other 4×4 accessories, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Southlakes 4×4. No matter what kind of terrain you primarily find yourself on, the benefits that 4WD can give you are unrivalled and essential. Feel free to call a member of our expert team if you have any specific questions, there will always be somebody on hand to answer them and provide the best advice and recommendations.

If you want to find out more about 4×4 suspension, read our articles ‘What 4wd Suspension Suits Your Car?‘, ‘Our Guide To 4WD Suspension‘ and ‘How to Tell If Your 4X4 Suspension Needs Some TLC‘.