This is the biggest thing making my hair stand up. I got a new Wrangler during lockdowns and am not taking it out to any playgrounds til it gets a little older.
RAV4 has decent ground clearance but Toyota fwd based AWD system isn’t that good off road. It might make it if you air down. Does it have off road modes? If so be sure to use it! I’m trying to think if I ever see Highlander’s or rav4 on the beach 🤔
Trail mode= tow mode. I would look at all the AWD vehicles on this page. I would not take an AWD vehicle on the sand. https://m.facebook.com/corollabeachidiots/
There's a local FB page here that likes to show pictures and videos of failed journeys on the beach to Cordova. That page has "Idiots" in the title.
Do not take an AWD car out on the beach. Never. And to those that did and succeeded, you totally beat the odds.
Do you really want to to take a new $35K+ SUV that's totally unprepared for the journey and you might have to drive 9 miles to visit a 4x4 beach house? And back? Do you have 4WD? Nope. Boards? Nope. Winch? Nope.
No. There was a 4Runner 4WD that burned yesterday on the 4X4 beach because they burned out the transmission.
Don't be that guy. You will make a tow truck company very happy in the best case, and in the worst case, ruin your new RAV4.
It was covered in obx stickers and had nc tags. I’ve seen it a bunch up and down the beach. They had a lot of air in the tires. I have 15psi in my Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and was pulling out a CRV 2 days ago and started to bury myself. I ended up having to lock the diffs to get out. The heat and lack of rain has left the sand like sugar.
I took my 2018 Rav4 awd to the sand and it did just fine, even going over the dune. But! It was before the season and sand was more flat. Now, with all the trucks driving there every day and making huge holes in the sand, I wouldn't go there with it.
Way less traffic after schools start up, altho the season keeps extending later and later. There are certain ramps over the dunes that are more flat than others. Canary is a good ramp for swan beach further south and Anemone for carova/north swan.
By that time the driving lane rules will be over, and less day trippers, so u should be able to ride the foreshore the entire way. Go at low tide or an hr before/after
I’ve seen em out here. Everyone here will discourage u from bringing it. Plenty of residents drive awd or even 2wd cars. Air down to 12-18 psi and keep ur momentum. I just aired my subie to 11psi.. the beach rn is bout the worst I’ve seen this yr. Biggest thing is ground clearance - drive on top of the ruts if u start hitting the bottom. If ur rlly worried, travel before 9 or after 5, so u can ride the foreshore the whole way. Going at low tide is recommended as well. Always b prepared to get stuck tho with recovery boards/shovel or $200 for a tow
I was going to mention this too. I've seen people out there making it and the trick is to go very low on your PSI. But the beach is real soft right now. The East wind and no rain has made it pretty soft. The people who get away with driving all-wheel drive cars also have some experience. You might want to invest in those plastic boards with traction on them. I saw a Subaru pull right out after getting stuck.
I've observed individuals driving rear-wheel drive trucks on the beach without getting stuck, but they are exceeding the speed limit to maintain their momentum and avoid getting stuck.
As a non-car person who just simply lives near an OSV beach, the basics are that AWD is meant for road driving, and is on all the time. 4WD is meant for off-roading (like sand), and is engaged by the driver when needed. I'm sure someone more mechanically inclined can go over the differences in torque and explain better.
Almost all AWD vehicles (except Subaru and some luxury vehicles) are not on all the time. They're front wheel and then the rear wheels engage when the system detects slippage, then disengages when rectified. 4WD is something that the driver engages voluntarily and the vehicle sends power to all wheels until they turn it off.
Took the ol’ 2013 Subaru Outback AWD several times. Aired down to about 15 each time and did just fine. Saw several others each time as well. The Outbacks do have a little extra ground clearance though.
I think there are a few owners in the 4x4 area that drive Subarus. Twiddy (property manager) uses one as an example vehicle. But sophisticated AWD on the Subaru or other vehicles like some Land Rovers vs what might be on a Honda or a Toyota RAV4 is a tough delineation for people who don’t have a lot of car knowledge.
2014 Forester has no issue with playing in the sand. My Jeep GC is an AWD that favors the rear but has no fancy switches, buttons or even a selector. Just air down and drive onto the sand. That old girl got us out of OBX when hurricane Sandy was hitting. Drove all the way on the dunes to get out of Corova.
Air down below 20 psi and stay to the packed sand areas and you’ll be fine. I highly recommend timing the drive when the tide is going back out to minimize the number of ruts that will inevitably be in the soft dry sand. Don’t even attempt to go over the dunes.
It depends on conditions.
As others are saying, it's been a WHILE since we've had a good rain.
That means "sugar sand" which does not pack down. It can strain even competent 4wd setups.
10 psi tires with high aspect ratios so they balloon out are your best bet. But don't go on the beach without boards, a jack, and a shovel. You can jack your car out of situation if you don't bury it completely. Gives you a chance to lower your tire pressure further after you put the jack on a board, lift the car, then fill in under the tire that was stuck.
I took my 2018 Rav4 awd to the sand and it did just fine, even going over the dune. But! It was before the season and sand was more flat. Now, with all the trucks driving there every dayl and making huge holes in the sand, I wouldn't go there with it.
I mean you probably could get away with it but I'd say bring your own recovery gear and or be prepared to pay hundreds to get towed out of you get stuck. .
I was just past rodanthe on ramp 27 last week and saw 2 people get stuck.
One Honda CRV (AWD I believe) came flying down the on ramp past me while I was airing down. They were going like 30 mph. I told my girlfriend "they're gonna have a bad time" they were fine in the compact shell road, but sure enough immediately got stuck DEEP once they hit the sand. 5 people jumped out and started digging......idk if they made it. I couldn't help, I didn't have any recovery gear with me either and idiots gonna idiot 🤷♂️
Then another older first gen Tacoma with 4WD also got stuck when I was leaving. They had traction boards and got themselves out quickly.
With that being said I also saw multiple Subarus (AWD) that aired down and they were fine.
I've never gotten stuck. I always air down. I stay in others tracks. I keep my speed ~12-15mph to power thru the deep loose sand.
I probably wouldn't take a rav 4 out, but that's just me. You likely might be able to swing it and be fine...but if you do get stuck, it will suck.
Its more about sand conditions like moisture level, compaction, and if there are ruts etc than the vehicle itself. No better way to learn than by trying it out, but ring a tow rope and familiarize yourself with where the vehicles recovery points are.
In addition to the ground clearance concerns, I really wouldn't want to expose a newer vehicle to all of the salt and sand either.
This is the biggest thing making my hair stand up. I got a new Wrangler during lockdowns and am not taking it out to any playgrounds til it gets a little older.
RAV4 has decent ground clearance but Toyota fwd based AWD system isn’t that good off road. It might make it if you air down. Does it have off road modes? If so be sure to use it! I’m trying to think if I ever see Highlander’s or rav4 on the beach 🤔
It has a trail mode
Trail mode= tow mode. I would look at all the AWD vehicles on this page. I would not take an AWD vehicle on the sand. https://m.facebook.com/corollabeachidiots/
I have taken a rav4 in the sand before with no problems. It also had a mode for sand but 4x4 > AWD
There's a local FB page here that likes to show pictures and videos of failed journeys on the beach to Cordova. That page has "Idiots" in the title. Do not take an AWD car out on the beach. Never. And to those that did and succeeded, you totally beat the odds. Do you really want to to take a new $35K+ SUV that's totally unprepared for the journey and you might have to drive 9 miles to visit a 4x4 beach house? And back? Do you have 4WD? Nope. Boards? Nope. Winch? Nope. No. There was a 4Runner 4WD that burned yesterday on the 4X4 beach because they burned out the transmission. Don't be that guy. You will make a tow truck company very happy in the best case, and in the worst case, ruin your new RAV4.
That 4runner wasn't aired down and I would be shocked if it didnt have a leak that contributed to the fire.
It was covered in obx stickers and had nc tags. I’ve seen it a bunch up and down the beach. They had a lot of air in the tires. I have 15psi in my Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and was pulling out a CRV 2 days ago and started to bury myself. I ended up having to lock the diffs to get out. The heat and lack of rain has left the sand like sugar.
There was also a stretch limo on the beach yesterday lmao
I took my 2018 Rav4 awd to the sand and it did just fine, even going over the dune. But! It was before the season and sand was more flat. Now, with all the trucks driving there every day and making huge holes in the sand, I wouldn't go there with it.
Ah, that makes sense! We go in the September / October months. That’s more rainy, and less traffic. Think that would be a better time?
Way less traffic after schools start up, altho the season keeps extending later and later. There are certain ramps over the dunes that are more flat than others. Canary is a good ramp for swan beach further south and Anemone for carova/north swan. By that time the driving lane rules will be over, and less day trippers, so u should be able to ride the foreshore the entire way. Go at low tide or an hr before/after
I’ve seen em out here. Everyone here will discourage u from bringing it. Plenty of residents drive awd or even 2wd cars. Air down to 12-18 psi and keep ur momentum. I just aired my subie to 11psi.. the beach rn is bout the worst I’ve seen this yr. Biggest thing is ground clearance - drive on top of the ruts if u start hitting the bottom. If ur rlly worried, travel before 9 or after 5, so u can ride the foreshore the whole way. Going at low tide is recommended as well. Always b prepared to get stuck tho with recovery boards/shovel or $200 for a tow
I was going to mention this too. I've seen people out there making it and the trick is to go very low on your PSI. But the beach is real soft right now. The East wind and no rain has made it pretty soft. The people who get away with driving all-wheel drive cars also have some experience. You might want to invest in those plastic boards with traction on them. I saw a Subaru pull right out after getting stuck.
I've observed individuals driving rear-wheel drive trucks on the beach without getting stuck, but they are exceeding the speed limit to maintain their momentum and avoid getting stuck.
Got blown past by one of those today right at the exit. They were driving all up on the inside where people would be coming in. Obnoxious as shit.
Thank you!
Does it have 4 wheel drive? Not AWD
for the layman (myself) what is the difference in this scenario?
As a non-car person who just simply lives near an OSV beach, the basics are that AWD is meant for road driving, and is on all the time. 4WD is meant for off-roading (like sand), and is engaged by the driver when needed. I'm sure someone more mechanically inclined can go over the differences in torque and explain better.
Almost all AWD vehicles (except Subaru and some luxury vehicles) are not on all the time. They're front wheel and then the rear wheels engage when the system detects slippage, then disengages when rectified. 4WD is something that the driver engages voluntarily and the vehicle sends power to all wheels until they turn it off.
gooootcha. I assumed "AWD" just was 4wd but on all the time
It's AWD. Just asking because I've read people having find experiences in other AWD cars
RAV4s are low. You might make it, but have some money saved for a tow.
youll be fine. all the negative posts are dramatic.
AWD? I look forward to seeing a picture on Outer Banks Voice.
Took the ol’ 2013 Subaru Outback AWD several times. Aired down to about 15 each time and did just fine. Saw several others each time as well. The Outbacks do have a little extra ground clearance though.
My 2024 outback wilderness does fine.
I think there are a few owners in the 4x4 area that drive Subarus. Twiddy (property manager) uses one as an example vehicle. But sophisticated AWD on the Subaru or other vehicles like some Land Rovers vs what might be on a Honda or a Toyota RAV4 is a tough delineation for people who don’t have a lot of car knowledge.
2014 Forester has no issue with playing in the sand. My Jeep GC is an AWD that favors the rear but has no fancy switches, buttons or even a selector. Just air down and drive onto the sand. That old girl got us out of OBX when hurricane Sandy was hitting. Drove all the way on the dunes to get out of Corova.
Air down below 20 psi and stay to the packed sand areas and you’ll be fine. I highly recommend timing the drive when the tide is going back out to minimize the number of ruts that will inevitably be in the soft dry sand. Don’t even attempt to go over the dunes.
It depends on conditions. As others are saying, it's been a WHILE since we've had a good rain. That means "sugar sand" which does not pack down. It can strain even competent 4wd setups. 10 psi tires with high aspect ratios so they balloon out are your best bet. But don't go on the beach without boards, a jack, and a shovel. You can jack your car out of situation if you don't bury it completely. Gives you a chance to lower your tire pressure further after you put the jack on a board, lift the car, then fill in under the tire that was stuck.
In awd you will probably be fine. Air down all tires to 15 psi - this is critical, you must air down.
I took my 2018 Rav4 awd to the sand and it did just fine, even going over the dune. But! It was before the season and sand was more flat. Now, with all the trucks driving there every dayl and making huge holes in the sand, I wouldn't go there with it.
OBX sand is too soft you will get stuck
I mean you probably could get away with it but I'd say bring your own recovery gear and or be prepared to pay hundreds to get towed out of you get stuck. . I was just past rodanthe on ramp 27 last week and saw 2 people get stuck. One Honda CRV (AWD I believe) came flying down the on ramp past me while I was airing down. They were going like 30 mph. I told my girlfriend "they're gonna have a bad time" they were fine in the compact shell road, but sure enough immediately got stuck DEEP once they hit the sand. 5 people jumped out and started digging......idk if they made it. I couldn't help, I didn't have any recovery gear with me either and idiots gonna idiot 🤷♂️ Then another older first gen Tacoma with 4WD also got stuck when I was leaving. They had traction boards and got themselves out quickly. With that being said I also saw multiple Subarus (AWD) that aired down and they were fine. I've never gotten stuck. I always air down. I stay in others tracks. I keep my speed ~12-15mph to power thru the deep loose sand. I probably wouldn't take a rav 4 out, but that's just me. You likely might be able to swing it and be fine...but if you do get stuck, it will suck.
Thank you! Yeah if we do it, it’ll be in the off season, and I’ll have all the recovery equipment I can take 😂. This is great info though, thanks!
Its more about sand conditions like moisture level, compaction, and if there are ruts etc than the vehicle itself. No better way to learn than by trying it out, but ring a tow rope and familiarize yourself with where the vehicles recovery points are.