Beach Bound

[Longwinger]

We are planning a trip to South Padre Island in the fall.

We will be driving in the sand all week. I have been told by many not to use your every day driver as it will cause a lot of problems.

As it is now, I drive 6 miles a day on our crappy dirt, sand and red mud roads.

Is there any truth to this? Anything I should do to prepare for it?

TIA,

P

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

Although I can’t recommend driving around on salt water sand beaches, a thorough wash should help.
That’s one activity I won’t do with my truck.

 

[diymirage]

You drive a truck, if it cant handle a little sand, burn that piece of junk to the ground

 

[Mlarv5]

The issue is the salt. I drove a 1980 F150 on St Augustine beach for years in and out of the salt water. The biggest rust spot on the truck when I sold it in 2001 was the drivers side rocker. After I got off the beach I would use a drive through car wash or one with the spray booth. I would spend extra time washing off the underneath. At the time I would regrease all the grease joints etc.

Winter salt on the roads is a lot worse on your vehicle if you park in a garage. The vehicle get covered in frozen water salt solution, and it freezes on it. You go home park it your garage and it melts into all the small hidden spots over night. Next morning away again into the salt bath. Many DOT's are now leaving their trucks out all winter for this reason.

When you get off the beach wash it twice.