Whether you’ve just buckled into your first fourbie or you’re an experienced four-wheel driver, there’s not much that beats the feeling of spinning wheels in the sand. Beach driving can take you to some ripper spots that you’d never be able to visit without a four-wheel drive and offer opportunities for fishing, diving, and cracker dune driving. Before you hit the sand however, you’ll need to gear up with the right kit. Check out this gear guide pulled together by the BCFing experts before you leave for your next beach driving adventure!
Tyre pressure gauge + deflator
Having your tyres at the right pressure is super important for driving on the sand and will save you from getting bogged down in the soft stuff. While the old-fashioned stick in the valve might do the trick, the last time we checked they didn’t come with pressure gauges. So instead, it’s a cracker idea to get your hands on a 2 in 1 tyre pressure gauge and deflator like this tyre deflator gauge from XTM. That way you’ll be able to make sure that all your tyres are being aired down and sitting at the same PSI. For those of you who’ve got ants in your pants and need to hit the tracks quick smart, the CAMPBOSS 4X4 Boss Air Tyre Deflators will let you down quickly (in a good way). If you do go down that road, you’ll need to grab a tyre pressure gauge to make sure your tyre pressure is on the money.
Long handled shovel
It turns out you can do more with a shovel than just dig your camp loo – they’re a cracker piece of kit for helping to recover your car out of a sticky situation and a must-have when sand driving. Although any shovel will do the trick, we reckon your back will thank you for grabbing a shovel with a long handle. There’s not a whole lot to these guys, but you’ll be glad you brought one along when your tyres start sinking and there’s not another fourbie in sight. This long-handled shovel from Gripwell is made from high-quality steel and will get the job done for you time and time again.
Sand flag
Another absolute essential for sand driving, especially if you’re going to be driving on the dunes is a sand flag. These signal to other drivers that you’re coming up over the hill and can mean that you avoid some pretty nasty accidents while on the sand. Normally these are made up of a three-metre-long super flexible pole with a high-vis orange flag at the top. In some places it is actually a legal requirement to whack one of these beauties on to your vehicle. Law or not, we reckon it’s a smart idea to have one on your car when heading to the dunes.
Compressor
When it’s all said and done, it’s a good idea to get some air back into the tyres to avoid damage to your pride and joy. A lot of the time the servo is simply too far away, so a compressor is a must-have piece of kit when hitting the sand. These days there are truckloads of lightweight, portable compressors that you can chuck in your fourbie and leave there for good. This 160L Air Compressor from XTM is the perfect accessory for the beach and comes with a whole heap of attachments that will allow you to pump up anything from bike tyres to pool toys.
Recovery tracks
One piece of kit that you really shouldn’t leave home without, especially if you’re planning on going solo is a pair (or two) of recovery tracks. These little beauties can get you out of all sorts of trouble and double up as a shovel to scoop out sand from underneath your wheels. Using them is simple, but to avoid damage to your tracks we’d check out this guide written by the BCFing Experts before slipping ‘em under your vehicle. Whether you go for a pair of bright orange Maxtrax or grab a pair of Recovery Boards from XTM, you can’t go wrong with a pair of recovery tracks.
Snatch strap
Snatch recoveries are a sure-fire way to get out of a tricky situation and will get you moving quicker than you can say ‘I’m stuck’. Obviously, a snatch recovery can only be performed if you’ve got another rig at the ready, but whether you’re travelling alone or with your crew, it always helps to have a snatch strap handy. It’s common courtesy when wheeling around in the sand to help out your fellow drivers and having a snatch strap on hand could get you out of trouble if a passer-by doesn’t have one, or if you need to pull someone else out of the soft stuff. Moral of the story, get your hands on a snatch strap before you head to the beach in your fourbie! Lastly, please don’t pop these over your tow ball, this could result into some serious damage for both you and your vehicle.
UHF Radio Communication
Although not at the very top of the list, having some way of communicating with other drivers in your convoy is super important and can help you avoid any mishaps in the sand. It doesn’t take much to go bounding over the sand hill and straight into the back of one of your mates. Having a UHF radio in your car is one way of avoiding accidents like that. Another great piece of kit is a handheld CB. The trusty handheld is great for those times when you want to jump out of the car and give your mate a bit of direction, or if you just want to get stuck into them for their average driving ability and bad haircut. We've got a cracker range of UHF Radio Communication to choose from.
Sand driving definitely isn’t rocket science, but you will need the right kit before heading out there to make sure that you and your car get back in one piece. You might love going for a dip, but we reckon your car would prefer to stay high and dry. So, make sure you tick off all the items on this list before you head away to avoid getting stuck out there with the rising tide approaching. Sand driving is an epic adventure that you need to try at least once. Get into your local BCF today and gear up for some beach driving!