DRIVING ON SAND
Driving on Sand:
When you get into Corolla, find a safe place to let the air out of your tires. Deflate to 18-20 psi for the easiest traveling. Use a pressure gauge (best) or count to 50 while deflating. Do not wait to do this until you are on the ramp or already on the sand. Stopping anywhere on the ramp or the first mile and a half of sand is strictly prohibited. When you get to the ramp, put your car in four wheel drive.... don't forget!!!
Low tide driving
If you have arrived at low tide, make your way to the hard packed sand right next to the ocean. Be sure to lower your speed to 15 mph within 300 feet of horses and pedestrians.
High tide driving
If you have arrived at high tide, choose a path of ruts and try to maintain your speed. If a car approaches in the same set of ruts you are in, move over to another set of ruts signaling your intention with your blinker. Keep your speed up while moving across the ruts and do not cross the ruts at a perpendicular angle. Moving across the ruts on a mostly parallel path is the easiest way to move up or down the beach.
If you begin to bog down..
Try not to stop altogether. Give your car some gas (step on it) and see if it responds. If you are going nowhere, stop, put it in reverse and try to back out. If you are still digging in, stop!!! Do not continue spinning your tires in the hopes that you will get out. The chassis of your car will slowly land on a hard pack of sand, while your tires spin freely. Then it will take a lot of digging under the chassis to bring your tires back into contact with something to grip!
If you get stuck..
First, make sure you are in 4 wheel drive. Next try to back up. If neither work, get out your shovel that you brought from home ;-? and dig out any sand that is holding your car up in the air. Clearance under the chassis is what you are looking for. Making a path for all four tires to travel up out of the deep sand will help you. Putting it in 4 low to get out of the hole will help, but make sure to get it out of 4 low as soon as you are no longer stuck.
Traffic laws and other rules
Maintain your speed at 15 mph whenever traveling within 300 feet of pedestrians and animals. Remember that they have the right of way. If you are alone on the beach, the speed limit is 35 mph. People are asked to park their vehicles midway between the ocean and the dune line. This space changes throughout the day, and at high tide there is not much room to maneuver. Try to keep your cool. Watch that child.
If you need information about RENTING a 4X4, please see our OBX Attractions page where you will find more info about the local Enterprise and the local Jeep dealer. Both are familiar with the Carova area.
The county puts out some useful tips for driving on sand. Click the link below.
Low tide driving
If you have arrived at low tide, make your way to the hard packed sand right next to the ocean. Be sure to lower your speed to 15 mph within 300 feet of horses and pedestrians.
High tide driving
If you have arrived at high tide, choose a path of ruts and try to maintain your speed. If a car approaches in the same set of ruts you are in, move over to another set of ruts signaling your intention with your blinker. Keep your speed up while moving across the ruts and do not cross the ruts at a perpendicular angle. Moving across the ruts on a mostly parallel path is the easiest way to move up or down the beach.
If you begin to bog down..
Try not to stop altogether. Give your car some gas (step on it) and see if it responds. If you are going nowhere, stop, put it in reverse and try to back out. If you are still digging in, stop!!! Do not continue spinning your tires in the hopes that you will get out. The chassis of your car will slowly land on a hard pack of sand, while your tires spin freely. Then it will take a lot of digging under the chassis to bring your tires back into contact with something to grip!
If you get stuck..
First, make sure you are in 4 wheel drive. Next try to back up. If neither work, get out your shovel that you brought from home ;-? and dig out any sand that is holding your car up in the air. Clearance under the chassis is what you are looking for. Making a path for all four tires to travel up out of the deep sand will help you. Putting it in 4 low to get out of the hole will help, but make sure to get it out of 4 low as soon as you are no longer stuck.
Traffic laws and other rules
Maintain your speed at 15 mph whenever traveling within 300 feet of pedestrians and animals. Remember that they have the right of way. If you are alone on the beach, the speed limit is 35 mph. People are asked to park their vehicles midway between the ocean and the dune line. This space changes throughout the day, and at high tide there is not much room to maneuver. Try to keep your cool. Watch that child.
If you need information about RENTING a 4X4, please see our OBX Attractions page where you will find more info about the local Enterprise and the local Jeep dealer. Both are familiar with the Carova area.
The county puts out some useful tips for driving on sand. Click the link below.
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