Advice on a beach vehicle

you could also go way old school with an OJ style Bronco or Blazer. The back shells come off on both of them.

 

8 banger or GTFO. Seriously though, I've owned 4x4s with 4, 6, and 8 cylinders and on the beach nothing beats an 8 cylinder pickup with 33s (or bigger) tires. The only thing that might come close is a Jeep, but there are a lot of tradeoffs to owning a Jeep. If you need something better on gas then I'd step down to a Tacoma maybe, but I think they ride like **** on pavement.

 

What would you say those trade offs are?

 

Whatever you get make sure you spray it off when you get home. I had a 1st gen Tacoma that the frame looked like a flakey biscuit by the time I was done with it. Motor was strong but frame was toast

 

Jeeps are fun and mostly reliable but get horrible gas mileage and are small

 

get a jeep cherokee, ford ranger-150. dont get a chevy. tacomas are good too.

 

I loved the jeeps I've had - the I6 was a great engine and easy to work on if needed but as others have said - terrible on gas

Whatever you get make sure you inspect underneath for rust - and make sure you spray it off underneath after coming off of the beach

 

CBS:

I have a 2000 and 2005 4 runner, have hit the N end for years with each and they are great. Like every vehicle they have their lil quirks, but solid trucks. Gonna quickly run through some of the high points in this tread.

1) Def get the pass now if its still available. $75 now, doubles soon if it hasn't already...
2) S end State park pass is still only $50. I have both, esp for when N end insanity hits. S end sand is pretty soft, drop your air pressure and bring shovel\boards\tow strap etc JIC. N end you should be fine.
3) Correct that only 4wd allowed on n end. Sometimes they'll let an AWD in. Pretty funny to see them as they have to keep it nailed or they are stuck.
4) 4 runners are built on the tacoma truck frame, so no issues that some other SUV's see that are cars pretending to be trucks.
5) CV boots. Keep an eye on them, they go bad\leak prematurely. If they are leaking but ok you can repack and reclamp without having to replace the boot. (Replacing my passenger side one this weekend).

Unless something changes I'll keep buying 4 runners 4 life. However, FJ cruisers have great suspensions and 4wd, they really glide across the sand. But since I'm usually taking the whole fam damily I need the room more than the glide.

Feel free to hit me up if you have any ???

 

No prob, glad to help. Feel free to PM me if you want, or just post here.

Looks like you're too late for the discounted pass this year. :-( Still worth it as daily and weekend fees went way up.

http://www.carolinabeach.org/visitors/freeman_park/index.php

 

don't need snow to get rust.. drive on beach=salt=rust

 

I'm hoping it will have the opposite effect. Hopefully it will cut out the Fri/Sat night crowd that gets drunk at the bar then decides to go whoop it up on the N end all night long. We've pretty much given up on summer camping on the N end.

As for the DUI...these are out of stock but you could prob find somewhere.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/210a/?srp=1

We keep it handy and if I'm anywhere near the limit then its a no go until I'm sobered up. I wouldn't trust it to be 100% accurate but if I blow a .07 then .06 then .05 I figure I'm good to go.

Funny thing too, the wife is much more inclined for me to go out for "just one more surf sesh" to sober up while she chills on the beach. Good 45mins to hr usually does the trick!

 

The trade offs are rough ride on pavement, road noise, and lack of storage.

 

This thing is pretty dope, and good on gas .

 

Awesome. Glad to cya back Doug.

They make lift kit for it?

 

Cj7 best rigs in da sand almost idiot proof.