CAN I DO PISMO SAND??

[MVJLUVSDRZ]

Hey Im sure a lot of you have been to pismo and could tell me if it would be possible to take my rig down there without getting stuck F-250SD deisel (2WD) and 20' toy trailer. With the high load tires and stiff ass end this thing wants to spin in gravel too easily and dont think it would do too well in sand. I have talked to people that say it would be no problem and others say no way four wheel drive only. Ive heard of escort services that will take you in and out but that sounds really lame. Ive also heard that you can park outside the sand area but you cant ride the bikes in so I dont know what good that does. Obviously I have never been there but everybody I have talked to says its really cool. I called and a ranger says it depends on the condition of the sand at the time if you will get burried or not. So whats the real scoop. Thanks Mike in Modesto

[ralphfurley]

After getting on the sand lower your air pressure

to 8 lbs or so.

The 'tow' trucks down there are pricy and they

are lifted pickup trucks with 5lbs of air in their

big tires.

I used there services with my motorhome the first time I went.

I'm not sure about 2wd with the trailer, that might be too much, just stay on the hardpacked stuff and be ready to move at high tide

[Derblank1]

Usually, a beer and thank you can get anyone of those trucks to pull you out. Most people I ran into down there are more than happy to help you out of the sand.

[Whoya]

Pay attention to the tides!!!

On low tide you would have no problem getting on the beach and should even be enough room to turn around and still be on the hard pack. I'm not sure how your truck would do in the soft stuff. My only suggestion is when you get there look around and maybe talk to some people with two wheel drive vehicles. Take note of where they are parked. ? :cry:

[learning2fly]

I went down there with a 4x4 Ranger and got stuck once pulling a trailer, had to unload the trailer to move to firmer ground. I didn't think of deflating my tires ?, but I was also 4x4.

I think you'll have a rough time with the trailer, but if you don't go to far in from the water, and are prepared to unload the trailer to get it back to the hard pack sand, you'll be ok... and bring tow straps, there's ALWAYS someone with a 4X4 willing to give you a pull if you need it! (I pulled a couple myself that weekend!) ?

[drive805]

air down your tires and you should be fine, as the ranger said sometimes depends on conditions usually soft sand at the enterance and you can't ride from the enterance you can get a ticket... once your in try to maintain speed (slow and steady wins the race) go to waters edge, hard packed sand, a mile from enterance is the riding area great place to ride.... find a spot the your comfortable with and unload and have fun... watch your speed along the beach,

you can get a ticket! and watch for high tide...

evereyone that i have met there has been real friendly and helped when asked make sure you bring tow straps and reward the kindness its always worked well for me (beer,soda, cash,).... hope this helps

[rides426]

You'll be amazed at how much difference letting your tires way down will make. With a trailer you might not want to go too low but 15ish psi will help ALOT. The difference is drastic over fully inflated tires. You should have no problem there. When I didn't feel like putting on the paddle I'd just let all the air out of the knobby on my bike. I see motorhomes pulling toy boxes and all kinds of stuff that you'd think would get stuck over there, but you've got to drive smart. You've got to pay attention to momentum! ? Don't park so that you got to take off up hill, even a slight incline can be your doom. Dont try to make a tight U turn with 2WD. Park near some guys with big 4x4s. Don't worry about crossing the river unless it's high tide (then worry). Just don't stop in it. If you're driving and are forced to go through some soft sand use a lot of throttle to maintain momentum. When your parking don't stop untill your tires are high up in the sand that is if you can coast a little to a stop. When you start moving again be real easy with the throttle, try not to spin your wheels.

You're gunna love Pismo.

[MVJLUVSDRZ]

Thanks for the response guys (gals) I think we will give it a shot, I mean what the hell, getting stuck no BFD. We were also thinking of making a trip to the Jawbone canyon, Dove springs area. (I think this is what they were called) anybody been there? Coo ridin? Thanks Mike in Modesto ?

[rides426]

I've spent some time in Jaw Bone/Dove Springs, every thanksgiving for about 5 years. there will be 1000's of motorhomes out there at thanksgiving. Its pretty cool. There's some tough hill climbs in Jaw Bone. This time of year its dry and I tap out my 426 climbing some of that $#!~. Theres good trails too if you can hange with whoops. Its a good place to take buggies too. You definitely won't be dissapointed. Make sure you got spark arrestors!

[berkeman]

Thanks for the response guys (gals) I think we will give it a shot, I mean what the hell, getting stuck no BFD. We were also thinking of making a trip to the Jawbone canyon, Dove springs area. (I think this is what they were called) anybody been there? Coo ridin? Thanks Mike in Modesto ?

I dunno, Mike. I know some guys are saying that you may not get stuck, but my guess is that you will. I've seen light 2WD rigs that were aired down and bombing along pretty fast that were able to avoid getting stuck, but pulling a heavy trailer, I don't think you'll make it in the soft sand up away from the beach. You can't camp right down at the waterline, so you'll have to get in the soft stuff at least a little, plus the entrance/exit ramp down from the pavement can get darned soft and rutted out sometimes.

How many bikes do you have? Maybe another option is to stay in a campground in town for the overnights (there are a couple campgrounds), and toss the bikes in the bed of your pickup for the short drive down to where you can unload and start riding. You still need to air down and deal with some soft stuff, but at least you have a chance of making it. Even if it takes two trips to get your bikes down to the sand, I think things will go a lot smoother for you. Plus it's a way that you can see how your truck handles the sand when it isn't trying to pull the trailer. Getting stuck sucks, IMO. Yeah, you can usually link up with somebody to pull you out, but it can take an hour out of your day pretty easily (for each stuck). Plus, some yahoos don't know how to work a tow strap, and that can be downright dangerous. Sproooiiiing -- WHACK! ??

Oh, and either way you go, be sure to "read" the sand areas that you are heading through. If you pay attention and look ahead, you can usually avoid the softest spots -- they often catch even 4x4s. And I don't agree with the "slow and steady" approach mentioned in the thread above. Fast and steady is more like it, at least in the soft sand up away from the water. Definitely you have to go slow down on the hard-pack by the water, or the rangers will give you a ticket. Once you're some number of feet away from the water, the speed limit goes up to like 65 or so ?. Especially on the exit ramp to get back up to the pavement, you often need to be pinned in 2nd gear and pick your rutted line correctly. Oh, and bring a compressor if you can, to air back up when you're ready to hit the road. If you don't have a compressor, a couple of the gas stations on the main road in town have pay air hoses in back that a lot of people use.

Have fun, and let us know what happens! -Mike-

[drive805]

I just meant keep a steady pace momentum is your friend... if you go to hard on the throttle you will spin and get stuck for sure.....been there done that trying to get around a stuck van! last time i was there a 2wd duelie towing a 20ft+ trailer got in and out with little problem

also jawbone/dove springs is great some sand mostly hard -packed all kinds of riding....if you don't like whoops stay towards the bottom... there are miles and miles of trails there... my suggestion would be get the map "friends of jawbone" it gives you all the area plus....i think you can order one at www.jawbone.org

if i remember they are $2 but really worth it...

shows red rock canyon/jawbone/dove springs/cal city/randsberg... if your DS then you can go forever!

[MVJLUVSDRZ]

Thanks Berk, will probably try Pismo or the desert aroun X-mas. Thanksgiving week is already set up for hollister, cant miss that cus we have a blast that week. About 30 of us going, great for the kids because they all know the place well and we dont have to worry about any of them getting lost, and always lots of kooks to watch and keep us entertained when were not ridin. Thanks Mike in Modesto ?

[gregghealy]

You will get stuck if you head off into the soft stuff. I have every time we have gone. Where you get stuck is camp...if you get there early. ?

We usually get about 40 feet off the hard pack (all about momentum), and then get towed the rest of the way (2WD Explorer with a 10 foot trailer). When we leave we get towed down to the beach, hook up the trailer and go. It helps to have a brother-and-and-father-in-law with 4WD Duramax trucks...

I cant wait for next weekend! Yellow DRZ number 93, in the over 30 C Class. 2 hours in the sand trying to catch up with people is gonna be a killer. Killer good time that is! ???

[ktmscrambler_797]

racing in sand sucks a$$ i raced the sand flea up in eureka and i am still finding sand i nmy linkage, swingarm, swing arm bearings, head, head bearing, wheel bearings, everywhere you could possibly imagine (and more) there will be sand, when your done be sure to take car of your bike so it doesnt turn into a rigid frame

[Azonic357]

I dont think you could do that. We had a HUGE 4 x 4 ford truck that broke the front axles and he just buried himself. Luckily we yanked him out with our dually 4 x 4 diesel. I would try and stay on the hard stuff and get in as far as you can before getting stuck and make that camp. Then getting out, people are VERY helpful. Make some friends and they can help tow you out, people up there are very nice.

[berkeman]

get in as far as you can before getting stuck and make that camp

? :cry: ? You guys crack me up sometimes! ? :cry:?