What happens if I get a flat while driving on the beach?

So I've recently started venturing out on some sand trails near me as well as actually driving on the beach itself. I have never spent any time offroading of any kind so I've done a lot of reading and consider myself completely prepared at this point with traction boards, a shovel, and Staun deflators with a pump to air back up.

With that being said, it just dawned on me yesterday that if I get a flat tire I have no clue what to do. Do I just drive out like normal and change to a spare on pavement?

Thanks in advance.

 

Carry a thick piece of wood and a few recovery boards, jack away.

 

Yikes. That definitely intimidates me lol

 

For pretty much any off-road driving I recommend taking some thick wooden boards to assist with using a jack, if necessary.

Be safe! Jacking on unstable terrain is very dangerous. Make sure that no one is near the vehicle, and be ready to sprint away if necessary.. if it starts to shift/fall.

 

That's exactly why it's intimidating to me. When I was 16 years old I was changing the brakes on my first car when I felt something shift slightly. I had never really been under a car before so I got spooked and rolled out... immediately after the jack basically fell over (from me not doing it properly) and the brake rotor went a half inch into the ground exactly where my chest had been a moment before.

I am very reluctant to go underneath any car for that reason and to this day will generally call AAA unless I'm on a perfectly level road. I always feel like a pansy but can't shake it.

Anyways, I would much prefer being able to just drive off the sand onto the pavement and I can't imagine it would cause that much damage to the wheel? I guess worst case it's an excuse for new wheels

 

^ Can't blame you, and that's probably what I'd do, as well.

Working underneath cars should definitely be respected, probably more than it is by your typical young guy modding in his drive way. I always use jack stands in their correct spot, and shake the heck out of the car and *try* to make it fall, before I get underneath. And never get under a car without someone watching, or at least very close by in ear-shot.

 

Buying a new wheel vs getting crushed I'd spend the dollars on a wheel.

 

Here ya go

$306 ARB 72X10 Orange Bushranger X-Jack Kit

Amazon.com: ARB 72X10 Orange Bushranger X-Jack Kit: Automotive

 

I'm pretty sure this off-road base will work on sand. I haven't tested on sand so can't be 100% sure. It was $28+ when I bought from Amazon.

 

I got X-Bull traction boards but I don't think they will last long. This is from helping a Honda who decided to drive in snow. I bet if I use them on a 4runner on a rough situation it would be really bad.
Atleast I won't buy again. I would buy Maxtrax next.

 

All good tips/advice. I go for the belt and suspenders approach - If I'm jacking up a vehicle in my driveway, I not only use the jackstands but also place a couple heavy cinder blocks underneath the frame. Extra piece of mind.

 

Yeah from the comments so far that is definitely my takeaway lol

Obviously it seems that it's entirely possible to change a flat on sand if you had to, but I don't see myself being in that situation based on the trails I have available. I'll never be more than 2 miles from pavement and it's 100% sand so a flat shouldn't ruin anything.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkI2qPsa96I&t=1s

 

Another: (Ronny seems to really know his stuff.)

https://youtu.be/SntXKcKKvW8

 

I think the only thing you'd hurt is the tire, as long as you're careful. $200-300 tire matters more to some than others.. which is where you decide to change or not heh.

 

I drive in desert sand a lot, and often it is quite deep. I have had to change tires in sand a number of times in various vehicles (not the 4R yet). I have found that thick boards work but can also split lengthwise, becoming useless or at least unsafe. As an aside, I had a friend with aggressive looking off road tires (don't remember brand) who got a stick that was in the sand through a sidewall. That was a surprise.

I agree with above suggestions to be very careful changing a tire in sand or even in gravel and dirt. I now have that orange jack base seen above in post 10 and will give that a try next time. That base appears to be very strong.

 

Good point about wood splitting. Of course you would want to think about where the stress will be applied and appropriately place the cut wood so that the fibers were oriented correctly. But you've made me wonder.. maybe plywood would be better for this application? Or maybe, at least in sand, using the traction boards as the jack pad is the best option?

 

Wow good point... duh. I do have an inflator so that wouldn't really be hard. Thanks!

 

FYI, the stock screw jack fits into a Hi-Lift base. But if you have access to and can make it, a couple pieces of 3/4" plywood, 1' square, will make the perfect jack base.
Just glue and screw them together. You can even incorporate a short rope in between them to pull it free from the ground.
And it always helps to get some practice time in changing a flat in the sand before you really need to.
BTW, if it were me, I'd never drive on a flat tire. Why ruin (unless it's fubar) an otherwise good tire.

 

A couple of pieces of Trex-type composite decking would be a lot stronger than wood, if you can find some to cut to size. Those won't split.

 

That definitely works...if slow leak and not far to go.
Best to be prepared to change the tire if necessary. My friend mentioned above with the stick in the sidewall wouldn't get 20 feet after reinflating the tire. The tire was shot, couldn't be fixed, couldn't hold air. I've been over 150 miles on sandy tracks away from pavement with a flat. Easier, for me, to change the tire.

 

Damn you got lucky and thanks for the reality check. Not to be taken lightly.

 

Wow! Glad you are still here.
I've changed a bunch of tires on sand, dirt and gravel, but I'm scared to death to get under a jacked up vehicle and won't do it.