Outer Banks Trip

[BTh]

We took our '23 Badlands onto the Outer Banks in North Carolina to see the wild horses. The first thing we passed was a Chevy Suburban all-wheel drive stuck in the sand. The BS's four-wheel drive easily went around it. Due to the BS's comparatively low clearance, getting over some of the ruts in the sand was like riding on the back of a bucking bronco, but otherwise, it was great fun. We got to see the horses as well. The beach requires one to drop the pressure in the tires to no more than 20 pounds, but after we got back, we noticed the BS manual suggests not doing so. We are now planning a trip to South Padre for another four-wheel adventure.

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[Ford Motor Company]

We took our '23 Badlands onto the Outer Banks in North Carolina to see the wild horses. The first thing we passed was a Chevy Suburban all-wheel drive stuck in the sand. The BS's four-wheel drive easily went around it. Due to the BS's comparatively low clearance, getting over some of the ruts in the sand was like riding on the back of a bucking bronco, but otherwise, it was great fun. We got to see the horses as well. The beach requires one to drop the pressure in the tires to no more than 20 pounds, but after we got back, we noticed the BS manual suggests not doing so. We are now planning a trip to South Padre for another four-wheel adventure.

Looks like it was a fun trip, and it's always great to see your Bronco take you somewhere that other cars can't!

 

[gatornek]

We took our '23 Badlands onto the Outer Banks in North Carolina to see the wild horses. The first thing we passed was a Chevy Suburban all-wheel drive stuck in the sand. The BS's four-wheel drive easily went around it. Due to the BS's comparatively low clearance, getting over some of the ruts in the sand was like riding on the back of a bucking bronco, but otherwise, it was great fun. We got to see the horses as well. The beach requires one to drop the pressure in the tires to no more than 20 pounds, but after we got back, we noticed the BS manual suggests not doing so. We are now planning a trip to South Padre for another four-wheel adventure.

Awesome pics! I've been very interested in the Outer Banks after learning they allow beach OHV. Did you take the ferry to Ocracoke?

 

[PaulOinMA]

Carova Beach Idiots is a fun FB page of folks that didn't air down, used an inappropriate vehicle, or don't know how to drive on the beach.

We go to Corolla.

 

[sajohnson]

The beach requires one to drop the pressure in the tires to no more than 20 pounds, but after we got back, we noticed the BS manual suggests not doing so.

That's strange. I'm trying to think why Ford -- more precisely their legal dept. -- would say that.

All I can think of is that the reasoning might be -- if a BS gets stuck in the sand, at least no one gets hurt -- but If the tires are deflated to (say) <20 psi, and then the owner forgets to (or cannot) air them back up, and they hit the interstate on a 90*F day with close to a fill load, one or more tires could overheat and blow out.

 

[NMhunter]

The other issue with underinflated tires is that you can break the bead. From what I've read, it seems you'd have to be below 15psi for that to happen. I did once punture a sidewall on a rocky road after I lowered my tire pressure down to 25 on my Jeep Liberty.

I saw a picture of a volkswagon whose owner refused to lower her tire pressure when stuck on the beach in Mexico. The picture was of someone standing on top of her car with the waves breaking around his feet after the tide came in.

 

[BTh]

That's strange. I'm trying to think why Ford -- more precisely their legal dept. -- would say that.

All I can think of is that the reasoning might be -- if a BS gets stuck in the sand, at least no one gets hurt -- but If the tires are deflated to (say) <20 psi, and then the owner forgets to (or cannot) air them back up, and they hit the interstate on a 90*F day with close to a fill load, one or more tires could overheat and blow out.

There is a state park just off the beach where one can air up. That made it easy.

 

[sajohnson]

There is a state park just off the beach where one can air up. That made it easy.

That 's nice that they provide air!

I'm still curious as to why Ford would suggest not airing down.

 

[BTh]

That 's nice that they provide air!

I'm still curious as to why Ford would suggest not airing down.

I have no idea unless maintaining maximum clearance was the reason. The airing down to 20lbs did not do any visible damage to the tires. The BS performed well with low pressure, but, as mentioned earlier, going over the ruts caused by tour trucks made for a bouncy ride at times.

I failed to mention that after engaging the 4X4, I put it in Sand mode and activated intelligent four-wheel drive. I've had my BS on mountain forest ranger trails and now the beach. I am very impressed with what the Baby Bronc can do on both terrains.

 

[PaulOinMA]

Can air up at Twiddy and Whalehead right after leaving 4×4 beach.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

We took our '23 Badlands onto the Outer Banks in North Carolina to see the wild horses. The first thing we passed was a Chevy Suburban all-wheel drive stuck in the sand. The BS's four-wheel drive easily went around it. Due to the BS's comparatively low clearance, getting over some of the ruts in the sand was like riding on the back of a bucking bronco, but otherwise, it was great fun. We got to see the horses as well. The beach requires one to drop the pressure in the tires to no more than 20 pounds, but after we got back, we noticed the BS manual suggests not doing so. We are now planning a trip to South Padre for another four-wheel adventure.

Why does the beach require no more than 20 pounds of air pressure in the tires?

 

[PaulOinMA]

Soft sand in some areas especially when first leaving the pavement to get on the beach.

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