Cape Hatteras National Seashore

[Msfitoy]

I have too many toys and too little time as is....so I don't have one, but there are numerous campgrounds and parks to camp in down here. I'm at Cape Point right now...by the Hatteras lighthouse
..and it's a park with campsites. I think about camping every time I come down....just don't have the camper!!

I was thinking of taking a square drop for beach camping...

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[Progeny2021]

Looking forward to Ft. Macon. My kids are history nerds and our condo is very close to there.

Quick question....I'm here now in OBX. I notice that no one else is airing down before they drive on and driving straight off without airing up when they leave. Is under 20 psi necessary? We just got off the beach and are airing back up. Sand had tracks in it to drive in....didn't seem unusually soft...am I good to stay at maybe 25ish psi and not air up and down?

Edit: I think I answered my own question. Drove on the next stretch of Beach at 25 psi....no issues at all....felt just as good as 18 and firm enough to drive down actual roads. Gonna stick with 25ish psi for now.

You have been blessed.!!!

 

[CP0861]

Drove on 25-49 on this map today. Beautiful day. Had a blast. Found a ton of shells and a few pieces of glass. Cape Point was a nice spot.

 

[9zero1790]

Drove on 25-49 on this map today. Beautiful day. Had a blast. Found a ton of shells and a few pieces of glass. Cape Point was a nice spot.

looks like a fun day! i assume the ranger did fine in the sand.

 

[CP0861]

B

looks like a fun day! i assume the ranger did fine in the sand.

Did great. I've never driven on the beach before, but it was a breeze. Stayed mostly in 4L, but also played around in 4H and 2wd. I think I preferred 4H over 4L.

 

[9zero1790]

B


Did great. I've never driven on the beach before, but it was a breeze. Stayed mostly in 4L, but also played around in 4H and 2wd. I think I preferred 4H over 4L.

i typically use 4 high in sand unless its really needed to use 4 low. deflating your tires to about 18 psi will make a huge difference in traction.

 

[BS67]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing those!

 

[ControlNode]

Looking forward to Ft. Macon. My kids are history nerds and our condo is very close to there.

Quick question....I'm here now in OBX. I notice that no one else is airing down before they drive on and driving straight off without airing up when they leave. Is under 20 psi necessary? We just got off the beach and are airing back up. Sand had tracks in it to drive in....didn't seem unusually soft...am I good to stay at maybe 25ish psi and not air up and down?

Edit: I think I answered my own question. Drove on the next stretch of Beach at 25 psi....no issues at all....felt just as good as 18 and firm enough to drive down actual roads. Gonna stick with 25ish psi for now.

Concerning the airing down. I've noticed not all do. I've not had the Ranger out there so no personal input. But it can depend on tires, weight on the axle, conditions and what area of the beach you are driving. If you are comfortable with how it does at full pressure then you may be fine there, but if you are spinning a lot, please air down to reduce making ruts for others to follow in. Air on the beach is like air in a race, just got to feel it out for what is working that day and be prepared to add/remove as needed.

Last time we were out at the Outer Banks we were in my wife's Jeep, trip prior we were in my RS. I took the RS to a parking lot that a storm washed the dunes into the parking lot and had some fun "on the beach" with the car. My wife would not allow the Jeep on the beach, to be fair it is her work vehicle, and it breaks enough without playing around.

 

[CP0861]

Went all the way down to the bottom of Hatteras yesterday (#55) and came to Ocracoke this morning to go shelling at low tide. I've now driven on every open access point from Salvo to Ocracoke with zero issues. Most of it has been relatively firm....some softer areas....4H has been adequate about 95% of the time. I also aired up to 29-30 and its been fine. I can't imagine ever getting stuck at the beach....at least not the ones I go to. I also avoided the waters edge...I saw some parking close, and to me, that's pushing it.

Also, it's probably just Baader Meinhoff effect....lol, but I'm seeing a lot more Rangers down here than other places I've been lately. Pretty cool.

 

[Dhass68]

My kind of beach....nobody in sight

 

[CP0861]

Headed back for 5 nights next week!!

I'm all caught up at work...have off 2 days next week for Election Day and (thank you) Veterans Day...so I took off that Wednesday and Thursday and am headed south with a lady friend to drink, eat, fish and !@#$!

Booked a house right on the sound in Frisco last night....it's pretty amazing how cheaply you can stay down there after labor day and in the offseason! Got a 3 bedroom house with a hot tub right on the sound for about the same nightly price as a Holiday Inn....maybe cheaper actually.

I'll post some more pics next week! I'll be driving on the beach probably every day between Hatteras and Buxton.

 

[CP0861]

Weather ended up being quite sh1tty, but I still drove on several times in several spots. This truck is a beast on the beach! Can't wait for next summer!

Also, for anyone who travels or vacations down there and stays south of Oregon Inlet....you MUST have a meal at the Cockeyed Clam in Buxton, NC. Ate there 2 nights and both meals were absolutely incredible! Diamond Shoals in Buxton is also very good.....and the breakfast sandwiches and "Apple Uglies" from the Orange Blossom Cafe in Buxton are another must.

 

[MXGOLF]

Thanks for all the pictures and incite to driving on the sand. Way cool!

 

[boomer4d]

Best thing about Atlantic Beach these days to me is Fort Macon. Too many rich folks bought houses near the circle/boardwalk area sight unseen and then bitched about all the local bars being too noisy at night with bands and the circle having the amusement area that people were noisy at. They bitched, complained and maybe even bought the businesses out or something because all of made it fun to live at the Circle of Atlantic Beach is gone. I've moved away from there now.

Spot on assessment, I lived on the Circle back in the 80s. Was a one of a kind experience and life at the time.

I just got back from a week at Emerald Isle (very south end of the Core Banks and OBX) and thought about taking my 2WD on the beach but had to work half the week so didn't have time. Definitely on the agenda for next years trip though.

Thanks everyone for sharing the pics, love OBX, miss it terribly.

 

[silverflash]

personally i avoid the OBX/cape hatteras- too many people. I go to cap e lookout instead every few years. The only thing about that place is that the cabins they rent are off the grid so bring bug spray and lots of it. Also, once on the beach there you can't get off until your ferry gets back so that means bring what you need for your outing be it 1 day or 5. But the good things are miles and miles and miles of open beaches with nobody in site and just peace. been there in my tacoma and my xterra. haven't had my 21 ranger out there yet but hoping next year.. I've always aired down to 17psi there. never had an issue but if you do, a tow is hours way and 1000s of dollars. So be prepared!

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