Beach Driving: 4x2 or 4x4?

So for just driving on the beach (relatively flat, near the water, not on dunes or anything) this site indicates 4x2 would be better, mainly because the truck weighs less:
https://4wheeldriveguide.com/tacoma-trd-off-road-4x2-vs-4x4/

Any thoughts from experienced beach drivers? I have a 2014 Sport with A/Ts, but wondering if I should trade for a 4x4 for light beach driving (say Chincoteague or Corolla on the Mid Atlantic beaches).

 

4x4 with extremely aired down tires

 

This…..


I must have read the article differently.
I didn’t get the idea that 2x4 was better.
It basically just says, air down, the lighter you are the better.
But not that 2x4 was better.

This summed it up well……


“So with enough momentum on your side and a rear locker, the 4×2 Tacoma could do a bit of sand or beach driving. Nothing extreme though.

With that being said, the 4×4 Tacoma would be able to climb over steeper sand dunes and drive in thicker, looser sand with ease compared to the 4×2. Again, this is simply because it has all 4 wheels propelling the vehicle forward.”

 

There are beaches, and there are beaches. If you go to Daytona many of the beaches are hardpacked and are just as easy to drive on as pavement. There are other beaches in Florida that have signs warning that they are for 4X4 only. I've seen several guys try it with 4X2 vehicles. Most are lucky to get one car length into the sand before getting stuck. I've pulled about 1/2 dozen back to pavement over the years. BTW, an AWD sucks in deep sand. When they say 4X4, they mean 4X4, not AWD.

A 4X2 truck is only about 200 lbs lighter than a 4X4, that's not enough to be an issue.

 

This guy knows what he's talking about!

 

Do they easily drive cars on the beaches you want to drive?

If not, I personally would prefer a street legal dune buggy.

 

4x4, aired down to 15-18 psi. 4High works best, “trac Control” to OFF. If you are running large lowprofile tires airing down may not help you depending on the sand conditions. Its all about increasing the footprint of the tires on the sand. Regular street tires are superior to off-road tires that tend to dig into the sand rather than float on top. If there are ruts in the beach from previous trucks, drive in the ruts. If you have to turn, turn in wide arcs do not turn sharply. If you find yourself bogging down, stop and air down some more. Gunning the engine to get unstuck is the WORST thing you can do. Its often easier to back out rather than push forward. Minimum equipment for the beach is a tow strap, a 12x12 square of 3.4 plywood to use a jack stand, a jack, a shovel, some places require a fire extinguisher. Make sure to have all the neccessary permits to drive on the beach. Permit fees vary greatly from beach to beach. Enjoy.

 

Driving over sand dunes is strictly forbidden on every 4x4 beach I have been on and I have been on every one between Cape Cod MA and Cape Lookout NC. Just a word to the wise.

 

Cape Lookout is what got me into beach camping! OBX for the win!

 

Like asking if a football will work better for a baseball game

 

In my area it is risky going on the beach with a 2wd because the sand is soft and loose. Every weekend that I go I see stuck vehicles, mostly 2wd, but some 4wd that don't know how to drive on sand. That being said, there are beaches that the sand is packed pretty tight and you can drive on no problem with 2wd. If you know how to drive on sand, you air down, and you have a rear locker you can get a lot done in the sand even in 2wd, if you lack experience and the sand is loose there's a good chance you'll get stuck. It's also handy to have traction boards and a shovel just in case, even if you are experienced and in a 4wd.

 

That article...

Fuckin' clown shoes.