Wondering about beach driving (SR5 or SR5-Offroad)

Prospective Tundra buyer here. I've searched the forums but I didn't see a thread specific to the 3rd gens.

My question is how good or not good are the 3rd gens in sand? I see some talk about concern over ground clearance for this gen. Going to OBX (Corolla/Carova) area for vacations for the coming years. Looking for any input how how these would do on stock setups.

I am coming from a Subaru Outback. It has made the trips to the beach no issue (air down tires) but it is very close ground clearance wise. Just concerned stepping up to the Tundra if its not going to be any better or maybe even worse.

fwiw, I have a deposit down on a 2024 Tacoma but with the rates/deals going on I could jump to a Tundra for maybe 5-7k more 'only'.

 

Same thing, air down your tires, you’ll be fine.

 

Air down. I’m not stock but saw some stock 3rd gen’s on the same day. Easy peasy

 

From the web: 225/60R17 is my tire size on the outback with 8.7" ground clearance before airing down. I have also noticed that the 'underbody' of the outback is very flat in that there are not many things hanging down that would drag. I can tell you I could hear sand dragging at times during the drive but not a huge issue. Comparably, it is very light vs. a Tundra. I think the subaru ground clearance is true to the underside of the body.

Tundra: seems like ~9inches stock according to the web on the SR5 so long as you don't go fast enough for the front air dam to deploy? I think on the Off-road that front air dam is not included.

The numbers feel like maybe they indicate different things? Like is the front bumper of the SR5 really 9" or is the 9" measured from somewhere else and the front clearance is actually more?

 

So far as I can tell, its ~11 inches. I have a 2024 TRD Offroad Longbed reserved. I think I was just a little concerned because I have seen people note that the Gen 3 Tundra's lost ground clearance vs. Gen 2. Wondering if its enough that anyone thinks it would be an actual issue. I guess my only other concern is the loss of front recover points which would make getting pulled out a little more of a pain.

 

Almost all pickups are limited by the rear differential. If you look at any picture online you can pretty easily tell that is the lowest point.


I don't have one but I would be shocked if the stock bumper is lower than like 14-15" (minus the air dam if equiped and deployed). The front bumper is just about level with the center of the front hub on a 33" (265/70R18) tire

 

Ahh! This makes sense. I was wondering if the rear diff was where that measurement would be taken from. Thanks for pointing that out. I am a truck newb and I fully admit that.

 

I did fine in soft beach sand with my 2 gen Tacoma... it had the same width tires (265) as Tundra OR OEM tires. Tundra is a lot heavier so IDK how it would do in the sand. It might try to sink in more.

 

I wouldn’t worry about clearance. You would only get stuck if you sink in the sand to the frame. That’s really unlikely unless you get into one of the dunes with deep, loose sand.

 

Yeah, thats one reason I wanted to post to the board and just see what people's experiences had been like. The OBX beaches have notoriously soft areas and also a bunch of idiots who chew up the area real bad and make it even worse then it normally would be. There are facebook groups just posting pics of people stuck. I'm not trying to end up in their facebook group in my new truck LOL.

 

That's where I took the Tacoma and it handled the soft deep stuff without airing down. Personally, I would not be comfortable taking my Tundra to those same places in stock form. You might pull it off... but maybe not... and that would get $$$. If you put on some 285s or 295s I think you'd be good to go.

 

Yeah, in my experience, its a chain reaction that occurs where one of the vehicles in a line of traffic get stuck and then people try to maneuver around the stuck vehicle(s) and that is what gets you into the softer areas. If you can manage to just not end up stopped things are fine.

 

Took my 2007 CM to Carova last summer. Running Cooper AT3 275/55/20 . Never aired down, didn't have any problems at all. Had it in basic 4hi. The stupid horse tours drive all over the beach and think nothing of just coming to a dead stop, so watch for them.

 

Lol, airing down is a good thing. Four people in this picture didn't figure that out.

 

It is crazy there are signs every couple hundred feet for airing down and 'free air' even to air back up yet so many people drive right past it. Maybe I am over-worrying about it.

 

And half of those times are trying to get around people who stop where they shouldn't to belatedly air down.

 

Last time I was at the OBX 4x4 beach 7 yrs ago. You had to air down and I found under 15 psi was the best for me.
You can see how soft the sand was and without airing down you'd never be able to turn the wheel and get out. Kinda like a slot car if that make sense?

 

Yep thats exactly what I remember. This picture plus a hundred vehicles trying to manage that at the same time. Also @pwpblue I'm your neighbor. I'm just a few miles south of Pittsburgh

 

Cool!
Hi neighbor
I'll find a pic when we went on the 4th of July!
Two Honda passports were drawing on the sand.

 

I drove the beaches in OR and WA plenty of times in a 2WD TRD OR Tacoma. Never aired down. Never got stuck. Used the rear locker once in some deeper stuff just in case. No issue. ‘23 Tundra has been on the beach in WA 3x now. Never out of 2WD and with the cheesy Fake Falkens at 40psi. Dont worry about a thing.

 

Agree, when needed

 

Sorta comparing apples and oranges here. Sand type and firmness varies drastically beach by beach, by temp, by region, and by how many people have been driving on it. In winter when the beaches are deserted, I have driven on in both Delaware and Assateague with fully inflated tires and in 2WD in both my Tacoma and my Tundra, with only a hint of struggle at the entrances and exits. Summer out here is a different story, and fully inflated tires/2WD is a recipe for a long day. I can switch it into 2WD if I desperately want to once I’m moving on the hardpack, but getting going is a different story. Better to just leave it in 4Hi and rock it out for my taste.

 

Agree. Never went into the dunes with 2W and aired up. Have lots of sand experience in an 80’s Jeep CJ where 15psi and 4wd was still a battle at times.

 

I was down in OBX this summer a little further down than you. We were in Buxton and Hatteras with my 2020 tundra limited. It’s not difficult. Just remember to air down and if you start to sink stop hitting the gas!

 

I am looking at a 2024 Offroad it has the 20" premium wheel option. Any thoughts on how much worse the experience will be with the 20" wheels? When I looked at it I couldn't figure out why a offroad trim would offer 20" wheels considering you probably wouldn't want reduced sidewall in offroad situations. Seems like airing down a 20" tire isn't gonna beb very effective.

 

It does make a difference. My past f150 with 20's aired down to 12/15 psi and was the one pulling other folks out that did not air down. I'm sure other off road excursions the 18's will shine but the 20's do fine in the sand just air down.
Worst I've seen it and no issues.

 

Never driven on the beach. Prohibited here. But out of curiosity. Wouldn’t the sand increase the chances of rust. I would imagine sand gets everywhere. Will a good pressure wash mitigate the potential damage? I have always hosed down my trucks after launching the boat (saltwater) but still, I have always gotten a bit of rust. At least on the hitch even after washing.

 

Putting 20’s on an OR is one of those Toyota conundrums actual off-roaders will never understand.