Guide to Safe Beach
Driving - 4WD Tips & Resources

Driving on the beach is a lot of fun, but knowing the basic essential skills of beach driving will help to ensure you enjoy your trip. Driving on sand is a very different experience to driving on the road. Once you head off the pavement, conditions will vary greatly.

FleetCrew has created this beginner’s guide to advise you on the dos and don’ts when driving on sand. Queensland has some of the best beach driving tracks in the world. The endless beaches and numerous islands provide excellent drives and holidays.  If you are heading out for a vacation on K’gari (Fraser Island), Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), or Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island), knowing these basic tips can help you avoid getting stuck.

Top 10 Beach Driving Safety Tips:

1. Beach Permits
2. Stay Safe
3. Avoid getting Bogged Down
4. Use the right Tyre Pressure
5. Change speed gradually
6. Keep your momentum
7. Have the right tools
8. Know what to do when you get stuck in the sand
9. Know your Emergency Lines
10. Prepare yourself!

Read all about the specific 4WD safety tips in more detail below.

1. Beach Permits

Queensland has some amazing beaches, but you’re not allowed to drive on all of them. Most beaches that you are allowed to drive on require a permit. It’s important to do your research when planning your trip to find out if you require a permit.

For more information on permits and how to obtain them, please visit the Queensland Parks and Forests website. If you are traveling interstate, please check the relevant state’s website for details. Please note, FleetCrew cannot organise permits for you.

2. Stay Safe

The first step to avoid getting into trouble while driving on sand, is to be continually conscious of your safety and the safety of your passengers. The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation give the following suggestions on how to stay safe:

• Observe all the laws and regulations relating to the use of vehicles on beaches
• All Queensland road rules apply
• Do not overload the vehicle. Consider passengers’ weights as part of the load. Pack the load evenly with heavier items stored low. Please note, it is illegal to use roof racks with rental vehicles on K’gari (Fraser Island). Where roof racks are allowed, do not overload them
• Stay alert; be mindful of other vehicles, pedestrians and wildlife. Remember, due to the sound of the surf, pedestrians may not be able to hear an approaching vehicle. Keep your distance and be aware of them
• Do not make sudden turns, rollovers are not uncommon
• Stay on the tracks when crossing dunes to avoid damage to the ecosystem and the vehicle. If you find yourself without enough space to drive between the water and the dunes, turn back and wait for the tide to go down
• Drive on the left side of approaching vehicles
• Indicate when overtaking
• Washouts can cause serious accidents and appear deeper than they look. Walk around and through the washout if you are unsure of its depth to make sure it is safe to cross
• Abide by the speed limit and drive slower if you need too. Look for signs and markers on the upper beach and roadsides
• Seat belts save lives, wear them
• Do not drink and drive. Police checks happen anytime, anywhere
• If you’re tired, let someone else take a turn at the wheel
• Before entering soft sand, engage four-wheel drive and lock four-wheeling hubs if applicable
• Keep your momentum when driving on soft sand
• Use low gears when driving on dry, soft sand
• You may lower tyre pressure when driving on sand, especially when loose and dry. However, keep within manufacturer’s specification. When reverting to driving on hard sand or surfaces, re-inflate tyres. At FleetCrew we use Cooper Tyres. Here’s a link to their tyre pressure guide
• Park away from traffic at an angle so oncoming vehicles can see you are stationary
• Give way to vehicles going downhill, vehicles with trailers and pedestrians
• It is illegal to travel outside the vehicle. This includes hanging out of windows or riding in tray backs
• Give plenty of room to the vehicle in front in case they need to stop suddenly
• Beware, most inland tracks are two ways with vehicles travelling in both directions, therefore be careful and slow down going around corners and other blind spots. When met with an oncoming vehicle on a single track, use passing bays, if possible, closest vehicle to the bay moves into the bay or the convoy with the least vehicles. Only if safe, give way to heavy vehicles and vehicles with trailers on narrow tracks, especially if they’re coming downhill towards you. It’s often more difficult for them to safely manoeuvre their vehicle.
• In remote beach areas travel with at least one other vehicle to reduce the risk in case of trouble. And let a responsible person know where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Avoid night driving. Hazards and people are extremely difficult to see at night.

3. Avoid getting Bogged Down

Beach driving conditions can change quickly. Incoming tides can reduce driving space and force vehicles into soft, unstable sand towards the dunes. A common challenge faced while beach driving is getting bogged down. The easiest ways to avoid being bogged down is to drive at low tide near the shoreline, where the sand is dark and flat. The harder sand between the waterline and the high tide mark will have the firmest surface. Do not drive too close to the waterline to avoid being hit by unexpected larger waves. It’s best to drive on the beach when it is 2 hours either side of low tide and do not drive 2 hours either side of high tide. You can check tide times on the Bureau of Meteorology website.

4. Use the right Tyre Pressure

It is standard practice to reduce tyre pressure while beach driving. The reason for this is it increases the size of the footprint of the tyres on the sand, resulting in the weight of the vehicle spreading across a larger area. By spreading the weight, the tyres are more likely to drive over the top of the sand rather than digging down into it and causing the vehicle to get bogged. The increased footprint will also increase traction.  According to specifications by Cooper Tyres, tyre pressure for sand driving using their all-terrain and mud 4×4 tyres, can be between 18-26 psi.

Remember, if you are travelling to K’gari (Fraser) or Mulgumpin (Moreton), you will need to deflate your tyres on the ferry, as you will be driving straight onto the beach. The ferry for Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island) will drop vehicles off on a sealed road so do not deflate your tyres until you reach the beach.

Please note there are risks associated with lowering the tyre pressure and often the reduced tyre pressures for varying terrain are below the vehicle manufactures recommendations. The lowering of pressures below the vehicle manufactures recommendations is at your own risk and in some instances can cause insurance claims to be void. To minimise the risks while driving with reduced tyre pressures it is advisable to reduce speed, drive slowly over obstacles and do not make any harsh turns which could result in the tyres coming off the rims. Always re-inflate to proper levels when the vehicle is back on a hard surface.

5. Change speed gradually

Hard acceleration and breaking while driving on the beach can cause problems. Rapid braking will push sand in front of your tyres, making it harder to get moving again. The best way to stop is to slow down by taking your foot off the pedal and have the sand’s traction stop the vehicle. To speed up, gently but steadily press the accelerator.  Accelerating quickly will result in the vehicle sinking deeper into the sand as the tyres spin.

6. Keep your momentum

When driving on an unsealed surface, it is important to maintain momentum. The chances of becoming stuck increase when you head uphill. Drivers should be aware of changes in the terrain ahead of them and judge if changes in speed or power are required to maintain momentum.

Remember, that when people constantly get stuck in the same spot, the soil and sand in that area gets kicked up and becomes loose. The loose sand exponentially increases the chances of becoming stuck. Keep levelheaded, don’t simply accelerate, and keep your speed and momentum whenever going through loose sand or going up an incline.

7. Have the right tools

At the very minimum you should always have the following tools:

• Shovel
• Tyre Pressure Gauge
• Tyre air pump/compressor
• First Aid Kit
• Maxtrax Recovery Boards
• Mobile phone or other communications devices
• Enough food and water for you and your passengers in the event that you become stranded

Recovery kits are available for hire with your hire vehicle. Please request these prior to pick up.

Tow ropes and snatch straps should only be used by trained operators using appropriately safety-rated equipment.

8. Know what to do when you get stuck in the sand

If you become bogged down, you need to increase your traction. Greater traction can be achieved by following these steps:

1. Stay calm, getting bogged for the first time is often all part of the experience. Becoming stressed will impair your thinking. Take a break and think it through. Have passengers get out of the car and move to a safe area. Extra weight can make moving harder.
2. Try to gain traction slowly. If not already engaged, you may need to engage low range 4WD at this point. Don’t press hard on the accelerator. Kicking up sand will only decrease your traction and pull you in deeper. When you are driving an automatic car, put your vehicle in the low gear and gently accelerate to gain speed and traction slowly. When you are driving a manual transmission vehicle, put it in a higher gear and release the clutch slowly (be careful not to burn out the clutch). If that doesn’t work, move on to next step.
3. If the vehicle isn’t moving, there is insufficient traction. Remove sand from in front of the tyres with a shovel. If you’re very deep in the sand, this will take some time.
4. When the sand has been moved away from the tyres, place a Maxtrax in front of the tyres that are spinning. If you do not have a Maxtrax, anything that the tyre can roll over that will increase traction will be of some assistance. A coat, esky lid, a piece of cardboard, or tree branches could be used if required. Carefully move forward until the tyre can grip onto the material. Once the wheels have traction, gradually drive out.
5. If this still does not work, have passengers help push from behind as the driver gently presses the accelerator. Avoid standing behind the tyres as anything you are using for traction can fly out the back if it takes hold. If that still isn’t working, repeat step #3.  With enough digging, pushing and traction (from Maxtrax, etc.) you should eventually get free from being bogged down. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, sometimes it is lot of hard work.

9. Know your Emergency Lines

The safety of passengers and drivers are the most important. Call and ask for help. If you are on K’gari (Fraser Island), Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) or Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island), experienced four-wheel drivers are likely nearby. The code of conduct among the four-wheel driving community is to assist other drivers who need help. 4WD recovery techniques require a certain level of expertise and experience. There have been multiple documented deaths as a result of mishandled recoveries that have been attempted to a free a vehicle using the tow ball. DO NOT USE A TOW BALL OR BULL BAR FOR RECOVERY. If digging, pushing, and a couple of Maxtrax are not going to get you free, ask someone who has been trained to use ‘Snatch Straps’ for help.

If you’re new to four-wheel driving, stick to routes that are easy to manoeuvre and safe.  Avoid heading out to remote places and always have a way to contact local authorities if you are in an emergency.

Dial 000 in a life threatening emergency, even if your mobile provider does not have network coverage in the area. Your call to 000 will be carried on any available mobile network, however, you must be in the coverage area of one of the mobile providers in Australia to make emergency calls.

You can also download the Emergency+ App, the app uses GPS functionality built into smartphones to help 000 operators determine your location in an emergency.

10. Prepare yourself!

Additional driving tips and resources which are handy if you’re driving on the beach:

• Driving on Sand Safety Guide from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
• Bureau of Meteorology Tide Times, Weather Forecasts and Rain Radar. You can also download the BOM app
• QLD Traffic for road conditions and closures.
• The Keys to Successful Sand Driving from Cooper Tires
• Tips for Sand Driving from Cars Guide
• How to Drive on Sand from Outback Joe (recommended by the FleetCrew team)
• National Park Alerts for information on access, closures and conditions
• How to use Maxtrax video
• Emergency+ App

Enjoy the Ride!