Beach Driving with FX4 Maverick? - Hatteras/Ocracoke

[Mav4mepossibly]

I'm very interested in upgrading my 2nd gen Dodge Ram to a Maverick XLT FX4! My old Dodge has been good to me but its in rough shape and I'm past due for an upgrade. I only drive about 5k miles per year and I don't need a half ton. My only "truck duties" are hauling mulch, dead deer, and occasional beach driving.

My primary hesitation on the Maverick is beach driving. I'm interested to hear feedback on how the AWD FX4 performs on beach sand, and most specifically loose beach sand. I frequently take trips to Ocracoke and Hatteras, NC but I'm worried the Maverick isn't up for the task. I won't be upgrading or modifying beyond the base AWD FX4 format because at that point i'll just buy a Chevy Colorado Trail Boss. The Tremor is a bit too flashy for me so I'm set on the FX4 if I'm buying a Maverick.

So, please share any experiences driving on the beach! Hopefully this will inspire enough confidence for me to pull the trigger.

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[Montauk]

If I wanted to occasionally beach ride in soft sand I’d pick something taller than a maverick with a live rear axle. Big, soft tires on a ranger / Colorado or bigger. I love the maverick but I don’t see it doing that well in 10” ruts with no lift or tire upfits.

 

[bgn]

AWD is sublime. Recommend meatier tires if you're on the beach often since the FX4 tires are not particularly aggressive.

If the sand is deep and you really wanna play in it, I'd go for a "real" truck.

 

[Maverickman74]

You will buy a Trail Boss but not a Tremor???? That's weird. Anyways just make sure you get the optional Falkens and I think you will be just fine.maybe buy foldable shovel just in case.

 

[Mav4mepossibly]

Thanks for the responses. From what I gather, it would "probably" be OK until I hit a deep rut and then clearance may be a problem. Just enough uncertainty to give me anxiety the whole time

 

[Mav4mepossibly]

You will buy a Trail Boss but not a Tremor???? That's weird. Anyways just make sure you get the optional Falkens and I think you will be just fine.maybe buy foldable shovel just in case.

LOL. To be fair I haven't seen a Trail Boss in person and I'm just reading the specs.... Does it have painted tow hooks and wheel pocket, or say "Trail Boss" on the upholstery?? If so, I'm out...

 

[Maverickman74]

The Tremor stickers are easily removable and everything else is subtle and useful. Like the painted pocket on the wheel for airing down on sand. And the tow hooks you will never notice. As for the seats they are beautiful. Either way the FX4 is a good beach truck. You can bury any truck with bad driving.

 

[Mav4mepossibly]

The Tremor stickers are easily removable and everything else is subtle and useful. Like the painted pocket on the wheel for airing down on sand. And the tow hooks you will never notice. As for the seats they are beautiful. Either way the FX4 is a good beach truck. You can buryany truck with bad driving.

I hear ya. Didn't mean to insult any Tremor owners. They are cool trucks just not my style.

 

[Montana]

Get some good A/T's, air down, force it into sand mode and go slow. You'll be fine. If not, self recovery is a valuable skillset and there is a big difference between getting stuck and "beaching" ones self by making it worse. Carry the correct recovery stuff and it's as simple as digging yourself out in a matter of minutes and driving on. FX4 should do just fine. A Tremor's 4WD and small amount of extra clearance would be helpful, but not much. And yes, they have all the interior accents, only come with black interior with "Tremor" labelled on them. Not my style either.

BTW, I was one of the first to place an order for a Colorado ZR2 and I noped out of that one the more I learned. The Mavericks have their recalls, mostly Hybrid stuff that is the main concern for most owners, but that was a first year model I was very skeptical of regardless of them using the 2.7L for years before. Just too much "new" for me. The maverick is basically an Escape with a bed and since you are looking at the EB's, you'll be fine

 

[fossil]

 

[jcast0311]

I'm very interested in upgrading my 2nd gen Dodge Ram to a Maverick XLT FX4! My old Dodge has been good to me but its in rough shape and I'm past due for an upgrade. I only drive about 5k miles per year and I don't need a half ton. My only "truck duties" are hauling mulch, dead deer, and occasional beach driving.

My primary hesitation on the Maverick is beach driving. I'm interested to hear feedback on how the AWD FX4 performs on beach sand, and most specifically loose beach sand. I frequently take trips to Ocracoke and Hatteras, NC but I'm worried the Maverick isn't up for the task. I won't be upgrading or modifying beyond the base AWD FX4 format because at that point i'll just buy a Chevy Colorado Trail Boss. The Tremor is a bit too flashy for me so I'm set on the FX4 if I'm buying a Maverick.

So, please share any experiences driving on the beach! Hopefully this will inspire enough confidence for me to pull the trigger.

I’ve owned several Rams since 2010 and I recently left my 2022 Laramie for my Mav Lariat 2.0 EB AWD fx4 4K tow package and I have no regrets. I’ve seen and heard several people that have taken their Mav through sand terrain with no issue. Some with stock stance with stock Pirelli tires and some with 2” lifts with Falken Wildpeaks (and other brands). Either had any issues. I feel that you’ll be fine if you stay on the harder pack sand and be careful on the loose stuff. The AWD system in these Mavs are very reliable.

 

[JiMav]

I've driven my FX4 on loose sand on the beach and trails along with muddy / rutty trails and it has done very well - no issues what so ever

 

[spyderman01]

I've taken my FX4 out on packed beach sand several times, there were a few soft sandy spots and did fine. I would definitely replace the tires and plan to change air pressure if I did this more often.

 

[Montauk]

I know the Mav AWD system is excellent, but in this thread @Mav4mepossibly mentioned Ocracoke specifically. Accesses and heavily travelled areas of these beaches can feature ruts and drifts in soft sand over 10 inches deep... Deep enough for your Black Lab to hide in, lol. The Maverick won't handle that very well. My days of digging out a stuck truck on the beach are behind me.

If that's on the list of wants @Mav4mepossibly has, it's important to know. It's why they asked and started this thread.

 

[Joe Mac]

I'd get a real 4wd not Awd. The Ranger or Colorado would be a better truck for sand

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