Outer Banks trip: trying out Sand Mode

[Bwicka]

I’m waiting to see the Tremor take on some dunes, not just the beach.

[/QUOT

Went on a trip out to the Outer Banks here in NC. The road trip out to Corrolla was smooth and resulted in an average of 29 MPG using cruise control most of the way. No glitches with the phone connection to the truck so we were able to enjoy our Sirius XM app.

Once there we took a day to drive on the beach north of Corrolla to look for the famous wild horses of Corrolla.

Aired down the tires as required by local ordinance to 20 PSI and once on the beach locked in 4WD and Sand Mode, away we went..

We drove the full length of the beach to the Virginia border and the Tremor handled the sand with ease -- even the deep loose sand on the northern end of the beach where few others had traveled -- going over the dunes and driving through the sand roads and a few trails was done effortlessly. I was pleasantly surprised that we never lacked for ground clearance or power to go wherever I felt like pointing the truck

My only observation is that when increasing our speed above 20 MPH (beach speed limit is 35) while driving on the hard packed sand along the water line the transmission seemed to want to hold a lower gear for longer than I would if I could chose my gear. Not really a problem, and in most off road situations keeping the RPM's up is helpful in maintaining forward progress. It just made me wish for paddle shifters at times so that I could have more control over it.

End result? We found some wild horses, threw some sand with the tires and thoroughly enjoyed the day

Good times , your safe taking tires to 15 psi , just keep the sideloading to a minimum in dunes and turns under 90!

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[Snox801]

I’m waiting to see the Tremor take on some dunes, not just the beach.

I went back today with mine and a friends bone stock xl I’ll post more on that

 

[Snox801]

Bone stock xl

 

[Justin says...]

I'm wondering how my standard XLT model with AWD EcoBoost would handle this beach. Also curious to know if I enabled mud/ruts/sand modes if that would make any difference.

I am going to a beach next week for vacation (in Charleston) and if they have beaches that allow cars I'll try it out.

 

[Pee Dee]

I'm wondering how my standard XLT model with AWD EcoBoost would handle this beach. Also curious to know if I enabled mud/ruts/sand modes if that would make any difference.

I am going to a beach next week for vacation (in Charleston) and if they have beaches that allow cars I'll try it out.

The only "beach" in SC that allows vehicles is a small strip of inlet shoreline down in Port Royal, which is a couple hours from CHS. I think it's called Sands Beach. In NC, the best places to go beach driving are Ft. Fisher State Park and of course OBX.

 

[ABTremor]

I'm wondering how my standard XLT model with AWD EcoBoost would handle this beach. Also curious to know if I enabled mud/ruts/sand modes if that would make any difference.

I am going to a beach next week for vacation (in Charleston) and if they have beaches that allow cars I'll try it out.

One thing to remember, you have AWD, which is NOT the same as 4WD. A lot of places that allow off road vehicles require 4WD. The Tremor has the capability to lock the drive system in 4WD to keep power going to all four wheels at all times.

The shift points in sand mode or Mud/Ruts might be comparable to those in TOW mode if your truck is equipped with that, it might even be similar to Sport mode, but I have no first hand knowledge about any of that.

that being said, I'm not saying the AWD won't handle off road situations, it would probably do fine in many instances, but just be mindfully of it's limitations.

Also the Outer Banks off road areas - like many others - stipulate that 4WD is required, and if the sheriff or other enforcement agency decides to look hard enough at your vehicle and figures out it's AWD not 4WD they can issue you a citation. Of course that would probably only happen after you got stuck and needed assistance.....

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