What is best for beach driving - FX4 or Tremor?

[Reece @ DI]

I currently have an XLT Lux Hybrid and love it, but within this next year I will be moving from NY to southern TX. The wife and I frequent south padre island and at the end of the island there are many drive on points. I could just park off the road with the Hybrid and walk up the beach ... but ... if I was to trade in the Hybrid after the model refresh, would you go with a FX4 or Tremor? Hoping to get some recommendations from some other beach goers!

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[710-oil-614]

I currently have an XLT Lux Hybrid and love it, but within this next year I will be moving from NY to southern TX. The wife and I frequent south padre island and at the end of the island there are many drive on points. I could just park off the road with the Hybrid and walk up the beach ... but ... if I was to trade in the Hybrid after the model refresh, would you go with a FX4 or Tremor? Hoping to get some recommendations from some other beach goers!

Can you do it in an FX4? Most likely, but it is not optimal for beach going.

The FX4 has open differentials without a center locking differential to make the FX4 lock in AWD mode with a 50/50 split on power.

So the FX4 is a front wheel drive biased AWD system with open diffs.

The Tremor PTU can lock into AWD and split power 50/50 front to rear, and the RDU can lock the rear end.

Really only 1 choice here.

 

[raybollywood]

We do as you speak all the time in our mav FX4.
White cap beach on Padre Island.

 

[bgn]

Standard AWD is more than fine for sand, especially if you're just putting around. Just don't treat it like an actual 4x4 vehicle and you'll be golden.

Would recommend a skid plate no matter what, which is available on the FX4 and Tremor. Another thing to note is that the FX4 and most likely the Tremor also have a cage that protects the EVAP canister underneath.

 

[Reece @ DI]

Thank you everyone! You essentially confirmed what I was thinking but I appreciate the detailed feedback!

 

[Hdscreens]

Not sure which system is similar to Bronco sport big bend but that thing would cut thru choppy sand beaches much easier than my gen2 Raptor.

 

[bgn]

Not sure which system is similar to Bronco sport big bend but that thing would cut thru choppy sand beaches much easier than my gen2 Raptor.

That's the standard AWD setup. The B.S. Badlands and the Maverick Tremor have the fancier AWD.

 

[OXHB619]

We do as you speak all the time in our mav FX4.
White cap beach on Padre Island.

Yeah but Whitecap you can go in a Hybrid, or FWD.

I drove out in my previous FWD Toyota Matrix about once a week, and I took my base XL AWD out there a handful of times too. Only taken my Hybrid once, still letting it be a pavement princess / hardware store hauler.

 

[IHateSpeedbumps]

I have done padre with a hybrid. Just aired down and drove smart.

 

[Bearfarmer]

I drive on the beach with my FX4 all the time. Just air down to 15-20 psi and don't do dumb things.

 

[fossil]

Easy question/complicated, you don't need the Tremor's compatibilities until you do and then it's too late. One thing to consider is some beaches ban FWD/RWD/AWD and require 4WD. The Tremor qualifies as 4WD with the locking PTU/RDU and has superior traction to some 4X4s with open diffs, my first Jeep for sure. For any of the above once you exceed your available ground clearance, you are most likely done. A FX4 with a lift and bigger tires can be better than a Tremor in some conditions.

With either model if you get stuck it's driver error pure and simple. You either over estimated the truck or under estimated the conditions and/or your skill it's that simple.
I've driven a Mustang on a beach with no problems while some 4X4s got stuck on a different portion of the same beach.

A just for entertainment video

 

[SPIJG]

I currently have an XLT Lux Hybrid and love it, but within this next year I will be moving from NY to southern TX. The wife and I frequent south padre island and at the end of the island there are many drive on points. I could just park off the road with the Hybrid and walk up the beach ... but ... if I was to trade in the Hybrid after the model refresh, would you go with a FX4 or Tremor? Hoping to get some recommendations from some other beach goers!

I currently have an XLT Lux Hybrid and love it, but within this next year I will be moving from NY to southern TX. The wife and I frequent south padre island and at the end of the island there are many drive on points. I could just park off the road with the Hybrid and walk up the beach ... but ... if I was to trade in the Hybrid after the model refresh, would you go with a FX4 or Tremor? Hoping to get some recommendations from some other beach goers!

I currently have an XLT Lux Hybrid and love it, but within this next year I will be moving from NY to southern TX. The wife and I frequent south padre island and at the end of the island there are many drive on points. I could just park off the road with the Hybrid and walk up the beach ... but ... if I was to trade in the Hybrid after the model refresh, would you go with a FX4 or Tremor? Hoping to get some recommendations from some other beach goers!

I work on SPI and just purchased my XLT Hybrid a month ago and have 3500 miles on it. Being that I drive all over the Rio Grande Valley for work, the hybrid was essential. But at the same time I bought the Maverick, I also bought our yearly Cameron County pass that allows beach driving off of access #'s 5 & 6. As others have stated, just be smart, pay attention to the tides and you'll be fine with yours. As you may know, there's a cottage industry of 4 wheelers pulling people out of bad decisions.

 

[colinl]

FX4+4K tow if you have any interest/need in towing more than 2,000 pounds. It will get the job done. Tremor has more capability in terms of hardware and even the stock tires are significantly better than the FX4.

+1 on all the comments about airing down and not driving stupidly. Get a portable compact compressor and use it (after).

 

[TJ2023]

Easy question/complicated, you don't need the Tremor's compatibilities until you do and then it's too late. One thing to consider is some beaches ban FWD/RWD/AWD and require 4WD. The Tremor qualifies as 4WD with the locking PTU/RDU and has superior traction to some 4X4s with open diffs, my first Jeep for sure. For any of the above once you exceed your available ground clearance, you are most likely done. A FX4 with a lift and bigger tires can be better than a Tremor in some conditions.

With either model if you get stuck it's driver error pure and simple. You either over estimated the truck or under estimated the conditions and/or your skill it's that simple.
I've driven a Mustang on a beach with no problems while some 4X4s got stuck on a different portion of the same beach.

A just for entertainment video

That video was almost as entertaining as videos of people failing at launching boats!!!

 

[colinl]

BTW the most important rule for not driving stupidly on the beach is being mindful of the tide.

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