Corpusfishing.com

HungerBuster · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 371

This may get a bit technical, but I'm at the end of my rope. I have now tried towing my pop-up down the beach about a dozen times. I've never made it past 23 (of course, never managed to time the tide right either)...and been stuck twice, though thankfully they were easy dig outs. I've been to the Aussie sand towing sites and done all the reading I care to do there. So, this is our beach (PINS), you all know it and love it like I do...figured this was the place to ask the questions.

Ride particulars: Ford F250 crew cab 4x4, V10, 4" lift, BFG/AT 35s
Trailer: Fleetwood Evolution 3, 3500 lbs dry, 4500 loaded, heavy load 235s as tires, 24" of clearence, ignoring the axle.

I have never been stuck in the truck without the trailer and made literally hundreds of runs up and down the beach in all kinds of conditions. So it aint the truck =)

I typically air down to about 35 (from 50) on the truck tires. Haven't touched the trailer tires and I know I generate the tire wave in front of the tires-- but I always figured the truck could handle it. This may be where I am making my mistake.

Setting aside the obvious plea to folks to STAY IN ONE SET OF RUTS (I could make it through the high banks no problem if this were the case):

Question: should I air the tires down on the truck MORE (I can comfortably go as low as 25, though some sites suggest as low as 13 Exclamation

with these tires...would that make that much more difference?)? Should I air the tires down on the trailer? Lighter (less dense/air) tires on the trailer? Is this a freakin hopeless cause? Very Happy

I love the trailer, I love the comfort...but I want to be able to run the stinkin beach too. I took the family down to 17 this weekend and it was just silly fun. Anyway, any additional thoughts or advice appreciated.

HB
_________________
Fish ON!

1bgsub · Horse Mullet Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 141

Your right it’s not the truck it’s the trailers axle giving you all the problems. If you’re driving in the ruts your trailer axle is acting like a plow mowing down the sand in-between the ruts. To solve this you could flip the axle to give you more clearance or run bigger tires on the trailer. Hope this helps.

later
Trey

HungerBuster · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 371

I don't think it's the axle. I've never seen it plow. I've already got almost 12" of clearance there....even in Big Shell, the ruts rarely get THAT much deeper (unless, of course, yer in the soft shell). What bogs down is the truck when it starts to torque to tow. And then it's all over but the unhook =)

I'm fairly comfortable that it's a weight/foot print/air issue... just don't have a clue as to the magic combo, or given the ride particulars, if it's possible at all given the weight. I figure with the clean up this weekend, some of you tow those trailers... Smile

_________________
Fish ON!

Big Ed · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:09 am Post subject:

That's a lot of trailer to pull through the shell. I pulled a large pop-up down the beach a few times and never had any real trouble but I did have to keep my speed up. Kinda moved things around in the trailer and in the back of the truck by bouncing down the beach at a decent clip. The pop up most definatly did drag axel, but I was able to handle. This was in a '95 Ford 1/2 ton with stock tires. The pop-up weighed less than half of your trailer though. If you are bogging down, only suggestiion I would have is to use your low range 4wd. Can't imagine you would bog down then.
_________________
Big Ed
San Antonio

"A word to the wise ain't necessary. It's the stupid ones who need advice.", Bill Cosby

o_brother · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:33 am Post subject:

Are you getting "wheel hop" from the back tires on your truck? If your trailer axles aren't dragging and you are still getting stuck, then the trailer may be too heavy for pulling through the sand.....

Mike
_________________
Come out of the grass with your fins up.......

PITBULL · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:08 am Post subject:

WENT THRU THE SAME THING LAST YEAR EASY FIX
I JUST WENT WITH A BIGGER RIM WITH A WIDER STREET TIRE
IT KEEPS THE AXLE HIGHER OFF THE GROUND AND THE TIRE
HAS A WIDER FOOT TO APPLY PRESSURE ON THE SAND
_________________
EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY TO FISH

HungerBuster · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 371

No wheel hop. The funny thing is, I've pulled folks out of the soft, deep shell with that truck before. Heck, I've even dragged a suburban with locked wheels (hubs busted) sleigh style for 500 yards through parts of the high road in Big Shell.

Barring tongue weight, that's why I think it has to be a tire thing. The popup has it's own bay (designed to hall an ATV), but I try to keep only the light stuff in it to limit drag on the back end of the truck. I dunno. I keep hearing there is some magic to keeping the trailer "on top of" the sand, but can't seem to figure it out.
_________________
Fish ON!

shawn · Horse Mullet Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 134

you need wider tires on the trailer to increase the footprint of the trailer. the thinner tires are more likely to not roll and dig into the sand from the weight of the trailer if you go with a wider tire then it will sit ontop of the sand and be more likely to roll then dig

sheepdog · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:14 pm Post subject:

A lot of guys on the east coast air down to 6psi. I'm not comfortable with that so the lowest I go is about 20psi. I have a heavy truck camper and my truck actually does better with the camper on due to having some weight in the rear. I'm with the other guys who say wider tires and lower pressure (trailer tires also)

ROBDOG · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:11 pm Post subject:

I flipped the axle on my trailer for clearance which may not be an option for your pop up. I also put bigger rims and wider tires which helped considerably. Also make sure it is empty. I tend to store a bunch of stuff in mine when pulling it which adds lots of weight. It's also a good idea to carry a spare hub.

Big John · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 2647

1bgsub · Horse Mullet Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 141

If you don’t think you’re plowing with your axle then how’s your track width compare between the two? If your trailer is not running in the same ruts that could cause a problem.

later
Trey

snakecan2 · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:53 pm Post subject:

carry a good air compressor.. and i am not talking about the $10 walmart special.. if you are really searious about it,, they can be up to 1500 for a dual deep cell pump;' harbour frieght has a good battery one for 50 bones..

drop your tire pressue down some more and as long as you are not going to fast or too far, lower tire pressure is not an issue. it will give you a bigger tire print and clear more area, same with your trailer.. if you have been able to dig out with not to much issue, you are just barely clearing the trouble spots. air back up once through the little/big shell nightmare and you are good... \
bigger tires, higher clearance is great, but at a premium.. if you have clearance by the most part, you now just need to get over the ruts.

good luck
_________________
Fish and Hunt Baby.... so tight lines and clear scopes.

larry meinert · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:05 am Post subject:

That is to much weight to get through the high banks. Park it at the 17 and drive the truck down to fish. L

Skipper · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:20 pm Post subject:

I would air the trailer tires up to max rating. Having the trailer tires tight will be less drag. Airing your truck tires down will give you more traction. I have hauled a few trailers down the beach, but none over 2000 lbs. without any problems. Just my 2 cents...Adios

Skipper
_________________
<*)\\\><(
___________________
98' Haynie Bigfoot 200 Mercury Optimax Pro XS