On the Beach in a Forester |
Note - the thumbnails below are links to larger images.
No doubt, Subaru vehicles offer tremendous versatility and their AWD systems remain among the best available today. It should therefore come as no surprise that when properly equipped and driven, many Subaru models handle deep, soft sand quite competently.
As a resident of Long Island, NY, we have vehicle access to many miles of ocean-front beaches at county and state parks. Though this access is regulated and has certain restrictions, it has been a favorite pastime of mine for many years, long before I became a Subaru owner. My first ventures on the beach were with a 1996 Jeep Cherokee XJ, which turned out to be an extremely capable vehicle for that task. Its short wheelbase, light weight, good ground clearance, capable 4-wheel drive train (manually-engaged transfer case) and P235/75R-15 all terrain tires made the Jeep XJ virtually unstoppable. After loosing the Jeep XJ in an accident, we acquired a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the Quadratrak ll system, which wasn’t quite as good as the XJ in soft sand but still up to the task. We never got stuck with either of those vehicles in our many excursions to the beach, but I have seen many other people get stuck in everything from Lexus SUVs to large 4X4 pickup trucks. As is the case with many other endeavors, equipment is important but technique plays a large role as well.
Since getting my 2007 Forester XT, the idea of trying it on the soft sand of Fire Island (the barrier island that runs parallel to the south shore of Long Island and contains most of the accessible beach) has intrigued me. Having moved to the FXT from a 2006 WRX, its higher ground clearance, higher profile tires and Subaru’s renowned AWD system made me believe that it may do reasonably well. At the same time, driving through soft sand places the entire drive train under far more stress than what is normally encountered on the road, and having driven only Jeeps with “heavy duty” 4-wheel drive trains I remained somewhat skeptical of what the results might be.
There are several important considerations for driving any vehicle in deep, soft sand;
An on-paper comparison of the Forester to our old Jeep XJ shows that the Jeep was a few hundred pounds lighter, had better ground clearance and larger tires, making it apparent that the Forester will be no match in the toughest soft-sand conditions. Compared to our Grand Cherokee, the Forester is over 600 pounds lighter, has comparable ground clearance but smaller tires. Overall, I was convinced that as long as I did my part and didn’t push the Forester beyond its limitations, that it should do at least as well as our Grand Cherokee, but I would need to avoid the really tough spots that the Jeep XJ handled well. It turns out that I was right.
|
Driving the Forester in Soft Sand
Before we proceed with this section, here are a few other points to consider;
Before heading out for soft sand driving, some important items should be placed in the car in the event of problems. Minimally, the following should be carried with you;
Additionally, I carry a rain parka, a standard tow rope with hooks (not to be used for recovery!) and a small selection of hand tools, including a breaker bar and socket for lug nuts. If you are driving in isolated areas, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. If you are driving in cold weather, bring warm clothes and/or a winter sleeping bag. Optional but handy vehicle accessories include full coverage floor mats, windshield sunscreen, transmission cooler (automatics) and trailer hitch (see below).
Driving Technique
So your Subaru is properly equipped, in good mechanical condition and you have the items listed above stowed in the car. Upon reaching your soft-sand destination;
Getting Unstuck
Though I have never gotten stuck with any of the vehicles I have driven on the beach, I have to accept that fact that it could still happen.
The first sign of trouble will be wheel spin – once you loose traction, you are in trouble. If you loose traction and come to a stop;
In more severe cases, when your vehicle is hopelessly resting on its undercarriage, one man extraction is still possible but it will take some time and work. The idea is to get the vehicle weight placed back on the wheels and gain some ground clearance under the vehicle. Use your shovel to clear an area under the vehicle to safely reach in and place the jack board and jack under the axle. On the Forester and most other Subarus, the rear differential housing is an approved jacking point. In the front, the jacking plate under the engine, or the subframe under the attachment points. You could also use the stock jack/jacking points in concert with the scissor jack to raise the car. The goal is to lift the tires – one at a time - out of their depressions and then use your shovel to backfill the holes under the tires. It will take some time and effort, but once you have raised the car and it’s resting on all four wheels with at least a few inches of undercarriage clearance, ascertain the best direction to move in. In some cases, this may be backwards though the area you previously drove though. In other cases, it may be forward if the area ahead looks more manageable. In either case, apply throttle gradually to avoid wheel spin and build as much speed/momentum as is prudent to get out of the tough area.
In other cases, the recovery strap may be useful if there is another vehicle available to pull you out. Unfortunately, there are not many good spots on a stock Forester to attach a recovery strap (never attach a recovery strap to any driveline components, such as an axle or strut!). If driving on the beach will be a regular activity, consider installing a tow hitch on the vehicle, which can serve as a good attachment point.
When using a recovery strap, the recovery vehicle should line up so its attachment point is inline with the attachment point on your Subaru. The idea is to pull straight, not at an angle which is more likely to bend something. Once the strap is attached, have the recovery vehicle pull enough slack out of the strap so that it is no longer resting on the ground and then stop. At this point, get in your car, place it in gear and apply throttle without spinning the wheels. The recovery vehicle should then begin pulling slowly and adding tension to the strap. The recovery strap will continue to stretch until there is enough tension to “snap” your vehicle out. Be sure to coordinate this procedure with the driver of the recovery vehicle. If a third person is available, they can stand to the side and serve as a coordinator for the process.
When leaving the beach, don’t forget to inflate your tires back to the recommended levels. Driving on under inflated tires on the street is dangerous and can result in tire damage or blow-out. This is where a good portable air pump will make the job fast and easy. When you get home, give your Subaru a good wash, including hosing down the undercarriage and wheel well areas.
Have Fun!
With a bit of preparation, taking the time to learn the tricks of driving on soft sand, and learning the abilities/limitations of your vehicle, driving on the beach can be a fun and rewarding experience. My wife and I often find ourselves visiting the beach on an early Sunday morning to enjoy the solitude, or taking friends out for an evening cook-out. In any case, showing up with a Subaru in a place normally visited by only “proper 4-wheel drive vehicles” is worth the trip in itself!
Note - my thanks to the participants on the Subaru Forester Owners' Forum for their input on this instructional article.