Who here rides ATV's in the sand???

[TheRogue]

Came back from Gold Beach on Saturday. From Coos Bay to Reedsport, we were absolutely amazed at all the sand rats on the road and on the dunes!! We've driven this route literally hundreds of times, and I've never seen so many. The Myrtlewood shop north of Coos Bay literally had no parking. Awesome weather.

Now, I'm wondering....is the sand better to ride in when it's wet? The tracks on the dunes were much more obvious in the wet sand, compared to the summertime. I'm sure my 700+ pound Sportsman still wouldn't be any sort of a sand machine; but it's tempting!!!

TR

[Lepper]

If you have paddle tires, wet sand is harder on the machine. But without paddle tires wet sand is a little nicer

It's overall fun. I go wheeling at horsefall several times a year or when ever relatives want to go. try to avoid it at high peak times though.. but lots of fun.

[BigBull1]

We go every chance we get, I work a rotating shift at the paper mill here in Toledo so it is every 4 days for us. It is a great way to keep in touch with my 14 year old son. It has taken away from time spent on the ocean though.

[crazyinoregon]

i dont personally ride the sand however while listening to the scanner this weekend there were at least two horrible collisions out there at sand lake. both accidents that i heard about where later in the evening and at least one of them involved some alcohol. dang i wish people would learn. anyhow, the accident last night took a life unfortunatly and i feel sad for the friends and family of that person as im sure they will suffer from the loss. drinking and boating/atving just dont mix folks. have a safe time with whatever your hobby/sport is.

[Danno]

Twenty some odd years ago, I had a sand rail that I would take out to Pismo Beach and Glamis in So Cal.

Glamis had great sand. Very fine and dry. Only one or two families lived out there yet the Glamis population would grow to over 10,000 people on Thanksgiving weekend. We always went the weekend before to avoide the crowds and get the virgin sand. Yes, it's just like snow; you want it dry and smooth. Otherwise, it gets too bumpy and will rattle your inards. There was about 25 square miles of sand dunes, half of which was open to rec vehicles.

The hills there were awesome. One was named Oldsmobile Hill because it was runmored that the first vehicle to ever climb it was powered by an oldsmobile engine. Even with a well powered VW sand rail, I had troubles climbing it without a running start when it was hot and dry out there. It was steep and long.

Pismo is on the coast north of Santa Barbara, CA. I think use there is very limited these days. The sand was coarse and although not wet, it definitely had a moisture content to it. Much easier to climb steep hills but then Pismo doesn't have much in the way of hills relative to Glamis.

I'd definitely take dry and smooth sand anyday.

[lentz]

I've been wanting to go for awhile now. It's been about a year since i last went.

[switchback]

i do i love it you get more traction in the wet sand

[Ni!]

Thanksgiving here in Winchester Bay was crazy. I think it's because people haven't been out for awhile. Hardly anyone local rides the dunes much. I got it out of my system back in High School when you could go to the dunes on a Saturday afternoon in June and there would be two or three other groups out there. Now I don't even bother. I don't like fighting crowds.

I guess if you want to go somewhere that's crowded and dangerous it would make sense to take up riding in the dunes. Otherwise, there might be better things to try.

[INSAYN]

Originally Posted by TheRogue

Came back from Gold Beach on Saturday. From Coos Bay to Reedsport, we were absolutely amazed at all the sand rats on the road and on the dunes!! We've driven this route literally hundreds of times, and I've never seen so many. The Myrtlewood shop north of Coos Bay literally had no parking. Awesome weather.

Now, I'm wondering....is the sand better to ride in when it's wet? The tracks on the dunes were much more obvious in the wet sand, compared to the summertime. I'm sure my 700+ pound Sportsman still wouldn't be any sort of a sand machine; but it's tempting!!!

TR

Your 700 will do just fine out there, even with stock tires. Just air them down to about 1-2 PSI and watch your cornering. I have ran my Scrambler 500 4x4 out there for 10 years now. Much easier on my back than my '86 TRx 250R.

[Lepper]

Originally Posted by Ni!

Thanksgiving here in Winchester Bay was crazy. I think it's because people haven't been out for awhile. Hardly anyone local rides the dunes much. I got it out of my system back in High School when you could go to the dunes on a Saturday afternoon in June and there would be two or three other groups out there. Now I don't even bother. I don't like fighting crowds.

I guess if you want to go somewhere that's crowded and dangerous it would make sense to take up riding in the dunes. Otherwise, there might be better things to try.

Them summer crowds are crazy. Why I normally go in the winter time inbetween storms most weekends you might see 1 other person out there.

[Ni!]

Originally Posted by Lepper

Them summer crowds are crazy. Why I normally go in the winter time inbetween storms most weekends you might see 1 other person out there.

A rainy Tuesday afternoon in January 2008 will be about the equivalent of a sunny Saturday afternoon in June 1985 was. (Man I'm gettin old ) But yeah, compared to a summer weekend it's not too bad.

[Bird Dog]

My family usually goes down for Presidents day. There are a few sportsmans, kodiaks, big bears, etc along with the banshees and quadzillas. I'm a sandrailer, but had the chance to ride my brother in laws sportsman, and it hauls in the sand. It went everywhere i wanted to go. The 4wd with the deep lug tires aired down stuck like glue to the wet sand.

Be careful!

Bird Dog