Question for Gen4 owners who go on the beaches (OBX)

[Overcurrent]

(I posted a similar question several months ago in the Modified Gen4 forum and didn't get much response, so.....)

I took my stock 06 XLT out on the OBX beaches this past weekend. Did just fine with the stock 235/70/16s at 22psi, but, similar to my previous beach trip with this rig I ended up with sand all over the engine and engine bay. Nowhere near as much sand as from the trip last fall, but more than I thought should be there.

Does everyone else with a stock Gen 4 visiting OBX have this same problem?

 

[96743explorer]

I'm from Hawaii and I've encountered sand a few time offroading and never experienced sand under my engine bay. Depended how hard you go on the throttle maybe? Btw where is OBX?

 

[Overcurrent]

Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina. More specifically, Ocracoke Island.

Wasn't hard on the throttle at all. Speed on the beaches and ramps is limited to 15MPH max. I try to stay out of the deep stuff but some of the ramps are very soft and deep. Also try NOT to ride in the ruts, but.....

I'm pretty sure what's happening is that in deep sand (rutted) the front crossmember is "plowing" and some of the sand that gets stirred up is picked up by the fan.

My use of the vehicle the other 99.7% of the time precludes a lift kit. I do plan to upsize soon to 245-70R16 Michelins which, if my math is correct, will buy me a whopping 0.65" of ground clearance (vs the worn-out Wild Country XRT IIs that are on there now).

I've also though about some sort of "shield" between the bottom edge of the front crossmember extending up to the bottom edge of the radiator, but am wondering if that will cause cooling issues.

 

[96743explorer]

oh i see, that makes more sense than going full throttle.

so you have a lift kit with stock tires? going up to 265/75/16 gives you another 2 inches.

 

[Overcurrent]

No lift kit; it's not a viable option for how I use the Exploder the rest of the time (89 y/o is a frequent passenger).

I just think it's odd that this particular vehicle seems to blow sand all over the inside of the engine bay; never had this problem with any of my other present or past stock 4x4s (two F150s, 98 Grand Cherokee, Excursion). Plus I saw several other Gen 3/4 Exploders/Mounties on the beach but unfortunately did not get an opportunity to ask other owners there if they experienced the same situation....