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Topic: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking? (Read 1741 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #25 –
Can you drive it ON to the beach, probably.

Can you drive it back OFF the beach, not so much.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #26 –
   It's the first thing that we noticed about the Texas (3rd) coast.    Lots more RVs on the beach than you would ever see on the Oregon coast.  Mostly because of the tides I believe, since the west coast tide can change up to 4ft and Texas maybe 4".  All guesstimates but it's a huge difference.  You can park 30 ft from the water and in the morning still be 25' from water.    West coast 30' from the water will put you in the water in the am.    People even do tents closer to the ocean than I'd do.

  Having said that, I heard the it's also one of the most corrosive beaches. They ( Corpus Christi ) have under body car washes in lots of places to get things rinsed off.    Little small for coaches though.      What we did was bought some salt treatment for rinsing the bottom of the coach,, we didn't park on the beach but about 100 yards from it.    Port Aransas is an amazing place to visit but..  I have mixed emotions about traveling there because of the corrosion.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #27 –
I'll be blunt.
Of course one can drive onto a beach. It's the driving off the beach that can be tricky and uber costly.

In my estimation. It's just not worth the cost to brag to friends on social media about ones escapades of camping in a bus on the beach. But if you have money to burn on towing and future corrosion issues. Go for it. There is nearly nothing within the law that one can't do. It's a matter of "should" you. I say no.
Jerry & Nona and Kimeru the cat that thinks she's a dog
1998 36' WTFE U320  #5314 Motorcade #17711
USAF 1975-1995
2019 Subaru Crosstrek 'toad'
2003 Subaru Legacy touring car
jerry Fincher | Flickr

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #29 –
If your going to be dumb you have to be tough. I'm sure they still laugh about it
Scott

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #30 –
In Baja, it was almost impossible to get stuck no matter how large and heavy your RV was. Many access roads were easy off, easy on and if you did mange to somehow get stuck, it would be an occasion for the Mexicans to come over, BBQ some fish, drink a few beers and then daisy chain their cars and PUs to pull you out. All with a smile and a wave.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #31 –
My 36 foot GV,  RV gets bogged on flat hard packed gravel roads, Mine weighs twelve TONS
Take it on a sandy road or beach, Not a chance,

The question to ask your self, Is how much is a very large truck, Tow truck going to charge to drag you out,
And Drag is the key word, You wont be driving it out,
Cheers, Brian,
1989 Foretravel Grand Villa, 36 foot ORED, 300 HP Catapillar and Four Speed Allison Auto,
Right Hand drive, two Mid doors, Makes a good flow thru ventilation in hot weather,
Located in Melbourne, Australia,  The Land Down Under,
Honda Blackbird, 1100XX.    2002 Gemini 105 MC Catamaran,

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #32 –
I've been driving my bus conversion and U300 on beaches forever and never had them get close to stuck. Never dropped tire pressure either.

Here is an example of a bigger and heavier RV than ours on a Baja beach. Probably at least 5K heavier and the toad may be 5 thousand pounds. Since there is almost no tide when you get as far south as Múlege, many beaches are hard enough to put a wheel in the water without getting stuck. No tide and waves also means little blowing sand so the beach is very hard.

Yes You Can RV Baja, California Mexico In A Big Rig

Here in the West, big RVs travel on dirt and gravel roads all the time without getting stuck. Expect most of it has to do with the experience of the operator.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #33 –
As said before, beach composition is not the same everywhere.  Ranges from powder that won't support a person without burying their shoes to close to rock hard.

Said another way, depends on the beach.  If you see deep tire tracks, don't even think about it.  If you see heavy vehicle parked there with little or no tire tracks-- completely different matter.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #34 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –
I've been driving my bus conversion and U300 on beaches forever and never had them get close to stuck. Never dropped tire pressure either.

Here is an example of a bigger and heavier RV than ours on a Baja beach. Probably at least 5K heavier and the toad may be 5 thousand pounds. Since there is almost no tide when you get as far south as Múlege, many beaches are hard enough to put a wheel in the water without getting stuck. No tide and waves also means little blowing sand so the beach is very hard.

Yes You Can RV Baja, California Mexico In A Big Rig

Here in the West, big RVs travel on dirt and gravel roads all the time without getting stuck. Expect most of it has to do with the experience of the operator.

Pierce


I've traveled the Baja Peninsula since I was a kid in every mode of transportation possible. From motorcycles, fast cars, 4x4s, to Foretravels, been stuck in everyone. Have helped countless others get free from the clutches of sand from San Felipe to Cabo San Lucas.... Pacific side/Sea of Cortez side. Don't have to get off the  BEATEN PATH  very far and you'll find yourself stuck in the sand. It's part of the adventure in Baja just come prepared.
Doug W.
96 36' U270 CSGI #4946
04 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
PNW

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #35 –
Here is a good example of beaches with easy access and impossible to scrape the belly or get stuck in the sand. I first discovered Mulegé right after the paved road was completed from TJ to Cabo back in October of 1973. Bahia de Conceptión is just several minutes south of town with lots of campgrounds close to the highway and for $5 to $10/night. Hotel Serinidad is famous for the pig roasts on the weekend and on New Years. We've made it here twice to bring in the New Year. They have a few spots for RVs and a good airstrip next to the ranch style hotel.

Visiting the first time, we went up to the old prison, closed but it still had one crazy guy on a long chain. He would growl and leap at you but was harmless. When the prison was in operation, the guards would blow on a conch shell at 4:30 for the inmates to return from working in town.

The water is crystal clear much of the year with fish everywhere. Lots of rays but they see you coming and move out of the way. Great for fishing, ATVs to abandon missions, kayaking, etc.

Here is an example of beach camping in a car to the longest RV. Most are close to the road but some are a couple of miles so checking with a toad is recommended. Lots of YouTube videos on Baja so if you like beach camping, great food and the ocean, this is the place. This video shows the easy access and all the sites from a drone. I even spotted some Formosa built sailboats. Best drone footage is toward the end after he stops talking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqZCkdsvbdg

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #36 –
Yup, drove the Baja right after it was paved.

Due to Government/Pemex mis-planning, gas stations were not open yet.  Line over 2 miles long.  They were pumping fuel from 55 gallon drums on the back of a flat bed.

BUT, I was driving a Peugeot 505 diesel.  Bought fuel off the shrimp boats.

Remember harvesting shell fish using the tire iron near Mulegé.

Seem like a LONG time ago-- wait, that WAS a long time ago.

Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Can 40ft GV be driven on the beach for boondocking?

Reply #37 –
Yes, no tanker in Mulege so we waited in line for the fuel to arrive. We had a VW PU with a fold down side and an 8 foot pram. Sailed across the Bahia de Conceptión to the far side. A PBY Catalina flying boat went over the top and then the wind came up when we were half way back. Exciting and a little scary. Camped at Coyote or the one in the video. Can't remember.

The tin church that Eiffel built in Paris is worth seeing in Santa Rosalia and Loreto is a nice city on the ocean with an International Airport.

With climate change, quite a few hurricanes hit Baa so you have to check road conditions as there may be detours where bridges are being repaired.

No vehicle permit or tourist permit needed for all of Baja and only liability insurance for your driver's license or vehicle needed.

Pierce





Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)