Hello! My family and I are traveling down next weekend. We have a 2024 chevy equinox with AWD. We have asked the property owner if it's ok to drive on sand several times he said it's fine just air down your tires to 16 PSI and you'll be good. Just making sure I'm not getting led astray!

Thank you!

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You are being led astray, IMO.

The Equinox has switchable AWD. Even when you are in AWD mode you're still front wheel drive. Power is only directed to the rear wheels when a loss of traction is detected. In other words there is no way to "lock in" four/all wheel drive.

As the article about the 2024 Equinox that I linked says, "[If you] won’t be traveling in serious off-road terrain, AWD is appropriate for your needs."

Driving on the beach is serious off-road terrain, especially at the ramps. You need full time, four wheel drive.

www.lafontainechevroletbu...

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Maybe at dead low tide you'll make it up the beach but then you have the ramps to contend with to get to your house. I was up there a few weeks ago and the beach was pretty torn up. Stayed in Carova last fall and had a few difficulties getting over the ramps at MP22. The terrain is steep and the tracks deep. How far up the beach is the house?

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Not with the transmission in those things , you will blow it up !

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Hello! My family and I are traveling down next weekend. We have a 2024 chevy equinox with AWD. We have asked the property owner if it's ok to drive on sand several times he said it's fine just air down your tires to 16 PSI and you'll be good. Just making sure I'm not getting led astray!

Thank you!

Have you yet driven that vehicle in sand, is the store you bought from a coastal location - if so they might have some direct experience? The internets tell us ground clearance for your AWD (w 18's) is 8 inches...not bad. Enough to stay in the track yet clear "most" of the high center points. But, do what you feel comfortable with...I would tell you that 2WD pickups (but those were 15s and when aired down flattened waaaaay out) were all most had in the 50's and 60's and got around perfectly fine.

I'd hit reddit for some direct user experience.

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Hoping not to see you on the Carova Beach Idiots Facebook Page!! Be careful!!

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There's about a mile stretch of the corolla 4x4 beech (about 3 miles north of where the 4x4 area starts) where (in the summer) you have to drive on the high side of the beech (next to the dunes) during peak hours (i think from 9-5??). Since everyone drives there, the ruts can get pretty deep, many cars get stuck there. Driving at low tide then won't help there. If driving that area, we try to drive early morning or in the evening.

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Hello! My family and I are traveling down next weekend. We have a 2024 chevy equinox with AWD. We have asked the property owner if it's ok to drive on sand several times he said it's fine just air down your tires to 16 PSI and you'll be good. Just making sure I'm not getting led astray!

Thank you!

Not a good place to practice or to see if your vehicle will work

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I have been traveling to Hatteras Island since I was 11 years old am 73 now. Have been driving up and down those beaches for 50+ years. I think you are in for some challenges with your awd vehicle. Ground clearance is as important as the 4 wheel drive feature. Good luck!

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Is there a echo in here?

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Update, we made it just fine. Aired down the tires and made it through I appreciate the feedback from everyone! It's beautiful here!

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