Need To Ride On The Sand .. Setup Suggestions?

[Bishop]

Truck - 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 4wd EXT CAB 8' bed Off-road suspension package (Skid and air cleaner) 17" rims.

 

Feel its a bit too low for riding the sand/surf. Been doing it but have gotten stuck here and there.

Overall, the truck looks too low and long for the sand.

 

So am looking for the best way to increase clearance while keeping the truck still drivable and not voiding any warranties (took a 8 year/85k miles out on it).

Also not looking to take out a mortgage on it to get the job done.

 

I'm new to all this, and have been reading as much as possible trying to figure this all out.

The names of lifts, levels, and all are greek to me.

Will not be going off road besides the sand if that is a factor, clearance is the major issue.

Also, as the main work vehicle, want to keep a decent amount of on road comfort.

 

Tires are ready for a change, came stock with the standard offroad setup .. Wranglers, not bad on the road quiet, and get through the sand at 17 psi.

 

I'm guessing the best thing for clearance are bigger tires.

Would a suspension package be necessary, Body Lift, Leveling, suggestions for rim and tire size .. all of the above?

 

Basically, am trying to figure out the whole nut in one shot as the tires have only 24k on them and have some time, but want to prep, get, save up.

 

Any suggestions much appreciated.

It's grey/blk metallic .. if anyone knows some nice dark rims if I need larger (I have the 17" chromes now, nice nut not wow), suggestions much appreciated.

[Stevens03]

Just don't turn to fast and don't be heavy on the gas...

 

Or you'll look like this

[Bishop]

Frog and Stevens,

I've gotten the hang of it the past several and even "stuck" can rock it out in soft sand, but overall the truck also looks low to me.

The cap makes it a bit deceiving.

Wouldn't mind a bump up, a bit bigger tire, but still not void the warranty.

 

Gonna need new tires eventually, can live with the rims if I can get something taller in there.

Wondering just leveling, a combo like Zone's 3.5?, addaleaf or something more.

[wavery]

Let the air pressure down to 8-10PSI. Makes a HUGE difference. i used to do it on my truck and I had an 11' camper on the back. The tires won't come off the rim. I used to put 4PSI in my dune buggy tires and it had 320HP. Never lost a bead. For God sake....keep the truck out of sea water.

[Doug_Scott]

I would also imagine a body lift will have little effect on driveline warranty as well. Suspension lift will have an impact on axle and driveshaft angles.

[redjewel2ss]

Rough Country 6" suspension lift - $1000

New wheels - $1000

35" All Terrain tires - $1200 - $1500 (All terrains will work better in sand over Mud Terrains)

Labor - $500

 

getting the widest tire that will fit and putting the air down to 15-20 is whats going to get you through the sand without getting stuck!

 

if you stick with a 17" wheel, look at 315/70-17, 325/70-17, and 35x12.5x17. these are much wider than stock. you'll need at least a 17x9 wheel to fit those. 17x10 will work also. just don't get a negative offset wheel or they'll rub bad, +0 offset on a 9" wide wheel or a +12 offset on a 10" wide wheel would be the max i would do to prevent rubbing!

[redjewel2ss]

I would also imagine a body lift will have little effect on driveline warranty as well. Suspension lift will have an impact on axle and driveshaft angles.

 

 

most suspension lifts only affect the driveshaft angle. doing 6" lift if not enough to affect it badly, or else we would be seeing lots of threads about driveshaft problems and a lift. i haven't come across one!

[stlavsa]

you need 35x13.5 in tires at a MINIMUM to really handle the sand.

 

Go with an 8" lift (fabtech is a great, affordable choice, that keeps your angles same as OEM) 35x13.5 running low PSI will be awesome on the beach.

[Bishop]

you need 35x13.5 in tires at a MINIMUM to really handle the sand.

 

Go with an 8" lift (fabtech is a great, affordable choice, that keeps your angles same as OEM) 35x13.5 running low PSI will be awesome on the beach.

 

Sounds great but don't think Fabtech makes an 8" for GMC.

At over $2k for 6" without install, not looking to break the bank.

 

Just would want a bit more height for the body, and the clearance for lager tires.

Most riding is on the road, so if I can lift, level, and get a bit more beef would be happy all around without without emptying the bank.

 

On another note, Leer cap 2 years old started leaking like crazy from the window seals ????

Got that off and they are trying to "fix" it at the installer, new seals I think ... not too happy with the 100XL due to this and a 1 year warranty on the seal ... otherwise back to Leer and $300+ to fix a 2 year old cap???

At the same time GMC has riddled the top corners with holes that force water in when it rains Inside talk is to save a few ozs .. go figure.

So took out the liner and am scheduled for Line-X on Thursday, they say they can put a metal tape maybe on the openings and spray heavy.

Plan on then caulking the outside to boot afterwards. Hope it works .. need it watertight ... tools are rusting.

[stlavsa]

you need 35x13.5 in tires at a MINIMUM to really handle the sand.

 

Go with an 8" lift (fabtech is a great, affordable choice, that keeps your angles same as OEM) 35x13.5 running low PSI will be awesome on the beach.

 

Sounds great but don't think Fabtech makes an 8" for GMC.

At over $2k for 6" without install, not looking to break the bank.

 

Just would want a bit more height for the body, and the clearance for lager tires.

Most riding is on the road, so if I can lift, level, and get a bit more beef would be happy all around without without emptying the bank.

 

On another note, Leer cap 2 years old started leaking like crazy from the window seals ????

Got that off and they are trying to "fix" it at the installer, new seals I think ... not too happy with the 100XL due to this and a 1 year warranty on the seal ... otherwise back to Leer and $300+ to fix a 2 year old cap???

At the same time GMC has riddled the top corners with holes that force water in when it rains Inside talk is to save a few ozs .. go figure.

So took out the liner and am scheduled for Line-X on Thursday, they say they can put a metal tape maybe on the openings and spray heavy.

Plan on then caulking the outside to boot afterwards. Hope it works .. need it watertight ... tools are rusting.

 

 

The 6" kit for a silverado/gmc 1500 is available for $1600.00 and it in indeed a full 8" lift kit with full differential drop, however it is listed as 6" kit. It gives you the clearance you need to run 35s, anything less, such as a "true" 6" kit, will normally require trimming.

[stlavsa]

you need 35x13.5 in tires at a MINIMUM to really handle the sand.

 

I disagree. Stock tires aired down is all you need. I dont even remember the last time I got stuck at the beach over the past 3 years and I spend like 25 weekends a year on the sand

 

 

It would be wrong of me to say that you cant do it on stock tires, but it also depends where you are, and how limited you wana be. If you're careful, and dont do anything crazy, then you will be ok with the stock tires, aired down.

 

With big wider tires aired down, you just have more options, can go more places, do more things, have more fun. Honestly it depends on what you wana do with it.

[Bishop]

True...if you want to actually wheel and play in the sand like folks do at Silver Lake or Pismo...bigger sand tires are the way to go.

 

However if you just want to be able to cruize down the beach and get from A to B without getting stuck, stock is just fine...even in the worst of sand.

 

 

And that's basically it as it's a work truck as well.

A fishing truck when the time allows.

 

With stock and @ 17 psi,I find it does well but in the deeper softer sand, especially if it gets crowded with stop and goes, or it gets thin or someone parks it in the tracks and you have to push trough the bottom part of the dune in that real soft stuff, tends to seem to drag.

[DwelveAT]

Just lift it.. trust me.. its much more fun to drive in the sand and you get lots of heads turning from people while cruising, just be warned though majority of people will come to you to assist them on pulling them out. Every beach trip I made to Ft Fisher Recreational Area in North Carolina, I brought 2 x 10k lbs chains and 2 x 5k lbs straps along with a shovel. As a rule of thumb, i would air down my tires to 15 psi also. As many here have mention "air pressure" is the key to driving in the sand, not size of tires or lift. I've seen trucks with lift kits and oversize tires get stuck too. Best of luck to ya on your plans.

 

 

On a side note... damn I miss driving my truck, stationed overseas and seeing you guys post pics of yours makes me miss mind like crazy. Its sitting back in the states just growing dust.

[moab11]

airing down is KEY, I made a trip to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes every year for the past 5 years or so, and my old Sonoma always did great at about 8lbs in the tires. I noticed a HUGE difference between 15psi and 8-10psi.

[dave_benn]

Taller tires=deeper hole to dig out of. Not saying there a bad thing but it is a thought.