Setting Up Your Jimny for Beach Driving: Coastal Adventure Insights
In Australia, you will see people riding sporty, rugged SUVs, caravans, and UTEs a lot. However, there are some who prefer using lighter vehicles like the Suzuki Jimny. The compact size makes it perfect for beach drives, and the car actually fares well on sandy roads. However, to enjoy your occasional beachside driving in a Jimny, prepare the car well.
A look at the car’s beach capability
Before you start looking for compatible accessories for your Jimmy for off-roading and beach driving, think of its capabilities. The car is not heavy, so it won’t sink much into soft sand, unlike some rugged SUV models. The short wheelbase makes it agile in tight spots.
However, there are some limitations that you need to think about as well. It has a Limited payload capacity, so you should not overload the car with beach gear or cargo. The shorter wheelbase can make the ride bouncy on corrugated beach tracks.
Focus on the tyre pressure
If the car’s tyre pressure is not right, it will affect the driving quality. For beach driving, the standard road pressures may be high. On hard-packed sand, you can manage with 20-22 PSI, but for soft sand, the required limit is 16-18 PSI. So, you should have a quality tyre deflator in your boot. Digital tyre pressure gauges offer more accurate results than older ones. Also, look for Jimny accessories like a 12V air compressor.
Carrying recovery gear is important
While the Jimny is not a heavyweight vehicle, you should be prepared for tricky situations. You will need a recovery board, which helps to recover from soft sand. For such a car, Compact recovery boards will be fine. Keep 2 to 3 such boards.
You should also carry a quality recovery strap. It is far better than using a chain or rope on sand. Even basic accessories kike a small folding shovel can come in handy in tough situations on the beach. For a car like the Jimny, you do not need massive winches.
Think of the salt and corrosion
Beach driving can affect your Jimny’s under body. Salt accelerates rust fast, and the damage is done before you see it. So, develop a habit of washing your hands after returning from a beach trip. You must flush the undercarriage, wheel wells, and suspension components carefully. If you can, go for under body rust protection treatments. Also, lubricate the car’s door hinges, bonnet latches, and other moving parts well.
Keeping sand out
Keeping the sand out of your car will be tough. However, you can reduce the amount. Use Heavy-duty floor mats with raised edges. Also, choose rubber mats over fabric-based ones. Keep a small brush or a handheld vacuum to remove small amounts of sand from the car’s interior.
Summing it up
Beach driving comes with unique hassles that you do not get on city roads, normally. So, carry gear like a UHF radio, a tide chart app, and a basic first aid kit and emergency supplies. For quality Jimny accessories, you can always check out Brixton4x4.com.au.
