Running on the beach - good or bad?

[MikeG8]

As I live next to the beach (Poole, Dorset), it is mighty tempting to go play on the beach...but I've always chickened out.  Fear of all that salty sand grinding drive shafts/gear trains/diffs/motors etc. to useless mush.  How fatal is beach running?  What can be done to minimise problems?  Is a full strip and clean required after each run?  I'm not one for shelf queens: if I have an off-roader, I want to use it off road.  I'm thinking of running a Baja King and a Desert Gator on the beach so I guess that'll mean plenty of flying sand.

What experience do you guys have of beach running?

Mike

[Seriesofmoments=life]

Hope this doesn't put you off may'be just me & how i've built it lol. I've had my Pajero MTW on the beach before and the sand near distroyed the rear end. It eroded the teeth away, aslong as there's no holes and tight should see no problems as there are alot of other members who do use beachs my reply, check the RC over when finished at the beach.

 Chris, Hope this helps alittle

[Wrc action]

Fun factor of beach running is 10/10, Espically with touaregs you can get a real dakar style. However due to the nature of sand and its fine partilciles problems will arise and whilst u can work to prevent this nothing will save the more frequent cleans and higher wear rates.

precautions - Rubber sheilded bearings will save a lot of the sand getting into the drive train.

Seal your radio gear in some form of bag on in a cc01/xc use a tuperware box to keep it all together as space isnt an issue.

Use  a thin film of oil between the plastics of the drive areas to prevent the sand getting in as much.

But overall drive carefully, avoid water for example (high salt) and give it a gd clean after each run, with an cc01/xc most important part is the rear axle which can fill up with sand along with the tyres through the whole in the inside of the rim.

hope this helps Ryck

[Gruntfuggly]

I've used my Baja Champ on the beach quite a few times with no ill effects. I found all it really needed was to fully dry out afterwards, followed by a very good brushing to get all the sand off. Probably better to steer clear of dry sand (dunes, etc.) but the nice flat stuff that gets left when the tide has gone out is excellent fun...

Also, at the end of the day, even if you do wear out a few parts - how much do they cost to replace on a Baja Champ/King, type chassis?

 

[InetRC]

Think we'd sacrifice all these if the beach was that bad?

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.a...595&id=5861

-Alex

 

[Hotshot1]

Haven't had one but looking at the re-release of the frog, the rear axle's from the gearbox to the wheels looks pretty much sealed to me, i bet wear would be minimal on this one, anyone own's one? How well is it sealed?

I've been thinking of getting one because it's an interresting design.

[john45677]

life's to short! go play in the sand, have fun.parts can be replaced

[MikeG8]

The beach it is then.  Yippee!

Mike

[cardesigner]

Just bring fresh water, motor spray and lube.  After you're done running, rinse the sand off with fresh water, spray out any metal and bearings with motor spray and then relube.  You'll be fine.

 Don't let it sit untreated though, I've locked up my Sand Scorcher rear end to the point where I had to buy another one.  When I opened it up, everything rusted out. 

 Beach running is a blast though, worth the destruction (just kidding!)[H]

[QuesoGrande]

Totally agree with those saying "do it!"  But if you want an

outright beach basher may I recommend the Fighter Buggy.  Can be

bought for very little new and almost given away secondhand.  They

are very tough, with a well sealed drive train and jump well. 

Mine has waterproof esc and receiver in a balloon, rubber sealed

bearings and has about 10 trips to the beach a year.  It has

survived the last 4 years, including a couple of attempts at being a

submarine on nothing more than a squirt of wd40 after a run and an

annual stripdown and clean.  In the wide open spaces the Fighter's

imprecise handling is unimportant.  A set of Blitzer wheels and

some sand paddles is on the cards for next year.

[Prescient]

As I live next to the beach (Poole, Dorset), it is mighty tempting to go play on the beach...but I've always chickened out.  Fear of all that salty sand grinding drive shafts/gear trains/diffs/motors etc. to useless mush.  How fatal is beach running?  What can be done to minimise problems?  Is a full strip and clean required after each run?  I'm not one for shelf queens: if I have an off-roader, I want to use it off road.  I'm thinking of running a Baja King and a Desert Gator on the beach so I guess that'll mean plenty of flying sand.

What experience do you guys have of beach running?

Mike

 

Hi Mike

You must live pretty close to me..[] I find the beach at Sandbanks a bit useless to run on unless the tide is way out. I tend to run down at Southborne/Hengistbury Head as the higher composition of stones gives a bit more grip.

 Anyway I run my clodbuster and moded TLT down on the beach and haven't had any problems. The only thing is its a heck of an effort to strip and clean them afterwards as the sand really does go everywhere. The cars I run on the beach are fully ballraced. I mean it takes a full stip right down to the internals of the differentials. Infact its fun seeing peoples faces as the clod blasts out of the sea at unsespecting tourists. Just cause it looks like one of the cheapy giant RC monstertrucks tescos sells doesn't mean it it.

 Anyway, I tried a Baja King on the beaches and its pretty uninspiring and doesn't really go anywhere very fast and gets stuck frequently. You really need twin detonator size upwards.

[Solan]

Just bring fresh water, motor spray and lube.  After you're done running, rinse the sand off with fresh water, spray out any metal and bearings with motor spray and then relube.  You'll be fine.

This is a very good advice, the saltwater is THE enemy, especially whith the alloy metal in the rear of the XC/CC01. The sand can always be washed away. 

Don´t forget; For still/video-cameras BOTH sand and salt water is NoNo!

Regards

[MikeG8]

I'm planning on a Sand Viper on the beach with silly rears and std fronts.  Reckon it'll be a blast.

Prescient: where abouts are you?  I was thinking of Sandbanks end of the beach, simply because its closer!

Mike

[Prescient]

I'm planning on a Sand Viper on the beach with silly rears and std fronts.  Reckon it'll be a blast.

Prescient: where abouts are you?  I was thinking of Sandbanks end of the beach, simply because its closer!

Mike

Bournemouth.... Actually the sandbanks - shore road end is pretty decent as you have the paved area depending on the beach surface.  I always find the beach is a lot of effort (cleaning) for the fun. Have you been up canford heath much, some nice jumps and drops up there.

Bit off topic but which local model shop do you use by the way,  I need to buy some new kits to build (any local offers about?). I sold my lunchbox reissue (was going to make it) to a mate of mine who went all nostalgic when he saw the box in my hobby room. It upsets me as he hasn't made any real effrot to paint it (quick one coat of Halfords rover yellow) and last time he used it the back wheel came off and he hasn't repaired it.

Back on topic, lol..the baja king runs well with the Wild Willy 2 wheels and tyres iirc..

[MikeG8]

Prescient:  LHS?  Westbourne is 90%+ boats, everything else seems like mostly nitro trucks.  Lesro(?) over at Christchurch, again I think mostly nitro, but I haven't been there in a year or more.  Channel 4 (or something like that) on Charminster Road (dunno if it's still there).  Apparently there's a place over in Ferndown, no idea where or what the name is.  I'm into boats too so I love Westbourne and I'm in there every other weekend!

 Send me a PM if you want to meet some weekend down at the beach: can't do this one though, I'm 1:1 off-roading at a speed event on Salisbury Plain.  I don't compete anymore (some would say I never did!), just film and stills for my own enjoyment.

Mike

[IhaveaBruiser]

Beach is alot of fun IMO just make sure you clean the trucks off real good when your done

 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/ihav...ailbeach008.jpg

 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/ihav...ailbeach019.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/ihav...ailbeach005.jpg

 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v73/ihav...ch/100_1279.jpg

[Hotshot1]

no one said anything about the frog i mentioned, can anyone tell how well it's sealed? what do you think here 't is: http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/58354frog/index.htm This car should be able to take the punch on a beach keeping sand, salt out. Just maybe the wheels to small for the dunes. I personally will never take any of my cars to the beach, not even to the coast   main thing is you have to enjoy it!

[Y]

[DJTheo]

Like most off roaders pretty good sealed, but nothing that wouldn't let very fine sand or dust inside. Would recommend to "seal" the gearbox plates where they touch the plastic gearbox case with grease from inside, as well to use rear universal shafts without any lubrication or if you use the stock ones use the rubber covers.

Cheers 

[InetRC]

It's a Frog... who would really care if it got driven into the water and taken out to see by a wave? LOL?

J/k  (ok - not really) haha ....

I don't think you can ever avoid getting the elements (sand and water or dampness) in the tiny crevaces of an RC - The Frog is ok for the beach, but regardless of how selaed it is, you'd still end up having to thuroughly clean it. At least it's mostly plastic unlike the AYK's or the 3 speeds some of the folks take to the beach which are all metal

-Alex

 

[Chain Driven]

Beach and dunes are awesome but one thing SEAL EVERYTHING BEFORE!!!!

[walawala_com]

Hi,

Definitely will destroy you off roader sooner or later.

Sand offers low traction, fine particles destroy the ball bearings and gear teeth, the salty water and vapour from the sea will rust up the metal parts. The beach is a good place for taking pics for r/c cars.

Regards

Joaquim

[Hillman666]

Mr Models is the shop in Ferndown. On the main road!  And Channel 4 is the one in Charminster. Both good shops!

 

Prescient and MikeG8 - I live in Poole too. About 3 mins away from Sandbanks!  Well up for a meet if you guys are!! Especially a beach run!! So much fun but loads of cleaning to do afterwards though [:S]

 

Cheers

Shaun 

[MikeG8]

Shaun: beach run sounds like fun.  I'm just a few minutes away.  Can't do this weekend, 4/5, (new furniture arrives Sat and I've been let out for good behaviour on Sun for some 1:1 off roading on Salisbury Plain!) but could do 11/12.  Sats are better for me.

Mike