La Jolla: 4x2 or 4x4 ? ? ?
 

I'm in the market for a pickup truck. Biggest question is 4x2 vs 4x4? Specifically at La Jolla, for those of you with trucks, I know 4x4 is ideal on the sand, but is it necessary? Do any of you take 4x2's on the beach and if so, have you ever had any issues?

You can take a one wheel drive geo metro to LJ as long as you maintain your speed over the soft part of the sand around the concrete medians.

I've driven my honda accord into the launch area.

I usually stop right outside of the sandy area, wait for path to clear and drive straight through.

Sand is soft this time of year. Also crowded so little room to keep momentum. When the crowds are gone and the sand is damp/packed I'll drive my RWD in. Been stuck before, not fun.

4x4 isn't necessary.
Most of the time the sand is hard packed.
When it's soft you just have to get a little speed up before hand.
When it's real soft just unload on the street.
I've never been stuck.

Get a 4X4. Better to have and not need than not have and need.

Most of the time you will be ok at LJ, but when it's high tide and crowded, you'll wish you had it.

I've been stuck with 4X2, not fun.

You're better off with a FWD sedan than you are with a 4x2 truck.

is there room on the street to park a truck and trailer, I carry my kayak on a trailer so I don't have to lift it to the roof.

I've never been out to the launch at LJ, but in general if you think you're going to run into trouble on soft sand you should always air down your tires so long as they're a type of tire suitable for such action. Also use lower gears and keep the revs up.

Yes, before graylight usually score a spot within 3 blocks from the launch. Also room in the main lot at the back. At the end of Avenida De La Playa not much room for a u-turn with a trailer. And it's a clucker-F there during the day.

I agree with Bolocop
Better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it

Don't think about just launching at LJ. If you ever go down to Baja you will be thankful for the 4x4. Think about anything and everything you might want to do with your new vehicle. Not just launching in one spot.

For me I also hunt so a 4x4 is a necessity! With that being said I have only absolutely needed it twice. 2wd on my truck will get me thru all but the nastiest of deep sand or mud. But I was very greatfull that I had the 4x4 when I did need it


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You might get lucky sometimes...but the sand can get very soft and you will bury at some point. ;)
4x4 SHOULD be mandatory for driving on the sand at LJ.
Don't be "that guy" who sinks his 2wd anything in the soft sand at the launch and F's up access for everyone else. :mad:

A good kayak dolly with big wheels is PRICELESS.

Spending extra money on a 4x4 just because the sand at LJ is soft is about as bad of an idea as reporting a hammerhead encounter to the lifeguards

mini van and honda civic can make LJ with no issues.

Both are FWD and have weight over the drive wheels. 4x2 trucks spin one wheel without a locker.

Go ahead and save the $2-3K on a 4x2. You will regret it and trade it in for a 4x4. So you'll lose money on the trade and purchase of another vehicle.

I used to think I could punch it through as well, until someone walked into my path and I was stuck. Which costs more, running someone over or $2-3K more on a 4x4?

One thing I found that my 4x4 is real good for in the sand......
Pulling out 2wd vehicles that get stuck 👍🏼


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my full sized Dodge 2500 2wd gets stuck just looking at sand, it's way to light in the back end, if I have to drive in sand I'll bring the Grand Cherokee or the CJ 3A. How far is from the parking lot to the launch? I can always put my yak on a cart and bring it down that way.

La Jolla: 4x2 or 4x4 ? ? ?
 

Tires make a huge difference too

If you are running just straight street tires on a truck then you might have a problem every once in awhile. But if you have an All Terrain tire like a BFG AT/KO then even a 2wd truck shouldn't have much trouble in the sand


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4x4 for a multitude of reasons. In the off season, you can cruise and camp in Anza-Borrego, Ocotillo Wells, Death Valley, Saline Valley, etc...

Snow boarding on Mammoth mountain.

And you'll never get stuck in LJ.

Of course, you'll have to eat a bit on the gallon per miles.

My old Ranger was a 4x2. When I replaced it with a 4x4 Ranger, it opened up a lot of off road opportunities.

i have a 4x2 truck and have never had an issue at LJ, just learn how to drive on sand its not that hard. Stop and go is no problem just dont try to start up too fast. I do have LSD, not sure if that does much.

High tides help to repack the sand twice a day. Problems occur there when the high tides for a couple of weeks are not very high. In those time periods I have seen 4x4s get stuck in the soft sand. Not usually because they slowed down, but because the ruts were so deep already they were bottoming out. Those times are the exception though, and you can always unload on the street and drag your kayak a bit further. Most of the time anything will make it. You can usually judge how soft it is that day by the depth of the ruts and make your decision then.