4wd and Sand - What is the harm, if any?

Question

My son has a Honda CRV and wants to drive it on the beach/in sand. Will sand hurt the car? Is there any thing that he should do to make sure that the sand will not harm it.

Answer 1

Wherever the sand can reach it will grind like, well, sandpaper.  Hose down the undercarriage after coming off the sand, and be sure to deflate tires to around 20 psi while driving on sand, raising back to 35 or so for street.  Low pressure will make a huge difference in traction on loose sand.

Answer 2

Sand is very abrasive and can cause premature wear on moving parts. However ,if he's just driving up and down the beach, there should be no harm in that. As long as he's not burying it up the axles.