Jeff and Elizabeth King are...
Jeff and Elizabeth King are two longtime off-road enthusiast and locals on the island. No strangers to the sandy paths of Freeman Park, the Kings' modified Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has rolled many a mile cruising to the northern point of Carolina Beach.
Nestled off the coast of North Carolina is a place of easy wheeling, cool ocean breezes, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Known by most of the locals as the North End, Freeman Park is one of the few remaining east coast beaches that allow seaside lovers to drive, camp, and shore-fish on the beach. To make it out onto the sand you'll simply need a four-wheel drive and a day or year pass. While it's not required, airing down makes the trek a bit easier.
After spending some time on the island, we found that for many of the locals the real fun isn't driving across the golden ruffled ruts, but scoring that perfect spot on the beach and simply casting a reel or hanging out with friends. Freeman Park is open 24 hours a day year-round, and a season pass is your E-ticket to a little sandy wheeling and relaxation. Finally, no more battling over parking spots or hiking on hot asphalt, and if you forget something in your truck it's only a few sandy footprints away. For more information check out www.carolinabeach.org
When he's not wrangling critters...
When he's not wrangling critters in his '70s series Pinzgauer, Robert Jankowski enjoys hanging out on the beach with his rod and reel. Though Carolina Beach is a great place to shore-fish, we think you can have just as much fun floundering about with your 4x4.
Vic Radford has the primo...
Vic Radford has the primo setup when it comes to camping out on the beach over a long weekend. With his Super Duty's slide-in camper equipped with an external shower, bathroom, kitchen, and a huge bed, it is like living in paradise, at least for a couple days.
If you're going to drive on...
If you're going to drive on the beach, then you need to know when the tide rises. It may seem like an insignificant piece of information, but a quick walk down the beach can turn into a stuck truck nightmare if your vehicle's parked below the tide line.
Springtime is a great time...
Springtime is a great time to head out to the coast. The sand is nice and packed, the humidity is relatively low, and when you add a nice breeze it doesn't get much better. And don't think that you need a giant four-wheel drive to make it out on the sand, as this stock Kia made it out trouble-free.
With 52-inch XMLs, a 10-inch...
With 52-inch XMLs, a 10-inch J. Austin Fabrications lift, and enough ground clearance to hang a massive hammock underneath, Kamal Mansour's '00 H1 just might be the ultimate beach buggy. Though the Hummer wagon is extremely unique, we're still trying to figure out exactly how the 56-year-old manages to get in and out of it!
A quick trick to make things...
A quick trick to make things easier on you and your ride is to lower your 4x4's air pressure and use low range while driving on the sand. The decreased pressure will widen the tires' contact patch and spread the load out, while the transfer cases gear reduction will keep your transmission and engine from straining and overheating.
Fort Fisher
Located on the Southern End of the island is the Historic Fort Fisher State Recreation area. This OHV area is state owned and operated and can be a touch more difficult to navigate, especially during high tide. A separate state park pass is required to drive on the beach, and it's open 24 hours a day year-round.