🚩… Pismo Dunes - Preparing for Playing in the Sand - Airing Down / Flags / & Recovery

[Emergencymed]

Driving out in the Pismo / Oceano dunes is a really fun time - but requires a little prep and planning.

If you don’t own a 2025 or newer OT or Plus, some form of air down gear and a portable compressor for airing up is a must. My GX OT plus did great aired down to 15 PSI. It navigated soft sand effortlessly at this pressure.

Being out on the dunes also requires installation of a flag of some kind making your rig visible from afar.

I found a great little mount on Amazon for $33 .. as well as a quick release attached to the flag.

Roof Rack Foldable Antenna Mount... Amazon.com: Roof Rack Foldable Antenna Mount Kit – Compatible with Crossbars & Platforms with 16mm Hole, 180°Adjustable Bracket for Antennas, Flags, LED Lights | Easy-Install Channel Mount System : Electronics

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G55XJHHY?tag=lexusgx-20

Tips on installation - buy 1/2 inch brass or stainless steel washers to complete the set up - also tightening the bolt - you will need to insert either a screwdriver or a piece of metal alongside the nut, while tightening the other side, as the intervening space is so narrow that you cannot get a spanner around the nut.

Once done it’s a super convenient to deploy and remove.

We had a great time out this weekend … but a word to the wise… always drive with your head on a swivel… 2 reasons unsafe riders / drivers and unexpected drop offs that can prove deadly.. stop get out and walk when a other side of a dune cannot be clearly assessed … (assure that there isn’t a massive drop off on the other end of a nice smooth upward slope.. )

Instinct and experience prevented me from dropping 60 feet off a precipitous drop … that would have had disasterous consequences..

Also picked up new recovery rope a few weeks ago and ordered hitch shackles and soft for both the GX and the old LC.

ALL-TOP Kinetic Recovery Rope... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6R2553M?tag=lexusgx-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WFC1XST?tag=lexusgx-20

Hard to beat for $16 for two…

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3W1YCGT?tag=lexusgx-20

 

[Emergencymed]

The old cruiser also performed like a champ!

 

[Mu3rte]

FYI, the flag only needs to be 8' above the ground, so you can shorten your flag to ~2' and be legal. Makes storing much easier. I got my flag setup from stickywhips - it's a suction cup mount I attach to the rear side window.

Whip & Flag Safety Regulations
California State Parks requires a whip and flag for all vehicles recreating at Oceano Dunes SVRA. A whip and flag is a safety equipment requirement intended to provide increased visibility while recreating in the dunes.

A whip is any pole, rod, or antenna securely mounted on the vehicle that extends at least eight feet from the surface of the ground, and must stand upright when the vehicle is stopped
The flag must be solid red or orange colored, a minimum size of 6" x 12", and within 10" of the top of the whip

 

[Emergencymed]

I’ve heard - 10 ft static height / 8ft in motion.

I go significantly higher (3+ ft) for optimizing vehicle visibility in the dunes. That extra measure of height means traffic approaching from any other vantage (scaling a dune from another side) sees you much sooner ..

Also fold down feature and quick disconnect on the new mount makes storage a breeze (I typically just disconnect and run it on the inside of the passenger side door).