You're fine. Just air-up again when you go back onto pavement, and don't forget to plug the fuse back in (probably a good idea to do this when your RL isn't running)

Chip H.

 

thanks chip. i read that 20psi should be fine on pavement too. I'm just driving a few miles here or there local on it. of course i will put back in fuse (w/ truck off) & fill up to normal psi again b4 i head home to ny for the 10 hour trip saturday. also, i didn't take notice on what my psi was b4 i deflated yesterday unfortunately. do u know what i should fill back up agin to.....35-40psi???

 

The Honda-recommended pressure is on the sticker on the driver's door opening.

I've had good results in running 2 psi over that.

Chip H.

 

NO 20 PSI is not fine for pavement. It only takes a few minutes for heat to build up in a tire that low.

The recommended pressure is 32psi. That information is on the tire placard on the B post of the drivers door.

 

Thanks guys...I just noticed the sticker on the door panel. I aired up of course & popped back in that 20A fuse after my adventures on the beach last nite. All of the lights went off on my dash so thats good. Gonna check the tire pressure this morning when they're cooled down as well as hose down the undercarriage from sand.

 

Do you really need to lower the tire pressure? I read somewhere on the forum that some Ridgeline owners did not lower the tire pressure and had no problem driving on the beach. Need advice, heading down in 2 months and going north of Duck, house we rented is three miles up the beach.

 

It's a good preventative measure. While you might have no problems (perhaps the sand was hard-packed that day), if you get into deep soft sand, air-ing down after you get stuck might not be enough to get un-stuck (depends on how deep you buried it...)

There's lots of other vehicles on that beach, so you won't have any trouble finding someone to help tow you out. It'd be a good idea to have a tow strap and a trailer hitch. Not sure if the tow hook on the front of the truck is strong enough (perhaps someone else can say)

Chip H.

 

The tow hook is strong enough, the designer commented on that somewhere.

20 lbs may well not be low enough for sand, btw. There's no really good single number that is driveable above 20mph or so on the road, and still works best in sand. You really need to air down and up again in most cases.

KeS

 

that's great to hear. we went there a couple years ago (corolla) and i had my 02 dodge ram back then, what fun. was curious to see if anyone's taken the RL there.

great stuff.

-D

 

Or snatch strap. I think there was a good discussion here a while back about the difference between the two... snatch strap vs tow strap.

Here's a link that may be useful about sand driving:
http://www.4x4now.com/sfjun96.htm

 

put it this way.....its better to be safe than sorry! i didn't bring a compressor so the nearest air filling station is about 1/2 mile on left side (going north) towards the entrance to beach. we stayed in corolla which is just north of duck. i aired down w just a ballpoint pen which only took 5 min or so & it costs 50 cents for a good 4-5 min of air which is a bargain these days. i aired up all 4 tires on only the 50 cents. the truck calls for 32psi cold so i aired up to 35 or 36 psi (since tires were hot) & when i checked my tires in the morning cold they were at 32! i chose to air down to 20 since i was able to do some driving here or there on pavement (grocery store & emergency runs) for a day or so since i went back to beach driving twice. i hit some pretty deep parts of beach, even where there were no tracks & had no problem at all. also, remember to pull out 20A vsa fuse on drivers side in the small fuse compartment (next to the 40A one). and be aware that ur dash will look like a xmas tree all lit up w warnings. i believe the abs light, vsa light, a warning light w exclamation point in triangle (i think) & one more or so. don't worry, put back when ur airing back up w truck off & all lights will be gone.......ENJOY!!!

 

What does pulling the 20 amp fuse do? Sorry I picked up my RL yesterday. And where Exactaly is it? Is it the only 20 amp in the panel? Thanks guys

 

Fuse locations:

20A fuse to disable VSA when tire PSI is lowered for sand driving:

The reason for this is that the TPMS will not allow the VSA switch to turn off VSA when tire pressure is lowered for sand driving. So pull this 20A fuse (which will give you a lot of lights on the panel) in this scenario.

The reason you need to disable VSA in sand (or other similar conditions) is that when you need wheelspin in order to maintain momentum, VSA will kill the power to control wheelspin if braking a spinning wheel doesn't do the job. The last thing you want is to feel engine power cut when you're using wheel spin to keep momentum.

In snow, you won't have lowered tire pressure and can use the interior VSA switch to do the same thing.

But when sand driving with lowered PSI, you need to pull this fuse to create the same effect. because the TPMS system disables the VSA cut switch on the panel.

If you don't lower your tire pressure for sand driving, then you won't need to pull this fuse.

 

haha i felt the exact way b4 i took a ride on the beach.......just do it,LOL!

 

Thanks for all the info. I can't wait to take her on the beach. Where I am you need a permit but I'm going to go with a good buddy who has some pull out there. He will have his Nissan with all the proper equipment. Are you guys locking the vtm once you hit the sand or just driving in air downed with the fuse pulled?

 

Just air-down and pull the fuse. You shouldn't need to manually engage the VTM-4 unless you get stuck. The system will automatically apply power to the wheels that need it.

Chip H.

 

The only permit u need r for atv's I believe...u will see signs right b4 u enter the beach on the right side. I never heard of needing a permit for a 4x4 on the beach. Just air down at the Citgo(I believe)on the left less than a mile from beach & pull 20A vsa fuse in drivers side. Simple as that! Believe me, I was just as nervous as u up until I did it also.....have fun!

 

Hey I live in Currituck County, I hope you had a good trip.

 

if that was meant for me....i had an amazing time & gonna make it a yearly vacation hopefully! we stayed in corolla which has the least amt of beach traffic i believe. we took a ride down 12 south but the other towns like kitty hawk & kill devils r much more populated sort of like oc, md & jersey shore. had a blast, thanks!

 

If you're so inclined you can put that 20A VSA FSR fuse into a switchable circuit to save you the hassle of opening the hood, etc. Cost me about $12 for the mod.

 

TRacer, you should link your mod thread. That was a pretty cool mod.

 

Headed to OBX tomorrow for some fishing at the point in Buxton. Never had the RL in the sand. I know I have to air down the tires (made that mistake once before with another vehicle) and I understand about pulling the 20a fuse......I think. I just want to be sure I am pulling the right one(s). When I opened the fuse box with the VSA fuse in it, it appeared that fuse #2 and #3 were connected. #3 shows on the diagram as a 40a fuse and #2 is the 20a fuse. Everyone keeps saying to pull the 20a fuse, but if they are connected technically don't you have to pull both the 20a AND the 40a? Thanks in advance.


Bryan

 

Just pulling fuse 2 should be sufficient.

And here's some good reading for driving on the sand:
http://www.4x4now.com/sfjun96.htm

Have fun at OBX neighbor!