We're heading down to the Oregon dunes in August, and trying to decide if I should splurge on rear paddle tires. Only going to be riding there for a day and a bit. What's the general consensus are they really necessary?
I don't know if the 700 really has the mustard to do much with paddles. Maybe some mild ones?
In my very limited sand experience we found that a 4wd quad did better with paddles (on the rear only, we didn’t have a set for the front) in 2wd then regular dirt tires in 4wd. Crazy right?? I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see it myself. If you could go paddles front and rear and run 4wd that would be the ticket.
I once wheeled my old Tacoma at Pismo beach and it did pretty good in 4wd on BFG mud terrains, but I wouldn’t dare try to climb any huge dunes either.
So I’d say paddles really do make a difference but if you’d only use them once... I don’t know.
Another word of advice I learned very quickly in the sand, momentum is EVERYTHING so be very mindful of where you stop. It’s easy to keep moving once you’re already moving, but it’s hard to get going from a dead stop. So in other words don’t stop in the bottom of a bowl or any other place where the only way out is uphill. Ask me how I know!