what you want is something that doesnt have a sand plow (IFS) lots of newer cars have this and when the sand ir real soft and I mean real soft you are going to get stuck as it acts as a plow and you lose all your momentum.  A few people in my fishing club have the newer pathfinders and it doesnt take much to get them stuck.  beaches like wilbinga, wagoe, s bend etc have bogged plenty of these vehicles

tyres are very important as once deflated you can go most places, for beach driving they dont need to be an agressive tread pattern but the higher they raise your diff and undercarriage off the sand the better.

Apart from that petrol/diesel or manual/auto is all up to personal opinion.  My 4.2L natuarlly aspirated GQ patrol has been lifted 2 inch and has big 33 inch tyres.  apart from being slow around town it is unstoppable on the beach and will go places others dream of. Alot of beaches I fish over the winter months have not seen traffic for weeks if not months and I can deflate the tyres right down and make my own track.  In your price range you can pick up these all over the place 80 series cruisers are pretty similar setup and maybe slightly more expensive.

there wuill be a few people who are upset I didnt mention prado's and rangies (vince and herbie) but these two have both been towed at least once in the last 6 months lol

Any of the Hilux, Rodeo, Cruisers, Patrols types will do the job. With beach driving its more about your driving techniques and choosing the correct gear for the occasion. You cant easily change gears with in a sticky situation on the beach. Although I sure many will have their preferred make.. Its about knowing when to go and when not to go. Tyre pressure is also a major factor. My suggestion is to choose a good vehicle first and then learn to drive it in the sand. Most of the time beach driving isnt all that tricky...  although some beaches are virtually no goers except for very experienced drivers. So do your research. good luck

I have a 1983 60 series landcruiser (4.2 Diesel) and 2012 Grand cherokee(3l Diesel). The jeep goes really well on the soft stuff but i still prefer the older beast with the bigger motor and bigger tyres. I would have to agree a great beach fishing vehicle of that price range would be a 80 series or Patrol(4.2). As already mentioned tyre pressures and driving techniques are key !

Rig drives his vehicle like I do (not like Sherbie does). That's why they will last. OK Smartarse, mine wasn't towed mate it was taken out on a trailer because I didn't have enough spare tyres to get me out of there. I met up with the old fart today and he still reminds me of that .

OK so back to the good oil on advice for young fellas..... Both of the above posts hold true (other than Landie slander). Personally I would delete the Hilux (rollux).

A point I always make to the young and the restless is to get the vehicle checked out by a specialist and LISTEN to what he/she??? has to say. Don't listen to your peers about uplifts and large tyres. You won't need them if you learn to drive properly and to respect your vehicle for what it is. I am sick of helping people out when they have done something totally stupid (although I do and they probably don't want the associated lecture).

Another thing for the young fellas to bear in mind is the cost of maintenance and the need for it. 4X4s are expensive when things go wrong. You screw up the drive train by being stupid or over-kitting your vehicle then it's going to cost you a lot of money that you probably don't have. Save the money you may spend on mods and invest in preventative maintenance. Treat your vehicle like your new reel. Look after it. No warranty comes with a second hand 4x4 so you can't take it back to the tackle shop and complain and demand a refund.

Experience is everything mate. You don't have it so learn it and listen. Every bad experience you have is something you should learn from.

Good luck mate. So endeth the lesson LOL.

Also depends alot on what size your after . Power to weight the old rodeo 93 t/d onwards are good . They have a lsd , good approach and descent clearance and are great on fuel.

Yes I had/have (back up car) one and the amount of crew the old girl has got out of the trenches is amazing . It has gone further in mud and soft sand than friends cruisers , to the point where I was not able to be towed out of a mud field (things you do when board)near bootleg brewery and I did need a tow but from a huge tractor .

As others say , tire pressure is everything along with using your brain . Just dont get an older model triton - they are crap!

suzuki jimny

Have seen one loaded to the hilt with crew hanging of it charging boodji beach without a care in the world

They are light and go hard on the sand and even in the mud!!

.....they are light to go over the snd, and not sink in, cheap to purchase and easy to maintain, go on the smell-of-an-oil-rag. The only problem is they can't even tow their own shadow ....

.....and don't laugh, but a beetle based Beach Buggy is absolutely brilliant on the sand, I had one for the dunes in Namibia, and NEVER got stuck 

Suzuki Stockman ute....light as and with a tray for your gear!!

But seriously, its not so much about what 4wd but more about experience and technique. Just as long as you have a real 4wd with low range,  decent tyres, compressor, deflators and snatch strap you'll be sweet. I've driven on soft beaches all my life and Ive got a D22 navara dualcab and a 100 series Turbo diesel auto....both go well on the beach. Cruiser is great with the auto but definetley noticibly heavier until the tyres get deflated...and then its sweet.

Both have bigger tyres and lift kits because they are very much needed on the tracks getting to and from the beach and gnarly reef sections we have to cross on the way to the better fishing spots.

I've pulled all sorts of 4wds out of their self induced bog holes on the beach....all because they simply had no idea and hadn't deflated their tyres!! Mainly poor Kalgoorlie folk on holidays.

SWB patrol mate had mine for 4 years been bogged probly 4 times trying to fill my mates tent in :P light and you could probly wheel stand down the beach they got plenty of go !

Don't laugh but I had a Lada Niva for a while to beach bash and it used to go like a shower of shit. Power to weight was awesome and through the dunes it was unstoppable.For $900 it was a bargain.

 Built for snow and insulated, doesn't suit Perth sunshine the first thing that went squishy was the steering wheel.

Flangies stick with your gq, btw I need to see your rod rack do you drive it to work?

If you get a diesel 4x4 get one with a Turbo or get a petrol 4x4. Naturally Aspirated diesels suck big time if you have to get up a long steep sand hill. Not saying they cant do it(alot of times they cant) but once you go a Turbo Diesel you wont go back. In saying that the older N/A diesels are simple engines, with not much to go wrong, and also seem to last for alot more km's if treated nicely and serviced regulary.

Lift kits help but are not nessesary on most beach driving applications. In saying that i have a fair few fishing locations that require a fair bit of travel over really rocky terrain where a stock height 4x4 would have lots of problems getting into. Like Carnarvonite said Lift kits dont raise your diff any higher, only bigger tyres(poor onroad handling) or portal axles($$$) do that. But a standard 2in lift will usually give you better approach and departure angles, and will usually keep the middle belly of your car scraping on rocks your going over or bellying out on a sand hill crest.

ha ha herbie you wont even make it onto the beach, bogged on the track then blow your 3rd clutch in 6 months 'oh what a feeling'

most people go a lift kit to fit bigger tyres and therefore lift the diff centres

flangies down where you live you probably need armouring to prevent car jackings right?

rear window demisters to keep ya hands warm while ya pushin em.......... Go a toyota landcruiser...they will keep goin and goin...any terrain aint a problem forthem if you know how to drive it....... you'll get one and wont look back............

+1 for the sierra, and spend the rest on fishing gear. Cant beat light weight for beach work, my mrs crv was ppassen me mates cruizers up at grey and I was reversing

daihatsu feroza takes me everywhere still yet to get bogged and it beats the landcruisers and patrols as is so light i just have 30 by 9.5in tyres and can deflate down to ten if needed as have a real good lip on my rims and you can get one for 5 grand but depends on what you want and how much room you want as they are not that roomy.

the guys from the wc lbg club would vouch for my little beast as they have seen what it can do lol circles around them

I will vouch it goes good on the beach, but once you put a tackle box in the back its full.

  You would have had to strap that mulla to the roof rack lol

I think the lesson here is that most tools will do the job if used correctly. My dad's Ford Courier has got us heaps of places, its only 4cylinder petrol (i think) and hasn't had any special alterations. We've been bogged and number of times and even spiked tyres, but we always learn from it and every bit of experience helps.

We've even been down the dunes at Warren River mouth and got back out again, although it took us plenty of tries and we made the mistake of trying to lighten the load in the back- me and my brother literally carried the esky, camping gear, etc all the way up the dunes. Anyone whos been there will know what a mission that is! Talking to others we learnt that it's better to keep the weight in as it gives more traction. It's things like this you'll only learn from experience haha.

As others have said - light weight is the key for beach work (along with deflated tyres)
Seen countless little egg-beaters going past bogged Cruisers etc

Hell, I even pulled up next to a stuck Prado in the Mrs' Santa Fe on a beach south of Kalbarri and offered to help.
Bloke declined - was would rather dig himself out than get pulled out by a Korean SUV.
The difference ? We were running 14psi and it looked like he had about 30psi.

My 1st 4wd 20-odd years ago was a SWB FJ40 cruiser (petrol), and never even looked like getting it stuck in some very dodgy conditions.
Standard 7.50 x 16" rims and 235/75 tyres performed so much better than a mate who whacked the usual 15" white rims & chunky treaded fat tyres on.
Large Rolling diameter wins every time - and his luggy tyres just excavated big holes in no time.

Since then I've had all sorts through work etc : Mazda Bravo, RA Rodeos, Hiluxes, Tritons (crap), and currently have another Turbo Diesel Rodeo for work, with a TDV6 Discovery 3 for my main vehicle.
The Disco has amazed me with its non-beach off-road performance and has snatched a Mega lifted Patrol out of an abyss it dug for itself at Wilbinga (again, massive luggy mud tyres) but i'd ususally choose the Rodeo for a run on a beach (due to the big weight difference) - as long as the entry / exit didn't have any big climbs where power / speed is important - in which case I'd take the disco.
But like many vehicles in the same category, the Rodeo is no good in deep ruts as ground clearance is limited, so is better to make a new track if there's room.

But the no-frills FJ40 was the most fun - rough as guts, but definitely performed.

I have never been stuck at wilbinga red, slowed down but not stuck lol

But as a student and poor had an old Subaru sportswagon, and as a very keen remote windsurfer and fisher I have driven this thing over all sorts off beaches, past bogged cars of all types (no way was I going to try and pull out a big 4x4 with the small Subi) and have to admit that it was a bloody-go-anywhere machine. Deflated tyres a little, and clearance was a problem on some beach approaches, once on the soft stuff she was a hoot.

Probably to do with power/wt, and I wouldnt go back. Engel and other shit I carry now that I have some money would stuff it full, but as a windsurfing/fishing mobile when young it was ideal.

Neels

Thanks you to all you guys that took the time to share your thoughts. I think I have a good idea from all your advise what to look for in a car.

I knew he would pop up sooner or later, world champion at getting bogged lol (and burning clutches).

Iv got a 94 pajero 3L v6, only times iv been stuck were due to making silly mistakes got a set of 31x10.5's on it let them down to 18psi and will go pritty much anywhere also has 3 ratios high, low and ultra low not that iv needed ultra low. Also has limited slip diff and a central locker in low range handles like a normal car onroad too.

I love the old Suzuki's.. Like the LJ50 or LJ80... ESPECIALLY the lil 2 stroke motor!!!!

They are fantastic !!!

I currently drive a mitsi challenger, of which gives me unbelievable pleasure when I pass cruisers and patrols bogged down!!!

I always ask them if they would like a hand, but they cant bring themselves to let me help them!!!!  LOL...

No matter what you get, make sure you have diff locks installed... That is the ONLY way you will have a true 4x4...  They are worth there weight in gold plus some!!

Thanks for all the info.

I bought a hilux

Does anyone know how the new Klugers go on the beach?

Cheers

I over spent the budget a bit (which is normal for me) , its a 2005 dual cab it has good a/t tyres , lift kit . I want to fit bull bar , spot lights and dual batteries . Any other suggestions.

If it will fit that car an awning and roof rack are worthwhile accesories and a engel once your dual battery is setup.

A decent air compressor is a must along with a snatch strap and a real shovel.  tyre deflators, max trax(or wood) and air jack also worth thinking about.   

Did you get tray back or well body? dual cab?

Ive wasted a  fair bit of time modding/maintaining my 08 D4D  so should be able to help out with a bit. And dont listen to any hilux haters these things are unstoppable on the beach.

I got the well body , dual cab