Water crossings

Hi George, Simple answer is if you cant walk it you cant drive it, but saying that it's the speed of the water not the depth of water that counts. I've just had to do a creek crossing just a couple of weeks ago and it was 40 meters across with the main body ( fast flowing) of water only 4 meters wide and was 800mm deep. I waited for 5 hours to see if the creek was dropping, and it was, so when it got to 700mm deep I went for it, I did not doodle in the main section and once through the fast flowing section I slowed down with no problems. However I know this creek and have crossed it many times before, but not with the water runnig so fast. They say if it's flooded dont cross, even water 300mm deep can sweep you away.
Andy

George,
There is no hard and fast rule for water crossings that are flowing. Still yes, but flowing is a scary game to play with mother nature.

As all vehicles are different in weights and heights no one can give an answer on depth.

The bottom of the crossing can also give you grief, rock with holes . Sand if you stop the sand is eaten away from under your wheels and the vehicle sinks down and you bog or go over your vehicle operating depth.

Speed of the water x depth is also a great concern in the crossing.

Local knowledge is another factor in the equation.

Vehicle component damage is another thing to think about.

I have come close to the edge on 3 occasions and I now don't play with bad crossings but I will calculate the risk if need be.

I have nearly been swept away on a Cloncurry River and Florance Creek crossings + once on crossing of the Archer River.

Twice I have followed B doubles across Yellow Gin Greek NQ with the nose of my little 2 door sportz very fast Hyundai excel right on the their cow catchers much to the distain of the local boy's in blue who didn't know I was there until it was too late to stop me. Depth 400mm, behind the trailer about 200mm. I had heard the depth well before the crossing, I know the crossing and I spoke to both trucks before I followed them.

Now days I don't go unless I have to and as I get older I realise I don't have to.

Have a good one and may you never find yourself out of your depth.

RA.

George,
If travelling alone, it pays to wait for someone else to come along.
Tethering the two vehicles together via a snatch strap or similar is also a good practice. One stays land bound while the other goes across, then swap positions.

Also, it pays to start off as far up stream as possible without dropping off the edge of the crossing even if it means being on the wrong side of the road.

If you have an unloaded ute, open the tailgate to prevent your car becoming a boat.

Other than that, yep...walk it thoroughly.

Fab

My rule of thumb is, ask the question "do I have to go there" if the answer is yes, get out and walk it on both wheel tracks. The speed of the flow will dictate whether its safe to cross or not.

I reckon one of the biggest problems is with large rear fuel tanks acting like a buoyancy tank and the back end starts to float.

Like you george I am quite happy with sand and rocks and on the odd occasion mud but I try to stay away from mud as much as possible. My rule of thumb for depth is about the top of my tyres, about 800mm for water that is not flowing too fast. How fast?? If I feel uncomfortable about it I don't go. Maybe wait for someone else with a similar vehicle and not so chicken as me..lol. The part about water crossings where large lizzards live is what bothers me. I do like to walk the crossing to check for rocks, washed away sections and holes but who wants to paddle around in a creek that the local croc community use as a hunting ground.

Cheers
Pop

Good to see that people still revert back to the "do I need to go there?" reasoning.

But if you have to go there, walk the crossing checking each track, this also allows the diffs, CV's, bearings and transmission to cool down. Tarp the front, I do it, it helps protect the fan (even a viscos one) from doing damage, if the water is muddy, it protects my alternator, I have a serpentine belt you cannot loosen easily.

Remember tyres and wheels do create buoyancy, so 4 tyres and the spare, plus the buoyant fuel tank, with a wagon body like a boat. will float, initially in deep water. That is until the inside floods.



Most vehicles have a wading depth written in the vehicle manual. I was amazed to find out that the new Nissan Pathfinder is only 400mm

Rule of thumb is top of the wheel. which tend to be below the manufactures air intake. For still or slow flowing water.

Fast flowing as stated before, if you can't walk it don't drive it, because the water pressure on the side of your vehicle (especially wagons) is enormous. Just watch the troopy trayback move.



As far as weight goes, how heavy is one those cruise liners?

Yes people would have got away with this in the past, is it sensible? Is it always safe?

Thanks for the advice guys , I,m off to the Tip in May again and if it's a late wet I'll have my ass puckered . I don't mind water over the bonnet but floating down stream would ruin my day . Better to crack a tinny and wait .
By4now.