WATER FOOLS
RIVER CROSSING:
DANGEROUS BUT REWARDING
Taking your rig into deep or rapidly moving water
is risky. Here are some tips to keep you safe.
1. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DEALING WITH
Before traversing a flooded river, check the
depth, how fast it is flowing, what’s underneath,
and decide the best route.
Unless you are dealing with croc-infested waters,
walk through and mark big drops and potholes
with a stick, assess the ground conditions and the
flow. If it is a raging flood, don’t walk or drive in it.
2. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
Preparation is everything. Be sure to hook up your
recovery gear before you hit the water, uncoil
your winch cable and sticky it to your bonnet.
Pick out some suitable tackle points on the other
side when you walk the
creek in case you
get stuck in
50 \
the middle. Be sure there is good air for your rig.
You should have a snorkel or raised air intake
fitted to your rig. If not, keep out. Also, know the
recommended submersion level of your vehicle;
these vary greatly.
Most 4WDs have air tubes fitted to the diff and
drive gear to allow for expansion and contraction
as the temperatures shift. The valves on these
sometimes sit rather low. They need to be as
high as possible because when you hit the water
everything cools down, sucking in air. If the valve
is submerged, you could draw water into your diff.
Electrics don’t love water, either, so ensure they
are safe. For really deep water, fit a water bra (a
waterproof shield that fits over the front of your
rig). Alternatively, strapping a tarp over your grill
and front end with an occy-strap or three will
help push water around your vehicle instead of
allowing it to gush straight into your engine
bay.