High or low range for water crossings?

[Braddels]

As the title suggests, I have to do some water crossings to get out of town and make it to the black top, in my way are a few water crossings roughly bonnet deep and 10 m wide. do i use high range 1st gear or 2nd gear low range.
89 GQ 3'lift 33'tyres. wife and child on board so wont be barreling through. also will be doing the crosssing at midnight. any thoughts on which gear as it has been a while since i have done a water xing.
Cheers.

[RockyF75]

If I HAD to do it, I'd pick low. Cause you can still do maybe 50kph in low range if you need to, not that you would in a creek crossing.

But I'm also grabbing a bag of for this thread. And would love to know wht your doing it at midnight?

And is the water flowing? If you wouldn't walk through it, you shouldn't drive thru it.

[BundyRumandCoke]

Whats the bottom like? Firm, or soft, smooth or rocky? Is the water standing, or running? If its firm, and smooth, like water over bitumen, and thed water is standing, then you can get away with a higher gear.
But, there shouldnt be a hurry. Thats a fair bit of water to push out of the way. I would not go for your lowest gear- Low first, as you dont have anything lower to go to if needed.

Personally, I would be looking at Low second for a rough rocky flowing crossing, and Low third or High second for an easy, standing water over firm base crossing.

[alien]

i choose between the two depending on the type of crossing...

- if its mud/sticky underneath ill go 1st high for wheel speed
- if its rocky/grippy underneath ill use low range so i can go slow as possible to control the bow wave.

[Braddels]

driving it at midnight as I am driving 800kms on track to get to Katherine from remote mining town and the little fella will be asleep hopefully the hole trip. Rocky bottom but not too rough. crocs in river so I wont be walking it. I have been through it as a passenger but that was a landrover and it is slow anyway!. will have to see how it looks while I let my diffs cool down and refuel and fit the water bra. may have to tape some dolphine torches to the roof rack

[crunk81us]

I always use low range for water crossings.
It leaves more gear options open should you need it.
Once you get that exhaust under water it will sap engine power. If for some reason u stop in the centre (stuck on a rock, hit some deep ruts) you often need low one (or reverse) to get enough power to get the treads turning again.

Good to see u thought about the lights.. most headlights/spotlights dislike being under water (especially when hot)

Think about a small cheap tarp to wrap around the front end, and have a look at where your air intake comes from so you have an idea how deep you can go before some possible major engine damage.

A recovery plan may be useful as well.. hand winch and rope already attached to tow point.

some of this may be an overkill, but i don't know ur experience behind the wheel doing(or watching) this sort of thing, or the capabilities of your vehicle

oh and sounds like fun..

makes me feel like heading out for a wheel

[Braddels]

Thanks guys, very capable Gq, Lift Tyres, Supercharger, Snorkle, Driver? The river is used all the time as it is the only track out of East Arhnem land. I have a MSA water bra thanks to my mag subsription hense the torches on the roof rack idea as the lights will be covered. I have owned ny truck for about 4 years and have modded it for my style of driving. Looking forward to a 5 day trip to brisbane via darwin to catch up with my family and get a new recaro seat from southside ARB. Not too worried about the rivers just wanted an idea of the gears that i should be in. I use to live in Brisbane and have been to most of the parks around but have not done much water crossing before. cheers for your advise guys, I will post up some photos of the trip.

[Braddels]

The water bra is a must as the Supercharger belt pulley has made the fan very close to the radiator and I do not want it to be sucked in by the water and stuff the radiator, this happened just a few days ago to a service vehicle crossing the same river. A mate of mine ( Landrover driver )was coming back into town and found him. I would have asked him the question but he has gone bush again and gets back to town when I drive out Like I said thanks for the advice. Nothing against landrover drivers, just the cars. And it keep the Nissan/landy debate hot around the fire.

[droopypete]

One tip, pick your gear (whatever that may be) and avoid using the clutch whilst submerged, that doesn't mean don't change gears, just don't use the clutch, and have a safe trip.
Peter.

[v8zuki]

i drilled a small hole in the end of my fan blade
then fit an ocky strap to stop it turning whilst doing deep water crossings
have done this many times

[80's_delirious]

good call


Braddels, no offence, but have you read your own posts??

you have asked a farily basic question,
your capability is questionable (your own post)
crocs in the river, wife and kid in the car,
you are planning to cross a river that is bonnet deep,
crocs in the river, wife and kid in the car,
wont walk it coz of crocs,
crocs in the river, wife and kid in the car,
you are going to cross it at midnight with wife and kid in the car,
crocs in the river, wife and kid in the car,
lights will be covered by bra,
crocs in the river, wife and kid in the car,
fan my take out radiator, coz of supercharger,
crocs in the river, wife and kid in the car,
no second vehicle for support,
crocs in the river, wife and kid in the car,
remote area,
crocs in the river, wife and kid in the car,
landy was stranded there recently,


sounds like fun, what can possibly go wrong

did someone mention crocs in the river, wife and kid in the car,


seriously though dude,

why not leave a bit earlier, get through the river crossings in daylight, then let the little fella sleep the rest of the trip, how old is the young bloke?
Crossing it at night just adds to the possibility of problems IMO

[chunks]

Seems like a recipe for disaster to me.

[thehanko]

Seems like a recipe for disaster to me.

the only real risk i see is the solo vehicle, which might not be avoidable.

he also mentioned its the only track available for access, so im guessing your not going to be stuck there forever, but if you have any one to go as far as the crossing with you it would be ideal.

bonnet deep is not exactly a hard ask for a patrol with snorkle, I would disconnect the fan belt if it is even a remote concern, it will take a few minutes and take a major risk out of the equation.

Why do people always poohar others who ask for advise... im not sure about something so i will ask advice so i can do it better... there fore the reaction is 'oi you that must mean your a fricken idiot' does really help much.

most people on this site would charge into that crossing without half the for thought he is giving it.

[Braddels]

ok ok ok crocs in the river, way of life up here. It was only a small 12 footer.
like i said the track and river xing is not an issue just wanted to get some advice on which gear to do it in, looks like low second.
Landy did not get stuck, a service truck had its fan blade go through its radiator, Landy made it through as it always does.
Track used daily as it is the only way out for quite a few remote towns.
Leaving at night coz im coming off night shift and will be sleeping through the day.may leave through the day and get the handbrake to drive a bit.
You try keeping a 16 month old boy entertained for 10-12 hours in a car seat, time depending on how chewed up the track is.
Water bonnet height, well maybe top of wheel arch, top of grill height.not worried.
I forgot to mention the buffalos, more common than crocs. All is good guys thanks for your concerns

[80's_delirious]

good luck mate, sounds like you have considered the risks

just dont get photographed doing it, you might be the next guy in a 4by crossing 'dangerous river' with family on board to make chanel 7,9 10 national news.
you arent towing a ski boat as well are you?

I have done lots of stuff solo that many wouldnt, I think about things differently when I have my young bloke with me though.

[Braddels]

Its on Aboriginal land and is the main H'Way up here, I have all my permits and there is no probs goin through the rivers, as that is where the road goes straight accross. 5 river/ causways in total.My thruck has no leaks. All risks considered, if it was the wet season different story as this crossing is cut off and is about 20ft under water.
As for my family I love them dearly and would never put them in any danger. As previously stated I am not worried about the Xing just the gear ratio to be in, I had a fairly good idea to use 2nd Low but thought that I would confirm this with the opinions of other members. Had I not then my next thread might of started a little different "So we got stranded on a remote highway today as I drove into a river xing in 2nd high and smashed my radiator, if only I checked with the OL crew first". Should be a good trip out of town and looking forward to getting to Brisbane. Thanks for the replies fellas.

[80's_delirious]

hey, maybe you could get your missus to wade accross the river and video the pootrol crossing and post it on youtube

[Braddels]

Already asked her, she was not impressed about sharing the water with the toothy handbag.I may go accross and drop her off ( and the boy if he wakes up) and get some water xing shots. Will see how time goes.

[SIMMO84]

As to keeping the little fella entertained, DVD player. I recently done a trip the same lenght with a 12 month old and a 24 month old, had no dramas.

[Braddels]

Yep, I got the dvd player and the wiggles already packed.

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

have you fitted extended diff breathers champ?
and if i were you id be goin low 2nd.
just my 2c.

[Deleted User]

Seems like a recipe for disaster to me.

I tend to agree.
When you have kids on board -- dont take ANY RISKS AT ALL !!!!!!!!

It might only be a small crossing, but conditions change.

Happened up in the High Country in NE Vic a few years ago -- VERY experienced Deer Hunter ( dogger ) had to do a river crossing that he had done hundreds of times.
Conditions had changed and he ended up drowning all the dogs -- stuffed his truck, and was lucky to get out himself.


Kids = Take no chances

Cant you camp out in a safe spot till daylight ?

[Braddels]

ok looking at leaving town @ midnight and should reach the first xing at 4-5am, let diffs cool and fill tanks and by then the sun should be comin up.

[Dane]

I always prefer to use low range when doing stuff like that. It gives you the option of going straight for the lowest gear available and you aren't going to need to go any faster than 5th Low.

[DR Frankenstine]

Sorry but I strongly believe if you need to ask this question you havn't the off road know how to be attempting these sort of crossings. There are that many variables with water crossings nobody can answer this question. It's a matter of assesing it when you get there. Unless it's a causway crossing with depth markers or you know the crossing (and even then things can change) you shouldn't be doing it alone. Especially with kids on board.

[jsttry]

Cahills Crossing by any chance?

[Braddels]

Goyder river crossing, looking back it was a very simple 4wding question that I asked and thanks to some of the posts I have confirmed the answer that I thought, so this can be put to bed now. Cheers.

[Toli]

I would say second low as well.

when do you go?

Do not forget to post pics.

Why not ask around at work if anyone else is going in the same direction. I always feel better when there is another car with me.

Good luck and have fun on the trip.

[Goatse.AJ]

2nd Low.

And ditch the DVD player in the river while you're there. What's wrong with engaging the kid(s) with the world outside the vehicle? Makes for much more enjoyable travel when the kids don't grow up relying on passive "entertainment".

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

if you have extended breathers do ya need to let the diffs cool??