Club 80-90 Forums

Just wondering if anyone has advice on for-d crossing?

If crossing a fast moving stream are you going to be okay if the water is only pushing against the wheels? Would the problems only really start if the water was high enough to start pushing against the body work? Or can you risk it alittle higher?

Does that make sense?

Depends on having checked the bottom of the ford is clear of obstacles and hidden traps, and the vehicle to an extent. Theres a risk of water ingress to key components eg. motor, trans, starter, etc. You obviously don't want your motor to stall or suck in water. Petrol HT electrics are vulnerable, keeping momentum going keeps the engine bay clear of water. Trans breather lines should be connected and functional. Things like the starter must be properly sealed or they can take in water and slowly die later.

Oh yeah, if you haven't seen it, check:

http://www.busman.be/swimcro.wmv

i agree with all of the above especially the starter thing, mine died 6months after i did some deep wading, when i stripped the starter it was totally rusted in side and the bushes were crusted up and there was about an inch of silt in it, i guess i'm not the first to go into the deep with the van but i will be more cautious in future. starters are a bugger to change on a syncro!

Cheers for replies chaps but............


To be honest I'm thinking more of the physics of crossing water.

Its a smooth concrete crossing.

At what height does water have the force to start pushing you sideways?

I know the speed of the water is a major factor, but if we were to say an average,.....what?.......25/30 mph?......would that be average-ish?

Is it then impossible to move a syncro sideways until the water is deep enough to reach the body, when it has a large surface area to act on?

I think genrally deaper water moves slower, but it has a higher mass flow rate as theres more of it.

Water crossings are a dodgey one and there are no rules as such, you just have to take each one as it comes. Slow water is good, shallow water is good, anything else takes preperation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOEpMhuYGh4

Heres a bad example - I'd say that water looks a little fast for my likeing. A land-rover would probubly be fine through that if the engine stayed working but thats due to the fact the body would let in loads of water through the non existant door seals preventing it from floating away. In slower moving water setting up a bow wave to follow and keeping the revs up is good, on a front engined vehicle that keeps the waterlevel in the engine bay down a bit but I guess thats less of a factor in a syncro, could help keep the front end from surfing on the bashplate though? As always, once starting an off road obsticale get it in the right gear and don't change it. Having never waded my syncro I'm not sure which is the best gear to use, I'd have thought G a bit slow and 1st a bit fast at a good 3k RPM but theres not much you can do about that. The lower gear would be better than running out of grunt and dieing in the middle!

Personly after draining water out of my landys axles alot (was recently fresh oil before the water came in), replaced rusty wheel bearings and even found water sitting in the air filter houseing, I've got a bit bord of wadeing - too much extra matinance needed and you can usally drive round. That said driving a petrol series 1 down the river Wye (Byford, Nr Hereford) was quite a buzz, especally when it came to the crossing and you could hear the exhaust under and feel the current pulling the steering - to my surpise it stayed on 4 cylinders too! (I've been down to 2 cylinders in the past which is scary as it won't run on 1!) - that was worth doing, but most importantly we had sent a man with a stick through first to suss out the best line, often overlooked as noone wants to do it but from it you'll find out deapth, current pull, surface of river bed including slipperyness (concrete is smooth but can be slippy) - basicly all you need for a safe crossing.

ok youre on smooth concrete, the waters 2ft deep and travelling 4mph (walking speed)
depending on the weight of the vehicle and the size of the tyres will depend on wether the vehicle will move.

ie i'm sure you've seen toyota hilux's
standard wheels n tyres the vehicle will be ok
huge 33"x10" mud pluggers and the vehicle will float and move,
stick 1ton of concrete in the back and it wont!
the holes in your van will allow water in, but the boyancey factor will remain.

ive had no worries about my van floating in deep water, i'm on 225X15's
i had an audi 100 that floated when the water was above the tyres, it felt unsteady thru 18" of fast moving water, the tractor i followed looked worse!!

Sounds like some good experience speaking there. Deep and fast is the danger you ask about... its heavy stuff, is that water!

Those guidelines above? 2ft and 4-5mph you reckon is about the limit?

Syncros seem pretty good at keeping the engine bay clear of trouble if you keep some way on, and head slightly upcurrent if its running fast. Stop for any reason and you're in trouble. Attach good length tow-ropes before entering deep water...

Sills and box-sections can fill up with silt.

I am sure I can find some water at the May event to test your theories guys, remember my exploits in Wales 2006!

I've forded with a lifted Toyota fj40 landcruiser with 33/9.50 16s in 18" of water moving about 5-8mph on rock bottom as an example. Force of water pushed rear out (lightest end even with a weeks worth of supplys, fuel, and camping gear) at about 45 degree angle to current. 4wd pulls on across, but you will end up drifting downstream quite a bit too. 2' of water is very dangerous! Syncos are not high enough or heavy enough to keep traction in 2' water with much current. Also remember that anything like moss growing on the concrete will make it slicker then snot on a greased door knob... just force of water against tires will cause them to slip. vwjon has it right... too many hours of maintenance workand ££ for new oil and grease to justify the few minutes of fun.

remember my exploits in Wales 2006!

Noah, I don't

Ah, its all come flooding back

Any photos?