Well it looks like tropical storm Lee will smack GA, Tuesday. Theres a couple of flood prone roads where I live. Any advice on 10-15in water crossing?

Thanks Collin

 

I'm getting it from Lee right now. Had to go through some water about knee deep this morning in my RR, wasn't really a big deal. Much deeper than that, go fast enough to create a bow wave and that will help keep water out of the engine compartment

 

Check the condition of your axle breather poppets and tubes so you don't end up with your differential cases full of water and have to drain and refill them.

In deeper water, you want to avoid a problem with the engine fan blades deflecting and bending. Watch for the airfilter to get soaked and stall the engine. If you go deeper than that then you're potentially getting water everywhere but that's over 20".

Axle deep, just check the tubes. Up to 20" or so, use the bow-wave method to keep the fan and air intake clear. Some lifted Rovers could go a little deeper with just this.

 

You'll also want to think about the condition of your swivel ball housing seals. The '95 can run oil or you could fill with grease. If your seals are good, there's no problem. If they're bad, then you'll know because they'll be leaking oil or you will have filled with grease to stop it. If they hold oil, they'll keep water out. If you know they leak, then you might get some water in there. You should be able to drain it since your swivel housings will have the drains. Even if you filled with grease, you could open the drain to see if any water comes out.

 

Yes. Don't drive through them.

While it's cool and makes you feel rugged, you won't feel so cool or rugged if the road has washed out and you drive in to an 8' deep hole. Or worse, half the road has washed out and you flip upside down in to an 8' hole.
Don't make more work for emergency workers.

People who've been driving off-road a long time (and short timers who pay attention) know to check the depth of the water before fording. It applies on roads as well.

This is a minor washout compared to some and the water was level over it.


A woman died year before last near me when the water she was crossing looked like this underneath

 

Dang, that's bad.. Well I'm not going to be tempted to cross rivers or puddles... looks like the rover gods called my rover home.....

 

If you MUST here is what you do, start slow, go just fast enough to make a small bow wake.
Keep that pace, just fast enough to make the bow wake, do NOT stop and do NOT back up.
Once on the other side keep moving if possible/needed apply slight pressure on the brakes to heat them up and dry them off.
If you must cross moving water angle slightly upstream, doing so the leading corner of your truck will act like the bow of a boat and "cut" threw the water as well as reduce your exposure to the moving water.
It is always best to go around, even if it is longer, however, sometimes you just have to go through.

Down by the river - YouTube

 

I agree that you need to be able to see the bottom of the crossing and tell the condition (rocks or quicksand, logs etc.), or cross it on foot first so you know. I wear or keep Bogs/Muck boots. More ambitious drivers need hip boots or waders unless they just plan on being wet, camel trophy style. Personally, I wouldn't make a wader-deep crossing without another vehicle/winch standing by. My boots are 16".

 

CB -

Another thing to consider is if dad has you as liability-only insurance coverage. Your Disco with the rockin' audio system won't be much good to you as a pasture ornament.... Tom's right about the wash outs with clay so common, and hills to channel the water flow steeper and deeper. If the water is moving so fast you hear banjo music, go around....

 

Couldn't we just hang out and listen to the banjo music...