WATER WONDERLAND

CONQUERING WATER CROSSINGS

Pack your flippers and your floaties as we’re about to run through the ins and outs of taking you’re 4WD for a swim! 

LETS GET ONE THING STRAIGHT, A 4WD IS NOT A BOAT!

CAR DOORS ARE NOTORIOUSLY HARD TO OPEN WHEN A VEHICLE IS FULLY SUBMERGED IN WATER

What’s an adventure without a little water, eh? Yep, it’s hard to beat that exhilarating feeling of tackling a particularly challenging water crossing and making it out the other side in one piece. But let’s face it, not everybody makes it to the other side! In fact, there’s a bit of an art to successfully negotiating a tricky stretch of water, and it’s an art that could save you a lot of money in the long run. So we thought we’d run you through a crash course with our guide on how to prepare your rig for a bit of a dip and what techniques you’ll need to give you a fighting chance!

SEAL UP YOUR SET-UP

Let’s get one thing straight, a 4WD is not a boat. Nor is your camper trailer. Sure, they can handle a bit of water, but even ducks can drown, right? Now, there are a few things you can do to prepare your set-up for the wet stuff and sealing up any gaps is a bloody good place to start. Yep, making sure water cannot get inside your engine or any of its critical electrical components is absolutely essential. Then, it’s time to do a few upgrades…

MUST HAVE MODS

SNORKEL: A snorkel will raise your engines air intake to the top of the vehicle. So you can rest assure it won’t get submerged and suck in a gut full of water. 

EXTENDED BREATHERS: Your vehicles drivetrain needs to breathe, or more specifically allow air to vent outside to prevent pressure building up inside the assembly. These breathers should also be extended to a higher point to ensure they don’t allow water to enter or get clogged up. 

MARINE HUB SEALS: Marine hub seals are a cheap and easy way to help seal up your camper trailers hub assembly. They’re designed to perform better while submerged in water than general automotive seals as they are generally used for boat trailers and the like. 

SCOUT IT OUT

Before attempting a water crossing, you should almost always walk through It on foot first to scout it out and get the lay of the land. After all, it’s nice to know how deep the water is and if there are any deeper holes in the path ahead. Then there’s the benefit of knowing how fast the water is actually flowing or if there is any form of under-current to be weary of, or if there are any unexpected obstacles to look out for.  

Obviously, if you are up in northern Australia where Saltwater Crocodiles are a concern, it can be a little tricky so a bit of common sense will prevail here.

FOR PEACE OF MIND, CARRY AN EMERGENCY GLASS BREAKER IN YOUR CAR!

BEFORE YOU DIVE IN THE DEEP END

Before you tackle the crossing, there are a few things to get prepared. For example, you’ll need to plot out which line or route to take. You should know exactly where you need to place your wheels as well as where you’ll be entering and exiting the crossing too.   

WINDOWS DOWN: Car doors are notoriously hard to open when a vehicle is fully submerged thanks to the water pressure pressing against the large surface area of the door. So, to ensure you’ve got an escape route, it’s a good idea to leave your window open. It’s also not a bad idea to leave your seatbelt off while you cross the water too, so they don’t lock you in your seat if you need to get out.

COOL DOWN FIRST: If your brakes are hot, let them cool down before you drop them hot metal into cold water, eh? Otherwise you’ll not only risk warping your brake rotors, but the hub can contract with the rapid change of temperature and suck water into the hub assembly.   

WATER BRA: If the water is deep enough for part of the engine bay to be submerged, a water bra is worth considering. The idea is it will allow you to create push the water in front of your to create a bow wave, which reduces the amount of water that gets into your engine bay.  

GET YOUR RECOVERY GEAR READY: If the crossing looks even remotely sketchy, get your recovery gear ready and have a plan B in place. There’s nothing water than having water lapping at your knees while you try and work out what to do next.

HOW IT’S DONE…

Selecting low range for a water crossing is almost always advisable. It will give you maximum engine torque while allowing you to maintain a controllable speed, which is exactly what you’ll need to push through the water while you’re towing a trailer.

What gear you ask? Well, you’ll want to pick a gear that offers plenty of mumbo. Choose one that you can stay in for the duration of the water crossing as shifting gears mid-way through can cause you lose momentum. Pressing the clutch while the bell housing is submerged can also let water get in-between the clutch plate and flywheel, which can cause it to slip if it loses friction.