Thread: Why is the Defender wading depth only 500mm?

Originally Posted by PAT303

Thats the smart way. Pat

Indeed... People forget just how powerful water is and it doesn't take much to get you into trouble. To put that into context:

If 1L = 1kg = 10 cm3
Therefore
1M3 = 1000L = 1Tonne!!!

When fording, you can be pushing sever tonne of water... Or have several tonne of water, pushing on the side of the car!!

They also forget that if the water is deep enough, the car becomes buoyant... Once you reach that point, it only needs the slightest of flow and you're at the mercy of the current. People die, every year due to that one...

M

Is there a standard definition of "wading". Mercedes Benz only rate Unimogs at 1.2m "wading depth". Unimogs have air pressurised axle, transfer case/gearbox etc, and rubber seals and things like the dipstick and oil cap even though are 1.6m about the ground.

According to an engineer who used to work at MB their definition of wading to be able to stop in water 1.2m deep for a minimum of 2 hours at idle, and then drive off without any effect on the vehicle.

Not sure if this is a DIN standard but I expect manufactures are talking about being in the water for a lot longer than just the few seconds in a river crossing.

Originally Posted by Iain_B

Is there a standard definition of "wading". Mercedes Benz only rate Unimogs at 1.2m "wading depth". Unimogs have air pressurised axle, transfer case/gearbox etc, and rubber seals and things like the dipstick and oil cap even though are 1.6m about the ground.

According to an engineer who used to work at MB their definition of wading to be able to stop in water 1.2m deep for a minimum of 2 hours at idle, and then drive off without any effect on the vehicle.

Not sure if this is a DIN standard but I expect manufactures are talking about being in the water for a lot longer than just the few seconds in a river crossing.

on most mogs the batteries are at 1.2m as is the front crank seal.

None of these are me (or hopefully will ever be!)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro48lL1YZIw"]DEEP WATER CROSSINGS !!! 4wd 4x4 offroad - YouTube[/ame]

PS: Is the Land Rover at 5:55 anyone on here?

So none of you have been or plan to go to Cape York?

Somethimes crossing a creek deeper than 500mm is the only way through. Yes a person has the choice….

Originally Posted by uninformed

So none of you have been or plan to go to Cape York?

Somethimes crossing a creek deeper than 500mm is the only way through. Yes a person has the choice….

Yes I do plan to go to the Cape, and that's part of the reason I ask.

There are times where it is be necessary to go deeper than 500mm in order to get to where you want to be, or face turning back.

The choice has to do with a lot of things, but it would be an uninformed decision without knowing what the weak points of the vehicle are before wading in.

Some things can be fixed (breathers, sealed raised air intake etc), but others may not be as easily sorted.

Some are ok as long as you don't stop, others more vulnerable to water coming from specific sides (e.g. stock air intake).

Either way, learning from the knowledge and/or mistakes of others is a whole lot safer / cheaper than "she'll be right".

PS: sorry could not help the puns.

learn how to hook up a tarp as a wading blanket first up (you'll be surprised at exactly how fast you can do it when you have sorted the correct assembly of occy straps, zip ties, tie downs and tarp mods presorted (including sewing the loose flaps of the tarp if needed so its a preshaped fit.

ALWAYS walk the crossing first

remember the 3 golden requirements/rules.

1. Can the vehicle get me there?
2. can I get the vehicle there?
3. do I need to get there?

A no or Im not sure to any of them should mean you dont do it.

On a good day, I had putting the wading tarp on on fozzy down to about 15 seconds.

So you don't get the carpet or your boat shoes wet.
Seriously though , water pressure pushing is a good point and much over 500mm is starting to push on the body. Land Rover is not going to recommend anything that might be " dangerous " now are they. You cant even say "do so at your own risk" because that in itself suggests that it may not be safe to continue.
Bit like putting a dog warning sign on your gate, can make you worse off .

How high is the starter motor ?