My Discovery is ruining my fun.

[SeanC]

Just got back from a week camping on Moreton Island. Drove all the tracks. Circumnavigated the Island twice including a run along the northern beach from Comboyuro Point to Yellow Patch where we were camped. Drove through a group of 40-50 middle aged nudists at Shark Spit. That’s right, through, not past, through. Once seen, some things can never be unseen. We had a great time the D3 performed flawlessly. But I discovered that others we’re having fun and excitement that I was missing out on.


It all started in the Blue Lagoon car park.


It was a motley crew in the car park that afternoon. An ageing troopy rented by some backpackers. An equally old defender and a 2008 D3. As we were packing to leave a vehicle emerged from around the corner and what a vehicle it was. The USS Ranger. Perfect gleaming paintwork. Gloss black bull bar. A pair of big LED spotlights. Extended wheel arches. Black alloy rims with oversized muddies. Piloting the impressive machine was none other than Captain James T. Kirk and at his side Lieutenant Uhura. Serenely observing the track, little did Kirk realise what was to befall him.
“Kirk to the engine room. How are things down there Scotty?”
“Everything is fine captain”
An then they hit the car park.
“Scotty. Something is wrong. We are losing speed. More power.”
“Aye captain.”
“It’s not working Scotty. More power.”
“I don’t know if she can handle it captain”
“We must. It’s our only chance”
“Aye Captain.”
But alas the majestic machine came to a halt in the middle of the car park.
A panicked Kirk shouted “Scotty we have to get out of here! Full reverse! Give it everything you’ve got!”
The beast roared, the wheels spun and sand flew everywhere.
Slowly. Inch by tortuous inch the magnificent vehicle reversed towards the safety of the track. We held our breaths. Will they make it or will they fail? Finally they reached the sanctuary where they turned around and the USS Ranger disappeared from view off to explore the next wonder of the Isle of Moreton.


The point of the story is that they had so much fun and excitement in the carpark that they completely forgot the reason the where there in the first place. To see the Blue Lagoon. I want that sort of excitement where I forget about everything else. What do I get? Drive in. Park. Reverse. Leave. Where’s my fun? Where’s my excitement?
My chance was just around the corner.


The next afternoon I drove the the North Point campground to get some water. I got chatting and lamented the fact that the storm we had on the first night had firmed the tracks and there were no real challenges.
“Have you been on the Middle Road yet?”
“No.” I said.
“I did it this afternoon. It’s really soft and cut up. Some places I needed a couple of goes to get to the top.”
Now this is what I’m looking for.
So three days later I’m at the western entrance of the 7km Middle Road. Tyres down from my usual 16 psi to 14psi. I am tingling with anticipation and excitement. The fun is about to start. OK let’s do this.
Bitter, bitter disappointment.
Did I have to try anything twice? NO!
Did I have to get a run-up? NO!
Did I just walk up these horrendously scalloped slopes. YES!
I kept thinking, “It will be just around the next corner” But it never was.
I had reached the ocean. I had one hope left. Middle Road is actually two tracks. One from west to east. Which I had just done and the east west track. Now he never said which track he drove. It must have been the east west. That’s where I’ll find my fun.
So I turned to my partner and asked if she minded if we went back again followed quickly with “we can stop near Tangalooma and you can Facebook”
I got the reply I was after. So with renewed enthusiasm I set off only to be disappointed again.
My vehicle had failed me again. It had turned potentially engine revving, wheel spinning, suspension breaking fun into a Sunday afternoon drive. Albeit a bumpy one.


But I have a plan.
My new sand driving mantra is,
DSC on.
Special programs off.
Tyre pressure 30 and beyond.
I’m ready for my fun.
BRING IT ON!!!

[scarry]

Great place,we certainly had some fun last time we were there.A lot less crowded than Fraser,we usually go mid week,and not school holidays.

Got badly bogged at the Eastern entrance to the Middle road,just on dusk[bigsad][biggrin]

No one came along,it was pitch black before we eventually got going,quite a few hours later.

Long handled shovel,lots of digging,tyres down from 18PSI,to 12 PSI,they were 17" in those days.

Driver error was some of the cause,DSC was left on[bighmmm],so it lost all power and sank in the middle of the real soft stuff[bigsad]:bat:

All fun and games.....

[SeanC]

Got bogged once. It was a beach exit I used multiple times per day. Rather than following the track marks in I had started driving across them then turning in with a squirt of power to get lined up. This time the squirt of power left me bogged. WTF?? Oh DSC is on. Luckily only took a couple of minutes with the shovel to get out.

Here’s a photo on the western beach. The boat in the distance is the nudist boat. We were still blissfully unaware of what was about to confront us.

“Shared album - Sean Corley - Google Photos (https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bde4fiPoBh84uXQT7)”

[Russrobe]

Sounds like fun, what size and type of tyre did you run?

[SeanC]

Sounds like fun, what size and type of tyre did you run?
Cooper AT/3 265/65/R17

[SeanC]

Got bogged once. It was a beach exit I used multiple times per day. Rather than following the track marks in I had started driving across them then turning in with a squirt of power to get lined up. This time the squirt of power left me bogged. WTF?? Oh DSC is on. Luckily only took a couple of minutes with the shovel to get out.

Here’s a photo on the western beach. The boat in the distance is the nudist boat. We were still blissfully unaware of what was about to confront us.

“Shared album - Sean Corley - Google Photos (https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bde4fiPoBh84uXQT7)”
When I said I got bogged once. That was once on the trip. Not once ever.

[matti4556]

I know how you feel Sean - I got so bored putting around on Moreton Island a few months ago I decided to do possibly the most stupid thing in my life in any 4WD - you know - just to be "like the others" . Never again, but it got me one step closer to getting bogged for a change - all be it underwater.
I know I know - get out and walk it first blah blah blah (but that's not the context of this post/thread [smilebigeye])

146358

[rar110]

I know how you feel Sean - I got so bored putting around on Moreton Island a few months ago I decided to do possibly the most stupid thing in my life in any 4WD - you know - just to be "like the others" . Never again, but it got me one step closer to getting bogged for a change - all be it underwater.
I know I know - get out and walk it first blah blah blah (but that's not the context of this post/thread [smilebigeye])

146358

Bloody hell. Did it stop?

[scarry]

Bloody hell. Did it stop?


Salt water,or fresh?

Where on the island was that?

Edit--- up Yellowpatch way?

[goofyr]

I know how you feel Sean - I got so bored putting around on Moreton Island a few months ago I decided to do possibly the most stupid thing in my life in any 4WD - you know - just to be "like the others" . Never again, but it got me one step closer to getting bogged for a change - all be it underwater.
I know I know - get out and walk it first blah blah blah (but that's not the context of this post/thread [smilebigeye])

146358

OMG....so did you make

[SeanC]

I know how you feel Sean - I got so bored putting around on Moreton Island a few months ago I decided to do possibly the most stupid thing in my life in any 4WD - you know - just to be "like the others" . Never again, but it got me one step closer to getting bogged for a change - all be it underwater.
I know I know - get out and walk it first blah blah blah (but that's not the context of this post/thread [smilebigeye])

146358
Without a snorkel??!!!

[DiscoJeffster]

What he said! No snorkel! Jebus

[matti4556]

Paul - Yellow patch was wet in places but only wheel deep and for a looong way so that was ok - and there was a couple of crossings I actually walked that came up to my neck. So as you can guess I didn't cross those.

This was at Blue Lagoon North campgrounds
-27.090040
153.444869
Lots of wheel tracks in and out from the week before (school holidays) and brackish water colour so the depth was masked.
Lots of rain a few days earlier caught me out this time - the water level came up to "too deep". Who would have thunked!?
It was fresh-ish water.

It pulled through, although I had one of those "pucker" moments when it lost traction in the deepest part (started to float)
The vehicle had no water enter, although the Landrover passenger seat depth alarm was going off like a frog in a sock! - available here -


It coughed and ran really rough on the climb out and I thought I was toast at that point as she didn't want to get out of the swimming pool. The gods smiling down on me made 2 things happen.
1. Because of the up angle on exit, the water quickly drained from the air inlet pipe to the airbox.
2. The engine was stalling due to no intake air because the bottom of the filter got wet and was sealing the whole shebang. The poorly fitting filter "let go" at one of the edges due to the engine vacuum screaming for air (think orange seal around edge of paper filter tore apart) and this let fresh air (seconds earlier it would have been water) into the engine through the new gap formed by the deformed paper filter and she pulled harder than a schoolboy with his first stick book.

No Snorkel? - correct - no snorkel. "what do I need a snorkel for? - I will never cross a creek that deep to need one".

Mate from South Australia we were camping with took the photo when he arrived at the other side by coming in off the beach - I can still remember his face as I emerged from the creek - he drives a (very) lifted GQ Patrol - I just told him "you do it all the time in a Landrover, don't you?" and popped the bonnet to check the filter.

The rest of the week on the Island was, as you can imagine. boring. Car went everywhere with no issue..... Just like Sean's week.

p.s. my Scratch-it I bought when I got home didn't win anything, but I think I'm the luckiest guy around anyhow!
Matti

[Russrobe]

No Snorkel? - correct - no snorkel. "what do I need a snorkel for? - I will never cross a creek that deep to need one".

Matti

Matti, how can you say you'll never cross a creek that's deep enough to need a snorkel when you just crossed a creek with the intake below the waterline, lol.

Makes no sense to me, you got lucky here IMO, as you clearly went above the 700mm wading capability LR claim it's capable of. TBH i think it's capable of 900mm without a snorkel, but seeing as you had the intakes underwater, i'd say it was more like 1000mm, and you got lucky.

Either way, $800 for a safari snorkel to protect a $20,000 engine... I'd fit one again, and again, in every 4x4 i ever own now and in the future.

This chick can't drive, but still shows what happens as soon as water gets into that side intake. Goodbye engine. YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XthgezbSCJ0&t=7s)

Here's a pic of a crossing i did last year with intake below the waterline, main difference being i wasn't even the slightest bit worried, because it has a snorkel....

[DiscoJeffster]

She failed because she didn’t make a bow wave and thus the intake submerged. If she’d gone at some pace she might have had a fighting chance. Some, maybe not much more, but some.

[Russrobe]

She failed because she didn’t make a bow wave and thus the intake submerged. If she’d gone at some pace she might have had a fighting chance. Some, maybe not much more, but some.

Of course, but that's just it, why bother take the risk? It's $800, if you don't want to do water crossings, there's usually other ways around, but why bother taking the risk. Can say my engine didn't cough or splutter on any water crossing i've ever done so can almost guarantee Mat got some water in the intake. It does hit that point where it surges as water sucks the car down, but that doesn't make it cough.

Anyway back on topic. By the sounds of things the 265 65 17s are better in sand than the 285 60s. If end up keeping my D4 (2.7) i'll be trying that size out next, only one big trip left out of my 285s anyway i'd say.

Doesn't mean to say the 285s aren't good in sand, I just get the feeling i have to push mine a bit harder to get the same results.

[speleomike]

She failed because she didn’t make a bow wave and thus the intake submerged. If she’d gone at some pace she might have had a fighting chance. Some, maybe not much more, but some.

And the more experienced people around should have ensured she wasn't the driver. That depth is not something to dump an inexperienced person into.

Mike

[PerthDisco]

She failed because she didn’t make a bow wave and thus the intake submerged. If she’d gone at some pace she might have had a fighting chance. Some, maybe not much more, but some.

She who hesitates is lost

[matti4556]

Matti, how can you say you'll never cross a creek that's deep enough to need a snorkel when you just crossed a creek with the intake below the waterline, lol.

...

It was meant to be a tongue in cheek comment [thumbsupbig]
Matti

[Russrobe]

It was meant to be a tongue in cheek comment [thumbsupbig]
Matti

Haha, no worries. End of the day it's your car and your risk anyway, just didn't want to lead some newbie into ending up like that poor chick in the video.

How on earth those bystanders could stand back and watch the air intakes go underwater annoys me!

One of them had to know something about engines and why water is very bad.

[DiscoJeffster]

Haha, no worries. End of the day it's your car and your risk anyway, just didn't want to lead some newbie into ending up like that poor chick in the video.

How on earth those bystanders could stand back and watch the air intakes go underwater annoys me!

One of them had to know something about engines and why water is very bad.

They video the air intake going under water specifically so they clearly knew.

[4bee]

But I discovered that others we’re having fun and excitement that I was missing out on.


You have your answer. Join the Nudists.[biggrin][biggrin][biggrin][biggrin][biggrin]

[SBD4]

....went above the 700mm wading capability LR claim it's capable of. TBH i think it's capable of 900mm without a snorkel, .....

I think the 700mm is based on the vehicle being stationary in the water without compromising the air intake. 900mm with a bow wave to provide the hollow, yes, but if for any reason you fail to proceed.... well, time to talk to the bank.[bigwhistle]

Did I mention the is the best thread in a long time![thumbsupbig] Great stories Sean and Matti!

[4bee]

Whatever happened to the idea of throwing a tarp across the front grille, has it gone out of Offroader's fashion?

[LRJim]

Whatever happened to the idea of throwing a tarp across the front grille, has it gone out of Offroader's fashion?Agreed, but everyone thinks diesels are submarines [emoji38][emoji38] back when most people had petrol motors it would have been the 1st thing to do!

[4bee]

Curious that.[bighmmm]

A low level air intake is still a low level air intake & it doesn't matter what fuels the engine behind it.

As the man said it could be time to talk to one's bank. [bighmmm]

[Russrobe]

Idea behind the tarp being pointless is those watertight seals you have under the bonnet, and the way the bonnet itself is designed to disperse water during a crossing (there's tracks running inside). It's supposed to create an air pocket, which is enough to prevent a wall of water instantly flooding the engine bay.

I read enough a couple of years ago to decide it wasn't worth worrying about. With both systems in place, hardly any water has got past the belt for me. I had a squeaky belt after a crossing once, which went away after a minute or two.

[4bee]

That's great if it works ok consistently for you, no really, just pray that it wasn't designed by the same engineer that designed the top Rad Hose protection, the 'lifting Dash' & probably more little doosies that can jump up & bite your bum..[smilebigeye]

A $10 blue tarp is very cheap insurance though.

[SBD4]

Obviously we all know the main reason for the tarp is to help minimise water entering the engine bay through the grill/radiator so as to keep the relative water level down in the in the engine bay helping to the keep electrics dry, reduce the chance of the cooling fan ending up in your radiator and if you don't have snorkel, hopefully keep the water level below the air intake. However, on the more modern land rovers there are a couple of design features that reduce the need for it:



Clam shell bonnet design helps disperse water washing over the bonnet outside of the engine bay
Cooling fans have all fins joined by outer ring to stop them breaking off or being pull forward into the radiator
fans are viscous coupled / electrically operated so are easily slowed/stopped by water resistance (enter water slowly)
The rubber seals as previously mentioned


In the case of the D3/4, the air intake is the side grill behind the drivers side front wheel arch (for diesels, V8 uses both) so, a tarp is going to do nothing to help control water level to that. The only thing that will assist in deep water (without a snorkel) is decent forward momentum to ensure the bow wave creates the hollow at the intake. The other reasons for the tarp are somewhat mitigated by design.

No doubt that a tarp would give a bit more peace of mind, but to imply that not putting one on is inviting disaster is really over dramatising the risk. Needless to say, when wading to the specified wading depth a tarp is absolutely not required.

In the case above I don't think he would have attempted it had he known the depth, tarp or not. He mentioned the circumstances that led to him making the crossing.

[4bee]

Thanks Sean, well put.

I bet it wouldn't be just me that doesn't understand the safeguards involved. And now I do.[smilebigeye]

[SBD4]

Thanks Sean, well put.

I bet it wouldn't be just me that doesn't understand the safeguards involved. And now I do.[smilebigeye]

[thumbsupbig] no worries 4bee, that's what so good about this place, we all learn a little bit more every day we visit.