Cape York and snorkel

[redrover3]

For those who have been to the cape, need some advice. As stated on another thread here, I'm going up to the cape this Saturday for a month. I haven't got a snorkel on my s1 discovery. Planning on doing the southern section of the the telegraph track as well as the bottom part of the northern section up to Sam Creek. The air inlet to the air filter is about 950mm above the ground with 2" lift and 31" tyres. I'm planning on walking the creeks and using a wading blanket where appropriate. I've been reluctant to get a snorkel because: (A) full time student so not much cash and (B) most of our trips are into the centre during the dry season so not much water. How do you think I'll get on? Probably a bit late at this stage to organise a snorkel anyway.
Tony

[roverrescue]

"In my experience" you should be fine, there will always be water deep enough for you t drown a truck in but by now it can mostly be avoided?...Take it easy, by this stage all rivers will be down low enough to be safe. If they get a bucket load of rain may make things interesting.

The pascoe on the frenchmans may be touch and go, but the other deep one, Alice (I think) you can drive around the deepest section. With a tarp and a good bow wave youll prob do those ones anyway? Send another truck through first!

If its petrol take an air filter spare... if its a diesel and you dunk thats the least of your worries!!!

Steve

[Slunnie]

Personally, I would most definately fit a snorkel, especially if you're driving the OTL. Some of the deepest water I've driven has been on this track.

My Disco sits 7" higher than standard and last year I was getting water back to the windscreen in a few spots.

Start of the OTL
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/08/1017.jpg

Shallow part of Nolans Brook further up
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/06/217.jpg

Keep in mind the air is sucked from under the front guard is its very easy to pickup water there. I guess a snorkel can be the difference between a good holiday and a nightmare.

[redrover3]

Its a diesel but the pickup is the hole in the front of the airbox. I think the original pipe may have been removed for the second battery. Maybe I can rig up a flexy airline.

[dullbird]

how the hell can you have a moded car like that and go on holidays like that if your a full time student........:eek::eek::eek:

personally i would have fitted one for peace of mind if your a full time student i'm sure you cant afford a new engine...

the airflow ones on ebay are pretty cheap.......of course like said above if you are sensible, just hope you dont have any drastic rain falls

[scrambler]

most of our trips are into the centre during the dry season
Tony

Meaning that dust protection is a greater priority? So why not fit the snorkle and solve both problems? Is $300 from ebay too much for lifetime insurance?

[roverrescue]

Generally had more rain last year, and lots of late rain than this year.
That top photo, is that the Alice, is usually the deepest, but if you hang right heading north (left in slunnie photo) its not as deep, with a tarp you should be able to bow wave it? Plenty of stockers go up the OTL every year? Dont get me wrong a snorkel is good insurance. I think this same question was asked on exploroz by a guy in a hilux just a week or so ago, Duncan from Cairns Offroad gave similar advice, take it easy, use a tarp, watch others???? I imagine he has led a bucket load of stockers to the top?
I went a looking for all my old photos of that crossing Slunnie from 03 thru to last year (03 in early may was deepest) but cant seem to track em down?

Not wanting to sidetrack, but does anyone really rate the whole dust claim snorkel manufacturers use??? After a desert trip or dustbowl trip through the gulf, the engine bay is the only place that is mostly free of dust, and its oily! Inside the car and all over it and under it is a layer of dust but me thinks the engine bay remains relatively dust free? If you drive in other peoples dust a snorkel will Id be guessing pick up even more than a protected gaurd location, the dust plume is always way higher than a vehicle. I can rate the water and cooler air claims but dust, just doesnt compute?
regards
Steve

[crump]

on the crocs thing, regardless of signs,(crocs cant read), any waterhole large enough to cover a salty can contain one.We have seen 3m+ crocs in waterholes the size of a backyard pool and only 18" deep in the dry as well as 4 footers in the crystal clear streams of Iron Range.As to the murky water thing, that is a myth proposed by the likes of Roothy,they are just as happy in clear water, it just means you have a better chance of spotting them.

[edddo]

I would suggest fitting a snorkle definitely, there were several crossings last yr deep enough to worry me if I hadnt had one. One was over the bonnet......and no way around without a very long detour.. and my setup is very similar to yours. Piece of mind....dont be the broken down disco that the toymotor drivers talk about at camp.....

[cartm58]

well l did the Cape York thing in 1984 with my Nissan 1984 3.3 TD SWB wihtout a snorkel in 1986 and didnt have any problems doing all the water crossings except the jardine where we used the ferry man to go across and paid the $80 for the return trip.

Its as simple as send someone across or watch someone go across first, when we were there we passed about 40 to 80 4wds a day so plenty of traffic to watch.

Where its deep fit a blind to front of vehicle, we only used it once on the trip for some deep fast flowing water and dont over speed the crossing as you will push your bow wave onto the bank climbing out the other side and damage it by water erosion of the bank.

[Diff]

Slunnie, You were gamer than me with the last photo crossing. We turned around at that point as the depth measured over the door handle:eek: and we couldn't gample on soaking everything whith how quickly the water comes into the disco doors:(

[Slunnie]

That top photo, is that the Alice, is usually the deepest, but if you hang right heading north (left in slunnie photo) its not as deep, with a tarp you should be able to bow wave it? Plenty of stockers go up the OTL every year? Dont get me wrong a snorkel is good insurance. I think this same question was asked on exploroz by a guy in a hilux just a week or so ago, Duncan from Cairns Offroad gave similar advice, take it easy, use a tarp, watch others???? I imagine he has led a bucket load of stockers to the top?
I went a looking for all my old photos of that crossing Slunnie from 03 thru to last year (03 in early may was deepest) but cant seem to track em down?

regards
Steve
Gday Steve,

We did follow a couple of Toys through there who took the same line, though it wasn't until later when chatting to some others that we realised you could stick to the sides and stay shallow. Makes sense though. I'm not sure what the name of the crossing is though. It was not far north of Bramwell station on the OTL though. When heading north as you drop in you then turn left and follow the river up before the hole just before the exit.

[Slunnie]

Slunnie, You were gamer than me with the last photo crossing. We turned around at that point as the depth measured over the door handle:eek: and we couldn't gample on soaking everything whith how quickly the water comes into the disco doors:(
Its a bit like that. That one was an anxious crossing as the main route through was nipple deep - quite literally. That line I took was as shallow as it was going to get.

[Grizzly_Adams]

I went up the Cape last year with some friends.

I wouldn't recommend anyone do it without a snorkel.

Ok, it costs money - but so does a new engine. For the peace of mind in river crossings it is worth every penny.

Doesn't take much of a bow / wash wave to wash into your air-intake either.

[Diff]

Its a bit like that. That one was an anxious crossing as the main route through was nipple deep - quite literally. That line I took was as shallow as it was going to get.

Sure was we were there about this time last year. The kids loved swimming there the water was so clear.

We had water over the rear vision mirror for a second on Cockatoo creek. Got stuck in the middle of the creek on battle camp.

Can you do the cape without a snorkle, Yes. will you be confident, No. You can push water but if you get stuck or stop that water is going to come in and believe me if your car doesn't start when your at gunshot and you look at the broken axles you quickly realise there is no flatbed around the corner

[mudmouse]

Mate, fit the snorkel. I unseen pothole in a crossing could cost you alot more than a re-build. It's a long tow to somewhere for ANY significant mechanical repair. You could set aside a day in Cairns and get one fitted. it's really really cheap insurance. Have fun, it's a great place.:D

[Slunnie]

I wonder why the creek crossings are so deep? I didn't think they had had any more than average or even less than average rain for the last few ywears at least, like the rest of us.

Is it a case of erosion? or maybe the crossings are in different places these days? I know Gunshot is a totally different crossing to when we were there. We were travelling alone so took a look and said "no way!!" There was no-one else within cooee when we stopped at Gunshot. We might have given it a go if there were others around
They had a cylclone come through over the summer and completely flood everywhere. When we were up there in July 06 the tracks were only just opening up at the Cape, and Lakefield was still pretty much shut. The Bloomfield Tk we managed to drive up, but it was flooded at Emmigen Ck on the way back - so the long trip around! Generally though I think it was just high water levels, though there were some spots like Nolans Brook where erosion has added significantly to the depth.