Thread: Warning For The Inexperienced

Thats very sound advice Steve.

Sorry long story about water crossings, but might be relevant.

But years and years ago when I owned a hilux 4WD ute. About 1am on the way home from work I foolishly drove into a flooded gully with water that was not moving much. I drove into it cautiously and fairly quickly decided it was too deep. I tried to get it in reverse but wouldn't go into gear. The drum brakes failed and the vehicle continued slowly down the gully and the back started to float (empty fuel tank?) so no traction even if I could get it into gear. It was petrol so the motor had stopped. The cab started to spring fountains and water was lapping at the window sill. Time to abandon ship so I grabbed my bag that was floating beside me and climbed out the window and on the back. The lights were still on and a dull glow under the water. I realised the car was still moving slowly, now toward a nearby flooded river. I swam out and came back a couple of hours later you could only see the roof. Then it was underwater for about 3 days. It was never quite the same.

This experience and my stupidity caused me to risk drowning my first 110 in the Pascoe River (?) on the Frenchmans track west of Lockhart River - Iron Range. I knew a river crossing was coming up and I asked a bloke driving a similar hilux about the river crossing. He said it was easy going. So I just drove in as if the hilux was ok the diesel 110 should be fine. Also, I didn't fancy walking in with the crocs. There were a few scary seconds where the bonnet disappeared under water. Fortunately, it went through without a drama.

Out of that I suppose learned if you cant walk through it, you probably shouldn't drive through it.