Memories of a Landy swimming

[landyfromanuthaland]

Many years ago when I live in the NT my dad went out to Jabiru to see his mate who was the local copper, they decided they wanted a barra for dinner so we took off down the road to the river, we got there, got the punt wet and got the barra, we were packing up when a little early model patrol decided he was gonna cross the causeway, the water was up as it was wet season,he thought he could make it, he dunked the front diff the water came up over the guards he musthave thought he would still make it so he rolled in, the old girl stalled, coughed and farted and that was that, Nolangi was full of crocs and this guy wasnt hanging around he got half way out the door when the patrol started to float away with the fast running water, he would have been terrified, he made it to shore and scrambled up the bank his 4wd drifted off and sank, an old series 2 rocked up, he just dunked it and toddled across the cause way up the other side and into the distance it went, whats the moral of the story? To stop and proceed with caution or just dunk and go for it?

[Blknight.aus]

in a landrover the correct procedure is to dip it in, wait and then go for it...

The calibrated leaks allow the cabin to fill up with water thus adding ballast and keeping the wheels on the ground and stopping you from getting washed away.

It works best if you dont tell the passangers in the back about this untill you get to the other side where the leaks work in reverse and save you a lot of bailing.

[JDNSW]

In 1963 there I was in a convoy of about half a dozen vehicles south of Torrens Creek, when we came to a crossing that was under fast running water. We had stopped, and were discussing whether to give it a go - it was running too fast to consider wading across, but had a concrete bottom.

While we were discussing it a local Series 1 appeared from the other side and drove straight in without hesitating - the water came up to the top of the mudguards, and he had to crab about 45 degrees to keep on the causeway, but he came out running on two cylinder, and just drove off down the road without stopping. We took this hint and crossed, using a tow rope as a safety precaution on the light vehicles.

John

[dmdigital]

The modern Arnhem Land way to get your troopy across a flooded causeway is to:

• string a couple of tow straps across the causeway (one person swims over with rope and pulls the tow straps across, when he gets back upstream!)
• leave all the windows open and get everyone (and I do mean everyone - just remember they only have seating for 11) in the back and put the shopping on the roof
• drive vehicle with downstream side rubbing against the straps all the way across

What do you use to tie the tow straps together? Fencing wire of course!
How deep was it? About halfway up the windscreen!
Were there crocs about? Almost certainly!
Did the troopy float at all? Yes but the people inside were able to shift around and keep enough wheels in contact with the bottom.

[landyfromanuthaland]

How did u draw who went across the river with the ropes?

[JDNSW]

How did u draw who went across the river with the ropes?

If that question was directed to me - pulled it across with a large truck.

John

[flagg]

The calibrated leaks allow the cabin to fill up with water thus adding ballast and keeping the wheels on the ground and stopping you from getting washed away.

Its funny cause its true.. just don't forget:

* Engle Fridges will work fine after being underwater..
* Your pride and joy SLR with those expensive lenses wont

[dmdigital]

How did u draw who went across the river with the ropes?

There was plenty of people in the troopy - like I said only setting for 11!

[Bigbjorn]

Usual indigenous procedure in croc. streams was to send a woman across first.

[mcrover]

Its funny cause its true.. just don't forget:

* Engle Fridges will work fine after being underwater..
* Your pride and joy SLR with those expensive lenses wont

And Waeco's float lol

Neither Engles or Weaco's like salt water, Engles more as they have the metal box but the best thing to do if they do get submerged is to rinse well with clean water while switched off and then allow to dry in the sun, turning them over ever now and then to make sure you get as much moisture out.

I cant say it will work for every one but it has worked for other people i know.

The electronics dont like water, salt water they hate.

I dont like deep crossings, but in the 2a I did one of the Wannangatta crossings with the doors open to try to get the water flowing through to try and stop it from washing down stream.

I got accross but I wouldnt recomend it.