If you are new to 4WDing then the idea of crossing a creek/ford or even mud puddle might intimidate you a touch particularly when government advice usually tends to recommend “not driving through flood water”.

Not all water on the track is flood water, how do you recognize the difference? how do you approach a crossing? what mods do you need? are there any particular accessories you need for a crossing? what preparation does your 4WD need before you drive through water? What constitutes un-crossable water?

Starting with the basics, flood water isn’t uncommon particularly around the east coast, when east coast low pressure storms head up the coast, along with Cyclones and sub-tropical cyclones. Largely, floodwaters are when large amounts of rain fall in a short enough period of time that it cannot soak into the soil fast enough and becomes ‘runoff’ generally low-lying area’s can be prone to flood waters in times of high precipitation.

Judging by the amount of water falling and the area’s susceptibility to flooding along with government flood warnings will give you a good idea of what is flood water and what is just water over the road, another factor is the speed at which the water is flowing, this is generally one of the largest issues we have when crossing water vs crossing flood waters. When water is flowing it carries a lot of energy, and even with a shallow river, you’d be shocked to find that even water flowing at around walking pace at around ankle to knee high is enough to sweep your vehicle down river, with potentially lethal results.

Generally, if you would have trouble placing your feet, and walking the section of track without some sort of help, such as a long stick for stability or rope to hang onto, then definitely don’t try to drive it.  

No matter if you are driving a fully worked 4WD, or a stock standard off the lot vehicle, preparation is essential for making sure your water crossing goes off without a hitch! All vehicles are susceptible to water damage, despite what the old boys might tell you even diesels are vulnerable to water crossings, when a vehicle intake is exposed to water, it can cause extremely expensive damage to your vehicle, even with an elevated air intake snorkel, any 4WD can be vulnerable to damage to electrical systems along with fuel and oil recirculation systems requiring immediate maintenance in the short term or risk costly fixes in the long run.

This potential for damage means a water crossing strategy is key, the best idea is to keep your momentum and maintain a small bow wave at the front of the vehicle, this means, no stopping and making sure you have a clear run to the other side of the crossing. This bow wave will wash water to either side of your vehicle leaving a large cavity for your tyres to drive through, and a keep your engine bay dry (enough). Too fast a pace whilst crossing can result in flooding your engine bay with water and too slow will not allow the water to create a bow wave.

Getting prepared for a crossing is quite simple, first thing is first, you need to survey the track surface, this is easier said than done, but 100% essential for making sure you don’t encounter any mischief, even if it is a paved track, we’ve seen plenty of post flood images of bridges and weirs eroded away after a huge downpour.

The idea is to use a good length stick to check the depth, and feel both sides of the track to check for large boulders, washouts and other debris that could slow your progress, if you are gutsy enough walking through the water will allow you to also check how much traction there is on the surface to help you figure out how far down you will need to drop your tyre pressures down to gain as much traction as possible.

A good rule of thumb is to drop around 30-40% of your standard tyre pressures for fairly grippy surfaces and dropping around 50-60% for slippery slimy conditions with river stones or sloppy mud, this will ensure you have maximum traction to maintain momentum. Our favourite way to drop pressures is with a handy Kwiky Tyre Deflator which is incredibly simple and blisteringly quick at getting your tyres prepped.

Engage your hubs, drop your vehicle into low range, second gear, and begin your steady crossing across the river, creek or mud puddle, but not before you prep a possible recovery situation for the case where your vehicle doesn’t make it all the way.

A great accessory for self-recovery is a reliable 12,000lb winch like the Domin8r Xtreme Winch which can pull you free if your wheels cant produce grip or drive throughout your crossing. It’s a great idea to prep your winch before you enter the water so you don’t have get out and swim, this would involve unspooling enough cable to reach the other side, and looping it onto your bullbar making it easier to access through a recovery. Plugging in your winch controller before you cross will make controlling your recovery a breeze, and if you have your wireless dongle, now is the perfect time to take advantage of its range and ease.

Now without a doubt left in your mind, you can cross water crossings without batting an eyelid, confident in your 4WD and knowledge of how to set up for a water crossing.

Get the whole range of gear today in store from Australia’s favourite Adventure Kings retailer 4WD Supacentre, online at www.4WDSupacentre.com.au call our team on 1800 88 39 64 for the latest bargains!