Great Alne Ford WARWICKSHIRE

[fuzion]

Hey, SS

When i go on my recce on saturday, any tips for deep fording in a standard fronty?

Speed? for Cilsan & Ffairfach.

As you know i baulked last time, but i wont be silly, i aint got Daveys (balls) skills, and i will be on my own.

Mat

[sollihull]

Don't hit the Water at an excessive Speed ...

Keep the Speed up enough to keep the Bow-wave Right in Front of you as the water drops lower right behind it which is handy for the Air intake section in the top of the wheel arch ....

Try not to go alone just in case you have a bad moment and Imitate the HMS Fronteras' we have on here .....

Keep a Can of WD40 Handy in case you need to spray some areas to drive the moisture out ......

ALWAYS Check your Brakes when you've left the water and are a Sensible Distance Away from the ford .......

IF You do start to lose it and float away , KILL THE ENGINE AT ONCE so you don't hydraulik and wreck the Pistons .........

All those are things I have done and Touch Wood .. not come a cropper .
As to the Speed bit , it's a case of Do as I say, NOT as I do lol

[fuzion]

Thanks Steve,

Excellent advice for all us waterbabies.

Mat

[Trugga]

When entering the ford, drive in slowly and note the water rising (this gives you the opportunity to back out).

You will feel the resistance of the water so you will have to apply more power to push through it.

Find a speed that you are comfortable with and that generates the preferred bow wave.

I find 2nd gear low box works for me in the 2.8TDI Estate.

If you are unsure of the depth and you intend to drive a ford, fix you tow ropes on first (the tow points are difficult to find when submerged, in icy murky water)

Keep windows closed, so that if it does capsize, you'll have more time to escape.

Hope that helps

Lawrence

[fuzion]

Thanks Lawrence

More excellent advice, as usual

Mat

[Red Oktober]

I always use 2nd low box on anything deeper than 1.5 ft

[sollihull]

I always use 2nd low box on anything deeper than 1.5 ft

Hmmm don't usually bother going into 4wd unless there's a dodgy approach/exit or the River Bed is a bit suspect

[Drift]

This may be of help to.

Vehicle Preparation

Walk the crossing to check its depth.

Don't cross fast flowing water.

Place markers at hidden obstacles.

Place a tarp across the front of the vehicle.

Disconnect the fan belt if a viscous coupling fan is not fitted.

Spray water repellent on distributor and ignition wires.

Pack recovery gear on top, ready for use.

Driving Technique

Take off seat belt and wind down window.

Use low range 2nd gear (in most situations).

Drive at a steady speed to create a bow wave.

Avoid using the clutch.

Do not over-rev engine if you lose traction.

If engine stalls, place in neutral without using clutch to restart. Takeoff in 1st low.

Post Watercrossing maintenance

Check diffs etc for water if depth above axles.

Check winches if fitted.

[Red Oktober]

i take it ...you did all of that

[fuzion]

This is all very good advice.....

Should this valuable info be split from this tread and be put in a sticky?

[Drift]

i take it ...you did all of that

Yer right search engine and copy and paste Carl it would take me a week to check the spelling
Ste

[Red Oktober]

PMSL

no ste .....i meant you personaly did all the vehicle checks before and after you went fording

[Drift]

TBH i do all my checks the day before, and pretty much all the others except for the tarp and markers but most water Ive been through is pretty obstical free, but you never know.
Ste

[Turbochops]

Went to look at this today, the depth gauge on the enterance from the aston cantlow side said 0.70 meters or just over 2 foot and some guys with snorkeled and raised 90s went through. I stopped and said how deep it was and they said up to the lights. So i thorght id have a go, got in about a cars length and it was already up to the top of the bonnet, before i had even got to the 'crossroads' parts where the ford joins the main river bed. So i chickend out and reversed out.

However half way down the road i heard this scraping noise and stopped to investigate. Some of the underbody protection was hanging off. As I reversed the water going in the oppersite direction appears to have got under this and ripped it off. So i pulled off what little of plactic remained holding it on and slung it in the boot. How important this is protection? Its only plastic overed on the inside with foam?

TC

[Trugga]

So i chickend out and reversed out.

Bravo

Common sense must always prevail

Lawrence

[Red Oktober]

well done buddy

did you catch anything

[Turbochops]

Caught some north altantic cod this time carl, having it now with chips /

Thinking back those landies were all raised and had snorkles. I think that depth gauge may underead slighty. Youve also got to remember going through this ford that there is a nice shelf that has appeard and drops one side of the car down another 1 1/2 feet, so if i had carried on i think id of been literally been up S**t Creek.

TC

[sollihull]

Caught some north altantic cod this time carl, having it now with chips /

Thinking back those landies were all raised and had snorkles. I think that depth gauge may underead slighty. Youve also got to remember going through this ford that there is a nice shelf that has appeard and drops one side of the car down another 1 1/2 feet, so if i had carried on i think id of been literally been up S**t Creek.

TC

And the crunch is that if you go in from the Aston Cantlow Side, the Holes are on the Air Intake Side and from the other end the 1st Dip is on the Battery Side

[fuzion]

This sound like fun

[sollihull]

This sound like fun

Oh it is Mat, It's probably the Longest Ford in the Region, it doesn't go in a straight line like standard River Crossings and it can be nasty!!
And at the Crossroads part you have to go straight on, Coming from the Great Alne side if you turn left up the River it narrows right in that you'd get wedged in and if you go to the Right .. well .. let's say that Davey would've liked it as it was deeper than His Ford !! it drops 3ft in the space of about 4metres