Beware water crossings!

[johnofoz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close johnofoz]

Has anybody else experienced water entering the cabin during a water crossing? After crossing the 68cm deep Jim Jim Creek on the way to Twin Falls in Kakadu NP, found the whole carpeted area of the rear passenger foot-wells and half the carpet of the driver and front passenger foot-wells sodden. Water enters through the door drain holes, rises above the metal of the inside of the door and enters via speaker holes and edge of the plastic trim of the door! Before the return trip I laboriously applied pvc tape to the holes but intend to get some blu-tack for the toolbox! The guy on the ferry at Twin falls said all Prado drivers mention the problem!

[NewyD4D Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close NewyD4D]

I have recently crossed a short causeway that was approx 680mm deep and had no issues. I had water pushing above the bull bar and onto the bonnet with no issues, this is the 3rd time I have crossed at this depth without a problem though as I mentioned it is only a short crossing (approx 3 car lengths)

[Johno Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Johno]

I have done a few water crossings and have had no problems.

[dreamon Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dreamon]

I crossed Ivanhoe and the Pentecost on a regular basis in my 120
and never had any problems

[Schniff Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schniff]

I just completed the cape york tele track through some seriously deep crossings with no issues.

[winniliss Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close winniliss]

It depneds on how fast you go through the water. If you travel slower it gives water time to fill-up inside your doors and into your vehicle. If you go at the right speed you create that void near the front wheel

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

And a Prado is not a boat.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Getting the correct speed is important, sounds like you are probably going to slow if it filled up, If you get stuck then they fill up really fast. We also did the tele track last year with at least 4 over the bonnet crossings and except the one we got bogged in no water entered at all.

This crossing was 70 metres wide and it got a bit deeper than the picture shows, no water in the car from this one.



Of course mine is a 120, maybe the 150 is different but i doubt it.

Cheers Andrew

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

Been through plenty in the 120 with zero water entry...

[K & M McF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close K & M McF]

Only time we have got water in the 95 is when I got stuck in a relatively shallow creek and water seeped in. The following photo is crossing the Wonnangatta River at Eaglevale in the Victorian high country.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Water crossings should be fine but as someone else said, they ain't designed for it so some intrusion will occur if you hang round in there too long !
You don't stop to admire the view and take photos halfway across.
But then you don't go hell for leather either ( like you see in the ads )

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

I just completed the cape york tele track through some seriously deep crossings with no issues.

Looking forward to the trip report and photos Schniff

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

I have learnt a lot from this thread. Just got to recheck my speedo to see where "water crossing correct speed" is.....

Scarcastic I know, but an indication from my learned fellow PPers is appreciated. eg 10-15kph, 15-20 kph, exactly 17.5kph etc. or play it by ear until you have a non breaking bow wave with the following attributes etc.

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

There is no correct speed. Your speed will generally be dictated by the bottom composition (rocky, sandy, muddy etc). You just need a nice steady speed that enables a bow wave to be formed to keep water (as much as possible) out of the engine bay area.

I would presume with the amount of water that got into the vehicle in question, they were either going VERY slow or there is an issue with one or more of the seals.

I have also done a few water crossings deeper than 68cm in my 150 and haven't had a drop of water in the cabin.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I have learnt a lot from this thread. Just got to recheck my speedo to see where "water crossing correct speed" is.....

Scarcastic I know, but an indication from my learned fellow PPers is appreciated. eg 10-15kph, 15-20 kph, exactly 17.5kph etc. or play it by ear until you have a non breaking bow wave with the following attributes etc.

every water crossing is different, even the same crossing couple of days apart can be totally different, as quickly as comfortable would be a good way to describe the speed, shallow smooth bottomed crossings can be done faster than deeper crossings, rocky bottomed crossings obviously slower than sandy bottomed ones.

If the High country trip comes together next year Rob you should be able to get plenty of practice

Cheers Andrew