fords and rivercrossings

[soenke]

Hey Cruisers

I just got some pics from a friend, we have been travelling in Iceland this summer.

A river in the way...that can hapen anywhere. So skills how to cross might be of interesst for others too...

Because of the glaciers and their rivers a lot of fords and river crossings are necerssary travelling the highlands of Iceland. Quite often the water limits the route...


I found pictures, which show the effect of speed in the water.

Here in a hurry, although the water is shallow a lot of spray and the bow wave might get the engine bay wet

here we go slowly (as usual) first gear low, you see nothing gets overflowed even though the water is deeper, about 80cm.

When the current isn´t strong and the water isn´t to deep best is to find out where to cross and where the stones and quick sands are:

when the current is stronger I dress with dry suit, life-line and life jacket.
But crossing with a (modified) car will be still possible when walking through gets very risky or even impossible.
You have to be able to read the water while driving through the ford to do so...I have been afraid to learn the hard way so far...



How do you get wet ? and how do you prepare befor ?

 

[surfpig]

I don't have anything useful to add, but that's an awesome truck!

 

[millatruse]

Great pics! Yep Nothing like making it to the middle of a 3' to 4' deep river when you fing that huge rock! Then as you pop over it you splash down deystroying the wake you have kept in front, causing water to rush into the engine compartment. Then have some sucked into the carb..then stutter and spit till you get to the other side, Just hoping it doesnt stall! Oh..what fun!

 

[soenke]

yes, but as long as you can walk through you might find a passage around the stones...

even in shallow waters quick sands can be dangerous.
That is the reason for travelling at least with two cars in those areas and very long ropes...

here a so called Sander, wich can be overflown by glacier rivers

but is rivercrossing just in Iceland of any interest?

 

[FJ40 MNTCRZR]

Very cool

 

[ba450]

Thats a clean rig! Looks like a fun trip!

 

[Rat70Fj]

I'd love to see the inside of that cargo box.

 

[BC40]

yes, but as long as you can walk through you might find a passage around the stones...

but is rivercrossing just in Iceland of any interest?

There was a lot of good information written on this topic by Mark Whatley a few years back. Similar conditions with glacial river crossings in Alaska. Look into 'Alaska Cruiser Trek' for some more info and ideas.
Cool truck Soenke. Actually all three of the expedition trucks I've seen you post pics of were very nice (45 troopie, 75troopie, and this 45/80 hybrid).

 

[soenke]

Thanks Martin,

so the issue is worked up already? I´ll look for the old thread...thanks for the hint
I thought you guy just don´t like to get wet....

@rat70fj, for some more pics of the car have a look at Expedition Builds Travelling Cruiseres...
Pictures from the inside are coming up...

 

[soenke]

alasca cruiser trek

@Martin,
wonderful landscape and pictures! I wish we could move over to Alaska or Canada...

still the way of crossing rivers differ from what i´ve heard or practiced.

I would always go with the stream ( in Iceland 2 one way fords are used crossing the big rivers with the current each direction )

and I go a lot slower, trying to make no waves / wake

A german off-road magazin just published pics taken from the engine bay with different speeds in the same ford...

first pics are with speed for the bow wave
second line is with cover in front of the radiator
third is just slow

 

[Deny]

I thought you guy just don´t like to get wet....

I like to get wet!

 

[soenke]

nice pics, Deny...

 

[BC40]

I like to get wet!

Nice pics, if memory serves me didn't both those water crossings leave you with some work to do (t case and some electronic gizmos)?

Soenke I hope to make it up to Alaska myself one day. I agree with the comment of heading across or downstream and not fighting current. Mind you, I tend to stay away from deep water. Hearing my old four blade steel fan slapping water on my gas engine truck is not so comforting.

 

[REKCUT]

Not to bash your crossing thread, but any topic you want to post about is fine by me if you include picks of the truck. Man thats nice

 

[soenke]

Thanks Rekcut, (more pics in expedition builds / travelling cruisers)

Martin, that´s a point.
Do you have a visko-fan?
I´ve never heard mine slapping the water, always hoped it will stop turning when getting cold ?

Before we enter water I let engine, turbo and axels cool down, the pyrometer helps to valuate the necessary time...meanwhile we are watching the river and find a ford.

or has anyone changed to an elektrik fan for that reason??


PS: Martin, BC stands for British Columbia? My longing for Alaska would be less living in BC ! (planing to kayak inside passager next summer...)

 

[BC40]

Thanks Rekcut, (more pics in expedition builds / travelling cruisers)

Martin, that´s a point.
Do you have a visko-fan?
I´ve never heard mine slapping the water, always hoped it will stop turning when getting cold ?

Before we enter water I let engine, turbo and axels cool down, the pyrometer helps to valuate the necessary time...meanwhile we are watching the river and find a ford.

or has anyone changed to an elektrik fan for that reason??


PS: Martin, BC stands for British Columbia? My longing for Alaska would be less living in BC ! (planing to kayak inside passager next summer...)

No viscous clutch on the early fan blades. The steel fans supposedly don't flex much in water but they have been known to crack and separate at speed.

Yep, I'm in British Columbia.
You'll have a great time paddling that area. I got a chance to work along the mid coast north of Vancouver Island and it was actually some of the most remote country I've been in. The inside passage is fairly calm seas but some areas can have strong tidal currents. Look into red tide if you were planning on eating shellfish, it becomes a problem early to mid summer. And expect bears and wolves to roam on the beaches you will be camping on. Sounds like a great trip, have fun!

 

[pismojim]

Sometimes it's amazing how far you can go....

before water in the engine, water in the fuel tank,

Time for a tow to some dry ground...

Build a fire for the cold and wet driver...

Drain the water from the engine and fuel tank, and continue to destination..

Of course, sometimes it doesn't work out so well...

Alaska's Knik River Rescue <== LINK

 

[Hayes]

I want to go here.

 

[soenke]

What a trek ....great story and pictures...

please more of it and your preparations of the cars ( fan, breathers up, oil-change after trip, snorkel check with start pilot etc..?)
and the ways you evaluate the ford...


...Due to the current and the
depth, getting a line on the front of the rig was out of the question,....


when the crossing might become difficult I try not to forget to fix the cable before entering the ford...very simple but hurts when forgotten

 

[soenke]

better always have adequate personal buoyancy on board...