dyladams
Well-Known Member
Saw this and thought it might be of interest to some of you.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-23831558
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-23831558
Moron a snorkel doesn't make it a submarine , if he's local to the area he should have known the depth in which case he should be locked up for stupidity , and if he's not a local and so didn't know what depth to expect , well he should be locked up for stupidity .
While working as a digger driver the rule was always walk it before you drive it when the path ahead was obscured by either water or overgrowth . I've seen more than a few fella's lose their jobs for not doing that and causing serious damage to very expensive machines as a result . But with kids in the car FFS!
Our 4x4 Response group get a lot of callouts due to water, or snow (which becomes water), and a section of our induction day is spent on assessing the situations.
We also use an example of a greenlaner who was imprisoned after a passenger died on a deep water crossing.
If the driver in this case was on dry road he should have stayed there, entering the water shouldnt be attempted without other checks first, if you are safe, why put yourself at risk.
Pete
Frank have a look at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP7vWSY7H-Q
it just raises the intake but doesnt mean you can go to that height unless you have your scuba gear on. the deepest ive ever been to when i had a discovery with snorkel was level with the windows and that was deep enough and killed my stereo and alternator.
I can imagine that they would have had to seal everything that would normally have let water in, starter motors, alternators (probably dynamos in those days) electrics generally and the like.
It's one of the reasons I've never fitted a snorkel. I'm of the opinion that too many fit a snorkel as the first mod, then wonder why they're having starter motor, alternator and clutch problems.
OK, I accept that Ben does some pretty extreme stuff and loves it, but when you look at the damage he's had from wading, it makes you wonder if its worth it.
I go through water, but not deep enough to come over the bottom door shuts on a lifted 80. If I went in that deep, I'd just reverse out and find another route. Too many unprotected components on my car to do deep wading, without having to repair everything over and over. Only my opinion of course.
My first 4x4 was an Austin Champ with a 3ltr Rolls Royce engine, the whole engine system was totally sealed and could be driven under water, although I think there was a detachable snorkel that could be fitted but I never had that. I never attempted driving under water.
Blimey Chas, you've just reminded me that in 1999 (2 yrs before I came to Romania) I almost bought an Austin Champ! I knew nothing about them except that it had the RR 3 liter engine, and that was the only reason I considered buying it. Funds were non existent at the time, and he wanted 2k for it.
Thanks for the memory jog!
Was it a good truck? If I remember correctly, it looked like the older Austin Gypsy, but maybe bigger.
(snip)
I've had water half way up the windscreen and will again, but only if the current isnt too strong. For me the speed and current the water is flowing at is more of a concern than depth.
We fit a hell of a lot of snorkels at work. I have to go to Safari Snorkel HQ and pick up 20-30 every month.
I do wonder why some of the vehicles we get in are having them fitted though as most of them look like they never go off road. I'm sure some of them only have them fitted because everyone else does.
Nearly every other 4wd on the road here has a snorkel and bull bar fitted.