Driving through a ford

[Jonsnow606]

What's the safety way of driving through a ford?

I've always made sure (if I can avoid it) to NOT have my foot on the accelerator, and try coasting through.
Is that the best way?
What are the 'do' s and don't'?

[paintman]

I'm assuming this is the normal shallow ford you're likely to meet on country roads & you mean a car.
Start by checking the depth gauge to be sure its not too deep for the vehicle you're in. Be especially aware of the height of the vehicle's engine air intake, some are very low & ingesting water will very likely cause the engine to hydraulic which usually means new engine time.
Visually check - if possible - that there aren't any obstructions in the ford such as rocks/bricks.
Engage first & slowly drive through the ford.
Once out the other side do a rolling brake test.
If in any doubt, find another route.

Edited by paintman on Monday 8th December 17:27

[Shaw Tarse]

If in doubt, flat out!

[R_U_LOCAL]

Boosh!

[gdaybruce]

As well as depth, watch out for the current. It's amazing what sideways force can be exerted by fast flowing water such that, even if it's not all that deep, you can find yourself being swept downstream and of course, once off the shallow part of the ford itself, you're in trouble!

I speak from experience, having once misjudged a ford's depth and strength in the dark. Fortunately, I was in a Discovery II and despite having the bonnet completely covered, such that the water was breaking around the windscreen and the headlights totally submerged, it never missed a beat. Having committed myself and with no real alternative, I kept going but found that I was being pushed down river, eventually "tacking" at a 45 degree angle to the water flow to reach the other side. Boy, was I relieved to reach dry land with nothing worse than the heater blowing clouds of steam onto the inside of the screen! The Land Rover was totally standard - a really impressive demonstration of LR's commitment to its all terrain principles. The engine air intake is placed high up in the wheel arch in the cavity between the wheel arch liner and the wing where an air pocket obviously remains for precious seconds, even when you go beyond the theoretical wading depth.

So yes, above all, check the depth and current carefully before setting off and then aim for a steady walking speed in 1st gear. Keep some revs on the engine to prevent water being sucked up through the exhaust.

Luckily perhaps, I have no photos of the incident I describe but this was a more deliberate wading in the same car.

[davepoth]

I'd just like to add - if you're in a standard car and you don't know the depth (muddy water, no depth gauge, flooded road), give up and turn around. It's just not worth it.

[Raman Kandola]

davepoth said:

I'd just like to add - if you're in a standard car and you don't know the depth (muddy water, no depth gauge, flooded road), give up and turn around. It's just not worth it.

After driving from a night out then was alot of rain and althought not a ford the road dips and raises and within this space it had flooded and was really hard to judge how deep it was. Driving a diesal golf at the time i was going to turn around but was advised just to drive straight through which i did reluctantly with no problems, was as deep as halfway up my door tbh which isnt very bad but hated it!

[7db]

I have a ford at the bottom of my road. It gets fun around this time of year as the rains increase.

There's a handy little marker. Anything over 2ft is an absolute no go in a regular vehicle. Above 1ft is a more exciting than you might want. Bailing out the 7 isn't much fun.

Watch someone else go through first if you are at all unsure.

If you commit, then keep the revs high, be prepared to dip the clutch if necessary to keep the engine firing. Stalling is not your friend. Use your speed to control the bow-wave and keep it nice and regular.

Go another way. Live to fight another day.

Also: bear in mind that road surfaces deteriorate very rapidly around fords and some bits may be deeper than others.

[daz6215]

It's already been mentioned above, you need to know where the engine air intake is situated, if it is low then keep the revs low, there is enough back pressure from the exhaust to keep out the water!

[Red Devil]

"Yep, just show 'em how it's done Mummy!" "We like puddles."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcgEFR2UtK0

However that was still water. This is why you should always heed the advice below.
Co. Durham on Tuesday night. @0:28 - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dramatic-resc...

gdaybruce said:

As well as depth, watch out for the current. It's amazing what sideways force can be exerted by fast flowing water such that, even if it's not all that deep, you can find yourself being swept downstream and of course, once off the shallow part of the ford itself, you're in trouble!

[trialsta]

How has nobody posted this sort of reply yet?

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Dl_9_DKx94/maxresdefault.jp...
(Tank driving through Ford)

[Swanny87]

trialsta said:

How has nobody posted this sort of reply yet?

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Dl_9_DKx94/maxresdefault.jp...
(Tank driving through Ford)

I was just about to post a reply along those lines, but you beat me to it!

[Orillion]

For anyone wondering where their nearest ford is:

http://www.wetroads.co.uk/

[sbird]

Drive slowly. Find out how deep it is, inch by inch. Be prepared to reverse out. Make sure you've got a can of WD40 handy.

First time I went through a ford I ended up with wet spark plugs! Took about 5 miles to dry out.

[Crippo]

Reminds me of a time I was waiting for over an hour for my very
Ate friend who we're coming to Mountain Bike my local trails. When they arrived they told me that the driver had found a deep ford which they decided to repeat at faster speeds until the car went bang. Somehow, And I don't know how or why the gearbox was stuck in reverse, so they reversed the 7 miles to my house, one was steering, one was leaning out of the side guiding and the third was probably laughing his socks off, those guys were hilarious but total dim wits...love em, despite being really pissed that we missed some great riding

[Martin4x4]

If the ford is in flooded, find a way around,
If there is strong current, find a way around,
Take note of the water depth marker and make sure your vehicle can handle it. A hydro-locked engine is very expensive fix. If in doubt, find a way around.

Enter on a low neutral throttle in a low gear, with sufficient head room on revs to allow acceleration without a gear change. If water level is above floor level, accelerate slightly to push the water out of way, once the bow wave is moving ahead of you, back off and follow it in the trough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMUmfdJNmG0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8S19cpDf6E

[BigBo]

depends how rusty the particular ford is, crusty capri I'd T-bone should snap in half, Can we open the doors first?