My recollection is that the official wading depth is 0.6 m. I will be crossing the Simpson desert next month and along with 1100 sand dunes is a creek crossing with a present depth of about 0.6m.

The air intake is just under the bonnet and is more than 0.8.

I realise that a "blind" can be put over the front to slow water entering the engine bay, but my question is "How deep can one take a Freelander 2?

I was told the safe wading depth was approx the top of the alloy wheel?

Don't know if it helps:
http://www.caradvice.com.au/15470/land-rov...on-desert/

I tought it was 0.5m ? Isn't it state in the manual somewhere?

In my manual (page 196) the Max. wading depth is:
500mm/19.7 inches

C!

Pinky 'floated' his across a deep pond once, so go for it I say. Maybe with something heavy in the boot (mother in law etc)to keep the back end from floating away
But watch for muddy water blocking the radiator, It caused pinky to have breakdown whilst towing a caravan I love mud

As with all water crossings do not change your mind half way across, its too late then the only way is forward


Wading depth for an unmodified defender is also 500mm, at least thats what it says on the side of some local water company vehicles,

I've waded a defender so deep that everything went dark due to the headlights being under the bow wave, I thought the electrics had flooded for a while.
The road was closed but the pub beckoned I had no choice but to drive thru the flood. defender doors leak like a sieve but the water also leaks out just as fast afterwards. At work
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Last edited by chicken george on 29th Jun 2010 12:23 pm. Edited 1 time in total

snappa wrote:

I was told the safe wading depth was approx the top of the spare wheel?

 At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

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Haha CG!

Just don't let water in the intake, the manual has to be on the safe side to avoid a backlash from angry owners that flood their vehicles going in water as deep as the manual says.

Anyone know the reason the intake is behind the front wheels? Because when wading there is a trough just there in the water  Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

this might be too much without snorkel

Drove my Dads Range Rover through a "puddle" that came about an inch up the side windows and covered the bonnet. No snorkel.... Forgot to shut the Airvent to the outside world which was a damp and somewhat embarrasing mistake... took some explaining the next day as well... Hi Darling, I'll be home in 10 mins. If I'm not back, please read this message again...

often wading height is because of the air breathers on some gearbox/transfer box underneath, Defender manual states to bung the holes before wading. I know of a local farmer who flooded and ruined a gearbox/transfer thing under his range rover At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

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There's a big difference between 'wading' and crossing one river. Land Rover 'safe wading depths' are tested by parking the veh in a tank, filling to certain level, leaving it overnight and coming back in the morning a seeing if the veh starts etc.

Freelander 1 is 400mm
Freelander 2 is 500mm

You should be able to safely 'wade' these depths of water without any modification

Your manual may give guidance for wading in water deeper than 400/500mm

The main points:

Keep the air intake dry!!
Keep the ECU dry
Fit a plastic sheet infront of the radiator to prevent it silting up
Check your route! Is it firm and the same depth all the way etc

If you're not sure, don't risk it.

Having had a good look at the air intake I went down to the dealer.

The official position is that 500mm is it. However, on inspection, the air intake is in the wheel arch on the LHS and that is quite sheltered. So 600/700mm looks possible. I would feel comfortable up to the top of the wheel. What does everyone think?

There are also several back up positions.

Firstly, on the air filter itself, the paper filter could be removed and the plastic lid to the filter box could be lifted off the filter box. That would mean that air would be drawn from the very top of the engine. Probably it would be best to remove the fan belt. Sure, there would not be an air filter but that would be unimportant for a 50 m crossing of a river.

The second fall back position is that the tube/intake to the engine could be removed and the inlet blocked off with tape. This would mean that the engine could not operate, but as it turns out I will be doing the trip with a friendly Toyota Landcrusher, which could tow me through the depths at a greater depth than I could safely drive. (At least it would beat retracing my route over 450km of dunes .)

Any thoughts?

towed by a toyota leave the forum immediately


Youd have to atleast block your exhaust pipe too At work
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