Towing a boat through a river crossing.

[wojtech]

Hey All,

Starting to prepare for our trip from Cairns QLD to Gove NT.

Most of the 3200kms is sealed road but the last few hundred kms is dirt with some river crossings. Mostly creeks and mostly fairly short runs through water.

My GQ Wagon is well prepared for water crossing, I'm running 35's with about 5 inches of lift and have crossed water over a metre deep before with no probs.
Never tried it with a 5m boat on the back but and a well laden truck. Boat + Trailer will be 800-1000kg by my calculations, no fuel and minimal gear inside.
Any tips???
Will putting a bit of water into the boat for the crossing help??

[threedogs]

My thinking is the Bow wave off your Patrol will leave your trailer in less water than the front,
Also be very wary of Buff up that way, A guy was killed by one walking home from Gove pub,
a few years back, and another guy destroyed his 4x4 having a head with one.

[MEGOMONSTER]

I suppose watch for strong currents too, as it may lift the boat sideways

[wojtech]

I've heard that about the Buffalo up there!! So driving at night is pretty much off the cards!! Hoping the river levels will be low enough not worry too much but any advice is good advice!! Cheers!

[MEGOMONSTER]

I had a terrible ordeal on my first river crossing, deep water, raging torrent but I had to get through it, there was no turning back.
Heart in mouth stuff.
ImageUploadedByMotorculture1371087751.049263.jpg

[P4trol]

I fail to see why you would have trouble in dry season.

The buff don't reflect back in the headlights, only eyes if they are looking at you.

Hopefully you have a canvas or similar cover, and it extends over the front of the boat. Maybe even a camper trailer style stone deflector on the trailer.

[jack]

I had a terrible ordeal on my first river crossing, deep water, raging torrent but I had to get through it, there was no turning back.
Heart in mouth stuff.
ImageUploadedByMotorculture1371087751.049263.jpg

Hope you didn't stain those seats MEGO

[MEGOMONSTER]

Hope you didn't stain those seats MEGO

It was touch and go for a while.

[daggy]

Ensure that the boat is securely fastened to the trailer, once the hull is in the water it will want to float, at least if it's connected with the trailer it will come down onto the trailer and not on the side of the road.

[krbrooking]

Hope you didn't stain those seats MEGO

No those seats were well stained at ab's house at the build.


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