Water crossings

[Steve F-TNT]

Steve,

I love both your TD and your XJ. Being an XJ guy myself, I appreciate such beauty.

Have you taken your TD through any water crossings yet? Did you do any special water-proofing for your TD?

No water crossings yet, with been in a drought for a few years now so it's pretty dry down here. Got a trip this weekend but dont expect any water.

Cheers
Steve

 

[boxcar-TNT]

Just get lucky and find a tear drop american trailer . as we used to build ower off road TD. Pics in my profile .We are now adding the trailing arm suspension and air bags I will post pics of the finished trailer nexed week.
This trailer is all abs plastic and with all the pollyfoam we blew into it during the build it floats rather well. I designed it with water crosings in mind.....Boxcar

 

[Shadow Catcher]

There are a number of Australian Outback caravans that are water proof to a certain height (and presumably float). Bush Tracker has some video.
http://www.kimberleykaravans.com and http://www.bushtracker.com both of these may give ideas.

 

[legojenn]

I tend to cross water this way. Sure there's a toll, but I don't want my car to get wet.

 

[boxcar-TNT]

Here is my anser to water crosing

 

[jeprovo]

A little bit of floating is not going to cause your trailer tires to loose contact with the ground. Your suspension will sag a bit before the tires loose traction and you're pulling a boat through the water.

 

[mezmo]

Hi Steve F,

Although it is in an entirely different category, check out
this impressive range of off-road Caravans built there
in Oz:

http://www.bushtracker.com/Index.htm

They feature a secondary partial door to cover the
bottom of the entry door to waterproof it. I'm assuming
they have made the rest of the unit water proof/leak proof
already. See:

http://www.bushtracker.com/P_Travelling.htm

See pic 11 & 13 in the traveling photo album.

It might be helpful to give it a look for ideas.

Cheers,
norm/mezmo

 

[Shadow Catcher]

There are a number of considerations here. The Ausi Outback trailers seem to have it right for river fording with the sides water proof up to 3'. There are a number of considerations possibilities. Use composites not subject to water damage, use marine grade plywood seal the edges VERY well and coat with CPES or similar. Use a membrane, which also can seal moisture in if it leaks. You then must consider door seals and electrical penetrations etc. With ours the seven wire connector from the TV goes into a water proof box, but I don't know that I would trust it for long.
One alternative/option is a variable height suspension to gain height when you wish it.

 

[ArkansasDon]

water crossings should be taken seriously, the approach & the exiting, I never cross fast or deep water. When I was researching small squaredrop trailer manufactures (looking for a candidate to do a offroad squaredrop build) I liked how Runaway has a rubber membrane underneath the floor, the cabin (under construction on video) all the corners are wrapped before the adhesive & aluminum siding is attached. Runaway's method of attachment of the cabin to the chassis is also very impressive making it for good waterproof system.
When I done all the modifications & fabrication work to our 2019 Range Runner, ground clearance of chassis was 24", axle clearance was 14". Sally & I make numerous creek crossings on our backcountry adventures in the Ozarks. We never had any water inside the cabin or rear storage area nor leaking from the inside of the chassis. I periodically check the chassis for rust, rear storage area for water staining. I store the trailer inside a large shop building on my farm.
I used automotive sealant between the aluminum siding lower edge & bottom edge were the cabin & chassis meets (Black). When I re-placed the tail lights & re-wired the trailer lights, attaching the wires (fasteners) to the underneath floor to the membrane & chassis I sealed these areas extremely well with sealant. All accessories attached to the outside of the squaredrop 2 1\2gal Roto Fuel Pax, 2 1\2 gal Roto Water Pax, Hi Lift Jack Mount I made rubber gaskets & using sealant (Big Stretch) with large fender washers & locking nuts. Water will find a way into areas you do not want it to go. So far I've been lucky or successful not having any water leaking into areas of the trailer. Maintenance is a must, checking on the sealant applied, water can & will ruin a wood structured trailers.

Next month Sally & I are leaving on another 2 state Trans American Trail adventure, it's made up of dirt, gravel, forest, farm, & brief sections of paved roads. Were taking 10 days to do this with many stay overs.

 

[Tomterrific-TNT]

You guys water crossing should worry about your trailer bearings. The bearings get warm from running on the highway. When they hit the cold water suction from the rapid cooling will pull water through the seal. I will suggest Bearing Buddys as these keep a constant slight pressure inside the hub if used properly.

Tt, worked at a marina.

 

[Tony Latham]

I guess I'll have to throw this video in from last April.

[youtube]_8XTLQK0x24[/youtube]

My wife took that while we exited the drainage after the water had come up. The funny thing is that the day before Todd (aka KTM_Guy) and his wife stopped by our camp for a bit and they took the same video on the way out.

That camp, by the way, is my favorite in the four-corners country. Pictographs, near-by ruins, peregrines, and rattlers. A perfect camp.

Perfect.

Tony

 

[ghcoe]

Foamies do it just fine and they are naturally buoyant.

 

[jkemp512]

That camp, by the way, is my favorite in the four-corners country. Pictographs, near-by ruins, peregrines, and rattlers. A perfect camp.

Perfect.

Tony

OMG, that is a great pic.

Can you share where-abouts this is? Is this your private property? Public land?

 

[Tony Latham]

Can you share where-abouts this is? Is this your private property? Public land?

It's one of my favorite camps. Lots of Ancestral Puebloan (AKA Anasazi) ruins within hiking distance. There are pictographs right there on the rocks left thousands of years ago --I'm sure it was someone else's favorite camp too. The last time we were there, a rattler showed himself and then slithered back into the rocks. Behind where I took the photo, there's the nest of the fastest animal on earth --the peregrine falcon.

It's our public land. But you'll just have to find it. I'm so sorry about that...I hope you understand.



Tony