The author with his modified 2020 Jeep Gladiator. This Rubicon has a high clearance Evo MFG 4.5-inch suspension and 40-inch tall off road tires and is very capable off road. Photo by Sean Utley
January 06, 2024
By Mike Hernandez
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This year was filled with unprecedented weather. The term “Atmospheric River” became center stage in all media outlets as they caused significant damage across the world. Atmospheric rivers, also known as “rivers in the sky,” are narrow bands of intense moisture that exist in the atmosphere. These forceful weather systems can bring significant amounts of precipitation, causing flooding and landslides in areas where they occur. There were more than 50 atmospheric rivers in the United States alone from January to March 2023. This is a significant increase from the average of 30 during these three months. This weather pattern has caused millions of dollars in damage to homes and other infrastructure. Similarly, the increase in weather has caused massive flooding, leading to the loss of life and displacement of people. Several parts of the world have been affected. However, several parts of the USA have also seen its fair share. One incident that comes to mind is a tragic story of a child being swept away with his mother in their vehicle, causing the child’s drowning death in California.
Crossing Still Water and Flowing Water are a bit different with fast Flowing Water typically being the more dangerous. Photo by David M. Fortier Tragedies are not the only motivating factor in becoming more prepared. These steps will also apply if you want to further your overlanding skills. Recreation is the most common motivating factor and the most fun. If you have an Overland rig, then by default, you have a preparedness rig. The merits of overlanding are notable. Challenges during recreation will give you the confidence to turn an obstacle like a water crossing into a minimal task with experience. Learning new skills and bettering yourself is a constant journey we are all on. Franklin D. Roosevelt famously stated, “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
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If you are faced with crossing a body of water in your vehicle, recreationally or by necessity, here is what you need to know. Various factors, such as the vehicle’s weight, depth and speed of the water, and types of terrain, can change the amount of water needed to move a vehicle. As a general rule, it only takes around six inches of moving water to cause a vehicle to lose traction and stall, while just one foot of water can float most vehicles. It is always important to exercise extreme caution and avoid driving through flooded areas. In a perfect scenario with choices, the first question you should ask yourself is, “Should I be here?” Understand where you live. Find floodplain information with flood maps. Determine where the high ground is ahead of time and pay attention to inclement weather. Have a pre-determined escape route and execute.
You need to have a few things and some knowledge before you begin. Seek basic recovery training to get started. It is ideal to have a 4-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance. This obstacle is one of the many reasons you should consider adding one to your fleet. Use the buddy system and have another person and vehicle with you to help. Do you have the right equipment? You should have recovery gear and know how to use it properly. Include communications, first aid, spare parts, maps, and tools. For this article, I am using my 2020 Jeep Gladiator. This Rubicon has a high clearance Evo MFG 4.5-inch suspension and 40-inch tall offroad tires. The bed has a Camp King Camper and Goosegear storage system. This is important to note as it will provide more capability. A factory 4x4 vehicle will provide you with an excellent base to start. An empty truck bed has the potential to be too light. In 2019 a personal friend found this out the hard way. He was out on the trail with no other vehicles. He and his girlfriend were enjoying the outdoors and encountered a flash flood.
As a general rule, it only takes around six inches of moving water to cause a vehicle to lose traction and stall, while just one foot of water can float most vehicles. It is always important to exercise extreme caution and avoid driving through flooded areas if possible. Photo by David M. Fortier Arizona is known for flash floods during monsoon season; this incident will testify to that. The flash flood happened in minutes, and my friend was forced to cross the flowing water. He approached the water with caution and found the water to be high but crossable. He, too, had a Jeep Gladiator and approached the water cautiously. His Gladiator had no modifications. His front wheels reached the opposite banks and dry ground as he crossed. His rear wheels then began to lose traction in the flowing water due to the lightweight nature of his empty truck bed. His truck turned and swept away in reverse down the wash. He and his girlfriend, fortunately, did not sustain injury. He called me and another friend for help as emergency services were not capable enough to find him, let alone traverse the area. When we arrived, the water level was high, flowing fast, above the truck’s hood onto the windshield, and it had been swept 100 yards down the wash. We were able to recover the two and some gear. However, the truck was a total loss and had to be left behind. We recovered it three days later. We were just glad to have our friends. There are two classifications of water crossings, Still Water and Flowing Water. Let’s start with How To Cross Still Water.
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Still Water Crossings Step 1: Determine the water depth and your vehicle’s fording height. Keep in mind the height of your engine intake. If you suck water into your engine, you cannot continue.Step 2: Approach the Water cautiously with low engine RPMs to avoid damage. One risk factor is the cooling fan in motion. It can break apart and move fast and puncture through the radiator. These are engine cooling components that are critical to the engine’s function.Step 3: You should approach shallow water slowly and moderately. You should approach deep water similarly by creating a wave and driving behind the displaced Water.Step 4: Do not turn off your vehicle once you have completed your route. Leave the engine running using use the engine’s heat to dry out the components and electronics. It is also ok to continue moving ahead. Next, I will discuss the steps needed to cross Flowing Water. Moving Water Crossings Step 1: Determine the water depth and your vehicle’s fording height. Keep in mind the height of your engine intake. If you suck water into your engine, you cannot continue.Step 2: Take your seatbelt off and the seatbelts of the occupants. This will make it easier to evacuate if need be.Step 3: Plan your route. Look for the exit out of the water before you enter.Step 4: Stage your Recovery Gear and make sure it is ready.Step 5: Approach the Water cautiously with low engine RPMs to avoid damage. One risk factor is the cooling fan in motion. It can break apart and move fast and puncture through the radiator. These are engine cooling components that are critical to the engine›s function.Step 6: Go with the flow and drive diagonally downstream with the rear of your vehicle against the water flow.Step 7: Make sure to drive upstream of ripples in the water showing rocks or deep holes. Avoid tire spin, and do not bounce on the rocks.Step 8: Do not turn off your vehicle after completing your route. Leave the engine running using use the engine’s heat to dry out the components and electronics. It is also ok to continue moving ahead. Most any 4x4 vehicle, like this 2000 Chevy Suburban, can offer advantages over a typical car but it is only prudent to be cautious, evaluate if you really need to try to cross a body of water and plan carefully if you do. Photo by David M. Fortier Lastly, stick to the plan. Getting into your vehicle and forgetting everything you planned above is ubiquitous and easy. Adrenaline can cause you to panic if you let it. You can use techniques like stating your plan and steps out loud. Breathe and feel the air enter your lungs. Controlled breathing correlates to your heart rate and has a calming effect. Having a rational plan and being prepared will ensure that your mind and body can execute the stressful task. I leave you with homework. Take the time to go outside. The best part of practicing your mobility skillsets is that it requires you to overland. What a novel concept, Be Ready. “Fortune favors the prepared mind” – Louise Pasteur
This article was originally published in Be Ready! magazine. You can find an original copy at OSGnewsstand.com . If you have any thoughts or comments on this article, we’d love to hear them. Email us at FirearmsNews@Outdoorsg.com .
