Water crossing and drive outside paved roads
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Fording
134
Off-road driving
135WARNING■ Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance – risk of accident!■
Avoid abrupt and sudden braking immediately after water crossings.
■
After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and dried
as soon as possible by intermittent braking.
■
Only apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake discs
if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users in jeop- ardy.
WARNING■ Drive particularly aware and pro-actively outside paved roads.■Always adjust your driving to the current terrain and weather conditions. Ex-
cessive speed or incorrect driving manoeuvres can cause damage to the vehi-
cle and lead to serious injuries.■
Objects trapped under the floor of the vehicle can damage the fuel lines, the
brake system, the seals and other parts of the chassis. Check the underside of
the vehicle and remove the trapped objects.
■
Combustible objects such as dry leaves or twigs caught under the base of
the vehicle could ignite on hot vehicle parts - risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ When driving through water, some parts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.■
Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permissible
water level for your vehicle.
■ Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water making it difficult or im-
possible to drive through the body of water.■
Do not drive through salt water. The salt can lead to corrosion. Any vehicle parts
that have come into contact with salt water must be rinsed immediately with
fresh water.
CAUTION
■ Pay attention to the ground clearance of the vehicle! When driving over objects
which are larger than the ground clearance, the chassis and its components can
get damaged.■
Drive slowly in unknown terrain and watch out for unexpected obstacles, such
as potholes, rocks, stumps, etc.
■
Check up on confusing sections of unpaved roads before travelling on them and
consider whether such travelling is possible without risk.
Fording
Fig. 115
Driving through water
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 134.
The following must be observed to avoid damage to the vehicle when driving
through bodies of water (e.g. flooded roads).
›
Therefore determine the depth of the water before driving through bodies of water.
The water level must not reach above the bar on the lower beam » Fig. 115.
›
Do not drive any faster than at a walking speed.
134Driving
