Do I need a wading kit? Anything else?

OK, I'm currently kitting my car out for expedition type work and whilst I don't envisage having to ford a river, I do want to make it a "go anywhere" type of vehicle.

The car is a RR Classic 3.9 V8 on LPG. It is an EAS model, so also has an air compressor and air tank underneath.

Question is, at what point would I need to think about a wading kit? I believe the permitted wading depth is 500mm (540mm in offroad mode), so does that mean it can happily drive through water without a wading kit? As surely at that depth everything low down - diff's, compressor, etc - are already below water! Obviously protecting the electronics is a whole other ballpark which I am working through too.

In the handbook it only mentions wading plugs for the diesel model. So, should I get a wading kit for my V8? What does such a kit usually consist of?

Cheers!

V8 doesnt have a timing cover drain so its not so much of a disaster waiting to happen.

It does have a bell housing drain which i used to fit when i was a noob but now i dont bother, gives it a rinse if anything. tbh rarely gets that deep. i would fit if it was spending time sat in water, cos it would kill the release bearing, but generally i dont bother. 1/4 bsp iirc and cheap as chips from hydraulic/plumbing supplier.

wading kit is worth fitting, buy 20 metres of 6mm nylon and a few 1/8bsp 90 degree pushfits from same hydraulics suppier, screw into axles, box and transfer, and then connect to a manifold from same supplier, maybe get some pfte tape from same supplier too.

bang it all together for about 25 quid. chances are old breathers are blocked, and it worth doing even if you hardly use it, you never know.

get 5 metres 8mm tube and an 8mm straight pushfit and extend the fuel tank breather whilst youre at it, and try to find the compressor inlet and see if that can be extended also

Mr Noisy said:

V8 doesnt have a timing cover drain so its not so much of a disaster waiting to happen.

It does have a bell housing drain which i used to fit when i was a noob but now i dont bother, gives it a rinse if anything. tbh rarely gets that deep. i would fit if it was spending time sat in water, cos it would kill the release bearing, but generally i dont bother.

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Its not the water - its the mud n grit. Wouldnt want to do that over Salisbury Plain .

The Mad Hat Man said:

Its not the water - its the mud n grit. Wouldnt want to do that over Salisbury Plain .

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I kind of took it as given that mud and grit would be present, water was just a generalisation!

Check the extended breathers on the axles and gearbox as it is cheap and easy. Make sure the wading plugs are in. Get some straps for recovery and some shackles. Pack some old gloves and wellies, sell the daft girlie car and get a fender.........run for cover!!

Most will know to fit quality HT leads, dizzy cap etc....but well worth checking the ignition module on the dizzy, wiring and seal from module to socket connection that goes through the dizzy body...have since found was one of the reasons I was having probs in the wet.

....oh, and take a fresh copy of LR Monthly, or suchlike.....it'll come in handy to pass the time as you wait for a friendly passing farmer in his defender doozal to come n pull you out!