Fording water depth

[Paddy McMahon]

How deep can these trucks comfortably be submeregd while fording a waterway and still be reliable? I have always allowed that the axle breather tube heights and air intake elevation of the turbo were the criteria for my first gen truck. Now with the ECM and all the electronics they have on the new trucks I would be a little puckered to be in water over the top of the tires without wondering what electrical nightmares I would be initiating. Any one have some insight for these issues with an OEM truck running 32-35 inch tires?

 

[rbattelle]

Good question, and something I thought about years ago. I think the low spot on these trucks might be the APPS beneath the driver side battery. It would probably be bad to submerge that, and I think it's lower than the axle vents are.

No worries about the ECM.

Probably also a good idea to check the bottom edge of the fan - probably not a good idea to submerge that either.

Ryan

 

[MickeyMiller]

This may sound dumb, but what is the APPS? I have been considering doing an inverted air box leading to a NASA vent on the upper right of the hood. Figured it would be a good source of clean, cool ram air and way above any rational fording depth. Not quite a snorkle... but close! Now Ryan raises the spector of the APPS.....

 

[BSMcCauley]

I've pushed water with the headlights on mine - pretty slow, of course, but leaning into it hard enough to slip the tires a bit in 4WD (asphalt pavement) and be throwing up a glorious wall of water off the bumper! (LT235/85R16's & factory suspension height) Very important to keep enough forward movement going to keep the water from running back into the engine compartment and, as you point out, catch the fan. If the fan catches water, it turns into a propeller and carve a neat circle out of your radiator core, leaving you "dead in the water", pardon the pun.

 

[bheiting]

Like Ryan said about the fan. I've heard of them becoming boat propellers and
chewing their way into the radiator.

 

[MickeyMiller]

I've forded about 30" of water a couple times now with no ill effects yet. I am in the process of adding button rocker switches to the overhead consol... I think I will dedicate one to be a fan cut off! Any suggestions on the easiest place to splice in a remote relay?

 

[rbattelle]

This may sound dumb, but what is the APPS?

Sorry about that, I didn't even notice you had asked that until just now. The APPS is Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor, also known as the Throttle Position Sensor. It's what you're actuating when you press the pedal.



It sits under the driver side battery, just above the top of the driver side wheel well liner. I think it's okay to get it wet, but I'd be wary of submerging it.



Ryan

 

[MickeyMiller]

Oh, the downside of 'fly by wire'. Thank you... I was embarressed to ask twice! Going out to look at the APPS... pretty sure I've already gotten it wet a couple of times.

 

[snuff]

i would suspect the ecm is pretty well water tight for being where it is, the fan cut off switch is a need and also a snokle for the air intakwould help, ask the landrover guys... .

 

[MickeyMiller]

Actually thinking of a sort of inverted air box with a NASA scoop cut in the upper right side of the hood. Not quite a snorkle but up there about 4'... plus, if the water is coming over the hood, I am sure I am in trouble! Could extend it back to the base of the windshield with an extension back from the scoop...

 

[Andres]

Just don't be that guy that finds the only hole in the lake.

 

[FOXY005]

just don't be that guy that finds the only hole in the lake.

truck: $ 50,000. 00

off road accessories $ 6,500. 00

3 cases of beer: $ 60. 00

finding you truck won't float: priceless







i couldn't let this one pass

 

[MickeyMiller]

Ice chest is floating... think the beer might be gone?

 

[Dbonzi]

It must have been light beer :-laf:-laf

 

[CRuth]

Theres a lot more to think about than electronics. I once sunk my old truck in the mud. Never thought much about it till the rear end seized up. Full of muddy water. That was expensive.



My Jeep, after a day of doing good deeds pulling people out after a flood, I wound up losing the front wheel bearings due to water intrusion.



Now I avoid water and if I can't its time to check fluids and bearings as possible afterwards.

 

[rbattelle]

Now I avoid water and if I can't its time to check fluids and bearings as possible afterwards.

I've always thought that transfer case and axle fluids must be changed daily when operating in deep water.

Apparently, if it's deep enough, the seat foam should also be replaced daily.

Ryan

 

[CRuth]

Well you see, jeeps were designed with special dewatering foam. Now the passengers, thats another story.

 

[ENafziger]

It's common to relocate the vents on the front/rear diff, transmission, and transfer case to higher locations if fording deep water.

Another thing to consider... when diffs, etc are warm/hot from driving, introducing them to a cold water crossing causes a slight vacuum to be pulled through the vent line... thus contaminating fluids with water.

--Eric

 

[Paddy McMahon]

yeah, on my first gen truck I extended all the vents to avoid hasles with the vacuum issue. I still nedd to do the same with my present rig. I figure on my current truck the tops of the tires=limit for water w/ out a sealed intake snorkle.

 

[Scooby]

I'm always amazed at the yahoos who go out on the beach and drive through the (salt) water!