Maximum water crossing depth for stock 3rd gen?

[I_bRAD]

There's a trail by my house that goes into a very good bass lake. I've scouted it out by quad and there is one tricky rock bit I think I can do but my main concern is the amount of water that needs to be crossed.

For a good part of the trip I was basically rack deep on the quad, so that's about the tops of the tires I would guess. I have stock height with rear breather mod.

Good idea or bad?

 

[Bijan]

There's a trail by my house that goes into a very good bass lake. I've scouted it out by quad and there is one tricky rock bit I think I can do but my main concern is the amount of water that needs to be crossed.

For a good part of the trip I was basically rack deep on the quad, so that's about the tops of the tires I would guess. I have stock height with rear breather mod.

Good idea or bad?

My advice is dont do it unless it's absolutely NECESSARY to get you somewhere.

My guess is 24" would be a very questionable depth to cross.

 

[I_bRAD]

My advice is dont do it unless it's absolutely NECESSARY to get you somewhere.

My guess is 24" would be a very questionable depth to cross.

Well, I do hear the fishing is REALLY good. Does that count as necessary?

Guess I'll have to figure out a way to drag a boat behind my quad...

 

[nobb]

The limiting points would be up to where-ever your diff/transmission breathers are (if they are not extended), or your air intake

 

[JohnMc]

There's the 'PITA depth' where you should probably drain and check diffs and transmission oils.

And then there's the 'hydrolocked the motor' depth, in which you get towed home and buy a new engine.

The stock air box breathes through a foot-ish long tube inside the right front fender. It runs level, back from the air box. You can look at where it attaches to the airbox at the inner fender.

This is complicated a bit by the way water gets pushed around by the truck as it drives through the water, and how it swirls into that fender area.

But I really would take a good look at that height, and then stay pretty well short of it.

 

[kolelt]

For stock. I’d say no more then your front wheel. The air intake is right in the fender.

With snorkel I’ve been through water over my hood. Either way if can be avoided. Avoid it!

 

[Tyler James Inc]

I would agree the top of your tires would be a safe and reasonable guideline [emoji1360]
Personally, I'm not sure I would go that deep. I'd be all nervous about water getting inside somehow. But- being logical about it- your airbox is your biggest concern, and the top of your tire should be well-below that.

 

[clearock]

The fan doesn't like running through high water either

 

[thegipper]

This spring I took my 4runner through a water/ice hole on our hunting land. It was about 30ish inches deep, maybe a little more. I went through it slowly while keeping momentum, she didn't miss a beat. The hole was about 10 yards long so I wasn't in it very long. I went through it 4 times without any issues.

I have a 2" lift and I have done the rear diff breather mod. 32" tires.



Your results may vary...

 

[JayRolla]

General rule of thumb is half way up wheel is safe. Tops of tires pushing it. Anything higher is very risky. Remember front diff and trans has breathers also.

 

[theesotericone]

Well, I do hear the fishing is REALLY good. Does that count as necessary?

Guess I'll have to figure out a way to drag a boat behind my quad...

That counts. Have you considered just getting an ultra-light float tube? You can easily throw that, fins, and waders in a backpack. I do a lot of alpine fishing for Golden Trout. These lakes require many miles of travel to get to on foot. I picked up a Creek Company 420 to take with me. It's about 11 lbs and the tube is bomber stable.

 

[Trail Taxi]

Even with a snorkel, deeper than more than just a splash on the hood can really get expensive.

If you are actually submerging your vehicle to over hood depth think about what tender items are underwater. Just to name a few, your starter, alternator, coil packs, clutch fan, dipsticks tubes for the tranny and engine, auto tranny reservoir, battery, fuse and relay boxes, dozens of connectors, horns, entire headlight assembles (the headlight breathers will let water right in).

If you stall in the "over hood depth water" soon all of your interior (soggy seats) and interior electronics are also underwater -- not fun. Think of your nice hot exhaust manifolds suddenly being submerged into cool/cold water?

Even the best water crossings can be gritty and possibly alkaline too, more so when churned up by other vehicles (thin mud is really bad on expensive parts). Many of the seals/boots on our vehicles are really good at keeping fluids/grease in but not as good at keeping gritty water/mud out.

TT

 

[Doc2012]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/168259-waterproofing-fording-pt-1-a.html


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[Mark_BC]

The Australians do water crossings all the time. Maybe that's why they have 70 series and Patrols.