I seen many videos of trucks. Brand new 4runners being crossed through water that is higher then the rocker panels. Basically water can get inside the truck at this moment. But once they exit the water, it's bone dry inside ? Is this because the seals are in perfect shape? Or is it because the truck was moving across the whole time ?
When crossing water higher then your rocker panels
- Thread starter kolelt
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The seals are in good shape and yes, the truck is moving through water and not standing "still" in water. If parked, water would eventually make its way in.
A tip that is worth trying if you are crossing water is to roll up your windows and turn your AC/Heat on full blast. Be sure to have it set to pull outside air in and let it run for 5min before crossing the body of water.
This can create a "positive pressure" in the cabin which in turn provides some resistance to taking on water.
Again, it's not going to completely stop water getting in if the conditions are bad enough.
TheDurk
Elite Member
I don't think I buy this. There is a vent flap under the rear driver's bumper designed to avoid any positive pressure in the cabin (like from a door closing) and to maintain air flow.
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Road Bull
Senior Member
Ha! That's where my trail adventure would end. Time to find another way. Lol.
DK327
Member
No water in the rear diff via the breather on the pumpkin?
StreetCreeper
New member
Screw this crap, I love my truck too much to drive it through a friggin river. If I wanted to play in the river — I'd have bought a boat.
StreetCreeper likes to stay high & dry...
StreetCreeper likes to stay high & dry...
Screw this crap, I love my truck too much to drive it through a friggin river. If I wanted to play in the river — I'd have bought a boat.
StreetCreeper likes to stay high & dry...
Haha. I agree. I just wanted to see if anyone with water crossing experience had tips. So to my knowledge. And through expedition videos. The water can higher then rocker panels. As long as you make that little wave, and continue through the water. You should be dry ?!
Rwhockey29
New member
most people reroute those breathers as soon as they buy a 4runner, $20 and half an hour of time.
Unner
New member
Yeah keep moving through the water so you create a wake in front of you. As long as you keep moving and aren't in water for a super long time you won't have a problem. Don't get into water as deep as the poster a few posts above me though or you will have issues.
Road Bull
Senior Member
I think this might be one of the very few areas that I might concede, that a Jeep might do better than a 4runner. Granted, the last time I had first hand knowledge, was when I was about four or five years old with our family CJ-5. I remember being a kid and my Dad would drive through some deep water. I would pull my feet up on the back seat and watch the water come up through the drain holes, then drain back out. I think that they are still like this, but I could be wrong.
But not having to worry about water intrusion, wet carpets, fried seat motors (not on my SR5), wet upholstery, not to mention all the nifty mechanical problems that can occur. Hydro locking, water in filter, and all the electrical components... I just think it is too much to risk for the return. I know people have those cool snorkels, and I know that they are not exclusively for water fording, but there is a lot of other concerns that you need to take into consideration to safely get your vehicle through moderately deep water without damage.
The videos that I have seen on the subject do advise you to scout your path, maintain momentum, not too fast, not too slow, and build up a slight bow wave. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9xwkuGuGe4
But not having to worry about water intrusion, wet carpets, fried seat motors (not on my SR5), wet upholstery, not to mention all the nifty mechanical problems that can occur. Hydro locking, water in filter, and all the electrical components... I just think it is too much to risk for the return. I know people have those cool snorkels, and I know that they are not exclusively for water fording, but there is a lot of other concerns that you need to take into consideration to safely get your vehicle through moderately deep water without damage.
The videos that I have seen on the subject do advise you to scout your path, maintain momentum, not too fast, not too slow, and build up a slight bow wave. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9xwkuGuGe4
TheDurk
Elite Member
As a very young driver, I was caught in a flood that killed six people. Unwittingly, I went through a road dip between two hills where the water turned out to be so deep the bow wave reached the windshield on my 1968 Pontiac LeMans (426 V8). I could hear the fan blades slapping the water and the kids I was driving to day camp were yelling "Yay, we're a submarine!" as I dropped the big V8 into L and powered through. Coming out the other side, I had the presence of mind to try my brakes and...nothing. I pumped them all the way to the top of the hill before they caught. I needed new underwear.
Not a drop came into the cabin of that LeMans.
TL: DR test your brakes after any water crossing. You may not have any.
Unner
New member
I think it would take awhile for water to actually make it's way into the cabin since cars sit in the rain for hours on end, but that's still impressive that it didn't hyrdolock or anything. Just power through with some american muscle! Who needs brakes!
Water can be scary stuff. It's got so much power, and you don't even realize it. It's also nerve racking when you can't see how deep it is. One day I was out messing around on some forest roads around here by the river. I had my girlfriend with me (we weren't dating yet, but she wanted me to take her offroading so I worked with what we've got here in Alabama). We were going down some dirt/gravel roads, having a good time, when the ditches to the left and right start to fill up with water and then it comes over the road. I think it was flooding from the river because it had been raining a lot the last few months. I drove into it thinking it can't be that deep and I was right, it was maybe a foot at most, then there was a large dip in the road I obviously could not see. The water was probably 2-2.5 feet deep at this point and I was getting worried. I kept going and we rose up out of the water eventually. After that I really don't like driving into water I can't see how deep it is, or have seen someone else go through so I know how deep it is.
Very good useful tips. Awesome guys and thanks.
I agree with and will not argue about finding a alternate route!
In the expo video I was watching. The guys would walk into the water to scout the ground, and how deep it is. And which route to best approach it. Another good tip is to throw a rock. If you hear it hit the ground right away. It probably means it's not deep and the bottom is rocky. Again better getting your self in the water to actually feel it.
I agree with and will not argue about finding a alternate route!
In the expo video I was watching. The guys would walk into the water to scout the ground, and how deep it is. And which route to best approach it. Another good tip is to throw a rock. If you hear it hit the ground right away. It probably means it's not deep and the bottom is rocky. Again better getting your self in the water to actually feel it.
reelamin
New member
Nope...no way in hell. I just don't like abusing my rigs like that for several reasons. Cost, repairs, down time, shorten life of vehicle, ....that's just the issue if the rig makes it across.
I understand some people like to spend money and work on stuff.....me I want to keep using it and never break down. I find lots of alternative routes instead of hammering on my rigs.
I understand some people like to spend money and work on stuff.....me I want to keep using it and never break down. I find lots of alternative routes instead of hammering on my rigs.
RAD4Runner
Senior Member
That's how it's done properly.
Re: bow wake... It depends on how your intake is set up. On land Rovers, later 4Runners/ Tacoma's, etc the intake sucks from the back, under the wheel well or from the side of the fender, so the bow wake would help.
However, on some vehicles like the first-gen 4Runner the intake sucks from the front and rather low (next to driver side headlight) so a bow wake can actually be deep enough to get sucked up by the intake. (See 4crawler's solution to that).
LOL!
Another thing to keep in mind is if radiator fan goes underwater, the propeller action could actually flex the blade toward the radiator and damage blades and/or radiator.
Hence, the water crossing cover... https://youtu.be/T64LYEpjfUw
Or... Heck... Just drive an FJ40 - LOL
https://youtu.be/_Dc9QV2e5kc
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Guaranteed FJ was a diesel
TheDurk
Elite Member
Not on my Pontiac. Beefy STEEL fan blades on that baby. No stinkin' plastic on a '68 GM V8. Just added to my forward motion.
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