Nearly went full-stupid! FLOODING

Hey y'all,

Just moved from San Diego to NE NC, and boy did I forget what rain was.....
We got record rain, and some roads were closed. However, I am ALWAYS up for tempting fate!

Wanting to get a checklist form of water fording tweaks for my 5th gen 4Runner.

Slap your ideas down, and I will do the leg work to collate, find suppliers, etc... And then I'll post the list up here for everyone.

Cheers,
J.

2015 4runner SR5, 31" BFG Mud Terrain on 17" Methods, wrapped onto Eibach 3" lift, and TRD skids

 

Maybe a 10" lift? We gets a little water here in Florida from time to time - kinda like every afternoon with lots of arcin & sparkin above. I'm a San Diego native - loved the place back before it got so highly civilized and cementized..

 

Funny enough, I am a central FL native! I remember many a days of swamping out my old Chevy Nova!!
We now live right off the Great Dismal Swamp, so it's more of the ability to ford stuff that sucks small Tercels and Explorers in the rain! And being neighborly enough to offer people a pull out of those situations.

 

I hear ya Brother and how coincidental! My reasoning for installing a winch was two fold - the “Look” and ability to help others who are not fortunate enough to own a 4Runner ….

 

Diff breather extenders are a must. A mild lift would help and on the extreme end is a snorkel.

 

If you are going to be fording water main thing to remember is most vehicles quit running as soon as the water hits the electronics and ECU under the dash.

 

Never to concerned with going into the water... Its knowing what is or isn't under the water that you can't see. When in doubt, send a private.

 

Apply dielectric grease to all electrical connectors so you don't have water corroding your wires and adding resistance. Diff breathers are a good idea. UNDERCOAT, water carries dirt everywhere especially in your frame. If your going through deep water then you should get a snorkel. Make sure all your rubber boots are in order.

 

Read and understood, fine sir!
I'm not trying to take her through anything deeper than the door sill! No need to help North Cackalacky make her a mold pit!
The diff breathers look like they are number 1, since they are cheap, easy, and diff fluid doesn't get checked every day!
An ECU and fuse box relocated, and sealing may be a good addition though!
Cheers,
J.

 

1) Don't.

 

This was my driveway when I lived in Arizona.



Yes, I had to drive through the Agua Fria river to get to my house. I drove a 2005 Mustang and my wife drove a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis.

My driveway was 1/2 mile long and this is the upper part where I would often stop and shoot rattlesnakes sunning themselves on the road.



Normally, the water is maybe 8" deep with a rock base and is clear and slow-moving. No problem for a car. The first photo is after a heavy rain and the water rises very quickly.

The most dangerous aspect, however, is that the water turns muddy and you can't tell what is going on underneath. It makes it nearly impossible to judge the water depth. Dozens of folks try to cross flooded river crossings every year and get swept downstream and drown.

Never, ever underestimate the power of fast moving water!

My advice is if in doubt, don't try it.

I did a river crossing every day for 3 years in everything from my Mustang to a lifted Suburban on 35" tires. Closest call I had was when the river looked similar to the first photo and I was trying to get home after a 12 hour day at work in the Mustang.

I decided to go for it after stopping and studying the water for a couple of minutes. I got about half way across when the nose of the car disappeared under the water. Muddy water hit the windshield and I felt the car floating, then sinking. I felt the tires hit the bottom and I gunned it. Miraculously, the car got traction and shot out of the river and onto the bank.

The water had eroded the river bed away and what I thought was a foot of water, was actually over 3 feet of water. I barely made it out and the oiled CAI I installed somehow prevented water from damaging the motor.

That was the last time I tried to cross the river if I couldn't see the bottom. Had my wife come get me in the Suburban...

 

snorkels make people believe they can ford deep water.....better make sure u you do a lot of other engine mods(electrical) for water as well

 

Waist deep water is enough to pick up and move your truck like it weighed nothing. Do water crossings at your own peril.

Also what the hell is this “rain”?

 

I'm in Western NC. The saying here is "turn around don't drown". If I approach high water, I go another way. If I need to cross a creek or river, I'll find a bridge.

 

And you moved away from that?

 

Where did you live in AZ? Cordes?

 

Nearest town was Dewey-Humboldt. Just South of there, about a 1/4-mile from the old smelter site.

 

Guess my wife and I did the opposite - we moved from the PNW (Mount Vernon, WA) to Phoenix.

Lots of public land down here to explore but I do miss the ocean, proper trees and the green.

 

Me too. Came to Florida from Northern California where the beauty rivaled Lake Tahoe - until Fire completely wiped out the town of Paradise. Central FL is great if you love water, water, and more water plus (last night for example) more lightening in one night than the entire year before. I miss the mountains..

 

Doubleduty, where abouts are you?

The Boone Mall floods all the time. We make jokes about dock side seating at Panera.

 

Titusville - right across from Kennedy Space Center…

 

I'm in Henderson county and we have a mountain cabin in Yancey county outside of Burnsville.