Wash = ford fail. Any tips? (Pics)

ROMP IT!


This was at my friends storage unit lol. Not really a water crossing but its a cool pic.


I have done a few more that were deeper but no pics were taken.

 

Haha I wish I had a winch, finders, keepers right? lol but ill have to go out with some of you az members and let you guys take me to school like you did on the butcher jones trail. Thanks for all the responses.

 

Looking good Hoyal, how deep was the water? flowing fast?

 

It was flowing moderately but at the deepest to the front bumper.

 

It's textbook off-roading to NOT splash through it... Just my $.02

 

Yeah that one is a crossing we do all the time to bottom is flat. Some times you have to get the romp it urg out. Like I said we have done much deeper and no I would not romp it but this is short and sweet splash!

 

Gutsy either way... Having been in the Marines and done quite a few "Vehicle Appreciation Humps" - I REALLY value my wheels... LOL

 

That pic is epicness, smart move on not crossing it while you were solo. But you also dont know what he was actually doing, coulda been driving up the creek and got stuck. You just never know.

 

By the way, and aside from depth, speed, and proper vehicle - my $.02 on your questions:

What do I want to look for before I cross? Approach angles into the water, departure angles out of the water, an area to stop or move to after you are done, water speed, etc. Be sure that the bottom material of the crossing or ford site is suitable for your vehicle. If you are with a convoy of Tacomas, realize that as they go across - bottom material may get washed out - possibly exposing slippery rock - or it might just get deeper...

What are some test I should do? Stick test is a good one... best to just use your own judgement and trust the feeling in your gut like you did with this one.

How fast is to fast for the flow of water? Use your own judgement, but remember that surface water speed can be slower than the under current.

And how fast do you want to go when crossing? Moderate speed and, whatever you do, don't take foot off gas. Water can enter the engine through the tailpipe too.

 

What if you lose traction and you are no longer moving? Move it in neutral and keep RPMs going at a moderate rate?

 

Honestly, I do not know for sure, but I'm guessing that is a correct option - I've personally never had it happen. The off-road school I went to in TX told us to keep the engine running as long as you could if you get stuck.

 

deep water fun isnt worth hydrolocking your motor.

i will strip naked and walk across mysteriously deep water, before i ever drive across. (if i had to)

 

i dont have an auto but doesnt putting the truck in park still run the rpms at a give speed?

 

Yea as long as the vehicle is running you will be fine. I had my jeep in over 4ft of water for over an hour running and it was fine. (I got stuck)

 

Park is the same as idle, except I wouldn't recommend it for three reasons:
1. You have to get past reverse, which causes strain on the tranny. If you have to get back in gear, you have to go past reverse again and back into gear
2. In some vehicles, the parking gear kicks of special events in the electronics system. I wouldn't want to do it for fear that it would try disabling some of the traction electronics


As far as rpms in park, it's the same rpms you get in neutral. However, your idle speed is not something you want to rely on when the motor is in an unnatural situation. Too many chances to starve the motor and cause it to die. This goes moreso for carbed engines. I would rather just burn a little bit more gas at a high idle and be safe.

 

Good call. Also, I'm sure you know but after rains like we've had... even several days after if a snow fall breaks off you can get flash floods in seconds out here... always be aware of that in the crossings and avoid sitting in them if possible.

 

So how deep can we actually cross without damaging something? I always ran buy the rule of keep the water below the hubs.

 

That would be my guess Plannerman99, I have seen deeper but it probably wasn't the greatest for the truck. Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

It kinda depends. Have you done the diff breather mod? If so, you can go deeper as long as you keep the engine on and don't allow water to get back up the exhaust.

Also, mid way up the back of the cabin there is a vent hole... so that'll leak. As well... you can't go higher than your intake, ever. Other than that... pretty much fair game.

 

Well, from personally experience I can say its usually alright as long as you don't let off the throttle too quickly. Just ease it down to an idle and everything should be alright. Once upon a time in my 2500HD I managed to get my self stuck in just under 4 feet of water. Stayed like that for 30 minutes until I got an excavator, swam under the truck, hooked up a chain and lifted the truck out of the water.