Swim Lessons

So.
Picked up my 2015 DCLB Sport back in October. Since then Ive put on 20k.
Havent really put too much into the truck since then, Im keeping it minimal for now for fear of warranty voids.
With that being said, I still take the truck out in places it probably shouldn't go when stock anyway.

I don't deliberately head out to go mudding all day or blaze any trails but I definitely take some rough routes when headed out fishing and camping.

Either way, this weekend my truck met its match in a hole.

Firstly Id like to say that the reason Ive started this topic is for suggestions.
Ive scoured the messageboard over time and realize that my truck is far from fully suited to handle some of the terrain Id like to be going through. But we learn from our mistakes and this was a mistake this weekend for sure.

Ive hoped to have placed this thread in the right forums but oh well.

Basically I bottomed out the truck and swamped it.
There was no electrical damage but the interior carpeting got soaked.

I under estimated this hole and charged it hoping to at least have the momentum to push through to the other side since it was relatively short.
What I didn't realize was how damn deep the ruts were compared the middle and after stopping where I did, my truck had 2 of the four tires suspended completely and free floating while the others just had nothing to bite on.

The truck took on water and the exhaust was submerged.
I also had no cell signal or recovery tools at the time.

So I left the truck running where it was because I feared that if I turned it off it wouldn't crank back up. I honestly don't know, could be wrong.

Eventually after a good walk and about 2.5 hours later a buddy of mine was able to make it out and drag me back to safety.
And I mean literally drag.

It took about 6 or 7 good yanks as my truck plowed the earth backing out until I was able to regain traction and drive out.
4lo yellow wire.

Anyway.
Here are a few pics.



Moments after getting stuck/before we abandoned shit. This is my GF's side So much for weathertech mats.


I was pretty occupied with trying to get out so I didn't grab any other photos
So as per usual, those pics don't exactly do justice to what was going on there.

Right now Im in the process of removing, cleaning, drying the interior carpeting.
Also while Im at it going to do some other side projects.
Relocate and directly wire inverter to front console cubby.
Relocate cb(Havent decided where yet)
Relocate pa system amplifier.

I figure why the hell not since everything is torn apart.

So I basically came here to ask you guys, what else can/should be done.
I know that there is hell to pay for water damage, ive read a lot of conflicting stories about shortages, alternator deaths, differentials breather issues.

I spent an entire day under the truck fingering and fisting my way through so much mud and earth it was insane.
Also did an enormous amount of pressure washing.

Well what would you guys recommend now?

My truck stayed in this semi submersed state for about 2.5 hours, running.
So what damage have I caused?
What should I check?
Flush rear diff?
Anything need to be re-lubricated?
Removed/replaced?

How would I go about sealing the cab up, to protect it from water in the future?
That's a pretty big deal to me, there are some rivers up here that Id like to be able to pass through (after some real modding)
But what can I do now to prepare for that?
(Of course future plans will be heavier work ie suspension, tires,armor)

Im fully open to suggestions, hit me with whatever you got, good bad and the ugly.


The carpet is currently out and drying so I have a bit of time to get my hands dirty on the interior.
Just not really sure where to start and what to do.

Thanks a lot guys.
You may now all point and laugh.





*******************UPDATE***********************


Front and rear Diffs oils changed.
Trans case oil changed.
Fronts were a bit milky/cloudy. The others were fine.

Greased up 5 Zerks. All I could find were 5, hope there weren't more.

Rear diff breather mod parts ordered also.

Everything is currently torn out so today ill be visiting local truck shops and sound audio shops.
1. To get an idea of what I can do to make the cab more water resistant.
2. Find out what recommendations are for some sound deadening.

Oh and going to disconnect and grease up whatever connections are in the cab right now.

Later this week Ill end up taking the interior carpeting somewhere for a professional cleaning(more than likely)
Or just get lazy and take it to the local car wash and pressure spray it.
That sound deadening material takes FOREVER to dry though.

 

I wish I could see the pictures!

 

Makes my stomach hurt. Hope all you're out is a few days of cleaning man. On a 2015 even! Sucks.

 

They work for me.

 

It's my computer. It's one of the government rigs. Keepin' the man down.


Anyway, sorry @Jaahmez; back on topic.

 

Lucky you got it out. I would look at the differentials make sure no water got in thru the vents
Changing the oil in the diffs is cheap insurance.

 

Defiantly change oil in the rear differential possible even the tcase and front as well. Your close in milage to need it so I would just knock it all out at once. As far as the water damage I can only assume it's a waiting game. I took on water last year crossing a hole like that but no where as much as you took on. Make sure you. Dry the carpet very well and get all of it out of cab to prevent mold and mildew. I was lucky enough to let everything dry and you couldn't even tell anything happend. No codes no faults. Hopefully some others can chime in.

 

Boyd , is that you ?

 

after i got stuck in a mud hole my front diff actuator had issues that i eventually replaced. it had taken in water and started rusting some of the connections inside itself. but that is the only problem i encountered. the water that had made it in the cab dried well but mine was only sitting there for a few minutes before getting pulled out

 

Wow this looks very similar to when I got mine stuck. You had a bit more water than me though.


Since you have yours taken apart, it is a good time to do some sound deadening like I did to mine.

 

hahaha - I thought the same thing.

OP, all in all I think it turned out okay for you. It could have been much worse.

 

Wow sucks.

Since connectors are sealed and you were in fresh water you will probably be ok. Probably wouldn't hurt to unplug all soaked connections and use dielectric grease though.

 

Kinda looks like you deliberately hit that mud hole since you can see the bypass around it in the background of the pic where you're getting pulled out.... lol

pretty much the only things you should need to do are give it a nice hose down and check over and probably flush the diff since you likely don't have the breather extension on it yet.

oh and its going to stink like wet dog for awhile.

 

Damn that Sounds deadening looks like quite detailed job but that's pretty much where Im at right now.
Almost everything is pulled anyway. Wonder if that will assist in waterproofing the cab?
Ill search for a topic on that.

So far I gather...
*Relocated rear diff breather(duh)
*Flush front and rear diff
*open any submersed connectors(dry/reconnect with dialectic grease)
*Change transfer case oil

Right now Im not noticing any issues but its all about that preventative maintenance at this point. Beating the problem.
You guys are right though. Coulda been so much worse.
Thanks guys.

Ps-NOPE, not Boyd.

 

And yeah tubbsisisland, I definitely hit that one on purpose on the way out from a fishing hole. Passed it on the way in.
Came back to it.
Stopped. Got out.
"Sticked" it to check depths for a bit.

Girlfriend said no.
I said yes.
Now her michael kors bag is covered in mud.

 

at least the weather techs can be cleaned and at least she had a good sense of humor (at the time) Good luck sir

 

trust me, we've all done it This is a crazy old pic from one of the first AZTW meets back in 2009 when I was still on 33s and Icons. I wasn't stuck but still flooded the cab a little.

 

if you had ATRAC none of this would have happened...lesson learned

atrac activates hidden tank treads on the crossmember
so high centering is a thing of the past

 

It probably won't hurt to do any connectors you come across, whether they were submersed or not, if you already have that much teared out. Other than that, I would check your filters (Air and cabin)