Preping for water crossings?

First off everyone here is awesome great feedback. I recently just joined and I feel at home. Anyway, I live in an area where it floods the only road to get home a few times a year. I am not planing on going out and looking for water crossings I just want to be able to cross the flood water when it happens. I want to know what I need to do to prep my 98 taco v6 5speed for water crossings. I have heard breathers electric fans etc. I also have been told that even with breathers and all I should still change my diff fluids after the fact. Where do I need to extend my breathers? What do I need to seal up? Other suggestions? Thanks guys
-Bullfrog

 

Just search the diff breather mod. Lots of good writes up on it and it's easy to do.

The front diff on is in e engine bay on the driver side fender.

Not sure on the Tcase one.

Get a snorkel.

And figure out a way to protect your alternator as that'll most likely get fried in deep water.

 

Is an electric fan overkill?

 

I don't think that'll help water proof the truck. Just something else electrical to possibly fry. Water will get into the motors.

Plus they are pretty loud. Have a buddy with some and it sounds like an air plane when they are on

 

Pin it to win it. If mud aint flying, you aint trying,

 

How is this helping me? Just sayin....

 

IMO, no.

 

yes, if you are doing deep water, electric fan is a must. This allows you to shut the fan off when going through deep water. A belt drive fan cannot be turned off (unless you swap belts to bypass fan when going through water..a PITA, and when the blades hit the water, there is a VERY good chance you will throw a blade or two and can damage your radiator, Not a good outcome.

Tranny breather, front diff breather, rear diff breather, gas tank breather all need to be extended. Move up into the engine bay. Snorkel is an ok idea if you are REALLY going through deep water, but once you are that deep, there is a LOT more that can go wrong (your not a boat). as gas engines do not like water.

Relocate or seal (or both) the ECU, make sure all door seals are good, and any other in-cab seals (under carpet, etc). Di-electric grease on everything.

Learn the proper way to go through water (slow and steady to create a nice bow wave for you to follow).

Change fluids and repack wheel bearings after deep crossings.

 

As for a snorkel are there any where I don't have to cut a hole in the fender? I'm kind of afraid to because I have a somewhat rare color and would have a hard time replacing it for whatever reason. Also what will a good quality electric fan cost me?

 

No there is no snorkel that doesn't require cutting.

Flexalite fans were popular on my supra stuff. Those are the ones my friend runs too on his tacoma

 

The point of an electric fan for water crossings is so that you can shut it off which you can't do with a belt driven fan. It can be a good idea to shut off the fan because when water hits the fan blades the blades will bend forward trying to pull through the water. This pulls the blades into the radiator. Destroy your radiator, and it won't matter how well you've waterproofed everything else.

This is why you'll see some photos of guys doing water crossings with a tarp over the grill of the truck. This is in an attempt to limit the amount of water that can get into the engine bay and cause the problem I just described.

Proper speed and creating a bow wave is for the same reason as the wave's high point is ahead of the truck and a low point of the wave hopefully near where the radiator and the rest of the engine is.

 

Untrue. There are snorkels (custom ones) that don't go through the fender.

While not ideal because the intake location isn't as high, it is still an improvement over the factory location that is almost right behind the headlight. Again, this location is helped by proper speed and a bow wave that creates a low point in the wave at about the location of the snorkel inlet. This can be done and have it all fit under the fender without cutting.


Looking at this photo closer, it looks like it might re-enter the engine compartment and pass through the firewall where it might have a filter inside the cabin. Not a bad idea if you can handle the noise of the intake inside the cab with you.

 

But go through what..the hood?? that still requires cutting..or the grill?? were would you put it??

 

This is the best advice.

The only other bit of advice I have is don't cross the water if you don't have to. Flash flooding usually entails swift moving water.

I have a stock TRD that has done dozens of water crossings and I didn't do the diff breather mod, add a snorkel, etc...

The valves on the diffs are technically one way valves and should do the trick. I always check my diff fluid (fr and rear) after a wheeling trip that involved water crossings, and the fluid is fine.

 

Your missing it. There are plenty that just end it inside the fenderwell. No cutting. Basically just extending the stock location farther back in the fender.

 

I've been trying to find an article written by Mark Whatley years ago about prepping for water crossings. Mark is a long time Land Cruiser/Toyota guru in Alaska with tons of experience with water crossings. He wrote a 3 part article on prepping a vehicle for deep water, but I haven't been able to find it. I'll keep looking.

In the meantime, here's a must read story of a water recovery several years ago in Alaska. Pretty crazy story. This Cruiser was totally rebuilt and is still going strong.
http://realcruiser.com/rescue/rescue.html

 

on top gear he filled his engine with foam, and strapped a big mercury outboard to the tailgate. hang some 50 gallon drums on the side of the bed.... think thats a good start

 

Lots and lots of

 

Toyota should really use the abuse top gear puts on there trucks as an advertisement for the greatness of our trucks.

 

i know right! that hilux they dropped off a building and left out in the ocean, the toybota, and the artic hilux. think there was some more...