With all the flooding going on I thought maybe we should talk about waterproofing your truck.
Notice how I used the word 'Truck' and not car---
I say that because typically trucks stand higher than a car and even in a truck there are very real limits as to how deep you can forge.
Before I start let me also say it is never advisable to try fording fast moving water or water where you cannot see the bottom. Last thing you want to
do is drive into a deep washout/hole. better to go around if you can.
But lets talk about what you have to do to make your truck able to wade threw water deeper than your axles.
Not all trucks are the same, you might have to do additional things to yours... but there are something's common to all vehicles and I'll talk about
those.
The one place where water can do the most damage on any engine is at the air intake and crankcase breather. Water is not compressible and when it gets
into the cylinders, it will lock the engine and sometimes break rods, crankshafts, pins, etc.
Yes they do make a snorkel to raise the height, but that alone will 'NOT' determine how deep you can safely go.
Nowadays electronics might be mounted on the floor. (ECUs are mounted under the seat in some vehicles.) Fuse and breakers are normally mounted on the
firewall behind the break pedal. If you do nothing to move them to a higher location or replace them with special made waterproof housings---- this is
the true limit to how deep your able to forge.
All other electrical connections can be made relatively water resistant by coating all connections and holes with Dielectric grease. Yes it works on
distributors as well as EIM's---Don't forget the wires to the fuel pump. typically found on top of the fuel tank.
A short time spent in water is okay by and by but if your planning on spending a protracted amount of time in the water then you want extend you
breather tubes on your axels transmissions and transfer cases.
I almost forgot about your Radiator!
Flood waters are all about debris---Crap floating around--- as in not stuff you want clogging up your Radiator.
My truck actually has three Radiators. one for the engine coolant, another for the AC and a third tranny cooler.
if your going to wade threw flood waters it's a good idea to mount a bug screen or a grill cover to keep all that crap out of there.
also radiator fans hitting the water can bend break or short out.
It would be a pretty good idea to install a cut off switch for the fan(s)... or just get under the hood and pull the wires.
Well I'm going to leave it there for now. But if your serious about making your truck semi-submersible there are plenty of websites and off-roading
clubs that can help you with your specific make and model.
Now I'll let other folks throw in their own advice tips and tricks.
edit on 1-5-2014 by HardCorps because: added a photo
edit on 1-5-2014 by HardCorps because: (no reason given)