How much water can I go through in a jeep TJ?

canfossi · #1 04/13/08, 04:03 PM

My road is flooded and it's the only way in or out. Right now the water is up to the front bumper. It's not lifted, it's a stock 1997 TJ. I walked through it and parked my jeep on the other side last night and walked to my house the rest of the way, my feet were frozen by the time I was through it, the deepest part is about 60' in length. I don't have a boat, though I am going shopping for hip waders tomorrow. I'll have to drive through it once more then I'll be using the hip waders. I am just wondering what damage would be done after driving through this depth of water? I have to get to work so staying home isn't an option. Thanks Chris

Bearfootfarm · #2 04/13/08, 10:16 PM

Quote:

How much water can I go through in a jeep TJ?

Approximately 2 inches LESS than you thought was safe

texican · #3 04/13/08, 10:45 PM

I had a Jeep Comanche, and I regularly drove with water up to the door, without any problems...

depends on the water too, if it's moving, there's a chance of getting washed away, once the water gets up to the door level...

The only safe thing to do is to not do it... Unless you're wanting a new Jeep...

farminghandyman · #4 04/14/08, 09:32 PM

after fording water, check the oils and change if water is found,

if you take off the fan belt on the old V belt style so the engine does not get sprayed you can probly go up to the distributor or spark plugs, Doubt if the serpentine belts fair as well, remove the tunnel to the air intake if there is one

but in moving water probably you would not want to go much more than the floor boards as the vehicle will start to float and be sweep down stream, or at least get enough resistance to be sweep down stream.

so safely not much over the center of the axles,

but if you get a lot of speed you can nearly fly over some fairly deep ponds, you will probly have to dry out he distributor and such to keep get to run a gain,

but like my Dad said if you stall it in the middle and its a stick or manual transmisson, one can sometimes put it in first and use the starter to get it out of the middle of the stream.

vallyfarm · #5 04/14/08, 09:55 PM

NEVER, ever go deeper than the bottom of the radiator. Above this point the axle vents are below water. Fan blade hits the water it could be the end of many an engine part. Also, getting a hot enging block dropped in cold water doesen't do good things for rings, beatings, and cracked blocks. Do not confuse these with the Jeeps you saw in WWII. Mike

Wolf mom · #6 04/14/08, 10:40 PM

Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona has instituted the Stupid Driver's Law.

It concerns drivers who go through flooded draws & get either stuck or washed away. I hear the fine is pretty stiff....Yes, it's for real!

Ed Norman · #7 04/14/08, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farminghandyman

but like my Dad said if you stall it in the middle and its a stick or manual transmisson, one can sometimes put it in first and use the starter to get it out of the middle of the stream.

Yep, but your Dad never had to deal with those ridiculous clutch safety switches. Engine won't crank with the clutch out.

farminghandyman · #8 04/15/08, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Ed Norman Quote:

Quote:

Originally Posted by farminghandyman
but like my Dad said if you stall it in the middle and its a stick or manual transmission, one can sometimes put it in first and use the starter to get it out of the middle of the stream.

Yep, but your Dad never had to deal with those ridiculous clutch safety switches. Engine won't crank with the clutch out.

No he did not have to worry about the clutch safety, but I bet if one was interested it could be by passed before hand, (in a 1950's Chevy had a form of the clutch safety in that the starter switch was under the clutch).

one of the other things (the old military gas engines, had special distributors, and spark plug wires, and even spark plugs, that were shielded and "water proofed", also the military equipment has most of the vents to the axles and transmission and other that join together and are vented normally at the higher point under the the hood on the fire wall, and many of the trucks had a dual air intake system that one could plug off and use one in the cab of the truck. and some times for major fording of military vehicles, there was a process of preparing some of the fording depending on the depth of the water to be entered, and some even had special fording accessories, that would extend the air and exhaust and vents and seal any other openings that would be effected), so what you see on the military or movies is not necessarily true reality, yes if properly prepared one can drive a car or truck with the body totally under water, (in one military exercise I remember reading about to keep the tanks and trucks going where they needed them to impress the brass they had to build a form of a track in the stream bed to keep the truck and tanks from getting out of line, and coming up where they were not was supposed to come up on the other side of the river they had forded, and there was much preparation to accomplish that stunt).

fantasymaker · #9 04/15/08, 08:39 AM

Here is the military soulution

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...79375719284185

Cygnet · #10 04/15/08, 02:42 PM

As others have said, roughly up to bottom of the frame. Any more and you risk water in vital parts. Check for potholes.

Realistically, unless you're experienced, it's better to wade.

Also, if the water's deep enough to get in the transmission, you'll want to drain and replace the fluid later. It's got vents that are not water tight.

If it stalls, FULL STOP, do NOT try to start it. Tow it to a mechanic. Do not let ANYONE try to start it. If there's water in the engine you can destroy your engine in a hurry by trying to start it. Air compresses; water doesn't.

-- Leva
(Who did a lot of offroad miles in a jeep. And got 230K miles on one transmission, 160K on one set of brake shoes, and 200K miles on one clutch. I heart jeeps.)

WindowOrMirror · #11 04/15/08, 03:26 PM

don't get the water into the fan housing (bottom of radiator). It should make it through something less than that height IF YOU GO SLOWLY ENOUGH.

You can go through more if you keep moving (think "wake") but if you stop and the water catches up, you're stalled and hurtin' 4 certain.

R

Oggie · #12 04/15/08, 04:33 PM

If the water is standing still, have fun.

If there's any flow to the water, you'd be surprised how it might push you.

Unfortunately, after the surprise, it's too late.

canfossi · #13 04/15/08, 06:55 PM

The water has gone down to about 6" deep now, and it's getting lower. I am very happy, hopefully all the water covering the road should be gone by the end of the day tomorrow. Thanks Chris

n9viw · #14 04/16/08, 03:50 PM

I realize your current issue is no longer an issue, just wanted to pass an FYI: I've had my '82 CJ-8 Scrambler "up to the eyeballs" (to the bottoms of the headlights) in water... and the water was almost up to my lap! Above water were the alternator, distributor and the intake... AND the breathers. I routed all breathers (axles, trans, and t-case) to a single line, which runs up the firewall and stops at the top of the cowl. I'm planning to route it (and the intake) much higher in the future.
The highest I've seen a STOCK TJ in was up to the bumper. I don't recommend going any higher that without modifications, since the stock airbox draws air from right about behind the headlight If you were to go with a snorkel such as that provided by ARB, seal your distributor, and route your breathers to the snorkel, you could likely drive in water too deep to breathe in.
I've seen fellows standing on the seat and idling through deep water; it CAN be done, but NOT on a whim. WindowsOrMirrors is right- keep the bow-wave going. Cygnet is also right- if you hydrolock, that is IT, and possibly may already be too late. Best bet- if you wouldn't wade it, don't drive it. Swimming doesn't count, because most Jeeps can't float.

artificer · #15 04/17/08, 04:23 PM

Not a jeep, but amusing anyway.

How long can you hold your breath?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...79375719284185

Quint · #16 04/18/08, 01:13 AM

I've had my old Ford in water deep enough it was coming through the open windows. It was snorkeled and had marine distributor and electronics and had a good deal of waterproofing done to it. It's more than a little scary to have water across the hood, pouring in the windows and filling the cargo area. You get a primal fear of drowning. At least I did.

Before I modified it for trail duty I'd crossed water probably halfway up the doors. The worst problem was from the fan. When the water got high enough to get into the fan it really started splashing up things under the hood. You can generally go in water over the wheels and tires especially if you're only going a short distance. The further you go the more trouble you get into.

Just a warning. If that water is moving stay out of it. It doesn't take much moving water to send you floating away. If it is still, standing water you can ford a surprisingly deep body or water even in an unmodified vehicle.

fantasymaker · #17 04/18/08, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artificer

Not a jeep, but amusing anyway.

How long can you hold your breath?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...79375719284185

LOL I love that video thats why I posted the link in post #9 above! In fact I like it so much I bought a 1972 studebaker that can do it.

Or COULD heed BEARFOOTFARM's advise!

vicker · #18 04/18/08, 10:53 PM

When going through deep water, I think slow and steady is the key. It doesnt take much water in your air/fuel mixture to break and engine. Water converted to steam will not compress very well on the compression stroke and you may find yourself in the market for a new or used engine. ( spoken from experience.)

kasilofhome · #19 04/19/08, 09:08 AM

Our home is on "Lake Tempory" AKA "Chase Cannel" AKA (my favorite) "Oh, my God not that road" For 2 tenth to just about 3 tenths of mile the water stayed at 24 inches deep. For 24 years that my only neighbor lived here. That water stopped everyone from living here and only fools like us even looked at the land.

My neighbor has great pictures of his family and how they thru the years dealt with it. My favorite is a the ones with the green skiff. The eldest must have taken as he is missing from the photo. but the man of the house is pulling the line attached. The skiff if loaded to the gills with 3 kids and store bought items and a very pregnate wife.

The stories of how they did it for 20 years are known to the town.

I am not as tough as they and preyed for the right words when dealing with the road inspector. We did as Mike taught us to do. Get waders and park in a clearing by the main road The first 2 years. Ditches were hand dug by us and Mikes got a new toy for dirt work and played with it. But I pushed and I pushed and this year when it was at it's worse I got the road inspector to view my car sinking in it. (very weird Spring this year) And the work is done. There now is a road that is fit to drive on.

For all those that that who hate people comming but and are looking for a sign think about.

Warning This road is not maintained
The only tow company will not respond till the low water is down to 8 inches.
They know this address.

rafter · #20 04/19/08, 09:49 PM

We do water crossings all the time with our jeep on the jeep 4X4 roads up in the high country. I won't go through anything that will run in the doors. And if its running water if it feels like its going to drift down stream...goose it quick.

Lots of jeep owners have the exhaust piped up to cross deeper stuff.