Fording Depth

amxguy1970 · August 16, 2019

I was trying to find a listed depth for our trucks but couldn't find anything. I saw stuff listed for the Colorado over seas as well as the testing Ford did with the ranger. I did find a video a few years back when the K2's came out down in Mexico with a Sierra All-Terrain showing off its off road chops with an off road specialist and it was going through a river where water was up over the hood, but I can't find those videos. Either way this was two weeks ago outside Red River New Mexico. And no, there wasn't any water intrusion, no lights on and no issues or stalling. I walked it and it was to about the top of my tire (I would guess around 30-36"), so the bow wave makes it look deeper than it was. The middle was even deeper still. In case you have any worries about how deep you can go this might help.

When DFW flooded two years ago there was a low spot on Loop 12 for those that are familiar with the area that stranded a bunch of cars with no turn around. When news crews were there it showed a 3rd gen Tahoe going through with the water just getting to the top of grille and it made it fine so it seemed as it drove off.

Truck has been fantastic, taking me in and out of remote areas and trails with out a complaint or issue, GM sure knows how to build a truck. My diff and transfer case fluids should be here today to change this weekend. At 60k I think it is time anyway, transmission I will do this spring.

Just wanted to pass this along for any further info for those that are trying to inquire. If I find any water in any of the diffs I will pass that info along as well, I am curious about the breather set up.

Tyler

amxguy1970 · August 16, 2019

This shows where on the door it came up to.

Tyler

m3n00b · August 16, 2019

Good stuff!

Joe's 2017 Silverado · August 16, 2019

All I can say is,....wow

aseibel · August 16, 2019

This spring we had a flash flood. I came up to a spot on the road and couldn't tell how deep it was so i stoped to think. I watched one lifted pickup truck try it and he made it through. Next a 17 or 18 similar to mine, but I think he had a leveling kit- got in the middle and stalled it. I don't think that was any deeper than 18". Didn't look more than halfway up the wheels. I turned around and went the long way home.

Tbek66 · August 16, 2019

On the 2019 T1 the air intake is higher, on top of the rad cradle/sight shield facing straight upwards.

Caution.
We have had one brand new truck go down with a cracked block after fording a river with 18" deep water.

He was going too fast!

It appears the water rolled up the front of the rad/condenser and dropped into the intake as it curled up and over and back to the front straight down the air intake.

Caution! Go slowly when fording water!

Edited August 16, 2019 by Tbek66

TXGREEK · August 16, 2019

Doesn’t matter what vehicle it is, it depends on the air induction system, look to see where your air suction is and it is identical to my Z71 which I’d never go through that high water unless it was an emergency and had a backup plan. If your air suction is higher than the highest point of the water you’re in then you’ll be fine but keep the transmission in 1st gear allowing the exhaust to exit without clogging up causing a stall.

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asilverblazer · August 16, 2019

Don'y forget about vent tubes, front axle, transfer case, rear differential.

Front and rear diff vents are right on top of the frame rails, going any deeper risks water entering the diffs and contaminating them.

Some even feel the same about wheel bearings, basically hub depth.

16LT4 · August 17, 2019

Braver than me... glad it made it, but there's far too much to deal with after the fact to make it worthwhile (fluid changes, new bearings, etc). Electronics don't like being underwater, hopefully random problems don't start popping up in a few months when corrosion really sets in.

greatmizzou · August 18, 2019

Its cool but I would never do that to a personal vehicle worth $$. Lots of people get stranded and put in dangerous situations trying to ford water. Never drive into standing water is a good M.O.

the road sometimes falls apart underneath the pavement from erosion, drive over that and you will likely get trapped.

Unless you are on a known 4x4 trail people ford all the time, its too risky to cowboy rapidly flooded areas. You are better off towing a small john boat with u

swathdiver · August 18, 2019

About this time last year my children and I crossed a stream in a swamp in the Yukon XL. We stopped and had a look, kids said they saw their rocks hit the bottom and that it wasn't deep. We entered the water and about a truck length in the nose dives under water with water splashing the windshield. I panic, threw it into park instead of reverse! Panicked again and threw it into drive instead of reverse and gunned it and instantly felt a sinking feeling and my wallet being emptied of hundred dollar bills for the mess I was creating. But no, her tires dug into the muck and the truck powered through the trough and up a steep bank without a hiccup. Then all the warning lights went off for a few seconds, the motor stumbled for a second or two and then resumed purring. Not a drop got into the interior, not a drop inside the lights, none in the differentials either and by God's grace, none ingested into the motor.

A few months later my daughter and I came to a submerged portion of a trail with some cows bathing in it? How bad can it be if cows are standing up in there? We shooed them out the way and plop, the right side fell off and the passenger side window was almost in the water! Once again I panicked and gunned the engine and we got out of their right quick. Only damage done was to my pride and my youngest daughter chastising me for not listening to her, again! LOL

Amazing trucks! This was right before we sunk ours the first time:

amxguy1970 · August 19, 2019

Bearings area sealed and this was a high traffic trail which I walked prior entering. The only thing I didn't think of was the EPS, a couple Colorado's have had issues after deep water crossings but they may do it on the regular being submerged for an extended period often and this was a quick dunk. Any issues those trucks had were quick to show up. Also the AC compressor is mounted low. Breathers have one way valves and if any water did enter (this was going to be so quick) it wouldn't be long before I change it and it would be hot and ran for hours and evaporate after anyways. So far no issues, drove another 1k miles in 100 degree heat so anything should have evaporated quickly. Most everything is extremely well sealed on these trucks, especially on trucks and SUV's that have off road in mind in design. They are thinking of the farmer coming home from the back 40 in a rain storm having to cross a flooded road, think they are going to leave him to chance getting stuck because something got wet? There is a big difference between a quick dunk for a few seconds where air bubbles are still trying to leave and being submerged for an extended period. That is why they have different IP ratings for a splash, dunk, extended time or deeply submerged, a dunk is quite different then spending 2 minutes under 3 feet of water. This is a second vehicle for me, if something happens I change it and move on and drive the other fun one in the interim. These are much more capable than many think or realize...

Nissan tests deeper water in the Titans, Chevy does for their overseas trucks (I promise they do for the US trucks as well).

https://www.autoblog.com/2015/03/13/2016-nissan-titan-torture-testing-video/

https://media.gm.com/media/th/en/chevrolet/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/th/en/2018/july/0710_colorado.html

With that said, I don't plan on doing that again but it is nice to know it can.

Tyler

Edited August 19, 2019 by amxguy1970

amxguy1970 · November 5, 2019

Forgot to update this as I had changed my diff and transfer case fluids, no water was to be found. The rear axle vent tube went up above the gas tank towards the door, so it is mounted pretty high as well. The front would be a similar height. It has been over 3 months and zero issues. EPS works as normal with no sounds, ditto with the air conditioning which it gets a work out in Texas. Like I said I don't plan on doing that again, but it did just fine, probably as GM had designed and tested (just didn't convey to everyone though at its abilities).

Fluid changes were a piece of cake for the front diff and transfer case, really wish they would add a drain plug to the rear diff, sure would cut down on time. My GTO is easy to change compared to the truck but still not hard, just a little time consuming and messy with all the bolts.

Came across this gem today, a Chevy express running through some water up to its headlights.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/ex-bus-driver-fords-water-perfectly-in-video-gets-fired-for-it/

Tyler

Edited November 5, 2019 by amxguy1970

L86 All Terrain · November 5, 2019

When water is coming in your door, its too deep lol. My friend found this out the hard way with his 90's Ford Ranger, he followed me hunting down a flooded road. I had a new 2005 Duramax at that time. The pickup for his airbox was at the bottom of the grill by the bumper. Locked it up solid, and that was the end of the Ford.

amxguy1970 · November 6, 2019

19 hours ago, L86 All Terrain said:

When water is coming in your door, its too deep lol. My friend found this out the hard way with his 90's Ford Ranger, he followed me hunting down a flooded road. I had a new 2005 Duramax at that time. The pickup for his airbox was at the bottom of the grill by the bumper. Locked it up solid, and that was the end of the Ford.

Water never came in the doors, everything was dry in the cab; I thoroughly checked that after. They sealed the bottom half of the cabs up well.

Tyler