Water Crossing, How Deep Can I Go?

gato · January 3, 2008

I have a 2006 Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (stock 245/75-16 tires) and I'm new to offroad driving. What's the rule for driving through water? How deep can I go before the truck gets damaged (assuming I don't get stuck). The manual says no deeper than the wheel hubs (about 14 inches or so), seems pretty conservative. If heard rumors that if the tail pipe goes under water the the truck will stall (true??). Also, any maintainence issues after driving thru deep water (change tranny/front/rear diff fuild, repack wheel bearings, etc). We are headed to AZ (Canyon de Shelly) in March and plan on doing some stream crossing, water would be about 1-2 feet deep. Wanted to get everyone's experiences so please chim in. I don't want to trash my new truck but still want to have fun.

Thanks!!!!

user3657 · January 3, 2008

I have a 2006 Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (stock 245/75-16 tires) and I'm new to offroad driving. What's the rule for driving through water? How deep can I go before the truck gets damaged (assuming I don't get stuck). The manual says no deeper than the wheel hubs (about 14 inches or so), seems pretty conservative. If heard rumors that if the tail pipe goes under water the the truck will stall (true??). Also, any maintainence issues after driving thru deep water (change tranny/front/rear diff fuild, repack wheel bearings, etc). We are headed to AZ (Canyon de Shelly) in March and plan on doing some stream crossing, water would be about 1-2 feet deep. Wanted to get everyone's experiences so please chim in. I don't want to trash my new truck but still want to have fun.

Thanks!!!!

u can go as high as your intake if u want.....if it really is that high creep through it so it dont splash any higher. if it gets in your intake its in your engine and its done. if u are into trails just keep up on your fluid changes. do them alot sooner then the manual recommends.

99silverado1500 · January 3, 2008

I highly doubt it will stall, people launch their boats down at the lake by me all the time with GMs and their exhaust is under 1 foot of water to launch right, so I dont think it will stall. Just be careful with splashing, and you should be fine to the top of the wheel wells.

HDdave · January 3, 2008

Yeah, the exhaust under the water will not cause the trucks to stall. I have duals, and any time I put our boat in both pipes are usually underwater.. Like said before, you can go the whole way up to the intake if you want, but personally I wouldn't take mine that deep. My personal concern would be water leaking in through the door seals....

pwall · January 3, 2008

I have a 2006 Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (stock 245/75-16 tires) and I'm new to offroad driving. <snip>

You also may want to consider some A/T tires. Not saying you're bound to get stuck with the stock tires, but chances are you might.

PS. Welcome to

[email protected] · January 29, 2008

Are the rear axle diff sealed from water? I launched a boat and had the exhaust and most likely the rear end underwater. I worry that water could get into transfer case or differential which will lead to wear if the fuilds are not changed. Of course the easy thing to do is open the fill plug and get a sample to see if water is present (cloudy and milky), or is the truck built for and occasion dunking?

Kack · January 31, 2008

Are the rear axle diff sealed from water? I launched a boat and had the exhaust and most likely the rear end underwater. I worry that water could get into transfer case or differential which will lead to wear if the fuilds are not changed. Of course the easy thing to do is open the fill plug and get a sample to see if water is present (cloudy and milky), or is the truck built for and occasion dunking?

Rear end has a vent on top of it. Not sure if it has a hose or not but you should put an extended vent hose on it if you are going to drive through water. I run my extended vent hoses up behind the tail lights on my off road rigs. there is always a good place to zip tie it up there. The front has a vent on it too. Make sure you extend it. When hot axles hit water they cool down and like to suck water in. if you do drive through really deep stuff just check your fluid before you hit the road. If it's milkshakey go straight to the parts house and get some new fluid. Change it asap. If you get over the door sills you will most likely get water inside the truck. Get some bigger tires, hate to see that rear end het hung up and sit in a stream for 4 hrs.

Woodcutter · January 31, 2008

Don't underestimate the force of moving water, especially if you're in it up to your wheelwells. Also, you'll be moving a wall of water in front of your truck that will be a serious concern if you stop your momentum.

71GMC_3/4T · January 31, 2008

Isn't the intake just ahead of the Right Front tire? Where the bumper meets the fender?

Seems like you'd want to keep *that* out of the water...

Zembonez · January 31, 2008

The answer to this question depends entirely on how well you can swim.

First thing to consider ANYTIME you are considering crossing water:: Is it moving? Swift water 6 inches deep can sweep a car off the road. It isn't to be taken lightly. If it isn't running, you can safely run in water up to the rocker panels. Any higher and you risk water entering through the doors and vents. Obviously this could be quite destructive to the interior and electronics. In my experience with Jeeps, engine driven fans can be bent and jam fist sized holes in your radiator if they hit water at high rpm. That and they sling giant amounts of water EVERYWHERE under the hood, soaking everything.

Anytime you run your front and or rear axles under water, you should at least check the fluids to make sure there isn't any water contamination.

j.roffel · February 1, 2008

I don't know what kind of fan setup your truck has but I know lots of guys hook up a manual off switch to the electric fans, I believe the flex-a-lite kits even have the switch wired in.