I know this is an odd question but, since diesel have been on the down hill (see added electronics) and uphill (see more power) what is the max fording depth of the Duramax? I know back in the day, it was how high is your intake,today i'm sure is quite different anyone have any specs no one seems to post specs on it but I was just wondering. Anyone wheel these things?





Thanks


Lenny

I dont know about you, but seeing how deep I can go in a $35k pickup is about the last thing on my list.

That said, I wouldnt go an inch higher than the bottom of the cab.

Lenny,


If you do plan on a little bath now and then, take the connections apart and dab them with dielectric grease. The puters are a little low but seem to do pretty well if they are sealed. The fan is a monster in the deep stuff. You would think that the water would just about stop it.... no way, that thing is a beast. There must be a bunch of little holes under the truck because the padding acts like a sponge.


BTW, if you are fording water and get to the part that says "Duramax Diesel".... you're too deep. I have survived a few passes with the water right on the door bumper, that's it.


Do you know how fun it is to drive a Duramax 4x4 WOT in 15" of water? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif It feels like you're in a boat....a big boat! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif





Burner

My 02 CC 4X4 has a 4" rancho lift, keys cranked, and was running 285 tires at the time. I have forded rivers (and flowing mud) in Guatemala to where water started to flow in the passenger department when I opened the door to get out to hook up the winch. D/Max is the best fording truck I have had when it comes to electrical connections, etc. Never had a problem with wet connections as one of GM's strongpoints is their electrical connection on the D/A. I have dropped the front end into a 3' hole once where much of the front end (winch, bumper, grill, etc) was under water, but applied power and plowed my way through and back up on the opposite bank - no water inside, but mud packed up everywhere underneath the truck. Took two Guatemalan guys all day to wash and clean it out to like new - cost about $14. Trucks seem to be fairly waterproof. Only other truck I have ever had that did as well was a 78 Supercab with a 460 industrial engine, lift kit and 36" tires crossing a wide flood river at night in Baja near San Quintin in 79 where the water ran through the cab to the top of the seats and got our buts wet - fan belt was unhooked on that one and the cab was a mess, but we were the only vehicle to cross for two weeks going south. That was a VERY dumb move, but I was young, brave, and stupid then. Now I'm old, chicken, and crafty - if I can't wade it, I don't try to cross it.

Dont go any deeper than your vents, or extend them, or change your diffs, TC and trany fluid imediatly.


Wheeling and fording deep water is not my idea of fun in a 35k plus vehical. Now a K5 with out any carpet(boy does it suck to get carpet soaked in river waterhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Dead.gif) is rather fun.


You better not be the first one though or be positive how deep it is. Hitting a hole and listening to your passanger scream because water is coming in his door(ice chunks were floating by toohttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Wacko.gif) is not fun especially when you come to a hault.

FWIW, I (accidentally) got my last truck ('95 K1500 Z71) under water to where the headlights were underwater one night while fording a river. (Guy I was with said "Cross here... it's shallow. Right. It was for a while, then all of a sudden, the front end dropped off....) Goosed it and it came on out.


No problems, other than my dirty UnderRoo's. Kept the truck for another 125k mi without issue. Guy I work with bought it and it's still going strong at 175k mi.

I put my stock 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 4k on the odo through a puddle so deep water came over the hood! No problem, I still have the GC but now it has a lift kit.

Berk, what kind of GC?? we got a 98 5.2 TSI with the upcountry packages skids front to back and one vortech supercharger. We also have a 89 Cherokee with a 3" lift (f150 springs and new rear shackles) drove it over a honda. Anyway, 15" kinda disappoints me. Hopefully it'll go a little deeper. My Serra 02 K1500 Z71 with 265s has gone 25" without problems. I always replum vents as high as possible. http://zodono.bab0.com/notsogrand/flexonhonda/ check us out running the honda over.





Lenny

Lenny, Fording water is not a norm for me but...truth be told....... the water was pouring around my hood. I was concerned ... eh make that "pannic mode concerned" about the eletrical system, the rear, the trans, front diff and of course the motor. Remember that just a little water in a Diesel can make it go boom! Anyhow, the water was rippling at the hood line. I had to clean the derbis from behind the bugshield when I got to dry ground. Hey it's a truck, a 40k truck......http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif If you plumb the vents, get a roofed airbox and check-seal the electronics you should have not problems. Well, until the guts of the seats rust and the window switches go south. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


Burner-----------> http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

2+feet, water over the hood, driftwood stuck in the grill, weeds in the radiator, water coming in the bottom of the doors, mud everywhere, damn stupid move in a 35K truck, wont do it again! But it got my stupid a$$ home without problems. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

I've been in the same 'boat' as Rattlewagon. After a 12" rain I had to go get irrigation water shut off. Crossed several low places where water came up to just under the lights. Crossed one place where a guy in a brand new powerjoke chickened out when water reached to bottom of his mirrors.


Here a few pictures:


http://ImageEvent.com/texasdutchman/hailandrainapril32004 (http://Imageevent.com/texasdutchman/hailandrainapril32004)





My air filter stayed pretty much dry but I did have to clean the radiator.Edited by: dutch