Water Crossing Pierce Creek OHV
- Thread starter TLC2013
- Start date
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RET2
SILVER Star
I wouldn't call it pussed out but rather a smart call. Leave the carnage trail to the 'Hold my beer' crew in their jeeps.
With all this water crossing talk no one has talked about air intake location, has breathers been extended, any electrical components not happy when submerged, and did you air down? I would want to be comfortable with all that before I cross any water.
What was the determining factor on why you questioned your or the vehicle's ability to make it?
What was the determining factor on why you questioned your or the vehicle's ability to make it?
TLC2013
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #24
This has been a fun thread, appreciate everyone’s opinions on this. I have no doubt that the land cruiser could make it. However there are too many variables that could come into play and the cost associated with a negative outcome far out ways my ego getting in the way.
Running stock breathers and intake, and having read the horror stories of the heavy breathing 5.7 ingesting water i didn’t want to chance it.
Plus the wife would have killed me if I did this to our family car, it was hard enough to convince her the lift, bumpers and winch were necessary as it’s her daily driver... can never be too prepared for those Trader Joe’s parking lots lol!
Logical choice ☺
Over the years I have crossed a lot of water and if you walk it you can drive it.
It did not look like anyone aired down? I feel this is the first step in any off road travel with water or not.
Pictured not an 200 but you get the idea.
I seem to have the opposite problem. I'm usually pretty conservative on the trail, especially with kids in tow. My wife, on the other hand, is not. I'll stop and really evaluate a crossing or piece of trail - meanwhile she is staring at her book and yelling out the window "Let's just do it! What the hell did we spend all this money on bumpers and winches for?!?"
@indycole did a water crossing at Moab and it did not end well. Read about it here:
forum.ih8mud.com
Build - indycole's 2016 200 Series Build and Retrospective
Are the tailgate storage boxes still accessible? I don't want to muck up Cole's thread too much, but no- if you want tailgate storage check out @TRAIL TAILOR 's solution like Cole has. My covers are for those who want a more durable, clean surface than the stock carpet that gets funky.
forum.ih8mud.com
TLC2013
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #28
@indycole did a water crossing at Moab and it did not end well. Read about it here:
Build - indycole's 2016 200 Series Build and Retrospective
Are the tailgate storage boxes still accessible? I don't want to muck up Cole's thread too much, but no- if you want tailgate storage check out @TRAIL TAILOR 's solution like Cole has. My covers are for those who want a more durable, clean surface than the stock carpet that gets funky.
Sorry to hear. I am familiar with that thread and it has me inching closer to getting that snorkel. He’s always at the back of my mind during water crossings. Didn’t even cross my mind until I read about his experience. I am just hesitant to cut the fender and also drill into the A-Pillar. The A-Pillar has me the most nervous, much easIer to replace a fender to go back to stock.
@indycole did a water crossing at Moab and it did not end well. Read about it here:
Build - indycole's 2016 200 Series Build and Retrospective
Are the tailgate storage boxes still accessible? I don't want to muck up Cole's thread too much, but no- if you want tailgate storage check out @TRAIL TAILOR 's solution like Cole has. My covers are for those who want a more durable, clean surface than the stock carpet that gets funky.
Sad story but without any disrespect to @indycole learn to know your vehicle and never accept I "think" you are good by others.
I just ask my wife to do all the water crossings now. Problem solved.
I keep on reading that snorkels aren't for water crossings, they are for clean intake of air out above the worst of the dust. I don't have one and never have, so I don't know, but that may not be the answer you are looking for. You may also want to consider extending your diff breathers. The one in the rear, in particular, is fairly low.
RET2
SILVER Star
Water intrusion into the intake while bad is not the only place water can cause grief and or disable your vehicle. Common sense is the best preventative.
I'm too lazy to go search it out, but I've heard that the 5.7 Tundra doesn't like water crossings, either. I think the alternator (or something) is located such that water gets in easily and messes things up. The LC has same engine and I assume the same issue. I saw @indycole in Moab. His truck is really nice. I was bummed to hear what happened to it. To @LandCruiserPhil 's point, I have to say I don't really know the fording limits of my 200, so I err on the safe side.
The starter and alternator are low. There is essentially no water proofing on a stock 200. There is decent cabin water intrusion protection and that is it. I have crossed a couple creeks in the Sierra that were door deep, a straight shot and the rig was fine. But even waterproof systems churn a ton of water in the engine compartment with the belt and that can cause a stall.
As others have noted, officially snorkels aren't for water crossings. Unofficially they can definitely help but they obviously are not the only factor in your vehicle's wading depth.
As far as installation goes, it's not hard. Once you get over the fear and make the first cut in the fender, the rest is easy. Just be sure to measure twice (or three times) and then cut once. Took me about 3 hours, and the first hour was marking the fender, staring at the marks, double and triple checking everything, and then getting up the nerve to make the first cut.
Aside from the A pillar the fender cuts are very forgiving - the instructions call for making holes which are really bigger than you need, but the bolts come with very large fender washers to compensate. Figuring out the A pillar holes is easy as you can basically mount the snorkel and then mark those holes. When you drill them just be sure to limit the depth of the drill bit so you don't hit the airbag behind the A pillar (drilling through a block of wood is helpful here).
FYI if you do a snorkel, I have two recommendations:
1. Unless you're going to run a pre-filter or turn the snorkel head backwards, buy a one-way drain valve and install it in the bottom of the airbox. They cost less than $10 and will ensure rain water doesn't sit in your airbox
2. Check your airbox-to-snorkel clamps/connection regularly, or anytime you plan to set out on a trail. While the airbox has a flexible plastic connector to the engine, I've still found that vibrations in the vehicle can work the clamp between the airbox and the snorkel loose over time. This is exacerbated by the fact that most snorkels are designed for the diesel, not the petrol 200, which has a different intake shape.
From Air-Flow snorkels
Important note: Do not turn the Air Ram away from the direction of travel because it will lessen the positive pressure necessary for proper operation. In extreme situation, at speed above 15mph (25km/h) a vacuum may be generated causing irreversible engine damage
Interesting. I've never heard that before. I know the diesel guys down under were reversing theirs early on because the snorkel was causing MAF errors. I keep mine pointed forward, though I suppose if I ever had issues with it icing over here in Chicago I might flip it for the winter.
@LandCruiserPhil What about a snorkel like Fabulous Fabrications snorkel that is designed facing towards the rear?
Toyota Landcruiser 200 Series Stainless Snorkel
4inch stainless snorkel for the Toyota Landcruiser 200 Series. Designed and fabricated by the team at Fabulous Fabrications. Each snorkel is hand crafted in house, made from the finest 316 stainless steel and purge welded to guarantee longevity and a superior quality finish. Each snorkel comes...
fabulousfab.com.au