Water Crossing Videos - Next Steps? ~30 inches

[07052021]

Went on an unplanned adventure this weekend (Saturday) and dipped the Gladiator in a few parts of Lake Cumberland South Fork.

Floor took on a small amount of water from the SXS rolling up next to me in video 1. Removed my front drain plugs, folded the carpet up to dry with towels, and aired out the carpet outside w/ doors open + overnight with a fan. All seemed dry yesterday afternoon.

Watching the videos, I'm wondering if my stopping in the water in video 1 calls for some fluid checks. Anyone have thoughts? I drove it home ~200 miles on Sunday and had no issues. MIGHT have been deeper than 30" briefly but not for an extended period of time.


Videos:

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[hjdca]

Nice Video. It looks like your doors are off ? If so, you're brave to do that crossing with your doors off. lol. It looks like that SXS wanted to throw waves at you. Not nice... You were actually not that deep, looks like only your diffs got submerged. Should you check your fluids ? yeah, probably to be safe, but, I did not see a big problem with that crossing.

Note: After sitting overnight, water goes to the bottom of the container. You can lets some fluid seep out of your drain plugs (ie. just loosen them) and see if water comes out first.

 

[07052021]

Nice Video. You're brave to do that crossing with your doors off. lol. It looks like that SXS wanted to throw waves at you because your doors were off. Not nice... You were actually not that deep, looks like only your diffs got submerged. I doubt water would have entered the cab with the doors on. Should you check your fluids ? yeah, probably to be safe, but, I did not see a big problem with that crossing.

Note: After sitting overnight, water goes to the bottom of the container. You can lets some fluid seep out of your drain plugs (ie. just loosen them) and see if water comes out first.

Thanks for chiming in! We were having an awesome day so I just said screw it and went for it. I walked all the paths first and knew it would be close to my side rails. I actually waved the SXS up to me in video 1 because I thought I took the wrong line and was about to dip into something much deeper than I wanted. He apologized right away but I blame myself. The doors do that well to keep water out? I know it would have been much less water entering but I figured a good bit would still come through with doors. I probably wouldn't go this deep again without doors.

I may run out and check the diff fluid this afternoon. It's been sitting since 730pm yesterday or so.

 

[hjdca]

Thanks for chiming in! We were having an awesome day so I just said screw it and went for it. I walked all the paths first and knew it would be close to my side rails. I actually waved the SXS up to me in video 1 because I thought I took the wrong line and was about to dip into something much deeper than I wanted. He apologized right away but I blame myself. The doors do that well to keep water out? I know it would have been much less water entering but I figured a good bit would still come through with doors. I probably wouldn't go this deep again without doors.

I may run out and check the diff fluid this afternoon. It's been sitting since 730pm yesterday or so.

Nice Truck. Yeah, the doors have seals to keep the water out during a crossing, so, I do not think any water would have entered with the doors on. You were not that deep. Gladiators are going through those type of water crossings all the time with no ill effects.

The stock diff gaskets and axle seals do a pretty good job of keeping water out. Water is super thin and diff oil is much thicker, so, if water is present, just slightly loosening the drain plug should produce drops of water. Be careful not to loosen too much and lose your diff fluid.

 

[07052021]

Nice Truck. Yeah, the doors have seals to keep the water out during a crossing, so, I do not think any water would have entered with the doors on. You were not that deep. Gladiators are going through those type of water crossings all the time with no ill effects.

The stock diff gaskets and axle seals do a pretty good job of keeping water out. Water is super thin and diff oil is much thicker, so, if water is present, just slightly loosening the drain plug should produce drops of water. Be careful not to loosen too much and lose your diff fluid.

Never done anything with the diff myself. Watched a couple videos and that drain plug is awfully short.

Father in law mentioned something about checking wheel bearings and/or axle bearings. Throwback from his days as a Marine. Thoughts on checking anything like this?

 

[Gvsukids]

Floor took on a small amount of water from the SXS rolling up next to me in video 1. Removed my front drain plugs, folded the carpet up to dry with towels, and aired out the carpet outside w/ doors open + overnight with a fan. All seemed dry yesterday afternoon.

The carpeting comes out easily.









Water came in and covered the rear floorboards and a shoe floated out.

 

[charliez]

Awesome vids. I'll get to do that with mine some day this summer I hope

 

[hjdca]

Note: you want to go fast enough to create a little bow wave infront of the jeep. However, you do not want the water going over the hood - which increases the chances that water goes into the air cleaner box. That little bow wave will reduces the water level at the doors like you can see in the videos posted by Gvsukids.

 

[Dim]

Went on an unplanned adventure this weekend (Saturday) and dipped the Gladiator in a few parts of Lake Cumberland South Fork.

Floor took on a small amount of water from the SXS rolling up next to me in video 1. Removed my front drain plugs, folded the carpet up to dry with towels, and aired out the carpet outside w/ doors open + overnight with a fan. All seemed dry yesterday afternoon.

Watching the videos, I'm wondering if my stopping in the water in video 1 calls for some fluid checks. Anyone have thoughts? I drove it home ~200 miles on Sunday and had no issues. MIGHT have been deeper than 30" briefly but not for an extended period of time.


Videos:

mid April and weather already good enough to remove completely doors and top .... im jealous ... why am I born and raised in a cold and rainy land

 

[07052021]

mid April and weather already good enough to remove completely doors and top .... im jealous ... why am I born and raised in a cold and rainy land

super lucky honestly. We’ve been between 40 and 60 degrees but Saturday was almost 80 where we were. Back to 40 the next 3 days and 80 again today.

The carpeting comes out easily.









Water came in and covered the rear floorboards and a shoe floated out.

I couldn’t get them completely out but I propped them up enough to stuff with towels. Wish I had a dash cam.

 

[Gvsukids]

Note: you want to go fast enough to create a little bow wave infront of the jeep. However, you do not want the water going over the hood - which increases the chances that water goes into the air cleaner box. That little bow wave will reduces the water level at the doors like you can see in the videos posted by Gvsukids.

Tried that, but the water washed over the rear door frame and swept the shoe away.

 

[hjdca]

Wish I had a dash cam.

fyi, Here are a couple of links to a HD High Res wireless camera that goes to my phone. I have found the HIgh Res wireless camera to be excellent, cheap, and super easy to install. The low res Z-automotive is not good. Here are a couple of links to describe the solution:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...trail-cam-reviews-feedback.67739/post-1118222

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...trail-cam-reviews-feedback.67739/post-1111222

 

[BearFootSam]

Not sure I would have done it but it looked darn cool with the doors and roof off. Safari style

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