Wadding depth in a vehicle’s specifications what does it mea

[Timbatrader]

Wadding depth in a vehicle’s specifications what does it mean

A couple of years ago I bought a new 70 series Landcruiser based on 700mm wadding depth and off road promise. I have learnt a bit about wadding over those years that I thought I would share.
Firstly the factory standard snorkel is all show has no affect on wadding depth an air intake in the normal position behind the headlight would be plenty high enough when other breathers etc are 580mm high .
In setting the 700mm wadding depth Toyota must have been relying on the principle when wadding though water at a slow controlled speed it is possible to push a wave ahead of the vehicle. This wave draws water from under the vehicle making it shallower under the vehicle than elsewhere.
The Landcruiser has a number of breathers alternator etc all at about 580mm which Toyota must have been relying the above principle when setting the 700mm wadding depth
The down fall of this is that if the vehicle loses momentum the wave disappears and the water level under the vehicle rises to the same level as the surrounding water covering said breathers etc.
Common traps driving in and finding the water higher than expected stopping before you go over 700mm to reverse out unless you stop at 500mm too late damage done .
The one that gets me coming across loose gravel mid stream being able to get though it with a little wheel spin but losing enough speed that the wave disappears
How to modify your 70 serries for water
Diff breathers it already has extended breathers just not high enough so use the same fittings just change the short length of hose on each diff with a longer length of fuel line hose which needs to be bought up high into the body
Diff locks the electric drive to the diff lock has a small breather hose incorporated into the wiring loom which exits at chassis hight any water in this the motor rusts and then burns out the controller (expensive) so a simple job to extend the hose up into the vehicle
Alternator mounted only 580mm high the cooling fan can easily suck in water which the alternator can handle to a certain degree but be careful not to park up the vehicle with the alternator still wet 10 kilometre’s with the lights on should dry it If the vehicle is left with water in the alternate the small springs holding the brushes will rust and disscindergrate. I have had stainless steel springs made for mine to overcome this problem ( minimum run batch was ten sets so anyone wanting a set PM me)
Wheel bearings the hand book warns that driving through even shallow water can wash the grease from wheel bearings and cause premature failure unless maintenance is performed after each day of off road driving . I am going to try wheel bearing grease formulated for boat trailers which is so pose to better handle water the standard set up which lasted 50,000km before all wheel bearing, seals, and swivel seals shot

[badnuz]

so basically drive it tilll it drowns?

[Bulletproof]

You want to be lucky you don't own a Jeep wrangler. I believe the factory recommended depth is 300mm.

I have done lots of deep water crossings, and all I will say is that it costs heaps of money through maintenence no matter how much you modify your truck to prevent it.

A river flowing at 50 cubic metres a second mean 50 tons of water is moving a metre sideways every second and this weight of water takes alot of stopping. It gets in every where.

And this is what causes real problems. A resue at Haast when we sat in about 1100mm of water in the Hope river for ten minutes while we loaded the stranded people on the back of the hilux.


Cheers Richard