Forester wading depth

[Stewart]

Anyone know what the maximum depth of water is that I can safely go through with
my '01 S Turbo Forester? My route to work involves crossing a ford and on
occasions it gets deep after heavy rain. Are there any known mods to increase
the depth safely?

Mouse over this picture to get a view of the ford when flooded.
http://vamp.idlers.org/~jaffa/dp.php?Rufford Country Park1&Rufford Country Park1mo

I went through it earlier last year when it looked quite deep and managed to get
a wave up to the headlights. Unfortunately this ripped my front registration
plate off and ever since then I have been more cautious.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Anyone know what the maximum depth of water is that I can safely go through with
my '01 S Turbo Forester? My route to work involves crossing a ford and on
occasions it gets deep after heavy rain. Are there any known mods to increase
the depth safely?

Mouse over this picture to get a view of the ford when flooded.
http://vamp.idlers.org/~jaffa/dp.php?Rufford Country Park1&Rufford Country Park1mo

I went through it earlier last year when it looked quite deep and managed to get
a wave up to the headlights. Unfortunately this ripped my front registration
plate off and ever since then I have been more cautious.

Ask around at www.ultimatesubaru.org .
You may not need intake and exhaust mods - but IIRC the diffentials and
transmission may need some special vent tube or something.

Carl

 

[Jerseyj]

Anyone know what the maximum depth of water is that I can safely go through
with
my '01 S Turbo Forester? My route to work involves crossing a ford and on
occasions it gets deep after heavy rain. Are there any known mods to increase
the depth safely?

Mouse over this picture to get a view of the ford when flooded.
http://vamp.idlers.org/~jaffa/dp.php?Rufford Country Park1&Rufford Count
ry%20Park1mo

I went through it earlier last year when it looked quite deep and managed to
get
a wave up to the headlights. Unfortunately this ripped my front registration
plate off and ever since then I have been more cautious.

"Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe
weather related hazard. The main reason is people underestimate the
force and power of water. More than half of all flood related deaths
result from vehicles being swept downstream. Of these, many are
preventable." - NOAA

I strongly suggest you don't do this. Please see the NOAA web site "turn
around don't drown":

http://www.weather.gov/os/water/tadd/

As a NOAA weather spotter (and Subaru Forrester owner *smile*) I've seen
some film of just how little water it takes to sweep away a car and
cause real harm to the occupents.

Jerry

 

[Blair Baucom]

As Carl said, the transmission, differentials, and I want to add wheel
bearings. Should have no problems if the water is less than the ground
clearance which is below the items above.

This is as long as the flow does not sweep you away as the other poster
noted.

Blair

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

"Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe
weather related hazard. The main reason is people underestimate the
force and power of water. More than half of all flood related deaths
result from vehicles being swept downstream. Of these, many are
preventable." - NOAA

I strongly suggest you don't do this. Please see the NOAA web site "turn
around don't drown":

http://www.weather.gov/os/water/tadd/

As a NOAA weather spotter (and Subaru Forrester owner *smile*) I've seen
some film of just how little water it takes to sweep away a car and
cause real harm to the occupents.

Jerry

Of course the warnings about the force of moving water are important.
The OP didn't mention whether the water was flowing or not.



Carl

 

[Stewart]

Of course the warnings about the force of moving water are important.
The OP didn't mention whether the water was flowing or not.



Carl

Flowing, but slowly, even in flood. I have seen plenty of small cars stuck in
the centre of the ford up to the axles, but nobody has ever been swept away to
my knowledge.

 

[ziggy99]

Depends on how wet you want the interior to get ;-}

Technique with 4x4s is to wade in first to check depth and flow
(taking the usual precautions). If it looks possible disconnect the
fan belt, drive in slowly and open the doors when the level is above
the sills. Let it fill so it won't float, and proceed.

 

[nobody >]

Depends on how wet you want the interior to get ;-}

Technique with 4x4s is to wade in first to check depth and flow
(taking the usual precautions). If it looks possible disconnect the
fan belt, drive in slowly and open the doors when the level is above
the sills. Let it fill so it won't float, and proceed.

That's all good if you are driving a trail rig with no upholstery and
plain rubber floormats (and big drain holes) that you can hose out
afterwards. Been dere, dun dat.

 

[Frank]

Flowing, but slowly, even in flood. I have seen plenty of small cars stuck in
the centre of the ford up to the axles, but nobody has ever been swept away to
my knowledge.

If you become buoyant, it won't take much force to push you around. I
would not push my Forester through more than a few inches of water.

 

[Jerseyj]

Here's some more specific information about how little water it takes to
get into trouble:

http://www.wvdhsem.gov/WV_Disaster_Library/Library/FLOODS/floodsandfloods
..htm

And here's an amusing film for your viewing pleasure...I don't know if
the driver made it out alive or not (so maybe not so amusing):

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/truck-gets-swept-away-in-flood-waters/2
282344224

I'll stop here as it's getting a bit off topic, though I think very
important for those of us that drive "off road" capable vehicles.

Jerry

 

[Stewart]

If you become buoyant, it won't take much force to push you around. I
would not push my Forester through more than a few inches of water.

This is precisely my question. I'm not intending to go so deep that I need a
snorkel and axle breathers. I just want to know how deep is safe. If that
means a few inches then that is the answer. I would guess 3-4 inches possibly,
with mid wheel depth in emergencies as a rule of thumb?

 

[Frank]

This is precisely my question. I'm not intending to go so deep that I need a
snorkel and axle breathers. I just want to know how deep is safe. If that
means a few inches then that is the answer. I would guess 3-4 inches possibly,
with mid wheel depth in emergencies as a rule of thumb?

If I were to guess what is safe, I would say the 7 or so inches of
ground clearance in the Forester. I don't know how water proof the
chassis is but if submerged to that point, there will be more buoyancy
and chance of being pushed with water flow.

I learned my lesson a few years ago in taking my Forester through a
field and driving through drifted snow. All 4 wheels were lifted off
the ground and I had to dig snow from under and back out. You could do
a calculation from weight of car and total bottom surface area, what psi
would make it totally buoyant. Offhand ~ 0.25 psi or maybe chassis
submerged in about 6 inches of water. Engineering type in group can
comment.

Also many years ago in a different car, I had the experience of water
planing at about 50 mph. Truly scary when you have no control of car.

 

[Catherine Jefferson]

This is precisely my question. I'm not intending to go so deep that I need a
snorkel and axle breathers. I just want to know how deep is safe. If that
means a few inches then that is the answer. I would guess 3-4 inches possibly,
with mid wheel depth in emergencies as a rule of thumb?

I drive a 1999 Forester S, and have driven through a number of fords.
My husband and I are both experienced off-road drivers. (He's an
archaeologist, so it's part of the job for him, and I've been driving
Subarus for over 20 years and love the back country.) I haven't seen
many fords that ever get even close to axle depth in normal, non-storm
conditions, and I wouldn't worry about water less than, say, eight
inches deep. (That's around axle depth on our Forester.) The vehicle can
handle it, even if the water is flowing fairly rapidly.

Actual flooding conditions are completely different matter. They are
*extremely* dangerous, not because of the depth of the water (which
might be navigable when you check), but because that depth can change
rapidly and without warning. We would *not* attempt to cross a wash or
ford during a storm or when water levels are changing unpredictably,
even if it was dry, except in a life-threatening emergency.

I was in an actual flood once -- the 1995 Russian River flood in
northern California. My Subaru almost got swept away when the water
went up more than two *feet* in a period of perhaps thirty seconds.
Fortunately I made it to the top of the next hill. I was driving on a
low-lying road, not a ford or wash, but -- trust me -- you do *NOT* want
to risk a similar experience.

 

[houndman]

Anyone know what the maximum depth of water is that I can safely go through with
my '01 S Turbo Forester? My route to work involves crossing a ford and on
occasions it gets deep after heavy rain. Are there any known mods to increase
the depth safely?

Mouse over this picture to get a view of the ford when flooded.http://vamp.idlers.org/~jaffa/dp.php?Rufford Country Park1&Ruffor...

I went through it earlier last year when it looked quite deep and managed to get
a wave up to the headlights. Unfortunately this ripped my front registration
plate off and ever since then I have been more cautious.

I guess the air intake is high, like my Impreza, but don't get in
water that could get in the intake. A nephew hydrolocked a Mitsu that
had the intake down low, and bent rods.

VF

 

[S]

Hi Stewart, All!

Anyone know what the maximum depth of water is that I can safely go through with
my '01 S Turbo Forester? My route to work involves crossing a ford and on
occasions it gets deep after heavy rain. Are there any known mods to increase
the depth safely?

I've taken my old GL wagon thru stream crossings up to perhaps 18
inches (~knee deep) w/o problems. I wouldn't hesitate to take my '99
Forry thru 12 inches of water; about mid-wheel depth. If I had to ford
18 inches, or turn around, I'd certainly try, but that's just the way
I am.

General rule is that if you submerge your diff(s), you will need to
drain/refill ASAP, but that won't stop you from getting home, just
creates another project

Remember that the Soobies, unlike a solid axle ORV, carry their rear
diff fairly high, and a mid-axle deep ford taken gently is unlikely
(IMO) to result in water even getting near the vent. The front diff is
integral to the tranny, and so vented at the fill neck; unlikely to
aspirate water before the engine does. The engine electricals are all
on top. The hubs are reasonably well sealed. The engine air intake is
(unless you've installed a CAI) about even with the top of the
radiator, so that's not a trouble-spot either. The door seal is also
good, and unless you get stuck in the middle, you aren't likely to get
the interior wet, any more so than at the coin-operated car wash.

With that in mind, here's another good rule: If you can clearly see
the bottom ALL OF THE WAY ACROSS, go for it. If not, better to wade
thru first to check for deep spots, sticky mud, stopper rocks, etc. If
it looks too gnarly to wade, you probably won't want to drive thru
anyway.

You can get a lift kit for the Forry, but it will only help a little
with the diff height unless you also install oversized tires. You can
run a slightly taller tire with the stock suspension, but only
slightly because of the rear strut. A 215-70-15 fits OK on mine, a 225
might not. You could also install a vent tube just like the big boys
do if you were so inclined.

Hope this is helpful.

ByeBye! S.


Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[Stewart]

With that in mind, here's another good rule: If you can clearly see
the bottom ALL OF THE WAY ACROSS, go for it. If not, better to wade
thru first to check for deep spots, sticky mud, stopper rocks, etc. If
it looks too gnarly to wade, you probably won't want to drive thru
anyway.

The particular ford I go through every day has a solid concrete bottom, so no
problems there. Other fords I have encountered in my area I wouldn't tackle
without a good inspection.

Hope this is helpful.

Very helpful, thank you.

 

[Stewart]

I guess the air intake is high, like my Impreza, but don't get in
water that could get in the intake. A nephew hydrolocked a Mitsu that
had the intake down low, and bent rods.

VF

Don't make the mistake a friend of mine made and think that the intercooler
intake scoop on the bonnet (hood in the US?) is the same as the engine air
intake.


:-O

 

[houndman]

Don't make the mistake a friend of mine made and think that the intercooler
intake scoop on the bonnet (hood in the US?) is the same as the engine air
intake.

:-O

No turbo here, but Good point...((

VF