Water Fording/JLURD? 🤔

[NewbJLUOwner]

Hello Friends- Jeep
My 1st experience driving after the Hurricane will be Saturday am
I've tried doing some research regarding water fording in Jeep Wrangler JLU
Thrilled I own a Jeep, my experience is limited driving in probably some areas with significant flooding. My previous Honda would be stranded
From what I can research below
30"-33" is technically the max
19" suggested by Jeep if going over water where the Jeep can sit down on soft river bed
I have 35" tires now. No lift. Rubicon/Eco-Diesel
Can I do simple math & guess 3"-5" below my tire is safe?
Air intake on Eco-Diesel is where? Should I care?
Any tips besides take it slow?

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[falcon241073]

Go Slow. And yes you should care lol. Air intake should be high in the engine compartment in a front corner. I haven’t looked under the hood of the diesel so I’m not 100% sure where it is under your hood. The water fording info is on the metal tag attached to your tailgate. But try to keep it below the tops of the tires. Preferably no higher than the center hub or just over if you can.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Yep the intake is on the drivers side about top of headlight level.

On another note any issues with the 35s? Any major change in ride or speed? MPG?

 

[bjm00se]

The best advice for water fording is to know how deep the water is *before* you enter it.

The second piece of advice is to allow a depth safety margin, in case there's an unexpected hole the wheel on the air intake side happens to drop into.

 

[TheBirdie72]

Lived in FL through multiple hurricanes… Just as important as “how high” the water is - what could be hiding “under” the water. Flood waters are a different challenge than “natural offfoad” water. Often, flood waters have a lot of hidden debris / sharp objects that you can’t see that could damage your vehicle as you try to drive through it, so important to be especially careful. Things like shards of glass, pieces of metal, and god knows what get blown around from all over the place due to these storms - nothing you want to accidentally drive over.

 

[rohdawg]

Air intake on Eco-Diesel is where?

Open the hood on your Jeep and get a visual of where your air intake is. Than go out of your way to keep it from getting swamped while you’re out.

Watch out for jerks that think making a wake is cool while they drive around through sewer water. That’s a good way to find yourself swamped.

If it were me after a major hurricane like you just had, I’d wait as long as possible before I went out driving around. There’s going to be a lot of debris, some large, some small, some really nasty and all of it mostly hidden by floodwater.

 

[Left Field]

Your tailgate should have a tag something like this:
30" at 5 mph

with 35" tires that would translate to 31" depth. Not sure if the diesel changes anything, but the tag should be correct for the vehicle

Using tires as a depth gauge can be tricky due to the bow wave. Best practice is to have someone out walking it for a depth check and to make sure the road surface is intact / not washed out.

Hope you and your family are safe-

LF

 

[NewbJLUOwner]

Go Slow. And yes you should care lol. Air intake should be high in the engine compartment in a front corner. I haven’t looked under the hood of the diesel so I’m not 100% sure where it is under your hood. The water fording info is on the metal tag attached to your tailgate. But try to keep it below the tops of the tires. Preferably no higher than the center hub or just over if you can.

Outstanding information
Much appreciated

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

 

[NewbJLUOwner]

Yep the intake is on the drivers side about top of headlight level.

On another note any issues with the 35s? Any major change in ride or speed? MPG?

Zero issues with 35's
Best decision I've ever made. Love it
Ride feels smoother, handles same if not better, sits better, and most importantly have noticed no drop off mpg
Averaging around 25.5 since the 35's added
Possible since i kept same wheel size 17x9, imagine same weight

 

[NewbJLUOwner]

Open the hood on your Jeep and get a visual of where your air intake is. Than go out of your way to keep it from getting swamped while you’re out.

Watch out for jerks that think making a wake is cool while they drive around through sewer water. That’s a good way to find yourself swamped.

If it were me after a major hurricane like you just had, I’d wait as long as possible before I went out driving around. There’s going to be a lot of debris, some large, some small, some really nasty and all of it mostly hidden by floodwater.

Unfortunately, my Jeep has been parked outside @ MCO Airport the whole time
Have no idea what damage has been done to my baby until I get home Saturday
Good news, some of the water will have dissipated by then hopefully
Also, no other choice to drive towards my home near Daytona -75 miles away
Most standing water will probably be at the Airport parking AND around my home area near beach
Thx

 

[rohdawg]

Unfortunately, my Jeep has been parked outside @ MCO Airport the whole time
Have no idea what damage has been done to my baby until I get home Saturday
Good news, some of the water will have dissipated by then hopefully
Also, no other choice to drive towards my home near Daytona -75 miles away
Most standing water will probably be at the Airport parking AND around my home area near beach
Thx

Oof!
Good luck, my friend. I hope you find your Jeep in good shape and get it home safely.

 

[NewbJLUOwner]

If the air intake everyone is referring to is the air filter, then i know

Oof!
Good luck, my friend. I hope you find your Jeep in good shape and get it home safely.

Oof, good choice lol
Thx my friend
This will be the most interesting ride home from the airport in 16 yrs

 

[NewbJLUOwner]

This is small sample of what's waiting for me when I do get home
That's apparently 3-4 ft high. More than 30"

Flagler Street/New Smyrna Beach Florida

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Wow good luck man, stay safe!

Thanks for the 35 answers also.

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