Stream crossing - 96 Ford Ranger XLT RWD

98v70dad · Nov 14, 2018

I've got a 96 stock ranger (original shocks) and I need to ford a small stream to get to my backpacking trail head in a few weeks. How deep can the water be? This particular stream varies from inches deep to maybe 18 inches if its rained recently. the creek is only about 15 feet wide so I won't be in it for too long.

I'm mostly concerned about water coming through the door seals at the bottom. I doubt that the transmission vent and differential vent will get in the water but I'm not sure about that.

85_Ranger4x4 · Nov 14, 2018

Double check the vents and plan on packing wheel bearings and dropping/checking/possible replacing rear axle oil when you get back.

Also be leery of stream flow, it doesn't take a lot of depth of moving water to take away a vehicle.

98v70dad · Nov 14, 2018

85_Ranger4x4 said:
Double check the vents and plan on packing wheel bearings and dropping/checking/possible replacing rear axle oil when you get back.

Also be leery of stream flow, it doesn't take a lot of depth of moving water to take away a vehicle.

I've crossed this stream many times in the past - in other people's trucks. If it hasn't rained its never a problem. If it has rained the water can be pretty close to the bottom edge of the doors on a Toyota 4x4.

Anyhow, will water go through the door seals on this truck? I used to have a Toyota years ago and the water had to be pretty deep to push past the seals. That was my question. I am aware of the other issues you pointed out.

JOLENE_THE_RANGER · Nov 14, 2018

i crossed a stream that swallowed my 35" tire. a little water came in my door seal but not much... about a cup full. to be fare my truck has a roll cage inside and im sure some of the cab sheetmetal has distorted thus making the seal not so great. i used a rubber glove with ducttape to try to protect the hubs but most importantly make sure your trans/ diff vent lines are high enough to stay out of the water. no big deal :headbang:

85_Ranger4x4 · Nov 14, 2018

20yo door seals... your results may vary.

adsm08 · Nov 14, 2018

I once crossed a spot that got almost to my mirrors with no water getting in. I'm not really sure how, since if I looked at my passenger door just so from the driver's seat I could see day light outside.

JOLENE_THE_RANGER · Nov 14, 2018

adsm08 said:
I once crossed a spot that got almost to my mirrors with no water getting in. I'm not really sure how, since if I looked at my passenger door just so from the driver's seat I could see day light outside.

science!

85_Ranger4x4 · Nov 14, 2018

adsm08 said:
I once crossed a spot that got almost to my mirrors with no water getting in. I'm not really sure how, since if I looked at my passenger door just so from the driver's seat I could see day light outside.

If it had enough of a seal initially water pressure may have pushed the door farther shut and tighter against the seals than normal.

adsm08 · Nov 14, 2018

85_Ranger4x4 said:
If it had enough of a seal initially water pressure may have pushed the door farther shut and tighter against the seals than normal.

The flow of it was into the driver's side, so the flow was away from the passenger's door. That is probably what really saved it.

85_Ranger4x4 · Nov 14, 2018

adsm08 said:
The flow of it was into the driver's side, so the flow was away from the passenger's door. That is probably what really saved it.

Like pulling the drain plug out of a fast moving boat to suck the water out.

don4331 · Nov 14, 2018

OK, 15' is really short - RCSB Ranger is 14½' long, so the front is practically coming out before rears are in; to get up to doors on Toy 4x4 it has to be really deep in center. But, in that distance, water really doesn't have time to enter.

Now, when we crossed the slough to get the grain auger, ~100 yards each way and water was deeper than the G78-14s on the auger, my '68 got about a cup of water in the cab. It was 25 years old at time, so door rubber more/less same. Cab had rubber floor, so no foul.

What we did get was water into the hubs via the axle shaft seal (actual lack of seal) and front differential via tubes - when we checked oil flowed out. (vent tube was fine). You have to check differential soon after as heat from driving will eventually evaporate water out vent.

Which meant repacking bearings (did the king pins while it was apart anyways), replacing the bad seal and changing oil in differential. Luckily, I was on the farm still, so oil was in the drum and bearing packer was on the bench in the shop.

On the other hand until we got the seal, the truck was on jack stands. Should have went around the slough.

bobbywalter · Nov 14, 2018

are you parking in the stream?

because you would have to park in it or get stuck to worry about water.

what you need to be worried about is whether or not your intake will pick up water into the engine.

of course i just let the water flow through my truck....half the time when i am crossing streams it doesn't even have doors on it.

but the engine is not in danger of drinking water.

Stream crossing - 96 Ford Ranger XLT RWD

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