Anyone driven a RAV4 across a river before?

[Ashchaya]

I am currently driving a 1997 RAV4. I'll give you all a minute to stop giggling. Unfortunately it was an emergency purchase as I just needed anything with wheels to get to work. I normally drive an LN106 diesel Hilux which never has any troubles with these river crossings, but it's currently being a farm tractor.

So yeah, I normally have to cross a river to get to and from work each day. With all the wonderful rain recently, the water is now about 40 - 50cm deep over the road, and is about 15 metres wide. As I said, the Hilux just ploughs this no sweat, but I wasn't confident enough to cross it in the RAV4 last night, so I ended up not getting home at all.

Has anyone attempted water this deep in a RAV4? I just get the impression that all that water being thrown around will cause electrical problems or somehow or other cause the engine to stall. Because let's face it, I doubt the RAV4 designers really thought anyone would be doing anything serious in them.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[SCANAS]

Are you worried about your safety ie Is the water running fast? Can you get out and walk out if the car stopped without any potential harm to yourself or others, whats on the bottom rock or mud?

Or; are you just worried that the RAV4 is not up to the job? At 50cm that's only 3/4's the way up a Getz tyre and wheel package. It won't worry the RAV.

[Ashchaya]

Are you worried about your safety ie Is the water running fast? Can you get out and walk out if the car stopped without any potential harm to yourself or others, whats on the bottom rock or mud?

It's a concrete causeway, so walking is no problem. The water is flowing a bit slower than walking pace, so at this depth that's nothing to worry about.

Or; are you just worried that the RAV4 is not up to the job?

That's pretty much it. I'd hate it if it stalled out in the middle and I couldn't start it again. Steep hills both sides and a long walk to get within mobile reception range. Plus I'll be without a car again and unable to get to work.

At 50cm that's only 3/4's the way up a Getz tyre and wheel package. It won't worry the RAV.

This model has 215/70R16 tyres, so that's a 35cm wheel radius. But I'm mainly concerned about two things.

1. Obviously water in the intake is bad news, but that aside, can this dinky little petrol motor handle getting really wet?

2. If the water reaches the exhaust, can this motor handle the back pressure that will occur when trying to force out the exhaust gas?

[SCANAS]

So you have a 70cm diameter wheel and want to cross a 50cm depth. The exhuast will push the water out no worries. At 50cm you won't need to worry about the intake unless your going way to fast. Always a possibility of getting a coil pack or some other electrics wet but given;

You have 20cm before the water reaches the top of tyres.
You have completed the crossing before numerous times before. and it has a
Concrete bottom.

Go for it!

[Ashchaya]

So you have a 70cm diameter wheel and want to cross a 50cm depth. The exhuast will push the water out no worries. At 50cm you won't need to worry about the intake unless your going way to fast. Always a possibility of getting a coil pack or some other electrics wet but given;

Electrics will dry out. I don't mind driving it out using just the starter motor or something like that and then waiting a while before I can start it again.

You have 20cm before the water reaches the top of tyres.

Is there some special significance about water being up to the top of the tyres, or are you just saying that relatively speaking it's not really that deep?

You have completed the crossing before numerous times before. and it has a
Concrete bottom.

Go for it!

Cool. I must admit, as the day is wearing on, I have been leaning towards just going for it. I've been looking at the BOM radar and there hasn't been much rain there today, so the water is probably down a bit from yesterday anyway.

Thanks for your replies

[De-lux]

Buy a cheap set of taller tyres.. fixed

[Ashchaya]

Buy a cheap set of taller tyres.. fixed

If only! The car came with 225/70 and they rubbed when cornering. I put the proper 215/70 on and now they don't rub. That's how little room I have to play with.

What I really want is to be able to put my beloved Cooper STTs on, but they're 225/75. Not a hope.

[SCANAS]

re your question the answer is both. The airbox is above the height of your tyres and the water level being lower than the tops of your tyres means your car will push through it no dramas.

[SCANAS]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLYMG2NovCM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jessie928]

Looking at this one, u shoul not have a problems. It was still running.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=dyzktF0hchg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[georgey]

just drive it!

[stinger]

I agree with other I would drive it, but we are not there to assess the situation.

My only suggestion is that with the increase electrics this can be a problem. Look in the owners manual it may give you a Manufactures recommended maximum fording depth. Anything less that that should be no problems providing no strong cross flow.

One technique I have used on a lot of vehicles (2wd and 4wd) is to run a tarp/blind over the front, this helps keep water out of the engine bay, away from fans, electrics and air intakes. THis could even be a towel or blanket.

Good Luck.

[georgey]

50cm is nothing mate,have driven deeper in a 2wd hilux with no worries.youll be fine!!

[Ashchaya]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLYMG2NovCM

Hahaha, wow. I checked my RAV and the air intake is actually right beside the passenger-side headlight, so that guy came close at one point. Thanks for the vid. Gives me quite a bit more confidence with my daily commute now.

I arrived at the crossing on my way home to find that the flash flooding had ceased and the water level was now 30cm BELOW the causeway. So no dramas at all.

However, the reason I was travelling this road is because my normal route has (semi-permanent) deep water over the road too. So now with my newfound confidence, this morning I tackled my normal route. This crossing's indicator isn't as well placed, but I think the deepest bit was also 50cm. I took it nice and slow and got across no problems.

So thanks everyone. And now my wheels are all nicely balanced again thanks to all the mud washing off

[Ashchaya]

Looking at this one, u shoul not have a problems. It was still running.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=dyzktF0hchg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

LOL! Dunno where he thought he was going to get the traction to get out of that. Glad to hear it still runs!

[Ashchaya]

I agree with other I would drive it, but we are not there to assess the situation.

My only suggestion is that with the increase electrics this can be a problem. Look in the owners manual it may give you a Manufactures recommended maximum fording depth.

That's a good idea. I'll check that out.

Anything less that that should be no problems providing no strong cross flow.

Yes I'm very wary of that. I know this is a very light car.

One technique I have used on a lot of vehicles (2wd and 4wd) is to run a tarp/blind over the front, this helps keep water out of the engine bay, away from fans, electrics and air intakes. THis could even be a towel or blanket.

I've heard of that before. I don't currently have anything in the car that could do that. I haven't fully organised my "kit" for this car yet. I should really get on to that.

[Ashchaya]

50cm is nothing mate,have driven deeper in a 2wd hilux with no worries.youll be fine!!

Turns out it was totally fine. Growing some balls just saved me 50km a day

Thanks everyone. Especially for the vids.