Mini-/Mid-sized SUVs with good flood-fording capabilities

[Automahn]

With the frequency of heavy downpours in the Metro nowadays, it would be nice to have a high riding vehicle with you when flash floods suddenly occur. As to high riders, I prefer SUVs over pick-ups. Which among the current mini- or mid-sized SUVs would be capable of making it through moderate floods?

[tip_tipid]

I think the best criteria to ask is which one have a waterproofed wheel brake cylinders, hydraulic clutch cylinders and waterproofed suspension shock absorber? Is there a shop doing waterproofing on these components?

[niky]

That's not the biggest problem.

What you're looking for is fording height... brakes, shocks and transmissions are always vulnerable... it's SOP to check them after a flooding, whatever the vehicle.

The most important thing is that the electricals and the air intake are shielded and at a height that prevents flood damage.

For mid-sized SUVs, this will mean the Fortuner, Everest, etcetera... ladder-frame SUVs, being pickup based, are often built with a fair amount of flood-fording capabilities.

Most crossovers (CR-V, Escape, Santa Fe, etcetera) are not. They'll ford floods up to about six inches below the air intake, but that's about it. It's still dangerous to take them through floods, no matter how tall the actual vehicle is... especially since bow waves can send water into unshielded intakes (which happens all too often, to the chagrin of many a CR-V or Escape owner...).

The smallest flood-capable vehicle should be the Jimny (point of fact, the Jimny is one of the most off-road-capable vehicles on the market...)... but I don't know about the intake tract and how high or low it is.

[niky]

That's not the biggest problem.

What you're looking for is fording height... brakes, shocks and transmissions are always vulnerable... it's SOP to check them after a flooding, whatever the vehicle.

The most important thing is that the electricals and the air intake are shielded and at a height that prevents flood damage.

For mid-sized SUVs, this will mean the Fortuner, Everest, etcetera... ladder-frame SUVs, being pickup based, are often built with a fair amount of flood-fording capabilities.

Most crossovers (CR-V, Escape, Santa Fe, etcetera) are not. They'll ford floods up to about six inches below the air intake, but that's about it. It's still dangerous to take them through floods, no matter how tall the actual vehicle is... especially since bow waves can send water into unshielded intakes (which happens all too often, to the chagrin of many a CR-V or Escape owner...).

The smallest flood-capable vehicle should be the Jimny (point of fact, the Jimny is one of the most off-road-capable vehicles on the market...)... but I don't know about the intake tract and how high or low it is.

[Memphis Raines]

Perhaps the Pajero...



or an Isuzu Alterra..





.

[1D4LV]

i agree on the jimny. i saw one na almost nasa headlights na yung tubig, tinawid pa din. naka snorkels nga lang sya.

another vehicle is Ford Everest,1st Gen Zuk Vitara, the Mitsu Pajero and the Nissan Patrol.

[coiter]

generally, diesels are more "waterproof" than gasoline engines because of the lack of electrical components to run it. though i'm not too sure if it holds true for new crdi-run diesels. but whatever type of engine, it would still depend on like what nicky said, ride height, position of intake and alternator.

some suvs have stock water separators in their intakes and the alternator is located as high as the top of the engine for such purposes.

i dunno much about the engine layout of current suvs, but i would still put my money on the likes of the pajero, patrol and alterra. the only mini-suv in mind is the jimny and vitara. this is simply based on the heritage of said vehicles. i'm really not confident with the crossovers'/cuvs' ability for this.

pero tingin ko at least 8 inches of ground clearance is sufficient to tackle most floods in the metro.

[alainroyce]

You don't want pick-up but this is the truly amphibious vehicle without snorkel.. even the door are sealed with the kiss...

[Gerbo]

He.he.he. ...since we're at it. How about the Hummer?

...with its Humvee origins......

[alainroyce]

Automahn* siguro naman to this kind of vehicle makakuwi ka na without a problem...

[tip_tipid]

i still would like to see a waterproofed brake system, hydraulic clutch and suspension shocks for lesser maintenance tasks after all those submerged
off road trips.

[batangmahal]

pero tingin ko at least 8 inches of ground clearance is sufficient to tackle most floods in the metro.

i agree, and even if my compact SUV would be able to ford floods beyond that, i still would have second thoughts about it.

[iho250]

who needs roads?! :hysterical:

You don't want pick-up but this is the truly amphibious vehicle without snorkel.. even the door are sealed with the kiss...

[s_quilicot]

how about a non crdi engine...

then lagyan ng safari snorkel ...

[XTO]

how about a non crdi engine...

then lagyan ng safari snorkel ...

pwedeng pwede SQ, tipid pa sa maintenance. the 2.8 4jb-1 or kahit nga 2.5 4ja1 XUV XTRM frame lang kung pang metro baha lang. why go for CRDis? AFAIK kung bahain ang lugar ko kuha ko ng second car na nabanggit, or pa assemble ako wranger with stainlass body para fluids and greas na lang regular na bantayan ko.

[Starex_Gold]

Mga Isuzu ok sa baha.. o kaya mag Montero Sport ka. nasa ibabaw ng grills yung intake.
ang taas pa ng ground clearance at malaki ang gulong at malaki pa makina kaya di mahihirapan sa baha yun..

yung Explorer ko ok na ok din sa baha.. kaso mahal at malakas sa gas..

ito yung pic ng makina:

[pitbullz]

jimny!

[redorange]

i still would like to see a waterproofed brake system, hydraulic clutch and suspension shocks for lesser maintenance tasks after all those submerged
off road trips.

Waterproof brakes and suspension? What would be the purpose of that? Disc brakes already perform well even after being submerged just step on the brakes a few times to dry the disc and pads from the heat and the lines are sealed already to create pressure. Trannys have breather hoses to keep water from getting in and can be extended even higher. All else needs to be cleaned anyways when you cross flood water just to make sure it's clean of any debris and dirt even if it is waterproof.

If you want a vehicle that does well crossing water make sure you get one with a high intake system or add a snorkel and an alternator also high in the engine bay.

[s_quilicot]

Mga Isuzu ok sa baha.. o kaya mag Montero Sport ka. nasa ibabaw ng grills yung intake.
ang taas pa ng ground clearance at malaki ang gulong at malaki pa makina kaya di mahihirapan sa baha yun..

yung Explorer ko ok na ok din sa baha.. kaso mahal at malakas sa gas..

ito yung pic ng makina:

SG, IMO pangit ang front facing and exposed na air intak tulad nyan.

why? alon lang from kasalubong sa baha katapat nyan shoot agad ang tubig.

maganda parin yung sa trooper naka talikod

[tip_tipid]

you don't get it, do you? who's talking about disc brakes lining? how sure are you that the brake cylinders will stay dry inside?