Rivers!! And Driving Through Them!

[Carneyman]

Alright, so in a month or so we are going to try to head back up to Red River and do some camping, but this time I think we are going to take the truck up the mountain. Its a hard enough trail on 4 wheelers, but I've seen other trucks (specifically, an extended cab long bed) up there, so I know mine can make it.

Question. There is a river at the beginning of the trail that can be around 2-3 feet deep at times. Its only about 50 feet across, and its the only water you (usually) have to cross. Sometimes there is still snow up there, but thats another deal all together. Would yall cross the water as is in your trucks? Anything you need to make sure water stays out of, besides the intake? Anyone wanna go?

 

[Carneyman]

Oh yeah, there would probably be another vehicle going, a VW Touareg or a SUV-wanna be Jeep thingy (no way am I gonna try to fit 6 people and 3 dogs in my truck). I'll be sure and post vids/pics of me pulling them up/off rocks...should be entertaining.

 

[Bigredmariner]

I would be concerned about water in the front and rear diff's. Trans breather is usually high up the firewall but the diff's are usually only as high as the frame rails. Otherwise as long as the water isn't flowing really hard it should be do-able at a slow pace.

 

[Carneyman]

I would be concerned about water in the front and rear diff's. Trans breather is usually high up the firewall but the diff's are usually only as high as the frame rails. Otherwise as long as the water isn't flowing really hard it should be do-able at a slow pace.

Do you know if there is an easy/doable way to extend the breather? I don't even know what it looks like...is it a hose or just a "hole"?

I was planning on running at it as fast as I could...

 

[Bigredmariner]

The breathers are just a small plastic thing that is on the end of a piece of hose from the top of the diff's. You could just extend them with some extra vacuum hose and tie them up higher.

 

[Carneyman]

Sounds like that would be the plan. I've seen plenty of vehicles up there, but I never think to ask if they had any trouble. The trail is 7 miles one way, and there are quite a few places where its tricky on an atv. It'll be interesting in the truck.

 

[Bigredmariner]

Raise the breathers up and make sure you grease the truck good before you go. Grease the shit out of it when you get back and you should be ok.

 

[Carneyman]

I usually grease the hell out of it anyway while I'm home, since I am unable to change the oil here in East Texas...sucks not having our own place.

I let it slip once on my old 4 wheeler once after a trip to the river. The rear shaft bearings went out. That was a pain in the ass to fix. Never again.

 

[KillaF150]

Red River as in the Little Red River?

 

[Carneyman]

Red River, NM. Up in the north part of the NM Rocky Mountains, about 1 1/2 hours north of Taos.