What have I hurt?

[kzrman]

In order to launch and retrieve my boat the other day at the local lake I backed my 2025 Trailhunter hybrid in to the water so that the water level was one inch from the bottom of the drivers door. The boat ramp was not steep enough and the lake level was very low.
Please don't tell me that I'm an idiot, but do tell me what I may have hurt and what maintenance you would quickly do if you were me. Thank you.

BTW, it seemed to drive just fine on the trip home.

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[SNDR]

1 inch from the drivers door, but how close to the rear doors and tailgate?

 

[pmedicj]

I’d replace the rear differential fluid and possibly the transfer case if you think water went above them.

 

[kzrman]

1 inch from the drivers door, but how close to the rear doors and tailgate?

Not sure. I do know that the end of the exhaust pipe was under, I also recall that the water was not over the back bumper.

 

[Dead Horse]

I'd stick my finger in the diff and see if there's any milk. If not, I'd just forget it ever happened.

 

[SC4Runner]

I'd stick my finger in the diff and see if there's any milk. If not, I'd just forget it ever happened.

Sounds like a plan! I just changed all fluids in the 20k-21k range. It’s a 24mm socket for the diff, and I recommend getting the short ones, hex. You will want to replace the crush washer as well.

 

[rosnaby]

In order to launch and retrieve my boat the other day at the local lake I backed my 2025 Trailhunter hybrid in to the water so that the water level was one inch from the bottom of the drivers door. The boat ramp was not steep enough and the lake level was very low.
Please don't tell me that I'm an idiot, but do tell me what I may have hurt and what maintenance you would quickly do if you were me. Thank you.

BTW, it seemed to drive just fine on the trip home.

Pretty sure the wading depth is over 2 feet, If you are at 20-30k miles and haven’t replaced your transfer case fluid and diff fluids, might wanna do that…but otherwise probably nothing needed as long as it wasnt sitting in it forever. Just follow the special operating coniditions for maintenance if you are going to be doing this stuff

 

[josiahg52]

Pretty sure the wading depth is over 2 feet, If you are at 20-30k miles and haven’t replaced your transfer case fluid and diff fluids, might wanna do that…but otherwise probably nothing needed as long as it wasnt sitting in it forever. Just follow the special operating coniditions for maintenance if you are going to be doing this stuff

You found that specification where? I haven't been able to find any official depth from Toyota. Additionally, that would certainly put the rear differential fully underwater, which is a substantial risk to take.

 

[spyder40]

Nothing. Out wheeling will be deeper than that in water and mud

 

[rosnaby]

You found that specification where? I haven't been able to find any official depth from Toyota. Additionally, that would certainly put the rear differential fully underwater, which is a substantial risk to take.

Toyota is never going to post an official depth on these, that just opens them up to risk and no more potential buyers lol… its an estimated from previous generations and the situations people put themselves in. Realistically, wouldnt be tryna push it to 2 feet considering you are just too close to the air intake at that point, but considering the things ive already done in mine (had it sitting in a legit 15 inches of muddy water for an hour and didnt do anything other than cleaning underneath and inside my chassis/frame 15 times lol), i think dipping the hitch is fine… like the best thing to do as you said would be change the rear differential asap, and transfer case if he thinks he submerged, that would be the safest strategy and can take his worry away… as someone who made his mistake of submerging his differentials at 7500ish miles and is at 14k miles, i just figured id wait to change all my oils at 20 . Literally havent noticed a thing but everyone treats their vehicles differently which is fair. And to be honest, a typical road even where i am in the northeast is prone to 12inches-16inches of flooding at times, that you see nissan altimas pull through… i dont think submerging the rear differential is a substantial risk as long as you plan to change the oils regularly…

 

[kzrman]

I appreciate everyone's advice on this. At the very least I'm going to change out the diff oil.
Oh, and stay away from boat ramps! The lakes around these parts are just too low, meaning that you half to back in too far to get a boat to float. Time to get an air boat!

 

[Dr_Al]

I wouldn't worry about it. I've back that far into water to launch boats for decades without an issue. I lost count the number of time I've watched the water bubble from the exhaust. If you're worried about it I would do the rear axle breather mod. Replace the stupid spring loaded cap with a hose going up as high as you can get it with a loop in the middle. It'll solve the rear seal getting blown out when the stock breather plugs up (which takes years). I certainly wouldn't stop boating out of fear I might get a bit of water into the rear diff.

 

[Brian Day]

You might want to extend the rear diff vent . Move it up into the engine bay .

 

[Nodak]

some run the vent tube up to the gas cap area, less distance and less material cost.

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