Water Crossing Limits...

[AZKJ]

I was looking through the owner's manual and it states not to take the Liberty into water deeper than 20".

I've seen pics on this board of people with water/mud coming out of an open door. My question is... how water tight are the door seals and how deep can you go without getting water inside?

Thanks for your inputs.

 

[desertkj]

As far as the seals, from what I've seen, it seems to be more luck of the draw. There are some where it is halfway up the door and the headlights are under water and the interior stays completely dry. Then I have seen others where the water just came over the door sill and filled the floorboards.

 

[JeepJeepster]

The inside will stay dry depending on how long you stay in the water. The door seals are not what leak anyway. There are drain holes on the bottom of the door that allow water to get out of the door when it rains and water runs down the windows. Water enters those holes and slowly leaks past the door liners that are behind the door panels. If you ever take the door panels off, you will notice that white plastic is held on with a tar like substance. Thats there to keep water out of the Jeep.. The water will leak around those liners and around the speakers..

 

[tjkj2002]

Well my owners manual states 20" for fording,I have forded through water coming up over my hood 2-3 times.No problems at all,no I did not extend my breathers and still no water where it's not supposed to be.By the way the deep water was for about 100 yards or so with a steady speed of 10 mph.I got worried the first time but after that I had to go through it more and more.

 

[K Dje Ryu]

The water will leak around those liners and around the speakers..

And I just thought it was the metal I played through them at excessive volume that caused them to sound like they do. Maybe I got them wet?

 

[fasto82]

sit in the water too long and your floorboards will be saoked. cuz it was colder out it took nearly a month to finally completely dry.

 

[MoladoGuy]

I believe the Liberty is very capable of forging through water more than 20". As many here, I have had the water coming up over the front bumper (half-way to the grill) while cruising at a low speed. I had not water intrusion on the inside.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Maybe the 20" means you can safely stop in the water and park the Jeep. Sure we can ford water up up the headlights, but what happens if you stop for extended periods of time?

 

[MoladoGuy]

Maybe the 20" means you can safely stop in the water and park the Jeep. Sure we can ford water up up the headlights, but what happens if you stop for extended periods of time?

Little fishes find their way into your engine areas. Or you just pollute the water.

 

[valvestem]

I had the occasion yesterday to drive through just about 24" of water in a low driveway to get into work. The Liberty felt like it bobbed a little upon initial entry, then I bee-lined to higher ground and sneaked through some mud into our lot. 2-wheel drive, until I hit the mud. No problemo. I would not want to do this everyday, but when needed, the Liberty works.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Little fishes find their way into your engine areas. Or you just pollute the water.

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[Dave]

Maby the 20" as stated in the manual is for "legal reasons"???

Dave