I went off roading in my truck today. I was having a good time until I tried to go into a pit of water. The truck went up to the running boards with water so I tried to back out, when I backed up I slid into a deep a$$ rut and the front drivers side of my truck sank enough that I had water just about up to the speaker in the door. I got it out with a little help from a jeep and it ran fine. I am going to get the oil changed tomorrow just to be safe and make sure there isn't any water in there, the only problem I can find is that my thermometer is reading in the teens when it was easily 40 degrees out. The compass part still works and it is up on the ceiling of the truck (2003 Fx4 extended cab) so I am wondering what happened to my thermometer. Thanks to anyone who replies. Edit- Forgot to say the guys on quads that went around me got a nice picture and a good laugh when I got out of the truck and a small lake emptied out of my truck.

 

Guess it was just wet connections, started the truck this morning and so far so good.

 

sounds like you got pretty lucky if thats all that happened.

 

Yeah I know I am very lucky considering all the wiring running on that side. It smells a little bit like a pond now but other than that it is going strong. definetly the last time I off road my truck for a few years.

 

Yikes...

Hope everything is okay now.

 

Water up to the running boards or the bottom of the doors really isnt anything to be worried about. Go check the basics for water; oil, diffs, trans and t case, if you cant find any water then your good.

 

Yeah I know the running boards weren't a problem it was the fact we were still on a downward slope that made me back out. It is right around freezing here too so I can't get the carpet to dry out.

 

Well I hope everything turns out okay. You have to be very careful, as these trucks do not handle water very well. I've heard of too many (and am currently dealing with my own) horror stories about water damage to the newer F-150s. I don't get it. I have friends who drive through water up to the middle of their grill on a daily basis and have no problems. Then I go and hit a puddle up to my bumper and I suck up water into the intake and have numerous electrical problems. It seems that every week a new problem pops up that can be attributed to water damage. One thing you really need to be careful of is your starter. I don't know if it's the design of the truck or what, but I've gone through 3 starters in the 6 months that I've had my truck. Every time one fails, it's within a day of me going through deep water. I have vowed to stay out of water that comes up higher than my hubs now. It looks like you did get off pretty lucky. Just be careful with that truck. Electrical problems are no fun.

 

I think I am done taking my daily driver off road like that. I am only 20 with a part time job and I don't really have the the money to be fixing it like I would have to if I did this on a regular basis.

 

See my previous post.

"Yeah, What KickinBlue4x4 said. Be very careful if you are not framiliar with the trails there. What looks like a shallow set of ruts with some water might just be 3-4 ft deep. Have fun."

Don't worry. That is all part of the learning curve. I used to beat the **** out of my trucks. Then I realized how expensive it was to keep fixing them. Now I ride the quads for all that BS. I bought my first new truck at 20 and now I'm on my third at 27. This one has seen none of the abuse that the last two did, that is for sure. Bottom line is, at one time in our lives we were all young dumb and full of ....

 

yup. i remember my first 4wd . an 87 dakota. i took it out to the trails. being as ignorant at offroading at the time ended up to the doors in mud.of course my gilrfriend was with me at the time.so her screaming at me didnt help. a guy with a f 250 pulled me out. those were the good old days lol

 

I'm just gonna get a 70-85 Ford pickup to play in the mud with. My 4x4 went out the first time I went muddin wth my 37's. What a joke.

 

Yeah that is exactly what went through my head when I realized we were sliding over into some really deep ruts. All I had to do was back straight up and it would have been fine, but no I turned the wheel thinking I was gonna hit a fence that was right next to me.

 

Hate to say it... But told you so! lol I have also learned the hard way. I have been through an engine, transmission, and rear end. Also all new fluids, front end end components, and brakes. Mudding puts some serious wear on your truck. Good luck!

 

Double post... Sorry