How do I prep my XJ for use in high water?
 

The primary use of my Cherokee is for making my deliveries (500 miles a night) during bad winter weather. We also get some pretty bad flooding locally during heavy rain and I'm really inspired by the yellow Cherokee with the snorkel in the forum's header image. I would love to be able to take my XJ through high water up to the door handles if for necessity or just for the hell of it.

I want to keep the suspension at factory hight and keep it set up primarily for road use.

I've already upgraded the primary grounding, battery to junction box, and alternator to junction box wires with 4 gauge wires; replaced the suspension bushings with Prothane urethane bushings, flushed all chassis grease with Amsoil Heavy Duty grease, and installed new SS brake lines in the front and rear. Future mods include Viper remote entry, push button start, IPF H4 conversion headlights, Blazer projector fog lights, and of course a snorkel. I also plan to route all of the breather ports (from the differentials, distributor cap, open ended vacuum check valves, etc.) to the snorkel via reinforced clear hoses.

My main concerns at this point is the electrical system (especially the alternator and starter), and the power steering reservoir (could water leak into the reservoir through the cap?). Would driving through high water damage the alternator or starter or could it cause a short-circuit somewhere in the electrical system? Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Thanx

deep water it depends on your year cherokee cause my is the older 4.0 where my alternator is mounted on the bottom of the motor =( so deep water is bad for me but if you have the other your ok just make sure your snorkel has no leaks that would be bad

You've got the wrong rig for deep water.

Water up to the door handles? Seriously?

If your tires are big enough itll just float hahaha .....seriously its on youtube somewhere

Id be interested in some SERIOUS responses to this as well. I dont drive through deep water everyday or everytime i go wheeling, but there is always that one time. And ive already fried one alternator. On my 93 im thinking of relocating it up higher but i dont know yet...

The problem with setting a XJ up for deep water is you could spend $10K and a year of Sundays and still not be set up. First off I have yet to see one that the doors seal tight enough to keep water out, and than you have all the low hung electrical.

I'm not trying to bash in any way just pointing out that the XJ is not even in teh top 20 choices for a Deep Water forging rig.

lift it enough for some 44"-54" tires.

I think the tires might touch in the middle if they were that big! lol

hi mate, we play in rivers down here all the time... some deep some not so deep..all i know is to take care in fast deep water cause they are quite lite and can float around a bit..not a good feeling....

Thats useless. High water fording, find a way to seal the doors, all the other ideas are already out there, snorkel, seal the electronics

I have an 87 myself and it hates even a little water. Drove through some 6" puddles and the wake was enough to make the whole Jeep stutter and shake. too fast through 2-3 inch and same problem. So I really don't think deep water is an option although I have seen plenty of videos showing otherwise but maybe those are newer models with the electronics higher up.

well i think if u have water up to you door handles and the things u need to send are that important i would invest in a boat or one of those marsh boats powered by the big fans, just my two cents

take out all the carpet and rhino line everything! ide take out everything electronic that isnt needed. power sterring, the whole f*cking computer, stereo. weld the doors shut weld the rear hatch shut.make sure ur axle seals r good! snorkel is a must haha. make sure ur oil pan is sealed good and tight. everywhere thers a wire silicone it and when its kinda dry you can form it around better with ur fingers. i know you said you wana keep it stock hieght but bugdet boost it an inch and a half! last thing before bed, what do you deliver???

The mercedes G uses a sealed alternator with a little snorkel for ventilation that works under water and can be adapted, the distributor can be sealed with silicone and the wires too, the ECU in renix jeeps is already inside the vehicle and the relays can be boxed or moved inside the jeep. The ventilation air inlet must be closed or you will have a waterfall on the passengers feet.
All this is already very expensive and you might want to buy a rig like this with the diesel: