Part of the allure of owning a Toyota Tundra pickup, even the practical Tundra Platinum Hybrid, is its “work hard and play even harder” attitude, according to Toyota. Over the course of its use, the Tundra might have occasions to drive through water deeper than a standard mud puddle, whether navigating flooded roads or fording mountain streams. And while there are other safety concerns to be aware of when driving your truck off-road, water crossings are among the most serious.

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We advise caution when driving through water where, due to its depth or lack of clarity, you cannot see the roadway below. Flood water, particularly when flowing fast, can wash away entire stretches of road and bridges without warning. Even a slow-flowing stream can hide a deep channel in its depths.

However, as long as the water surface is suitable, the Toyota Tundra can handle water up to 28 inches deep. Of course, you need to take some precautions and constantly monitor the situation while driving slowly through deep water.

According to the owner’s manual for the 2023 Toyota Tundra, which is part of the current third generation of Toyota Tundra trucks, driving through water up to 28 inches deep is possible for trucks with electronically modulated air suspension. This technology offers three settings for the Tundra’s ride height: Low (LO), Normal (N) and High (HI).

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The air suspension’s HI mode raises the truck’s frame and body 1.6 inches above the normal N mode and is suitable “for driving on bumpy roads” below 18 mph. At a higher speed, the air suspension returns to the normal height. LO mode is designed to make it easier to get passengers in and out and load and unload cargo by lowering the truck’s height 1.2 inches below the normal ride height. The LO ride height mode returns to the normal height at speeds above 8 mph.

Toyota recommends using HI mode when driving through water deeper than 20 inches and locking the ride height control by putting the air suspension system in manual mode. When in manual mode and with the ride height set to high, you should drive at speeds under 18 mph, as the truck’s higher center of gravity could cause it to tip over more easily.

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The 2023 Toyota Tundra owner’s manual warns that water depths that reach the doors and exceed ground level can cause serious damage to the Tundra’s electronics. This can result in the power windows no longer working, the engine stalling, and the truck no longer being able to move under its own power.

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In extreme cases where you drive into deep water, you may find yourself in an emergency situation and stranded in a vehicle that will not move. Toyota recommends exiting the truck carefully if it becomes stuck in water. If the doors or windows cannot be opened due to the depth of the water, the owner’s manual recommends remaining calm and waiting for rescue or opening the door after the cab has filled with enough water to equalize the pressure. If you have the necessary tools, you can break a side or rear window before the water rises, but do not attempt to break the windshield, as laminated glass is harder to break.

Even if an emergency situation is avoided, driving into water that is too deep can have serious consequences for your truck, aside from destroying electronics. If water enters the truck’s engine through the intake manifold while it is running, it can cause engine water hammer. In this case, at a minimum, all spark plugs must be removed to pump the unwanted water out of the engine cylinders. In the worst case, the internal parts of the engine can be damaged, including pistons, connecting rods and crankshafts.

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