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Hydroplane

rwick3142

rwick3142

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Hey Guys, first post for a new member. Back in the late 90's I owned an 86 K5 and it was by far my favorite everyday driver. I recently purchased a 1991 GMC Jimmy same owner since 1992 in amazing shape. It was a Nevada truck, here is the link to the dealerships advertisment.


Yesterday it was raining pretty hard here in Raleigh, so I decided to take her for a ride to see how she would do in the rain as I plan on this rig to be my everyday drive. Needless to say it was white knuckle with the truck hydroplaning at low speed, 30 mph, and then the windshield wipers quit. I received the old wiper motor unit, wired it up and it worked but with little power to move the wipers. That problem will be solved with a new wiper motor, the hydroplaning may not be so cheap or easy.

I attribute the hydro to the lift, looks like 3" even tho video of salesman says 2". I am 55, so the lift was going to go anyway. My question is am I on the right tarck? I'd love to take my Grandson in this truck, but it needs to be completely safe. I don't recall my 86 ever hydroplaning, so this caught me off gaurd.

Thanks for any input.

Rob
 
I looked at all the pics in the ad just now.
First if all, congrats that’s a beautiful K5.
To me, the wheels look like they have a good amount of backspacing. That can affect handling negatively a bit. Also the tierod, draglink and balljoints look original. They may be shot and allowing it to wander.
 
I thought the higher center of gravity would cause hydroplaning. TBH I have never had a lifted truck, and like I said, this rig will be coming back down.

Thanks, she really is a nice rig. I have every receipt from 1991 to the sale, and the previous owner kept meticulous records of every oil change. I almost feel guilty using her as an everyday.
 
The wipers on any square I've had sucked. So to me that's just what they are lol.
Personally those tires are great at everything BUT water in my opinion.
I'd start with those. They'd be easy to sell off. The lift won't cause the hydro.

Shocks can also play a part in hydroplaning.
 
Yeah, I have a K5 on 40” tires and a ‘burb on 37’s. Neither one has any hint of hydroplaning.
My memory sucks, but I wanna say when I did experience hydroplaning on the freeway in a storm, I had bfg all terrains.
That was decades ago though.
 
Please describe exactly what the vehicle did in water. Did all 4 tires lose traction, did the front jump to the right or left, did the rear kick out? How much water where you in or was it just puddles on the passenger side?

I ask all of this because the axles obviously had to be unbolted to install the lift springs. They could be crooked. The front axle could be twisted front or backward affecting camber and castor. If the bad characteristics happened only when the right tires were in water and the front went left then I would suggest you have a toe out condition. If the truck went right when the right wheels were in water then I would suspect a toe in condition.

Without just telling you to go find a competent place to do an alignment and tell you what is wrong instead of wanting to charge an arm and a leg to work on it. We need more data.
 
I used to have tires like that on mine and I don't remember any hydroplaning. But how old are the tires? Isn't that the old style they haven't made in years?
 
First puddle I hit was right side, causing truck to lurch to the right and off the road way until I regain traction and got back on the road, pretty deep puddle but I was driving slow. Second was left side shallow puddle causing the truck to lurch left into the median.
 
Brother, did you really pay $43k? No judgement, just asking!!
Also having wider tires and wheels will increase the chance of hydroplaning.
I have owned 4 or 5 sets of BFG all terrains over the years and don't remember hydroplaning being specific to that tire design.
 
cheavyk10 said:
Brother, did you really pay $43k? No judgement, just asking!!
Also having wider tires and wheels will increase the chance of hydroplaning.
I have owned 4 or 5 sets of BFG all terrains over the years and don't remember hydroplaning being specific to that tire design.
Click to expand...
I did not.
 
Since the price of the truck was mentioned, what would any of you had paid for a rig like this? Single owner, 50k miles on the motor, new a/c, rebuilt trans., no rust, etc etc.
 
Don't ask us. We would pay like $5k for a beater, then spend $50k getting it to where it's worth $20 grand.

Actually, I did pay about $5k for mine, with less than 10k on the engine and no rust on anything (from Arizona). Of course, I did it in 1999. :dunno:
 
As mentioned earlier I would inspect things thoroughly - that being said I have NEVER experienced hydroplaning at such a slow speed; 30 MPH doesn’t seem possible to allow that condition to occur.

Something else must be going on.
 
Last edited:
Pulling one way isn't hydroplaning.

My 2016 will do that hitting a deep puddle on one side.
I'd look into alignment as mentioned.
 
Doesn't sound like you floated, sounds like a typical pull with a deep enough puddle. But again, wide tires and maybe the backspaced wheels. They don't look terrible though. I would sell wheel and tire combo together and start over.

Also @Blue85 LMAO yes, I paid $1300 for a stripped Bender and started the MAW rabbit hole.
 
rwick3142 said:
Hey Guys, first post for a new member. Back in the late 90's I owned an 86 K5 and it was by far my favorite everyday driver. I recently purchased a 1991 GMC Jimmy same owner since 1992 in amazing shape. It was a Nevada truck, here is the link to the dealerships advertisment.


Yesterday it was raining pretty hard here in Raleigh, so I decided to take her for a ride to see how she would do in the rain as I plan on this rig to be my everyday drive. Needless to say it was white knuckle with the truck hydroplaning at low speed, 30 mph, and then the windshield wipers quit. I received the old wiper motor unit, wired it up and it worked but with little power to move the wipers. That problem will be solved with a new wiper motor, the hydroplaning may not be so cheap or easy.

I attribute the hydro to the lift, looks like 3" even tho video of salesman says 2". I am 55, so the lift was going to go anyway. My question is am I on the right tarck? I'd love to take my Grandson in this truck, but it needs to be completely safe. I don't recall my 86 ever hydroplaning, so this caught me off gaurd.

Thanks for any input.

Rob
Click to expand...
First off hydroplaning is when the tire rides on top of the water, so it's purely the tire.
The tires you have are floatation tires because they are wide and they are meant to float on top of the soft terrain, that's why they are call all terrain, usually these are the worst for heavy rain because they grab the water in these pockets and don't dissipate it to the sides.
If you are mainly going to use it on road get better tires for the road, they do better for rain and ride quieter.
If your issue was loosing control then it's something else and the lift could affect it as well as worn steering parts.
If you plan on lowering it, then count on a set of tires as well.
 
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