Crossing water?  Discovery channel recently had a show about disastrous
events. like floods and explained the mechanism that leads to car
drownings during floods.  The water over the roadway is not all that
deep, tempting motorists to cross.  But !  the rushing water builds up
on the vehicle, the vehicle displaces water,  becomes lighter, loses
traction, gets turned around, bumped by debris and off or over it goes.
Our Vanagons  have lots of ground clearence and will the diesels at
least would probably run with the 1/2 the engine under water but just
remember those pictures of jeeps, etc, slowly slowly twirling in the
flood.  Be safe and live to see your kids again.

Ed
82 Diesel Westy