Preferably way under $40k after mods and more reliable than a '17 Sahara Rubicon, which nice examples are $40k.
I'm pretty sure those can handle this task, all be it not with a comfortable ride.

I'm thinking some older Toyota with mods, or maybe Ford truck but which model with what mods?

Parameters:

It's for the wife to drive out to the airport when the flash flood warnings are up, she still has to get there.
She's had our Accord with water hitting the windshield as you get closer to Love Field under these conditions.

It needs to drive 80mph on the highway occasionally without horrible danger. Also normal city driving must
be acceptably comfortable.

If she drives it in 3 feet of water I want the car to be able to just dry out in terms of the diffs, I don't want to have to
run to a shop every time that happens for some servicing.

It doesn't need to be an off roader in terms of mud or rock climbing or trail riding, total city vehicle.

Diffs won’t just fry out. Driving in water like that almost always requires changing the fluid. Water and oil don’t mix.

Maybe she should seek alternative routes to the airport.

How often does this water scenario happen? I’m with the pig, take a different road.

3 feet of water is a lot. I wouldn’t go through it unless I was in a swamp buggy.

Off roaders extent the vent tubes on the diff's to higher area's. Pretty cheap fix.

Yelp same way you do it on a utv

If your talking about lovefield airport, I’ve been caught when it flooded by heavy rain. Both shorecrest and HWHighway. Worse one where it flooded lovers ln. I’ve never had problems with my 05 dodge 2500 4x4. Air filter is up outta the way. The flood at lovers, the tires were close to under water. Idled right through. I checked both diff fluid next day and it was good.

I would think any pickup/jeep would work. Changing diff fluid is easy. If you don’t want to pull the cover, you can get a hand pump at any auto parts store.

Eugene

ANY vehicle that is going to ford water higher than the axles should have the vent tubes extended up to the engine compartment or some higher point. It is extremely easy to do. This has been common practice among off-roaders for over 50 years.

The only issues for 'most; vehicles making deep water crossings is preventing water from entering the engines air intake source, cooling fans striking the water and on older vehicles with distributors, getting them wet (petrol engines).

Air intake (if not already high enough) is solved by adding a snorkel, cooling fan (if electric can be manually shut off by installing a switch) if mechanical keep your engine speed low and hope for the best. Fording 3' of water....be sure all your door seals are good.

An older 100 series Land Cruiser or Lexus LX470 would be about ideal for a daily driver that can easily ford that depth of water, but most folks will want to drive something newer.

Vents are not the issue, though part. Water gets in via the axle shaft/knuckle area for solid axle or a weak seal/CV boot on IFS, similar on the rear. All of this is more true on "older" anything.

Charlie

After those 9 soldiers died at Ft Hood when their LMTV overturned in a flash flood, I don't think I'd be trying to buy and modify any vehicle for my wife to drive through 3ft of water. Sounds like a terrible idea to me.

Turn around, don’t drown.

I pray she isn't trying to ford moving water. 3' will carry a vehicle off in a hurry. Is it worth it for a job?

To address the question, I agree with the guy above that mentioned the 2500 4x4. Nice and heavy. I would go with stock-width tires to avoid flotation as much as possible, but either give it a 4-6" lift and take the other possible measures about the vents and such.

As mentioned above it's not worth it trying to drive through water that high. Also trying to find another route would be a better idea.

Yep. I wouldn't risk my wife's life driving through water half that deep.

Most urban area street floods do not involve moving water of any consequence. In Houston and Dallas they are just low spots in the road that fill with water.

We live in a rural setting on a FM road that has a section that can hold up to 2' of water (either way, in or out) so certain times of the year we see flooding.

We can either wait for it to go down or choose to cross it.

My Wife drives an LX470, the suspension of which she can raise 6" with the touch of a button and it already sits high, it is 4wd and has the air intake mounted very high in the engine compartment. It could easily cross 3' of water. I don't worry about her making it.

I usually drive my 80 Series Land Cruiser and 3' of water would not be a challenge for it either. But I don't recommend doing like this guy.

Not a snowballs chance in hell.

Driving a 10,000 pound 4WD Dually, I have turned around for water that was 10" deep and flowing. Three feet deep is an absolute no-go.

My jeep is rated to 30” but no way in hell would I do that without raising not only the axle vents but the xfer case and trans vents.

Also no way in hell I’d drive it through moving water. Float away quicker than a blow up raft.

What does your wife do that they have zero understanding of a dangerous commute?

I agree with those saying it’s not worth the risk to send your wife through 36” of flood water, especially if it’s moving.

But, when my wife and I met, she had a ‘98 Tacoma 4x4 access cab with locking hubs and a manual transmission. She used to overland with some friends before we met and they drove through rivers and streams. I used it to hunt for a while and it was an absolute tank that made it through stuff I was sure would get it stuck. It was totaled twice (from on-road accidents) and wrecked a third time and each time she bought it back from insurance and had it repaired and it just kept going. Kind of wish we didn’t trade it in.

had the same happen in my 79 bronco behind the dam at lake worth. pushed me for quite a way till I got out.

My old stomping grounds. I've driven down there before in my 78 F-150 2wd...coming up and down from Inspiration Point. Almost drowned swimming below the "big hole" during a flood.

You do you, but when an LMTV that weighs over 20,000 lbs gets overturned, I think it's pretty foolish to take the risk.

I’m aware. But he also mentioned Honda Accord, which doesn’t have a traditional diff. Either way, I think it awfully foolish to knowingly put yourself in that danger and if you stall out, then expect to be rescued

Basically your only option is a lifted truck (which will be hard for your wife to get in and out of) and extending the vent tubes and air intake

But if it’s rushing water, she’d be a dumbazz to drive through it if it’s just her alone incase chit went south.

Polaris Pro R on like 8" portals and the biggest tire you can fit? That is a unicorn request honestly

36” is a ton of water and with current, I ain’t driving any vehicle through it. Good luck!