How many truck and SUV commercials have we seen with drivers piloting their vehicles through lakes and puddles with unshakable confidence, certain that their new Wrangler or Silverado can handle the terrain as well as any fishing boat? It makes for a great-looking TV spot, but any experienced off-roader knows that a laissez-faire approach to water and mud is one of the quickest ways to introduce a whole range of mechanical issues that never quite go away.
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