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Snorkel pros and cons

24K views 65 replies 41 participants last post by  Digger84 
#1 ·
I'm thinking about a snorkel for my 03 tj. Who has a snorkel and can tell me things they do and don't like about it? And maybe the brand name too? Thanks
 
#4 ·
There are no pro's........IF you are submerged to the point of actually needing a snorkel.....you have so many other new issues to be concerned about that the motor breathing is the least of your worries.......Water in the differentials, transmission, and cluth are BIG issues if not dealt with immediately.
 
#12 ·
While I dont condone the side mounted snorkels, properly extended breather tubes should help with the things you noted. Then of course would be the exhuast.

Have yall looked at the river raider snorkle
I have and if I ever decide to I will get one.
 
#5 ·
I put an ARB snorkle on a Cherokee because I thought it looked cool. It was expensive and hurt gas mileage a bit and everyone was asking "what's that and why". Never had another since. I still think they look kind of cool. Reminds me of a tough outback Austrailian adventure vehicle. Whatever. I'm done with them.
 
#14 ·
i have always liked them never really cared about the branches cause gettin out in the mud is part of the adventure and if you AND the jeep dont look like you participated in a three way mud wrestling contest with Jennifer Anaston and Milia Jovavich and won, i personally think you arnt having enough fun. They do however work great if you are on really dusty trails or back roads it keeps alot of the boiled up dust out which can really harm your engine.
 
#53 · (Edited)
They do however work great if you are on really dusty trails or back roads it keeps alot of the boiled up dust out which can really harm your engine.
They don't serve to keep ANY of the dust out, that's an old wive's tale propagated by the snorkel manufacturers and those who don't know any better. The air intake is actually better protected from dust when fully enclosed inside the engine compartment.

Not to mention dust doesn't somehow magically stop forming just below a snorkel's slightly elevated intake level.
 

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#17 ·
wow i didn't know there was so many cons. I was thinking about getting a ARB Safari snorkel for my TJ next... lots of mud bogs and water bogs here in NZ so thought it was useful... was probably going to try waterproof the engine bay as good as i could too...
 
#55 ·
If you get into deeper water, it's not just the engine bay you're going to wish you water proofed. Don't forget the diff/tranny/transfer case breathers. Our Jeeps aren't amphibious, and don't like water flowing into funny places, no matter what some owners think.
 
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#18 ·
I have one on mine, installed by the previous owner. I would have put my money elsewhere if I was choosing mods but hey the price was right for the mileage and everything else check out fine on it haha. It doesn't get very dusty around here and I don't wheel super tight trails, mostly logging roads and playing in the mud, my engine runs at a normal temperature or at least nothing that has caused me concern yet. With that said I haven't noticed it either way except my antenna always clangs against it and it's super annoying and took a little chip out of the snorkel ram head grill. If you get one I'd recommend switch to a short antenna.
 
#19 ·
If you look at the guys who truly use a snorkel for the tough jeep or tough truck events or similar, you will see that they jerry-rig a water proof hose that actually faces towards the back of the vehicle. That i am didnt see the Navy using the jeep to win the war. But hey to each there own.
 
#20 ·
people just b*tch about them like they do chrome and big wheels. If you want one I'm sure you could just fab up your own. I looked into it at one time, I think they're cool looking but I'd never make it through the trails here with all the trees. Maybe if you dipped into a hole that was deeper than you thought it could save your ass. Just like that winch, use it once and it was worth all the trouble.
 
#27 ·
Not really. My rig gets that treatment a couple of times a month. Tahuya State Forest is 30 minutes away. In fact, I set up the missus '09 for the same type of use. I had to pull the freedom panels off to re-seal them on her rig and found mud and rocks in every seam. Including the door gaskets.

I will admit, we have lost a couple of horns doing this. And a few idler pulleys. Nothing electrical though.Not the first chime or light yet. I am really impressed with the JKs. I came from hammering on full size rigs for years.

Bob K.
 
#26 ·
Heres your DIY snorkel

Real Class, no?
That's if you want to do a half assed job. There are some nice looking homemade snorkels in this thread. Some interesting ideas too, like the one just put the air intake directly under the cowl and put a hood scoop on top. Not visible and it helps keep the intake farther back. Still need to be very careful about that water though lol

Best Home-made Snorkel Design? - JeepForum.com
 
#31 ·
Since nobody else has said it, one of the pros of a snorkel is that you can star in your own outrageous water crossing videos once you install one. Here are my two favorites:



 
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