First, I want to say I'm new here, and as a member of other forums, I understand how annoying it is for new people to rehash long dead threads. I didn't know how tight of a community it is here, and want to thank yallfor letting me play.

ANyways, as for my question, I live in Virginia Beach and we got hit hard by the noreaster that just blew through. They closed my work 2 days in a row, and some places are so flooded there is speculation about Monday being closed too. Butback to the point, is we have been flooded out hardcore. Puddle jumping was fun, but I was concerned about sucking water up in my intake.

THis made me begin looking at snorkels. Unfortunately for my 09, everything is more expensive. Just the housing and tubing will cost about $800. But does anyone know what it will cost in labor to have it installed? I looked at guides and came to the realization that I do not have the skill to install it myself.

Obviously the dealer will be more expensive, but what other places could I take it to have this done?

Thanks for your help

welcome to the forum.

i don't know that the labor would cost, but i know that there are shops that specialize in 4x4's and off roading. check your area to see if there is anything like that around. you could also call a body shop and see what they would charge, since there is some hood cutting involved. we are all about helping each other out on this forum. maybe there is someone here in your area that would help you install it. i have met several people on here (in person) in the year that i have been here and am glad to call them my friends. and there are several that i have not met face to face and am glad to call them my friends too.

I'm checking this out....

Homemade Jeep Snorkel w/pics

according to the post :
One 3" U bend $24
One straight pipe $20
ARB snorkle top $ 77
Total $121

i installed an AEV snorkel my self. not hard at all. it was like $340 shipped. bolts right up to the existing bolt places on the jeep. slips into the stock airbox. hardest part was cutting the hood. not really hard but you need a 2" hole saw and a dremel. it took me about an hour.
http://pic70.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1.../374281262.jpg

That's on a YJ with a different type of airbox.


Check with a bodyshop too; I can't see it being more than $200 to install an AEV, including a rust warranty for the hood.

look into river raider, there located in pa, you could drive up and have them install their snorkel (which imo looks better than the aev)

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I am going with the AEV kit, but I don't have the confidence to properly cut a hole in my hood. I'm sure I could do it, but I dont want to make a $500 mistake.

The difference between the dealer and an autobody shop was about $55/hr. Both places quoted me about 4 hours worth of work, so it'll only cost me about $220 in labor. While expensive, its better than ruining my hood and still cheaper from buying a heat reduction hood.

Again, thanks for the advice.

I wish they made one for a TJ. I really like the idea of cutting the hood instead of the fender.

4 hours of work!! i took my time because i was nervous about cutting the hood and it only took a nube like me an hour. i would stay there and watch them. the only way it is gonna take 4 hours is if they take a 3 hour lunch while doing the install. after you cut the hood it literally bolts up to existing mounting places.make sure the silicon (black) the holes in the bottom of the air box ( there are like 4 places) and around where the snorkel fits into the stock air box. the river raider is nice but cost more then twice a much and you have to relocate the battery, now that may be a 4 hour job. IMHO

one more thing, make sure you screw the top piece to the body of the snorkel. don't rely on the hose clamp keeping it from flying off on the highway. i used a little self tapping screw to secure it, if you look the picture from my earlier post you can actually see it. lol

Prep and paint; there's your difference.

Rust warranty; get that in writing...

Thanks for the idea about the screwing it in there. I would have assumed the clamp would have worked.

That was mostly why... kinda sucks that I have to pay for it to sit there. And I have heard many people say get a rust warranty in writing.