Thread: Snorkels (For trucks, not diving)

Gidday team.

Just got myself a nice wee 2016 BT-50.

It has some semi-decent A/T tyres and a canopy. Will be getting a dog box for under the canopy so they don't get squished by hunting gear. Down the track I'll get slightly bigger tyres and probably a lift.

But the next thing I plan to do is to get a snorkel fitted so I don't end up drowning the thing when I go driving through puddles. Snorkels are something I have no experience in. Could those who have experience please help me with the following:

- Snorkel brand: sounds like Safari are gold standard with a price tag to suit - are the cheaper alternatives sufficient or best to go with the known brands?
- Snorkel fitting: I don't have the tools or confidence to do this myself - can anyone recommend reputable people in Dunedin who could do this? Preferably people who specialise in 4wd stuff or fit snorkels regularly.
- Anything else I should be thinking of?

Thanks,
Elliott

Check the shiny 4wds out side the trendy cafe's out and see what's the most fashionable sorry not much help

Originally Posted by northdude

Check the shiny 4wds out side the trendy cafe's out and see what's the most fashionable sorry not much help

Ha!

Yeah unfortunately I'm not too worried about what's trendy, I want something that works. Thanks anyway, though.

There's a couple of places I go hunting that I'd like to have peace of mind with a snorkel. A couple of times we've had river crossings that got close to the bonnet on a truck with a lift (and a snorkel).

There is a guy down in Amberly who advertises on retardeme. Cheap as they are a, cough, very similar to another brand. Good to deal with. Hawker supplies. Not sure if he does your model, you'll have to look yourself.
I will say it is a very disconcerting feeling cutting a sodding great hole in a perfectly good guard.
And that was on a 94 mitsi couple of years back

Originally Posted by csmiffy

There is a guy down in Amberly who advertises on retardeme. Cheap as they are a, cough, very similar to another brand. Good to deal with. Hawker supplies. Not sure if he does your model, you'll have to look yourself.
I will say it is a very disconcerting feeling cutting a sodding great hole in a perfectly good guard.
And that was on a 94 mitsi couple of years back

Yeah was looking at theirs - just a bit worried about what makes them cheaper. Do they still seal well? Do they perish? Is the fit not as good? All these sort of questions come to mind.

Haha yeah that's for sure! Not quite as disconcerting, I wouldn't have thought, as hearing the life drain out of your truck in the middle of a river hundreds of kms from anywhere.

Snorkels can be a pain to fit, some of the templates they give don't line up.So check once and check again before cutting. I have seen some of the cheaper snorkels go brittle in the sun. Make sure it is sealed. Also if you are doing a lot of river work it pays to extend your breathers up on diffs and gearbox.
There was a place in south island making one piece steel tube snorkels and powder coated.
2016 Is not that old so you want a nice tidy job imo

Originally Posted by bigbear

Snorkels can be a pain to fit, some of the templates they give don't line up.So check once and check again before cutting. I have seen some of the cheaper snorkels go brittle in the sun. Make sure it is sealed. Also if you are doing a lot of river work it pays to extend your breathers up on diffs and gearbox.
There was a place in south island making one piece steel tube snorkels and powder coated.
2016 Is not that old so you want a nice tidy job imo

Yeah fully agree - happy to pay for it to be tidy. I won't be fitting it myself so would like to know of any reputable 4x4 places in Dunedin that fit them regularly.

I don't do heaps of river work - maybe 4 or 5 deep crossings a year. Main use will be crawling up riverbeds and tracks on DoC land

Went thru this a while back, places in Dunedin that quoted to fit a snorkel where Midway motors and St Kilda Automotive (ironman 4x4 agent). Didn't end up using either as ended upgrading to a truck that had one fitted so can't comment on their workmanship.
With a late model ute don't get lulled into a false sense of security by a snorkel. They tend to have a lot of electronics mounted low in the seat-pillars and under seats (ecu) etc.... Check your door seals are in good condition! Whatever you do don't get water in the cab!

As others have mentioned breathers for diffs and trans are also important but not full proof, check your oils after river work.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by csmiffy

There is a guy down in Amberly who advertises on retardeme. Cheap as they are a, cough, very similar to another brand. Good to deal with. Hawker supplies. Not sure if he does your model, you'll have to look yourself.
I will say it is a very disconcerting feeling cutting a sodding great hole in a perfectly good guard.
And that was on a 94 mitsi couple of years back

I can vouch for their products, I installed one myself on a Isuzu trooper a while back, worked a treat, and measure 12 times then cut once! Very unnerving to intentionally cut into parts of your truck! I think @mudgripz has dealt with them as well, I’m looking to put one in my Isuzu irmscher, ubs55 not as easy as the older trooper but I’m going back to them, as long as they have the same supplier!

I'm more DIY, just so I know it's sealed. Found them all to be much-of-a-muchness between the cheaper and more expensive. The cheaper one had a great instruction sheet that said to 'Read the instruction sheet twice before installing.' I did that, but that was the instruction sheet, just those words.

I have a snorkel kit here that will fit a SuzukiGrand Vitara 2.4 petrol if anyone interested. Cheap!! Like make an offer. No use to me now. Bought it, but did not fit, then sold that vehicle and went for a d-max.
Have been advised as per comments above that modern 4wd can have a lot of sensitive elec-trickery down low, so do not put my Ute through deeper water.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

I'm more DIY, just so I know it's sealed. Found them all to be much-of-a-muchness between the cheaper and more expensive. The cheaper one had a great instruction sheet that said to 'Read the instruction sheet twice before installing.' I did that, but that was the instruction sheet, just those words.

Haha!

Yeah I would go DIY if I had the tools and confidence. I'll be sure to get whoever does it to show me that it's all sealed up and functioning as it should.

I took my vehicle around to a panel beater with the templates, and he did the hole cutting and sealing for me and all I had to do was install it myself.

Mines an airflow brand on my land cruiser, and it was fiddly, But once its done its done, and it has certainly proved its worth in multiple river crossings

Originally Posted by Edunn

Yeah was looking at theirs - just a bit worried about what makes them cheaper. Do they still seal well? Do they perish? Is the fit not as good? All these sort of questions come to mind.

Haha yeah that's for sure! Not quite as disconcerting, I wouldn't have thought, as hearing the life drain out of your truck in the middle of a river hundreds of kms from anywhere.

Mine has been on there nearly 4 years and still looks good. The bits all sealed together well and apparently the factory metal airbox can be the biggest issue not the snorkel
Don't really use it like its intended but I have occasionally nosed in over the bonnet no dramas.

Snorkels are good for more than just wading through water... They collect air from higher up above the road, where it can be significantly cooler. When on a metal road, the air at roof height tends to be much less dusty - especially when driving behind a log truck or similar - as heavier dust particles settle onto the road quite quickly after being disturbed. Cooler air has a big impact on vehicle performance, while less dust is obviously good for filters and engine longevity.