Why the hate for snorkels?

jjvw said:
Technique may play a role. I've had water wash over the hood a few times. In the deeper water, I try to keep a slow steady pace and keep moving.

However, I did see a guy blast through a very shallow creek crossing (6" deep?) and lock up the engine. We eventually got him started, but the engine had a knock. I never found out what happened after that.
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So an $80 snorkel would have saved him a few thousand to rebuild/replace the engine...

Cheap insurance with no real drawbacks. TJ fenders are cheap.


Even the air filter that came in my TJ had been soaked at least once.
 
“Hate” isn’t the right word here. I only hate angry grills and chrome LOL....but most give input from real world experience and technical knowledge. If you don’t want the input of others who have that, then a forum just isn’t the right place.
 
Here's a list of things that will never be on my Jeep.
Snorkel
Hi-Lift Jack (especially across the hood)
Pocket style fender flares (or any flares wider than Rubicon's)
Angry eyes
Stinger front bumper
Anything painted in dayglow colors
"If you can read this, flip me over" sticker
Gaudy led light bars
Wheels bigger than 15"
 
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whitrzac said:
So an $80 snorkel would have saved him a few thousand to rebuild/replace the engine...

Cheap insurance with no real drawbacks. TJ fenders are cheap.
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Perhaps. Though I don't see the need to make the Jeep look dumb when a sensible technique is free and valuable beyond just driving through water.

An important part I left out is that this guy also had an exposed cone filter that probably cost at least $80. I highly doubt that the stock air box would have allowed the same kind of water ingestion as his "upgrade" did.

The lack of a snorkel wasn't the problem.
 
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To add, if you want to blast through deep water and submerge the Jeep, then build for that. You'll need a whole lot more than just a snorkel. Make a How-To thread while you are at it. It would be appreciated.

On the related topic of speed and unintended consequences, we recently got to help replace a stock front axle shaft after a u-joint fell apart because the guy kept attacking each obstacle. Again, if you are going to drive like that, then you need to build the Jeep to keep up with the driver.

Or you can learn the vehicle and pay attention to the terrain. There is a mindset here that is valuable well beyond driving a Jeep through the woods.
 
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Since military was mentioned I'll wade in here since I think I have a little experiance.

The Army (can't comment on other branches) uses snorkels when doing deep water fording. We don't run them any other time. The air bonnet is there as a rain shield over the intake tube and is easily removed so you can throw on a extension when needed. But we also would install extended exhaust pipes depending on how deep the water was.

My take on snorkels is they are/were a fad like many other things that hit the automotive world. When the Camel Trophy was really popular everyone saw snorkels on the rigs so now everyone had to run one. I don't think a snorkel other than when going thru deep water is good for much else.

The only other benefit I see to a snorkel is like doing the cowl intake as it takes the intake out of the engine compartment to MAYBE draw in a little cooler air. But for the money I would do the cowl intake first. I saw this becasue where I wheel trees will rip that snorkel off in no time if you get one the trails that lean you into trees and stuff. It's the same thing to me like light bars. It is just one more thing to get ripped off by a tight squeeze between trees or a fallen tree you have to drive under. I don't want parts sticking off the side/top of my rig if I can help it.
 
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I had an ARB Safari snorkel on my previous TJ and I could not remove the upper door without removing the mounting bolts and pivot the snorkel out of the way. Super frustrating since I remove and install my doors often!
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Whan I bought my Jeep 2 1/2 years ago, a snorkle was something I thought I would like. I think they look kool. As it turned out, I haven't seen a snorkle kit that I like enough to spend the money.
 
My next mod, anyone else?

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The pic is from a Dirt Everyday episode where they tried to cross a pond. I think this one also had the 2.8L cummins crate engine.
 
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astjp2 said:
Well from what I have seen, it puts the intake for the air box above road level, that is why 60% of military vehicles have a snorkel, there is still the normal air filter, it just puts the intake up high were there is less dust....
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Military vehicles have it for crossing deep water not to keep dust out.
 
Well I can say from what I know they sure didn't keep any dust out in Iraq. We were cleaning air filters daily because of all the dust.
 
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Wildman said:
Well I can say from what I know they sure didn't keep any dust out in Iraq. We were cleaning air filters daily because of all the dust.
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Did the snorkels go all the way up to the top of the windshield frame. If not, they should have! ;)
 
jjvw said:
Did the snorkels go all the way up to the top of the windshield frame. If not, they should have! ;)
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We were just cutting pipe that fit and made some about 3' tall. So yes above a Hummer windshield. On the 2 1/2 ton and 5 ton trucks I think it was more like 4' and we used 550 cord to stabilize it. In 2004 we were building plywood boxes around the cargo area and filling it with sandbags to try and help add some protection from IEDs. Everything we did was backyard fab. Heck back then there wasn't enough body armor to go around.
 
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