Cheaper Snorkel Options

[piecemeal]

Anybody here ever buy one of the cheap chinese knockoff snorkels like the one listed below? I know you get what you pay for, but $400, or in fact, anything over $200 for an ABS plastic pipe seems like too much for what it is. Before you say it, I saw the micro comparison on the safari snorkel website with the potential "weak spots" in the inferior ABS plastic mold. My thought was to dip a chinese one in bed-liner or use that paint for plastic spray to give it some extra UV protection and/or maybe strength (bed-liner more than the paint for plastic spray). My concern was expansion and contraction of a bedliner product on the plastic. Thoughts??

1980-1984 Toyota Land Cruiser 40 42 45 47 Series ABS Air Ram Intake Snorkel Kit | eBay

 

[crikeymike]

I've heard that they are hit or miss as far as quality, and sometimes one is different to the next from the same people. I think a lot of the differences that existed before have since been remedied as far as the material and construction. I'm always more concerned about the finish on the inside of the tube (should be super smooth) and the quality of the hardware so that it doesn't rust.

For $85, if you're willing to make "fixes" as needed to it (bedlining, etc), you could give it a shot?

The amazing thing to me is how these get shipped around for free. It costs me $30-40 to ship a snorkel around the country. So what did the snorkel cost to make to begin with, then import?

 

[piecemeal]

I've heard that they are hit or miss as far as quality, and sometimes one is different to the next from the same people. I think a lot of the differences that existed before have since been remedied as far as the material and construction. I'm always more concerned about the finish on the inside of the tube (should be super smooth) and the quality of the hardware so that it doesn't rust.

For $85, if you're willing to make "fixes" as needed to it (bedlining, etc), you could give it a shot?

The amazing thing to me is how these get shipped around for free. It costs me $30-40 to ship a snorkel around the country. So what did the snorkel cost to make to begin with, then import?

How much do you sell your's for? I honestly didn't think about the "smoothness" of the inside....

 

[crikeymike]

How much do you sell your's for? I honestly didn't think about the "smoothness" of the inside....

Oh, we don't have one for a 40 or a 60 series. All our snorkels are $250 though.

Just wanted to give you a few things to look out for. I wish Ebay had item reviews like Amazon does so you could see what people say about it. Someone on here must have one and will probably reply.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

I bought this one on Amazon a couple of years ago... IIRC the current price is about $10-15 more now. Amazon.com: Wotefusi Car Air Ram Intake Snorkel Kit Set For Toyota 40 42 45 47 Series Land Cruiser Landcruiser: Automotive

It's a genuine China Made... It's smooth inside the tube... The included hose (snorkel to air cleaner) is "corrugated" (so to speak... Flexible) so not smooth inside.

The hardware is fine... Stainless screws, clamps, etc.

I'm very pleased with it... I use it to bring fresh, cool air to the carb... If I ever see a river or stream, I may try to ford it.

The only problem was with the instructions and template... They sucked!!

But, you should be able to look at pictures online and properly orient/install it.

Remember, if you intend to ford streams, you need to first address raising your diff and tcase vents, at the least.

Here's mine

 

[hj 60]

I had one for a hj60 shipped for about 130 dollar and the bolts rust instantly so replace them, also the paper with the holes was missing one important hole and drilling in the fender is a bit confusing at first
But the quality is good enough, separates water in huge rain showers and it drives very well, a bit more cool and in winter I need the radiator curtain to get the engine hotter.

 

[Booch]

I purchased Mine from someone on here "custom built" about 5 years ago but i cannot find the info, it was reasonable priced too I will keep looking

 

[skidplate]

For that price go for it! Cost a few bucks more than a couple of oil changes.

 

[ginmtb]

Check out this DIY snorkel (scroll down):

Pics of Green FJ40s - The BEST color. - show us what you have!!

 

[piecemeal]

Thanks guys!! I appreciate all the input. I was gonna go with a cobra head to some kind of air box from a troll hole as I currently don't have an air box for it. Any air box or inline filters you guys have used that work good?

 

[piecemeal]

That diy snorkel is pretty fly!!

 

[4WD Swagman]

I installed a cheapie Chinese ebay one on my 40 last week. Cost was an eye-watering $A70 shipped.

I'll be replacing the supplied ram air type head with a pre-cleaner type, but I'm pretty happy with it.

 

[piecemeal]

I installed a cheapie Chinese ebay one on my 40 last week. Cost was an eye-watering $A70 shipped.

I'll be replacing the supplied ram air type head with a pre-cleaner type, but I'm pretty happy with it.

What did you use with respect to an air cleaner under the hood? If you could snap a few pics of how it's set-up, that'd be great!!

 

[4WD Swagman]

What did you use with respect to an air cleaner under the hood? If you could snap a few pics of how it's set-up, that'd be great!!

Will do, in a few days. The vehicle is in one place and I'm in another at the moment...

The snorkel was part of a complete kit. The snorkel is on the opposite side to the factory air filter box in the engine bay, but the conduit which came with the kit was long enough to reach. I removed the factory air vent conduit and using a bead of silicone, the supplied silicone sleeve and a hose clamp, attached the end to the conduit to the snout of the air filter box.

I tracked down and downloaded the Safari instruction sheet for their 40 Series snork and used that as a guide for the install. The Chinese snorkel didn't come with any useful instructions.

 

[Tancruiser]

I don't think they are over priced compared to those roto pax gas cans . $120.00 for a 4 gallon roto molded plastic can plus shipping ?????

 

[Michael B]

I'm using the same unit as @pngunme It came with stainless hardware and reasonably accurate template for installation. It does stain easily so a coat of paint made for plastic is in order. I also discarded the flex hose in lieu of stainless tubing and rubber connectors. I was running a Donaldson air box. But with the addition of a factory AC compressor on my 12HT I no longer have space for it. I'm currently searching for a suitable replacement. I also replaced the factory plastic inlet grill with a nice stainless unit from a mud member.

 

[piecemeal]

Any pics of the air cleaner setup attached to a snorkel (stock or otherwise) would be greatly appreciated. I was thinking about making a custom air box out of a 50 cal ammo box and a KN conical filter (trying to keep it relatively cheap, but functional), but I'm totally open to other ideas and options. Also, the link to the safari instructions would be great! I got the cheaper chinese knockoff snorkel and it seems pretty decent to me....

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Mine hasn't stained like @76 FJ40's. But, I'm in a completely different climate.

I keep a sock (ladies nylon)mounted in the snorkel, under the head, to catch any insects and debris... less air filter changes needed.

 

[myquestoyota]

Reminds me -
When did you start wearing ladies underwear?
Ever since my wife found them in the glovebox.....

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Reminds me -
When did you start wearing ladies underwear?
Ever since my wife found them in the glovebox.....

Yep. I put a cheap pair of nylons in the shopping cart, at the Nellis AFB PX, and when we were checking out, Dianna asked when I started wearing them. I told her, "when I stopped wearing panties".