What Did You Do with Your 80 This Weekend? (33 Viewers)
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SmokingRocks
hopelessly addicted to Cruisers
Went and did some snow wheeling with my buddy and his montero. His montero is mostly stock with no lockers just 31" BFG AT's, I was shocked at how well it did. We were in some pretty deep snow in areas, air down to 15psi (could have gone lower but didnt want to pop a bead) he basically went everywhere I did. We both had the totally wrong tires for the situation but that made it more fun. My buds montero only got stuck once and that was mainly due to inattention.
He did struggle in a couple areas more than I did but I'm fully locked and have better power and ground clearance so I guess that can be expected.
Here I am conquering a stream crossing, this was shot in slow mo and looks better in slow mo... Also in slow mo you can't hear me slam my rear bumper into the ice bank
.
The montero moving snow
The rigs in question
Kinda surprised but Andrew was able to drive out of this predicament with relative ease.
Some of the views
He did struggle in a couple areas more than I did but I'm fully locked and have better power and ground clearance so I guess that can be expected.
Here I am conquering a stream crossing, this was shot in slow mo and looks better in slow mo... Also in slow mo you can't hear me slam my rear bumper into the ice bank
.The montero moving snow
The rigs in question
Kinda surprised but Andrew was able to drive out of this predicament with relative ease.
Some of the views
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94SRUNNER
GOLD Star
Helped out @Qball put the OEM snorkel on his LX. Much more work than expected for the OEM install especially without instructions. Ugh. Install looks good. Birds nest does not.
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Looks great!
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Helped out @Qball put the OEM snorkel on his LX. Much more work than expected for the OEM install especially without instructions. Ugh. Install looks good. Birds nest does not.
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Mounting looks solid.
Any advantage with OEM over Safari?
nlxtacy how do you like the way its made . What makes it water proof between the plastic part on the truck and the snorkel. Is there a tight seal where they meet .Helped out @Qball put the OEM snorkel on his LX. Much more work than expected for the OEM install especially without instructions. Ugh. Install looks good. Birds nest does not.
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LS1FJ40
SILVER Star
What Phil said... I'm curious about the difference between the OEM and Chinese Dorkel...
SmokingRocks
hopelessly addicted to Cruisers
my chinese dorkel is fantastic. Never had water infiltration ever.
NLXTACY
Wits' End
I've now helped install a chinese, two Safari's and now the OEM snork. All I need is to do the IronMan and I think I would have installed all possibilities.
Fitment- OEM and Safari are close to tied but I give OEM an edge because of the extra foam and the brace for the top of the snorkel head.
1. OEM
2. Safari
3. Chinese
Finish- OEM still edges out only because of the bird's nest design. If you aren't using it then OEM and Safari would be tied. The OEM and Safari feels and looks near identical to each other. Chinese, well I think everyone is already well aware what I think of the Chinese snorkel.
1. OEM
2. Safari
3. Chinese
Installation- Safari gets this one only because the single large hole and studs are easier to deal with than the shaped hole for OEM and that there is a little more room for error with the Safari. Chinese only barely beats out OEM because of the lack of instructions or the instructions just sucking ass. The OEM took longer too because we had to figure out bolts.The Safari you need long skinny arms to get at the two nuts. With OEM you just need access to install the fender tube. Everything else OEM is attached via 1/4" rivets. QBALL had to get an industrial rivet gun to even use the larger rivets. Another advantage to the OEM is you do not have to remove the air filter canister.
1. Safari
2. Chinese
3. OEM
Honestly what makes the OEM good is the fit and finish but the large bird house thing on top makes it look stupid and is likely 1/2 of the cost. I could definitely see going with OEM tube and a Safari top intake.
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NLXTACY
Wits' End
Safari and OEM are nearly the same as far as water-proofiness. I didn't pay attention to the design of the OEM to see if there is something inside that helps divert water that gets in but I just don't see how water could. With hundreds of both version installed and no one complaining of water intrusion...I think you are ok. If you want to go nuts you could epoxy the couplings together.
NLXTACY
Wits' End
Ha! Didn't realize it but the air is sucked up through the bottom of the bird's nest.
SmokingRocks
hopelessly addicted to Cruisers
I was told mine was a Safari but there are no markings on it so I assume its a chinese knock off. I've driven through river crossings, and driving down pours and never seen a drop of water in the filter box.
I have an OEM one, and I think the top is pretty ugly as well.
I always like your wheeling posts. Great job, great pictures. Wish I were there!
Swingouts for my 4x4Labs rear bumper... @hicruise55 worked his magic.
We didn't have all the metal for the tire carrier, so we got to design something that angled the tire a bit for more clearance. I love the look.
I've still got to make a bracket and figure out a light for the plate, then some grinding and painting to do, but I'm really happy with how things turned out.
We didn't have all the metal for the tire carrier, so we got to design something that angled the tire a bit for more clearance. I love the look.
I've still got to make a bracket and figure out a light for the plate, then some grinding and painting to do, but I'm really happy with how things turned out.
There are two OEM topper options. The 80-Series style (birds nest) or the 70-Series style (identical to the innards of the birds nest, but without the outer case).
8x Topper:
7x Topper:
Went wheelin! Met some very nice folks and rescued a Jeep, what else could you ask for!NLXTACY
Wits' End
@Douglas S yeah we noticed that if we removed the four rivets we could make it into the other topper. @Qball i think you should 
