In-Cab Snorkel

Before I actually go ahead a punch a hole in my cab, I'm looking for some cons to doing something like this. Maybe I'm missing something others have already thought of.

Basically, I'm planning on removing the factory air intake tube in the fender and running some 3" plumbing tube from the air filter box to the inside of the cab and sealing with some silicone. I will be running with the deckplate mod (open for daily driving, closed for offroad). (Example: )

Pros:
Filter stays cleaner off road.
Difficult to get water into engine.
No bulky snorkel outside the vehicle.
Considerably cheaper than an aftermarket snorkel.
No outside cosmetic changes.

Cons:
Air sucking noise with deckplate on? off? how bad?
Is there room under the fender for a 3 inch tube with stock fenders? I assume so.
Antenna in the way, but I moved it in the cab and filled in the hole a long time ago.
If water floods the cab, the entry point is actually a bit lower than factory (but if that much water gets in the cab, I figure I'd have a lot more to worry about anyway)

I've seen a few people on TTORA with this type of setup, but haven't seen it get much press over there or over here and was wondering if there's just something I'm missing as to why more people dont do it.

 

it will be pretty loud in the cab, not just sucking noise, you probably wont be able to converse

 

Can you post a few pictures of set-ups like it so other people know what it would look like.

 

i did this, when the deck plate isnt in, i put a towel in the side of the air box in the tube to keep from hearing the sucking sound majority of the time. It really isnt that loud though when its sucking from the cab. I used a 3" dryer duct on mine, fits pretty well!

 

also from ttora, but he may be wrong:

 

That looks like it could work really well. Those dryer exhaust tubes really aren't the thickest though, which is why you put the extra tape on I assume. Do you still have the plastic inner fender in place to help protect it as well?

How long have you had it on and how well has it held up for you?

 

They aren't the thickest, but it's not all stretched out. It's mostly compacted still, just extended at the ends where it connects. The tape def helps make it a little thicker and keep it in tact, I used the gorilla duct tape on it. I don't have the plastic piece, there wasn't one in there though. The guy who had my truck before me had something like what I put in there, but it was really flimsy and wasn't connected very well. When I put the fender on, everything fit like a glove, it doesn't crush it or anything. What kinda stuff are you thinking about using on your truck?

 

I haven't been to the hardware store to check out what was available.

At first I was thinking of running some pvc (or similar) type of tube with an elbow in the middle, but was a little worried about a rock cracking it going down the highways.

Ideally, some type of rubber hose would be best, but not sure I could find something like that in 3" diameter.

Your dryer exhaust sounds like it is working well, I may just have to copy you. Since I no longer have the plastic inner fender protector either, I was hoping I'd be able to find something a bit more durable. Since yours is lasting and the tube should have enough give to not crack if hit by a rock, I may have to go that route if I cant find something else.

As far as noise goes, I'm really not all that concerned about noise. I'm sure I'm a little strange, but I prefer to ride with the window open instead of using the AC. The AC cooling just feels too fake to me or something.

 

I like driving with the windows down too! Hah. But yeah just depends on how loud it would be which I have no Idea.

 

Maybe buy 6 extra feet of tube and run it through the door window for a day, see if the noise bugs you.

I gaurantee the noise would bug me, but to each his own, and in cab snorkles are cool and functional. if you can stand it.

 

Thats probably a good idea. I'll run with out the fender and with a hose around the block a few times to make sure its not terribly loud.

 

Lets just make a massive thread bump, its not like its been 4 years or anything...

Anyone care to share their long term experience with doing this?

 

Sure. It's LOUD!!! I got mine totally built and sealed up. As far as getting clean/cool air to the motor it's hard to beat the in-cab snorkel, but I couldn't keep it for more than a couple of days. It was ridiculously loud for anything but a race truck.

Here's the pics of how I built mine. The above pics with the dryer vent and duct tape is stupid if you're going to do this. The dryer vent will leak and crack and the duct tape won't help much either and will just dry out and flake off after a while. I can see numerous places in the above photos where water would get into that system. If you're going to do this, at least do it right and seal it up.



hole cut into cab










The only way I could possible see living with this mod on a daily basis would be if you could easily cap off the opening inside the cab and run a deckplate mod on your airbox 99% of the time and only open up the in-cab portion when you are worried about water. But then......is it really worth the effort?

I ended up changing mine and have the intake opening right up under the top of the fender where it's pretty protected. I used a 3-way elbow with a small opening at the bottom that I capped and drilled a small hole in the lowest point. If any water gets in it goes to the lowest point and drains out. You can also see where I sealed up the hole I cut in the cab.

 

You have wide fenders, would this work with normal stock fenders?

 

Also do you have your old snorkel still.. Is it for sale?

 

It works with normal fenders if you keep it tight.

FYI I decided against it as my truck is loud enough as is and my wife would never ride in it if I made it louder.

 

Would a deck mod covering the intake inside the intake box from the cab and a normal deck mod open in front be loud too? Just a thought.

 

Sure that would help. Where would you put the deck mod for the cab though?

And it would still be louder than without obviously.

 

Like has been said, you can make this work with stock fenders if you keep it tight. I part that is the most difficult to fit is the elbow at the front behind the headlight. There is not much room behind the fender there.
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My snorkel was sold long ago, sorry.

 

With how your set up is out of the cab is it loud or not very noticeable and do you have a deck mod?