New design eBay snorkel

ARB style snorkel for our 1st gen.

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/372467728316


This write up was done on my phone. Excuse grammar and spelling. You will need masking tape, fully charged drill, step drill bit, drill bits, marker, some sockets and wrenches, screw driver, heavy weight hammer, and 3.5” hole saw for cutting metal. You will also need new clips for the fender flare and inner fenders. Optional items are silicone, heat gun, push rivet gun or extra screw, primer and paint. Start early, while it’s not hard it does take time if you want to be detail and working in daylight helps with alignment.

1. Take out the items and expect it to make sure everything is there. Snorkel body, prefilter head, and connector tube. 3x threaded hex screw, 3x locking nut, 3x washer, 3x bolts with washer, 3x push rivets, 3x hose clamps, bracket plate, sticker*, template.
2. Take of the fender flare then the inner fender. Some bolts, clips, pull apart. It’s pretty straight forward. Some of the clips will break. Remove the filter tube inside the fender, there’s two bolts that holds it on. Remove the antenna. It’s one bolt in the fender and the top outer antenna screws off. I also suggest removing the wheel to make it easier. Wipe down the area where the snorkel is going to be installed.
3. Mask the area where you will be cutting. Separate the template from the paper and align it with your truck. Try to get it close as possible but not over the edges. Tape all sides and the center to help it from moving or tearing apart as you cut. It probably won’t happen but it doesn’t take long and can save you a lot of headache.
4. Now the drilling and cutting. First start off with a small drill bit for the pilot holes. They even have it marked in the center of the hole for you. Use a step bit for the bolt holes. Make them bigger than the threaded bolts to give you room for alignment as you install the snorkel. You can even go a little bigger. Now for the main hole. Best to use a hole saw with a pilot bit. I highly recommend using the one pictured or of similar quality for a clean and efficient cut. You can purchase it at Home Depot. You will also need to get the pilot attachment if you don’t already have one. Both are made by Milwaukee. Slow and smooth as you push the hole saw closer to the fender. Clean up the hole with some sand paper or a dermal. Install the 3x threaded hex screws in the snorkel base. Now test fit the snorkel base. Leave the template on.
5. Loosely install the bracket plate to the snorkel tube neck with the 3x bolts with washer. Now test fit the snorkel again with the locking nuts at the base. I was only able to do the two bottom threads. The one on top is very hard to get to. Mark the holes where the bracket will go on the pillar. You might need to make the snorkel base bolt holes bigger so the bracket sits nicely on the pillar. Don’t forget to remove the tape from the bracket.
6. Drill the holes you marked on the pillar. Use a small drill bit first for your pilot holes. Then find a drill bit that matches the push rivets. You can also use screws instead of push rivets if you want, I did. Feel free to do as many test fitting as need to make sure everything lines up at the end.
7. Connect the intake tube and the snorkel connector tub with the bare metal clamp. The black clamp is for the prefilter head attachment to the snorkel neck. I used a heat gun to soften up the snorkel rubber tube and a flat head screw driver to get help connect the two tubes. also cleaned the intake tube before I did the connection since I’m sure the inside hasn’t been clean since new or for awhile. Also hammer upward the metal flap inside the fender. This is to make room for the rubber connector tube. Now test fit everything. Make sure the snorkel is flush and you can open and close your passenger door. If every fits well this is the time to spray some primer and paint on the edges of the holes. Also do this for the bracket plate and bolts if you don’t want the hardware to stick out.
8. Do not tighten any screws, nuts or claps until everything is on. This will help with better alignment. I installed the inner fender tubes first. Optional, you can put some silicone or a gasket paste on the intake connector end side to better seal it. Then install your snorkel. Have your bracket plate already installed to the snorkel neck. Rotate and push the snorkel base into the connector tube. Have your clamps already in place. Like I mention earlier I only bolted the two bottom threads. It will be find since you also connect it at the pillar. It’s sturdy, solid and not going anywhere. If you want to bolt the top thread you can find a way.
9. Install the snorkel with bracket onto the pillar using the push rivets or use your own screws. Now install the prefilter head with the black clamp to the neck. If everything looks good (correctly aligned and fitted) then tighten all your screws, nuts, and clamps. Try to wiggle the snorkel. It should be solid and not wiggle or budge. Put back your inner fenders and fender flares using new clips where needed. Then wheel if you took it off which I do recommend. Enjoy your $100 snorkel.

*I didn’t put on the sticker.

Here's some of @m3bassman photos with the installed snorkel.

 

I notice the photoshop too. However I know people have use the Wotefusi brand to make it work with our 1st gen with success. It's also just $100 and all it does is redirect the incoming intake air so it's not like a major safety issue, people have even made them out of PVC pipes. As far as China goes, I don't care where it comes from, if it works it works. For a component like this, saving $300 would be worth it if it fits correctly.

 

My experience with chinese knock-off plastic parts has always been the same: quality control is nearly non-existent and its a crap-shoot whether you will receive a workable part. I say workable because in most every case you will need to do some amount of trimming in order to get it to fit correctly. Also they tend to be thinner than the original part and more prone to breakage. For the price it may be worth the work, so long as it is of a quality high-temp (abs or similar) plastic.

 

When it comes to automotive, I would never purchase cheap junk like this

 

I meen its just some formed plastic and some hose clamps... How bad could it be? Still seems over priced though.

 

Lot of guys running the cheap snorkels without issues.

Lot of guys running expensive snorkels without issues.

Pick a budget and go! Sometimes both need a little fiddling. They’re all Chinese made plastic, regardless of the brand or price.

 

Anywhere from "Fine" to "FUBAR". Until a supplier is proved to have decent products its anyone's guess.

 

Hopefully OP will be our Guinea pig

 

I saw a dude (not a tacoma) the other day with a home built snorkel. It was basically 4" black PVC pipe and some 45 degree fittings. Probably zip-tied/taped to the body, too.

Where these companies save money is in the plastic. They likely use cheap plastic that probably isn't UV stable, so it will crack and fall apart on you in a year or two.

I think the $400+ ARB and others are selling these things is pretty redonk expensive, but it's kinda like Warn winches: they likely don't cost a 1/3 what they are selling them for to manufacture, but because they are a well established high quality company, they *can* sell them for that much.

The next question you should ask yourself though, is do you really "need" a snorkel? Most people don't, and just get them because all the overlander dweebs have them and they figure they're necessary. They help keep the dust down, but a stock intake will still be dry when the water is past your doors...

 

Ha. I knew this thread would bring opinions and debates. So far I’m guessing no one has tried it? If this thing can last a few years, which I’m sure it would, I could buy this 4 times over. As for value of the truck, even if you use the ARB one you are still cutting and drilling holes in your truck. So wouldn’t value still go down? The things I’m going to do to my truck and how I’m using it I’m not too worry about resale. I’ve already gone past bringing it back to stock for resale value.

I’m not for nor am I against this. Just bringing up a debate

Oh and aren’t most of those retro fitted headlights using Chinese knockoffs housings and or parts?

 

Don’t derail the bullshit train.

 

This is the internet. Don’t get offended so easily

 

I’m in agreement with you, haha.

You just can’t call out things like cheap ass imported light housings being okay but cheap ass imported snorkels are not.

TW will die.

 

Lol. My bad I thought you didn’t like the last comment.

 

Ran an eBay snorkel on my 2nd gen for years no problem, just involved more trimming to make sure it fit right.

 

son of a bitch. and I paid $400. I would have no issues running this "cheap" snorkel.

anybody want to buy a slightly used safari snorkel ?

 

Since the cheap one is $98, how about I give you $98 for the Safari?

I understand you paid $400, but that was your choice. The market doesn’t support that now with current, lower priced options.

 

There is a difference between buying cheep parts that are direct replacement - you can always go back to stock. That piece is different, you have to custom cut yoyr truck just to try it out. If you don't like it, if it is a crap or falls into pieces after two years you might have a problem finding a replacement that will be a direct fit. unless you like it and you buy 4 of them right on the spot, just to e sure to have a replacement on hand, when ebay guy runs away from that business.

 

Just doesn't seem worth it. I mean, I can see buying some knock off maxtrax, but like you say, a snorkel requires cutting and drilling into your bodywork. So you're going to cut a giant hole in the fender and install a piece of knock off chinese plastic that you're going to have to replace (presumably) every few years?

Of course, I'm of the mindset that snorkels are pretty useless for the vast majority of people anyway (most of the ones I see on rigs are clearly for the "look"), so I'm skeptical of them from the start, lol

 

So you’re a skeptic of snorkels making up stories about incredibly advanced plastic degradation due to the fact they’re imported and inexpensive.

Are you aware of how long it takes plastic to break down?

Obviously not.

But now we know you’re a hater, just here hating.