SNORKEL WHY *NOT* AND THE ALTERNATIVE

This will be about why I chose to NOT install a snorkel for my 2019 TRD OFF ROAD access cab with camper and how I modified my truck as an alternative.

See here how to install a cowl induction intake just line mine, but in a 2nd Gen Tacoma.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cowl-induction-snorkel.525314/

I asked several Toyota engineers at Overland Expo a few weeks ago if a snorkel was a good benefit and they said "No".

They told me the 2020 TRD Pro will come standard with a snorkel, AND that they considered it an unnecessary add-on, a nod to fashion. The general public wants to look like they overland and a snorkel is one of the best ways to pose and look as if they go offroad.

I don't have a snorkel on my 1986 Toyota Land Cruiser and never felt I needed one.

A snorkel is not bad, in fact it does have benefits, but many feel it is a necessity and therefore an accepted "good idea" and I don't agree with that.

I am told snorkels snag on passing branches and can be a pain.
And
I don't like the stock air intake location being so close to the front right tire where all kinds of dust is generated and swirled around by the spinning tire and the vehicle's motion.

This is my alternative to a snorkel in my truck. If my truck gets water up this high, I will have all kinds of much worse problems, like my truck floating away!

The rubber boot is: "3 in. Flexboot with two T-bolt clamps by PROFAB". It is attached to the firewall and the air cleaner box to two custom made aluminum parts, one of which can be seen bolted to a hole put in the firewall. They are different dimensionally but are the same concept overall.

I also drilled two additional 3 inch holes inside the cowling at each end of this area, where the wiper motor resides, covering these two holes as well as the a/c-heat intake opening, with 1/4 inch stainless scream to keep rodents out. This was necessary to allow more air to enter the cowl area since that area now needs to supply intake air for the a/c and heat, just as is stock, but also with this modification, to allow for sufficient air for engine breathing.
.

This picture is taken from in front of the radiator looking toward the windshield, the black plastic cowl covering is in place.

The stock air intake hole in the fender was then blocked off.

There is a socket in the airbox in the picture, don't be confused by it being there.

 

Well that's unique
So what happens during a heavy rain? Will water run down the tube ?

 

STILL NOT A PRO!

hahahahaha. Seriously.

Also TOYOTA calls it a “Desert Air Intake” for a reason. It’s not designed for water. Like yours it minimizes dust into the Airbox.

 

Won't you hear a fuck ton of induction noise through your cabin fan? This would be stupid loud.

There's kits for jeeps so its not unique but I would never do this.

Why do you call your truck a Pro?

 

The 2020 TRD Pro doesn’t come standard with a snorkel. It’s still a $725 option. Also, this seems noisy and a good way to suck up water from a good rain storm or the car wash. But to each their own.

 

I don’t get why you need any snorkel if you don’t intend on doing any water crossing. The “desert air intake,” sure, I can see their marketing point. I drive in a lot of dust...stop and idle, then go.
Might be better for the engine in the long run, maybe.

But in terms of water crossing, if you have relocated your breathers i don’t see the point.

 

Yea, my truck is an OFF ROAD, thanks for catching that, again

And any water that may enter this area is channeled off and out due to the extra holes I drilled on each end of the cowl area.

 

Intake noise: After this mod no intake noise was noticed, however the exhaust system was also modified and may be a wee bit noisier. Overall no noise problem at all.

 

************
I did not say I did not intend on any water crossing.

 

A deep water crossing where the water washes up the hood will still be a problem. Comes down to how bad a crossing you're trying to address. Knew a guy (different truck) that had a cowl intake and successfully locked his engine up with such a crossing. On his rebuild he changed to a snorkel.

 

This seems like maybe not the greatest idea.

 

The 2nd gen guys did a similar thing but they made sure to keep the intake elevated off the floor of the cowl area base so if in event of rain, threat of water ingress is low.

hopefully same was done here. Otherwise you risk converting a dry intake to a wet one that likely poses more potential issues in heavy rain than the problems avoided with a water crossing.

 

Bought the Volant Drytech Closed Box Air Intake System with RAM air system and blocked off the inlet from the inner fender so that all the air is supplied from the top of the grill. This way I know I can off road without mud/water going into the inlet and perform water crossings as long as the water stays under the grill.

 

Just route the exhaust straight into the intake and complete the ultimate water tight system.

 

Cowl intakes are fine. Yours isn't designed very well.

 

Water does not get into this intake because the water is guttered out. Same way the water doesn't run into the HVAC inlet.

This mod is identical to the mod the 2nd Gen guys did, see my first post, it has a history of working fine, that's why I did it.

The "your's isn't designed very well" comment is based on nothing at all.

 

Here again is the link to the 2nd Gen mod which does the same thing as my 3rd Gen cowl intake modification. This 2nd Gen Tacoma has been driven offroad many places, over 140,00 miles are on it, through all kinds of dirt roads, water crossings, etc.
It works or I would not do it to my truck.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cowl-induction-snorkel.525314/

You may not choose it, but it is a good option.

 

PCTaco said:
Cowl intakes are fine. Yours isn't designed very well.
**********************
This cowl modification was jointly designed and built by a mechanical and civil engineer so we think it is pretty good.
And it is proven.

But we are open to better suggestions, so please provide your better design and "more better" ideas as we are open to making this mod better.

 

You magnificent bastard.

 

That's coming in 2025 in California 100% EGR.