Safari vs Airflow Snorkels

Keep in mine the Safari snorkel was largely created for dust, not water. Moving the intake higher for water crossings is just an added benefit but the creators wanted a higher intake so heavier dust particles weren't clogging the air filter.

 

Totally understand that one. So here is a real question that I have though. Since it was created mainly for heavier dust particles and people experience the need for more air filter cleanings, why do it? Or is it that by heavier dust particles means the dirt stays lower than the snorkel hood?

And final question is how much higher is the Airflow snorkel? Is it taller than the factory antenna?

 

Doesn't look like it. In these pics you can see the antenna easily outreaches the snorkel. And its a good thing otherwise you'd tear it off in the first week

 

I would rip it off the first day I went to work. My parking garage scrapes the top of the factory antenna so that is my maximum height.

 

I said F it and ordered an Airflow this morning. Supposed to ship out early next week.

 

Let us know how it goes. I am starting to come to the same conclusion.

 

I was checking out Expedition Portal. They have a few alternatives to the Donaldson. One was as simple as the foot of a legging and taped on and the other was a phone filter that goes on the front of the hood.

Do you think that would work for the heavy snow? They seemed to say it would help with dust.

 

NYCO, can you take some pictures inside of the engine bay?
I know you got an 06 so I'm presuming you'd have the hydraulic ABS like I do. I'm curious to see how far the Airflow clears it by.

 

check out page 16-18 in the read online version of Tacoma Magazine's March 2013 issue

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A24...resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=tacomamag.com

i could take more pics if needed though..

 

Nice! I am thinking airflow is the way to go here. Once I get all the breathers and dielectric grease done, it's the next thing on the list.

 

I am a bit late into this conversation and NYCO has covered pretty much all of it. I will say that I never had issues in heavy snow storms to date with the Safari. Install was pain in the ass on mine. After I figured out mine the next 2 I did for others fit perfectly through the opening in the inner fender with no cutting. Dust on the filter is more then stock for sure but I knew that going in.

Seeing NYCO's install first hand, it was much easier. You still have to get over that fear of using a huge hole saw on your fender. The diameter on the Airflow is nice however I wonder if that might have something to do with the snow and dust collection. Just speculating, no data to back that. We tried to compare Airflow after his install but his Scan guage and my Eco Route measure Air Flow in 2 different ways so we could not see if it was comparable.

There are other aspects of the install on both trucks that are different and would make it difficult to compare. I have run aftermarket tubing inside the truck to the filter. NYCO is able to modify the stock tubing a bit and run it. I am not certain if Airflow fixed it so you do not have to modify the stock tubing or not.

Overall I see the benefit from just having a snorkel. Better MPG's, a little piece of mind, and more air then stock for sure.

 

Good info, thanks. I always over plan and speculate on everything, so I am just gathering as much information as I can for now.

Personal experiences are always better than company information and manuals.

 

I was thinking of eventually getting a snorkel, either Safari or Airflow, and I was wondering if they are paintable. I thought it may look good painted to match my silver '06 Tacoma.

 

Forgot that I never posted my experience with installing so here is a copy and paste from my build thread:


Finished my snorkel install so I thought I would post a few pictures. Here are a couple threads I read prior to the install and used as reference.

The first is Bob's write up on tacomamag.com

And the second is Jamie's when he did his

Aligning the template to the truck. This part was the most tedious due to it not aligning perfectly and since you're going to be following it the rest of the time, if you F it up you might be screwed.




Here is with the intake out. About to cut off the 'scoop' at the end. Intentional liquid courage placement in the pic.



And just like that, its gone.



Next I taped up where I was going to drill and went to work.





These two shots show where I cut the fender pillar to allow for the plumbing to fit.





After I put some paint on the drill areas, I finished the large hole with some door trim. Stole the idea from Spoonman.



After that I did all the plumbing and tightened it all up. You have to do some crazy contourtioning to get the top washer and nut up under the fender. It took me like 15 minutes just to get it threaded. Finally got it all put together.





Last thing I'm waiting on is a black oxidized hose clamp for the top instead of the plain metal one that is shipped with it. Once I get it, I'm going to cut the hat down a bit so its sits a tad bit lower.

I'm pretty stoked on the addition. The air intake is now safe, up and out of the way and the truck seems to be happier when I push on the gas.

 

like the way Airflow looks, like that its small on the fender and beefy all the way up.

 

Good god I want one!
Thanks for the post with the pics. Repped.

 

Umm, hate to necromance a thread but do you thin that an airflow snorkel with the pre cleaner left on year round would cause any problems? i like the idea of a snorkel for dust and water, but I where i live it rains a LOT and snows a good bit, so im worried that without some sort of shield or precleaner the rain will accumulate inside the hood while the truck is parked, same with the snow.

 

Strictly my opinion here but a pre-cleaner is just a filter doing almost all the work of your air filter. So why have 2 filters on the truck that reduce air flow so it is practically a stock intake?

For the rain and snow part, i have never had an issue with my Safari Snorkel. I am being to wonder if the larger opening of the Airflow Design is just big enough to allow for the moisture to get in and build up. One solution could be to run a pre-filter style hood with no filter in it. I don't know if anyone has tried that before. I should let more air in and still keep things dry. But you do loose the ram air effect.

 

Okay, the ram air is not what i am looking for,the main idea was to just relocate it. I just wasnt sure as i figured it might work seeing as the military HMMWV runs around with them all the time.

 

Update: i looked at Donaldson's website, the company for the prefilters. they have one that has been taken to 70 MPH with no probs and its a bowl-less design, so i shouldn't lose any airflow.