Dobinsons 3rd Gen Tacoma Snorkel

Truck is home and im at work... Its about a 3/8" gap between A-pillar and A-pillar mounting bracket bolted to the snorkel. I stuffed camper foam tape between the two surfaces... Need to go with a 3M product... I was running it bare at first, but the snorkel would vibrate a bit in high winds... nothing crazy, but noticeable.

 

Thanks brother, I would love to check out some pics when you have a chance.

 

As you can see, the mounting tab sits canted, and doesn’t plane properly with the c-pillar.... the angle sits a dog hair over 1/4” away from the c-pillar when bolted up... the snorkel itself is about 5/8” -3/4” away from the c-pillar depending an where you measure... you really can’t tell there’s a gap from inside the truck or outside unless you see it from the bottom, looking up, or cheek on the windshield to look in there.... Gorilla 30lb tape stacked up to make up for the 1/4” surface gap took care of the vibes...

To be fair, I could care less what it looks like... I’ve had water over the hood for brief instances and I never want that *gulp* worry again...

There are people on this very thread that have asked if they could just 3M the snorkel on because they want the “look”... to each their own...

Hope this helps, man

 

Thanks bro! Exactly what I was looking for, mine looks exactly the same, the template left a lot to be disired for when I installed, so glad to see I didn't go too far off the a pillar. FYI bro, your truck looks sick! Thanks again for providing input I needed.

 

@Big_Country68 described the template best

Thanks, man!

 

Got mine installed today. Didn’t take long.

my template was like 90% correct, I ended up drilling the holes to 7/16” and it fixed the alignment problem.

I didn’t drill into my a-pillar, instead used 3M VHT double sided tape. I also had to bend the bracket slightly to get it flush with the pillar.

 

Anyone else run these rubber trim for the snorkel. I think it came out well, mainly for off roading and felt those gaps would have issues with dirt and rocks getting in there.

 

looks nice, where did you pick that rubber trim up at?

 

Trim-Lok Rubber Tubing Seal – .276” Outside Diameter, .206” Inside Diameter, 25’ Length – Closed Cell EPDM Foam Tubing – Ideal Door and Window Weather Seal for Cars, Trucks, RVs, Boats, and the Home

$30 Trim-Lok Hollow Tubing, Auto Fender Gap Seal, Bicycle Cable and Brake Hose Cover, Steel Wire Protector and Conduit, Home Duct O-Ring Replacement - .276” Outside Dia, 206” Inside Dia, 25’ Length

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NL4DI2E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_87OKEb3727Y08

Here you go

 

How well did the snorkel fit before you all placed the hardware in? Like does it sit flush with the body or is there a certain amount of forcing required to get it to fit flush with the fender?

 

Well to be honest when I mocked it up it fit nicely and flush, when I installed it wasn't as flush as I would of liked, it wasn't bad but not how I would of liked. I had the original template that screwed me up. I recently took it off and redid it to the best of my ability to make it more contour the fender. It came out much better but had to make holes bigger. Overall I am still pleased with the outcome but the template really screwed me. But paid 250 o special so still worth the headache.

 

mine had some space between the snorkel and fender during mockup/test fitting, but once you tighten the inner nuts everything should snug up and I have zero gaps.

 

mine fit fine the template lined up as long as you follow the instructions.

 

I’m not so sure about mine. The whole snorkel is rounded and can pivot from how out of shape it seems. It’s made out of pretty hard plastic so I can’t see it flexing the amount it would need to. When I hold it up to the truck and make it sit where it should with the a pillar the front of the snorkel is about 1.5-2” away from the fender. If I make the front of the snorkel fit where it should there’s no chance I could even start the nut on the bolt towards the rear of the fender

 

Here’s some pics of it

 

looks a little warped. I'd do two things 1st contact the seller and see if they'd replace it. or 2 get out a heat gun and heat the high spot on the back then push it in with a wet rag try to get it flatter and try to get it to fit better .

 

I contacted the seller, hopefully have an idea of what they will do Monday. Inner fender out, big hole on the side of the truck. Feels like I can look straight into the intake. I’m not really game to get a heat gun out and attempt to fix it all. Afraid I’ll run into more problems fitting the sleeve for the air box that way. Didn’t post this to scare people away from the snorkel or Dobinsons. Curiosity got the best of me to see how it went for other Tacoma installers.

 

Yeah I understand. When I did mine it was hard to make that first cut. Yeah the inner connection is pretty tough to hook up even when it fit flush, but I had not taken my inner liner all the way out . Good luck hopefully it’ll all work out

 

Looks great! I hate when I see pictures that make me think I need to do something to my truck.

 

Freak incident the other day...

I was driving on the freeway and a full size garbage bag flew up from the front of the car i was behind... The bag dove sharply after clearing the front car and as I approached it (i though the bag would pass beneath me) the bag shot up, over, the hood and wrapped around the snorkel... Felt the truck stutter for a split second... I coasted off the freeway, had to rip the bag, the suction was SO strong... as the negative pressure was relieved, I heard a loud pop under the hood.... Got back on the road, checked the rubber connector between the snorkel and the airbox... it was okay and still on there tight... Im thinking the negative pressure was strong enough to suck that thing flat...

Anyway.... the chances of this happening to ya are low but never zero