2019 TRD Pro with...Forkel ? (fake-ish snorkel)

according to this, the snorkel will have water drain holes, so really cannot be used to ford deep water w/modifications. so is it limited to be used in dirt 'above the dust' ?


https://www.motortrend.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2019/2019-toyota-tacoma-trd-pro-first-drive-review/


FANCY SNORKEL Anybody can Sawzall a hole in the fender and bolt a snorkel to the A-pillar, but the TRD Pro snorkel is designed in. Its fender hole is stamped in the raw steel at the factory, and hence gets the full anti-corrosion paint treatment. It also attaches to a built-in roof-rack fastening point on the roof, so no new holes are created up there. The head can be swiveled backwards to prevent ingesting snow in blizzard driving, and the head is tethered to remain with the truck should a bird or debris knock it loose.

Please don't rely on this snorkel for fording 6-foot deep water, though, as there are water drain holes down low that will admit engine-killing external water.

 

What part is fake about it? It's a snorkel. It's not intended for using with a submerged vehicle but it's still a snorkel.

Article headline includes "Shocking development". Just more clickbait.

edit below:
Decided I better look at some definitions of snorkel. They included underwater as part of the definition.

Desert air intake it is and I think that is how Toyota only refers to it as.

 

Which is why Toyota didn't market it as a snorkel. It's a "Desert Air Intake."

 

By definition not a snorkel.

 

Water ingestion isn't the only thing that'll kill your truck if you try to recreate the Oregon Trail and ford a river. The "snorkel" is for dust prevention and nothing else.

 

That's cool how they stamp the fender hole. All snorkable pros should come with that fender design. If you didn't opt for the snorkel a TRD plastic fender plug should fill the hole.

 

Not to mention all of the important electrical stuff and ECU in modern computerized vehicles. Snorkels on modern trucks are largely only for pulling cleaner air and being able to free up space in your wheel well by completely removing the fender liner. Actually gains in water fording ability will be minimal.

 

ive heard that most of the dealers in the northeast are having issues selling the new pro with the snorkel. anyone else hear that?

 

I dont think the tacoma is made to cross water deeper than the bottom of the door sills anyhow... there are wires, plugs, fuse boxes, airbag modules all pretty low in the interior.
If you crossing water that goes past the factory intake, then your probably flooding the inside of the truck too.

 

theres a white one at my dealer, been there for months, so yes

 

We have a blue one here in NC and it has been there for a minute. Why would you need a desert air intake on the east coast, we need snorkels no desert air around here.

 

Does anyone know if this can be removed on a 2019 TRD Pro?

 

The water drain holes are located just below the roof. Yes tou can remove the snorkel but you either have to cover the hole or get a new fender.