Snorkel advice

[NorthernVandal]

Continuing the fun on an overlanding build, I am looking at snorkel options. I see the two types of installs, one at the A Pillar mount, the other external at the hood to air box mount. How difficult is the install and cutting of the hood for the external mount and is it better just to have a pro shop install it? I'd be a mess worrying about making the right cut into the hood. Any recommendations on which kits you prefer is appreciated.

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[HooliganActual]

Continuing the fun on an overlanding build, I am looking at snorkel options. I see the two types of installs, one at the A Pillar mount, the other external at the hood to air box mount. How difficult is the install and cutting of the hood for the external mount and is it better just to have a pro shop install it? I'd be a mess worrying about making the right cut into the hood. Any recommendations on which kits you prefer is appreciated.

Not so much of a "recommendation", rather a pep talk.

I installed the AEV snorkel on my 2016 JKUR and it was a bit "nerve racking". I still plan on installing one on my Gladiator...there's just too many projects in front of it yet.

Here's a couple of the things to remember/keep in mind if you go the route of cutting a hole in your hood:

1. Use the template. If it comes with one or if you print it yourself, just make sure the dimensions are correct because sometimes printers/photocopiers scale up/down and that could throw things off.
2. Follow the directions. It's pretty straight forward and hard to mess up.
3. Ensure you don't hit anything under the hood when making the cut(s). When making blind cuts like this, you could accidentally hit wiring or other components if you haven't blocked things underneath.
4. And this is the one thing that made me finally say "Aw..f*ck it" and start drilling...you can always replace the hood if you screw up. Seriously. Of all the mods I've done on my current 2 JKUR's and 1 Gladiator, some of them have been things that could fry the computers, destroy the roofs, or any myriad of expensive and hard to recover from problems. Replacing the hood you screw up cutting it wrong would suck, but it's a fairly easy recovery.

That said, I personally prefer the look of the external AEV style; to my eye something just looks wrong about a stack randomly popping out of the cowl. Regardless of which way you go, ABSOLUTELY get one of the self-cleaning pre-filters instead of the ram air inlet. I am in Arizona and it is very dusty, but that venturi style pre-filter prevents almost all of that dust from getting to my actual air filter.

 

[Hwil32]

The AFE D.A.S. was stupid easy to install and only involves cutting one piece of trim under the hood. I think it looks pretty clean. It utilizes the stock air box as well. You'll need to waterproof the air box and add a drain valve, but there aren't too many holes to fill.

 

[Mayhem 6]

I've installed an AEV snorkel on my 08 JKUR, 16 JKUR, and now on the 20 JTR. It was a bit nerve racking the first one, but as long as you measure twice, prep correctly, have/buy the right bits/hole saws, and take your time, it's not too difficult. The aluminum hood on the JT makes it much easier to cut.

There are many good snorkel options out now, all with their own pros/cons. For me, I was less concerned about deep water fording and just wanted to draw cleaner air (and safe against the occasional bow wave of splashing in a water crossing)--I did want the ability to run ditch lights on the cowls and still open the hood all the way back to the windshield frame for maintenance. The AEV snorkel remains one of the few kits that I've found that allows that.

Good luck!

 

[DanW]

I would love to see a straight head on pic of a rig with the AEV snorkel. I've come close to pulling the trigger on one a couple of times but the main things holding me back are a fear of more wind noise or even a whistle, and more wind resistance to what is already a barn door, although in reality, it probably wouldn't cause much of either.

Thanks!

 

[MPMB]

The AFE D.A.S. was stupid easy to install and only involves cutting one piece of trim under the hood. I think it looks pretty clean. It utilizes the stock air box as well. You'll need to waterproof the air box and add a drain valve, but there aren't too many holes to fill.

I must hide this from my wife. Scrub it from my memory.

If I install one, this would be the one I would do. For me, though, I'm going to have to rewire all my extra electricals (lights, GMRS, etc.) because I put the wiring block for the switch pod next to the battery.

 

[Gvsukids]

You'll need to waterproof the air box and add a drain valve, but there aren't too many holes to fill.

How do you waterproof the air box, and how deep can you now go?

 

[willys 41]

Modified Rugged Ridge.
I did not like the snorkel running up the window Chanel blocking my view.
I made an adapter to sit on top of the original Rugged Ridge piece.
It doesn't block my view at all.

 

[Josh00333]

The AFE D.A.S. was stupid easy to install and only involves cutting one piece of trim under the hood. I think it looks pretty clean. It utilizes the stock air box as well. You'll need to waterproof the air box and add a drain valve, but there aren't too many holes to fill.

This is what I have also, seemed like the best non invasive snorkel out there.

Only issue I do see is snow and ice might pack in bey the wiper, but we'll see how the winter holds.

 

[Hwil32]

How do you waterproof the air box, and how deep can you now go?

The installation instructions just stated some high quality silicone.

 

[montechie]

I would love to see a straight head on pic of a rig with the AEV snorkel. I've come close to pulling the trigger on one a couple of times but the main things holding me back are a fear of more wind noise or even a whistle, and more wind resistance to what is already a barn door, although in reality, it probably wouldn't cause much of either.

Thanks!

I never got any wind noise or whistling, with the passenger window down I get a nice throaty intake sound (not the obnoxious & weird Taco snorting/wheezing on the 4th gens with the air intake).

This was my first install, YT is your friend and AEV's instructions were good. This snorkel goes straight into the airbox with the fewest bends. With the scoop I get slightly better MPG, with my pre-filter I break even on highway and am more consistent on long dirt trips since my filter doesn't transition to clogged at all. I've had it 3 years now and don't regret it at all, just wish AEV made snorkels for the F-350 too.

 

[DanW]

I never got any wind noise or whistling, with the passenger window down I get a nice throaty intake sound (not the obnoxious & weird Taco snorting/wheezing on the 4th gens with the air intake).

This was my first install, YT is your friend and AEV's instructions were good. This snorkel goes straight into the airbox with the fewest bends. With the scoop I get slightly better MPG, with my pre-filter I break even on highway and am more consistent on long dirt trips since my filter doesn't transition to clogged at all. I've had it 3 years now and don't regret it at all, just wish AEV made snorkels for the F-350 too.

Well, dang it. You put this right back at the head of the mod list.

LOL!

I would love to have it before I go to Moab in October, but lack of $$ and time means it will be ready for the next trip there.

Looks GREAT! Thank you for the pic!

 

[HooliganActual]

Well, dang it. You put this right back at the head of the mod list.

LOL!

I would love to have it before I go to Moab in October, but lack of $$ and time means it will be ready for the next trip there.

Looks GREAT! Thank you for the pic!

Like @montechie said, I don’t get any whistling or extra noise with the AEV snorkel on my Wrangler and I honestly don’t find it restricts any visibility either.

One thing to note if you go the AEV route and if you get the pre-filter, make sure that the exhaust of the pre-filter (where the Venturi discharges the contaminants that it removes) is NOT pointed towards the windshield. Make sure it is clocked away from the windshield or else you won’t be able to see anything 5 minutes into a dusty trail. Lol, ask me how I know!!

 

[NorthernVandal]

Not so much of a "recommendation", rather a pep talk.

I installed the AEV snorkel on my 2016 JKUR and it was a bit "nerve racking". I still plan on installing one on my Gladiator...there's just too many projects in front of it yet.

Here's a couple of the things to remember/keep in mind if you go the route of cutting a hole in your hood:

1. Use the template. If it comes with one or if you print it yourself, just make sure the dimensions are correct because sometimes printers/photocopiers scale up/down and that could throw things off.
2. Follow the directions. It's pretty straight forward and hard to mess up.
3. Ensure you don't hit anything under the hood when making the cut(s). When making blind cuts like this, you could accidentally hit wiring or other components if you haven't blocked things underneath.
4. And this is the one thing that made me finally say "Aw..f*ck it" and start drilling...you can always replace the hood if you screw up. Seriously. Of all the mods I've done on my current 2 JKUR's and 1 Gladiator, some of them have been things that could fry the computers, destroy the roofs, or any myriad of expensive and hard to recover from problems. Replacing the hood you screw up cutting it wrong would suck, but it's a fairly easy recovery.

That said, I personally prefer the look of the external AEV style; to my eye something just looks wrong about a stack randomly popping out of the cowl. Regardless of which way you go, ABSOLUTELY get one of the self-cleaning pre-filters instead of the ram air inlet. I am in Arizona and it is very dusty, but that venturi style pre-filter prevents almost all of that dust from getting to my actual air filter.

What intake is that? I don't see that as an option on the AEV site? I love that design. Or is that just for diesel models?

 

[HooliganActual]

What intake is that? I don't see that as an option on the AEV site? I love that design. Or is that just for diesel models?

Well...apparently, AEV no longer offers that as an option for the gas engine. When I bought the snorkel kit for my Wrangler, Jeep didn't even have a diesel in their line up. Not sure why they have done that.

Here's a link to a company that sells the one I have (that AEV use to sell as an option):
https://snorkelupgrade.com/products...PIkSXL8YobChQgkAF2CpL6Hym1ZQhTFvG8GJ1sGJ7sFbB

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