Extend Your Factory Air Intake to Help Your Engine Breathe Clean Air & Minimize Engine Water Damage With A Snorkel
This Week’s Topic: 4Runner Snorkels
Hey guys, how’s it going? Welcome back to another Feature Friday! This week, we are looking at a few snorkel options for the 5th Gen Toyota 4Runner.
Now, why do I say a few? Unlike rock sliders, where there are dozens of different brands, only a handful of companies make a 4Runner snorkel. So naturally, we have some repeats of brands for this week’s FF. That’s why we asked every owner what they liked most about their snorkel setup to get some variety when it comes to common options like the Safari Snorkel from ARB.
So, why would one even consider a snorkel upgrade for their 4Runner? Do these products increase your 4Runner’s performance and engine’s air efficiency? To answer that question in length, you can check out Jared’s article where he went into depth about everything you want to know about how a snorkel works.
8 Snorkel Setups for 4Runner
Snorkel Advantages
Snorkels allow your 4Runner to breathe clean, fresh air while you are out on the trail. From the factory, our rigs come standard with a cold air intake. Yes, you read that correctly; cold air intakes aren’t only aftermarket; it’s a standard feature.
The reason it’s called “cold air” is because your stock intake box is sucking in colder air from inside your passenger fender well rather than the warm air that is inside your engine bay. If you aren’t sure what I mean, then pop open the hood of your 4runner when you’re done reading this article. Look to the left of your OEM air box, and you will see a plastic tube that extends into your fender well.
This is more than enough for typical on-road mall crawling use to keep your engine breathing happy and healthy. So why do you need one?
Well, two reasons, dirt and water. Dirt will always make its way through your fender, and your stock airbox will suck all of those fine dirt/sand particles up into your engine. The only thing keeping those contaminants from entering your engine is your air filter. The snorkel moves your cold air source from the dirty fender well up towards your windshield. There, the air is significantly less saturated with dirt and sand particles.
Raising your 4Runner engine’s air source also allows you to traverse deeper water crossings more safely. With a snorkel, your worries of hydro-locking your engine are minimized with air not coming from low inside the fender, closer to water. In short, snorkels provide cleaner, colder air for your 4Runner. Now, let’s get into these rigs!
1. Jackie Sun(@sun_rnr) – ARB
Snorkel Details:
- ARB Safari 4×4 Engineering ARMAX Snorkel
- Price: $600
- Made from UV Stable Polyethylene (super durable)
What Do You Like About This Setup?
I’ve always been drawn to the old school Toyota Land Cruisers from Australia, many of which came with a snorkel straight from the factory. Safari 4×4 Engineering basically pioneered the snorkel. Along with their design and classic signature looks, this brand was a no-brainer choice for me.
Living here in British Columbia, Canada, we see A LOT of rainfall. We also have an abundance of lakes and rivers, some of which need to be crossed to access certain trails. That rainfall leads to rapid changes in water levels, which are sometimes unpredictable. On top of that, we see a lot of snow melting from the mountain tops during the late spring/early summer season. That melting snow can quickly turn a small creek into a raging river over the course of just one weekend. And when the summer hits, the trails tend to be quite dry and dusty, so ultimately, a snorkel was one of the first mods for me.
Not only is Safari a tried and trued brand, their warranty, fit and finish, and iconic “Australian” style look was the perfect choice for me. The snorkel follows the body lines of the 4Runner perfectly and attaches to the factory air box with no hassle whatsoever. The plastic body of the snorkel is so tough, that it’s actually supported the weight of my vehicle one time with I leaned against a stump during a very off-camber moment once.
Did I mention that it makes really cool intake noises? It kind of sounds like my 4Runner has a big ol’ turbo!
2. Trevor Mills(@fearless_4r) – TJM
Snorkel Details:
- TJM Airtec Wedge Tail Snorkel
- Price: $499
- Manufactured in Australia from UV-resistant (UV20-UV24) Material for Maximum Strength and Rigidity
- Stainless Steel Hardware
What Do You Like About This Setup?
Well for starters, it’s one of the only snorkels that will work with the ADV Fiberglass fenders, which is part of the reason why I switched from the Dobinsons snorkel. I really like the design and how sleek it is against the body of the 4Runner.
I have been running it for almost 2 years and I have 0 complaints! TheTJM Airtec Wedge Tail is great and I recommend it to anyone looking for a quality snorkel.
3. Adam Wolfe(@builtbysquirrels) – In-House Fabrication
Snorkel Details:
- In-House Fabrication
- Price: $899
- 4” Stainless Steel Tube
- Aviation Grade Fiber Reinforced Silicone Couplers
- Built-In Intake Guard
What Do You Like About This Setup?
I have ADV fiberglass fenders and had to remove my fender liners which left my intake wide open to debris. After a spirited drive down the beach, my intake had 1/4” of sand in the bottom along with a bit of seawater. That was the deciding moment, I needed a snorkel.
I love the looks of the Aussie-influenced tube snorkels and set out looking for one for the 5th Gen. Fun fact, no one stateside makes them. I found In-House Fabrication on Instagram and noticed they had an importer in Colorado. I reached out to them and after recovering from the price $899 price tag, I made a deposit to get one shipped over. The shipping time was about 5 months, but it was worth it to have one of the most unique snorkels on the market and the only one (to my knowledge) on glass fenders.
I enjoy the peace of mind it gives me when driving through dusty, wet, or sandy locations. I love the sound it makes when you hit the skinny pedal! The woosh of air, followed by an almost sinister note, screams from the passenger side. With the windows up, the sound is almost unnoticeable.
Speaking of that, from the driver’s seat, you’ll never see it. The 4” tube follows the body line perfectly. The mount is solid with two rivnuts in the A-pillar and some serious clamps and duct work hidden in the fender. I’ve had this installed for over a year now and it’s performed flawlessly. 10/10 would recommend. Lastly, you can check out my installation guide for the In-House Fabrication Snorkel here.
4. Ron Alvarez(@costco_rnr) – ARB
Snorkel Details:
- Safari Snorkel
- Price: $600
- UV Stable Polyethylene
- Stainless Steel Hardware
What Do You Like About This Setup?
I love the excellent quality of the ARB snorkel and how it looks on my rig. The main reason for purchasing a snorkel was to get the air intake higher off the ground to allow the engine to get cleaner and cooler air.
Having a diff breather with a snorkel gives me a little bit more peace of mind when river crossing. I will be upgrading to the Sy-Klone Air Pre-Cleaner to get even cleaner air in the near future.
5. James Geering(@squirrel_runner) – TJM
Snorkel Details:
- TJM Airtec Wedge Tail Snorkel
- Price: $499
- UV-Resistant (UV20-UV24) Material
- Stainless Steel Hardware
What Do You Like About This Setup?
One of the main reasons for purchasing this model was how compact it is. The snorkel takes up minimal space on the vehicle. The sleek, one-piece design following the A-pillar reduces eye attraction while driving. Along with this super sleek design, the unit has less chance of it disassembling or coming apart during use and during daily driving.
Lastly, I like how the entire kit is made up of high-quality materials and it was super easy to install with the right tools.
6. Mando Hurtado(@voodoo_trdpro4r) – Dobinsons
Snorkel Details:
- Dobinsons 4×4 Snorkel
- Price: $365
- Snorkel Upgrade Sy-Klone 9001 Air Precleaner: $205
- Rotationally Molded using Precision CNC Shaped Aluminum Dies
- Manufactured from High-Quality UV Resistant LLDPE
- OEM Wrapped Front Fender
What Do You Like About This Setup?
Currently, I’m running a Dobinson 4×4 Snorkel with the Snorkel Upgrade Sy-Klone head. As you can see by the pic, I have a black front fender. I’m constantly asked why… Here’s the back story. Simply put, I have commitment issues with vehicles, I tend to not keep them very long.
Originally I ordered a carbon fiber fender to pay homage to my JDM days. This was the beginning of COVID related business. The fender was back-ordered and ultimately it just never came. So I bought a replacement OEM fender and had it wrapped in a material that would hold up to our AZ desert pinstripes while having the original fender tucked away without a hole in it. You know, for resale value 😉
Prior to installing a snorkel, I noticed how much debris would be in the airbox after our trail runs. Sand & small rocks for the most part. That’s when I knew I needed/wanted a snorkel. I needed to increase the air intake height to allow for safer water crossings and reduce the dust intake. Plus it looks rad!
7. Jonathan Aviles(@dirt_toy4r) – ARB
Snorkel Details:
- Safari Snorkel Armax
- Price: $602
- UV Stable Polyethylene
- Stainless Steel Hardware
What Do You Like About This Setup?
I love the high-quality material that this snorkel was constructed with. The Safari Snorkel Armax has been super solid thus far and I’ve had no complaints with it. The installation is as described, pretty easy and to the point.
But, the best part is the rubber hose they provide you with to join the air filter to the snorkel to keep all of the water out of your system.
8. Aaron Greenfield(@yoda.runner) – Dobinsons
Snorkel Details:
- Dobinsons 4×4 Snorkel
- Price: $365
- Snorkel Upgrade Sy-Klone 9001 Air Precleaner: $205
- Rotationally Molded using Precision CNC Shaped Aluminum Dies
- Manufactured from High-Quality UV Resistant LLDPE
What Do You Like About This Setup?
I like how I saved some money with the Dobinsons snorkel over some of the other brands. This setup was a fraction of the cost of the Safari alternative I also had my eye on. At the end of the day, they seemed to have the same design, and construction, so I ultimately went with the more affordable option.
The Dobinsons snorkel is extremely durable and the Snorkel Upgrade Sy-Klone 9001 Air Precleaner addition just sets it to the top of the charts.
Final Thoughts
For such a small variety of 4Runner snorkels currently on the market, I actually feel like I got a good bit of information on these snorkels from their owners. That’s one of the things I love most about FF. We can have repeat brands, but ultimately, it’s the owners’ experience and thoughts about that product that make it unique.
If you would like to be considered for next week’s Feature Friday, we will be showcasingROOF RACK LIGHTING OPTIONS.
We want readers to get inspired by a variety of rigs/products. Submit your build for Feature Friday here to get featured. If you would like to submit your build for next week, include your setup details and an awesome photo that shows it off.
Have a great weekend everyone!
