Q - to snorkel or not?

I agree with Redback and the others, you only need the snorkel once!
I don't intentionally drive into deep water, but occasionally things don't go according to plan and the water is over the bonnet. I use the tops of the flares or the headlights, door handles as my comfortable depth. ( about 950 mm), but have accidentally been as deep as over the bonnet (1050)

If the snorkel is not water proof/ dust proof it's not a very useful accessory.

I view them as insurance just in case you make a mistake one day, that's aside from the cleaner cooler air aspect.

cheers simmo

A recent experience.
I was driving home a few weeks ago, came to a creek with the dip stick/sign thing saying it was at 800.
It was not fast flowing so I did the old stone at the water mark trick & after an hour found the creek was dropping, so I decided to give it a couple of more hours to see if it got below 700 & crossable.
About an hour after that a L/C came from the other way (with a snorkel) & just drove straight through.
Well, apparently the dip stick/sign was lying, the creek was about 600 max, so I crossed straight after no problem, but
If I had a sealed snorkel I could have driven straight through when I first got there, not have wasted over 2 hours & driven home in 11.5 hours instead of the 13.25 it finally took because I was sitting around waiting for the water to go down & wrestling flies.
So now, as ugly as they are, I'm thinking about a snorkel.
Jonesfam
PS The D3 is the first car for many years that I have not had a snorkel on.

And another thing!
How come the wading depth of a D3 is 600 at On Road height, if you put it in Off Road height the car raises 5.5cm but the wading depth is now 700?
Long time since I went to school but the maths just don't work for me.
Jonesfam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jonesfam

A recent experience.
I was driving home a few weeks ago, came to a creek with the dip stick/sign thing saying it was at 800.
It was not fast flowing so I did the old stone at the water mark trick & after an hour found the creek was dropping, so I decided to give it a couple of more hours to see if it got below 700 & crossable.
About an hour after that a L/C came from the other way (with a snorkel) & just drove straight through.
Well, apparently the dip stick/sign was lying, the creek was about 600 max, so I crossed straight after no problem, but
If I had a sealed snorkel I could have driven straight through when I first got there, not have wasted over 2 hours & driven home in 11.5 hours instead of the 13.25 it finally took because I was sitting around waiting for the water to go down & wrestling flies.
So now, as ugly as they are, I'm thinking about a snorkel.
Jonesfam
PS The D3 is the first car for many years that I have not had a snorkel on.

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Same here. The D4 is the first 4WD I've had for many years without a snorkel. I'm a strong believer in having them, and if we ever move to an area where water crossings are likely or driving more regularly in dusty conditions is a possibility, I'll fit one. If they weren't so bloody ugly (at least in my opinion anyway), I'd already have one on. At the moment though, I haven't the need to overcome my aversion to the look of one, especially on a white D4.:D

Maybe if I traded in the white D4 on a black one, I'd be less averse to the looks of a snorkel on it. :p

Apologies if this high jacks the thread, but what terrain option or settings do you choose for river crossings?

That would depend on the river or creek bed surface type. For example, sandy use sand mode or potholed use rutted mode. Another reason to walk the crossing if unfamiliar to you.

Had a safari on both D3 and D4 and if you use the car off-road on a regular basis an absolute in my opinion. I use an oiled K & N filer on the intake and have found it to cut back a huge amount on dust getting to factory filter. Water crossings are no problem from an intake point if view ( not insurance against poor judgement) but why have a weak point in the lower factory air intake when they have raised diff breathers? For me it's my hobby and relaxation so go the ugly snorkell, black GOE rims and every other accessory I can bolt on that's going to make my past time safer and e'sier as well as having a great looking rig!

Can anyone tell me how water tight is the air box? sealing the snorkel at the body is one thing but can water get in if the air box is under water??:confused: