I've always liked the look of the Mantec snorkle, and have lusted for one for quite some time. However, I thought that $350 was a bit steep. Most of my wheeling is in the Pine Barrens of NJ, and there is a lot of water there. Everytime I go through a deep crossing and see the water wash over the hood, I'd think about the snorkel that I didn't have.
So finally, I got around to it and built one.
I got some thin walled 3 inch tubing, wire reinforced flexible PVC hose, and hose clamps from Mc Master Carr.
The tube just has a bend on one side, the top...$5 at Midas. I knew there was no way I could make the complex bend that would be required at the fender end, so I opted to have the flex hose come throu the fender and clamp onto the tube like the Defender snorkels.
I bent a 3/4 x 1/8 strap to make the bracket to bolt it under the gutter, and welded 2 strips of 3/4 x 1/8 to make the bracket to bolt it to the A pillar (I used rivnuts on the pillar)
The scoop is made out of 18 or 20 gauge steel, I cut it with a sawzall, welded it and ground the welds. I cut the round hole into the bottom of the scoop with a dremel....my hand still vibrated the next day & I broke 5 or 6 blades.
I cut a small section of tubing for the scoop, then welded a piece of 20 gauge around the bottom of the scoop tube to make a flange so that the scoop could fit over the main tube.
I had some 1/4 inch hardware cloth laying around the garage, and I used that to make a screen for the scoop.
I'm thrilled with the results. I know its not perfect, I could have spent a bit more time grinding down the welds on the scoop, but time is a precious commodity with me, and doesn't bother me enough to do it over.
Now, there are a couple of deep holes at the Barrens that Ive avoided that are just waiting for me.
So finally, I got around to it and built one.
I got some thin walled 3 inch tubing, wire reinforced flexible PVC hose, and hose clamps from Mc Master Carr.
The tube just has a bend on one side, the top...$5 at Midas. I knew there was no way I could make the complex bend that would be required at the fender end, so I opted to have the flex hose come throu the fender and clamp onto the tube like the Defender snorkels.
I bent a 3/4 x 1/8 strap to make the bracket to bolt it under the gutter, and welded 2 strips of 3/4 x 1/8 to make the bracket to bolt it to the A pillar (I used rivnuts on the pillar)
The scoop is made out of 18 or 20 gauge steel, I cut it with a sawzall, welded it and ground the welds. I cut the round hole into the bottom of the scoop with a dremel....my hand still vibrated the next day & I broke 5 or 6 blades.
I cut a small section of tubing for the scoop, then welded a piece of 20 gauge around the bottom of the scoop tube to make a flange so that the scoop could fit over the main tube.
I had some 1/4 inch hardware cloth laying around the garage, and I used that to make a screen for the scoop.
I'm thrilled with the results. I know its not perfect, I could have spent a bit more time grinding down the welds on the scoop, but time is a precious commodity with me, and doesn't bother me enough to do it over.
Now, there are a couple of deep holes at the Barrens that Ive avoided that are just waiting for me.
