Safari Snorkel confirms snorkel for 4th-gen coming

[davidaw]

Think that's about where I was going to go originally, but decided I didn't want to trim the fender. Should be fairly close to dead on with the inside hole. I also haven't actually mounted it to the pillar yet. Some double sided sticky and it doesn't move too much.

Can you tell if the provided mount hardware lines up to the a-pillar OK?


I'm thinking about buying a 2nd one and cutting the tube off that goes through the fender. Use it as a template.
Then use it to line everything up flush since it can then lay flat.
At 67$ delivered its not too crazy

 

[cpark_12]

I hope its your finger.

Thanks, did you actually cut any of that flare so it sits flush?
I have an 08 and i think the flare is higher/rounder.

Yea...About 1/4" off the top of the cladding

 

[Drunner97]

Can you tell if the provided mount hardware lines up to the a-pillar OK?


I'm thinking about buying a 2nd one and cutting the tube off that goes through the fender. Use it as a template.
Then use it to line everything up flush since it can then lay flat.
At 67$ delivered its not too crazy

Should line up okay, I only really looked at it once. They ship it with rivits, but I'll probably use screws when I get around to doing it.

One thing I did before drilling the stud holes, was drill the big hole out, attach the template to the snorkel, put everything where I wanted, then taped the template down before pulling the snorkel away. That will put the holes just about exactly where you want them before drilling the rest.

 

[davidaw]

Should line up okay, I only really looked at it once. They ship it with rivits, but I'll probably use screws when I get around to doing it.

One thing I did before drilling the stud holes, was drill the big hole out, attach the template to the snorkel, put everything where I wanted, then taped the template down before pulling the snorkel away. That will put the holes just about exactly where you want them before drilling the rest.

Yeah I'm not digging the rivets either.

 

[subspd]

I tried and the one I ordered wouldn't work the fender tube was just too wide to get it to clear the fender flare it would come up to tight to the hood. It also then placed the holes too high on the fender to have enough space to insert the studs.

 

[cpark_12]

Yeah I'm not digging the rivets either.

The rivets work out fine! I'm pretty sure you have to use rivets in that spot anyway because of the metal-space-metal that's on the pillar.

 

[Drunner97]

I tried and the one I ordered wouldn't work the fender tube was just too wide to get it to clear the fender flare it would come up to tight to the hood. It also then placed the holes too high on the fender to have enough space to insert the studs.

It takes a little moving around to get it right. I started with the top studs, then got a nut on the bottom stud and that pulled it in enough to get the rest of them. The only one I couldn't get was the very front stud. Once it's "pulled" into place with the nuts on the studs is really when you see that the big hole may or may not have lined up right.

I realize I never really posted these pics and I'll still do a writeup on it at some point. I need to pull it off to fix the front stud and silicone all my holes up still, so I'll probably take more pics while it's off.

 

[davidaw]

Hopefully this info will help others that are considering the Ebay/Amazon FJ80 Snorkel

I've been experimenting with my LC80 snorkel. I could not get a good feeling of how it was going to come out without being able to lay it flat on the fender.
My hats off to [MENTION=123332]Drunner97[/MENTION] and [MENTION=112248]cpark_12[/MENTION] for taking the plunge but I wanted to see how it would fit before ripping into sheet metal.

So I figured I would make a $67 template out of my snorkel.
I cut the tube off that goes through the fender. Tried to be as clean as possible in case I can re-attach with JB Weld.

Now I am able to try different positions and see how it will line up.

1st-It will NOT go over the Flare.

I dont want to cut my flares, they cost more than the fender. And you cant go on top, it leaves a big gap. So in this pic it is sitting on top of the flare.

On Pre-06 models I think the flare is a bit lower.


That puts the top of the snorkel right at or above the lip of the fender. It looks like it will pull down when the studs are tightened.
It does not appear to interfere with the hood.

I have heated and adjusted the vertical part to pull it to the left. With the horizontal part so high, it rotates towards the windshield. I have been able to get it to adjust somewhat.

The part that may be the deal breaker is how it looks on the A-Pillar.

For 1 it is leaning. I have used the heat gun and adjusted the top 5 inches left but it still is not level. As seen above.

2nd, since the angle of the vertical piece does not match the A-Pillar, it increases the blind spot looking out the passenger side.

Compare to my FJ60 snorkel, made for the vehicle.

I don't think you can heat/adjust it enough to line up cleanly.

The bracket supplied does look like it will line up and mount.

I'm beginning to think I may hold of for another option. There is a thread on the Hilux 167 snorkel. It is thinner, which would help the Flare Issue, but appears to go through the fender early and then connects with an S tube.


@"absolute yota" has a post
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/158048-4th-gen-snorkel.html

Still seems to have the issue with A-Pillar angle. But the top looks nice and level.
They seem to be popular on the 3rd Gens.

 

[Drunner97]

Hopefully this info will help others that are considering the Ebay/Amazon FJ80 Snorkel

I've been experimenting with my LC80 snorkel. I could not get a good feeling of how it was going to come out without being able to lay it flat on the fender.
My hats off to [MENTION=123332]Drunner97[/MENTION] and [MENTION=112248]cpark_12[/MENTION] for taking the plunge but I wanted to see how it would fit before ripping into sheet metal.

So I figured I would make a $67 template out of my snorkel.
I cut the tube off that goes through the fender. Tried to be as clean as possible in case I can re-attach with JB Weld.

Now I am able to try different positions and see how it will line up.

1st-It will NOT go over the Flare.

I dont want to cut my flares, they cost more than the fender. And you cant go on top, it leaves a big gap. So in this pic it is sitting on top of the flare.

On Pre-06 models I think the flare is a bit lower.


That puts the top of the snorkel right at or above the lip of the fender. It looks like it will pull down when the studs are tightened.
It does not appear to interfere with the hood.

I have heated and adjusted the vertical part to pull it to the left. With the horizontal part so high, it rotates towards the windshield. I have been able to get it to adjust somewhat.

The part that may be the deal breaker is how it looks on the A-Pillar.

For 1 it is leaning. I have used the heat gun and adjusted the top 5 inches left but it still is not level. As seen above.

2nd, since the angle of the vertical piece does not match the A-Pillar, it increases the blind spot looking out the passenger side.

Compare to my FJ60 snorkel, made for the vehicle.

I don't think you can heat/adjust it enough to line up cleanly.

The bracket supplied does look like it will line up and mount.

I'm beginning to think I may hold of for another option. There is a thread on the Hilux 167 snorkel. It is thinner, which would help the Flare Issue, but appears to go through the fender early and then connects with an S tube.


@"absolute yota" has a post
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/158048-4th-gen-snorkel.html

Still seems to have the issue with A-Pillar angle. But the top looks nice and level.
They seem to be popular on the 3rd Gens.

Looking at your pictures on a computer, I think you have it too far forward.
I'll have to look at lunch, but I want to say mine is closer to the mirror than yours is, and there's almost virtually no blind spot. The only time I have a problem is pulling up to the freeway ramps and the stop light is on the right. Also, if you don't want to trim the fender flare, you have to cut the fender on the inside. Which I honestly think is easier.

Unfortunately, and as you mentioned, this is no a vehicle specific snorkel. It's just one that happens to work. You have to take the good and the bad if you want to use it, but it's never going to be perfect no matter how hard you try.

 

[davidaw]

Looking at your pictures on a computer, I think you have it too far forward.
I'll have to look at lunch, but I want to say mine is closer to the mirror than yours is, and there's almost virtually no blind spot. The only time I have a problem is pulling up to the freeway ramps and the stop light is on the right. Also, if you don't want to trim the fender flare, you have to cut the fender on the inside. Which I honestly think is easier.

Unfortunately, and as you mentioned, this is no a vehicle specific snorkel. It's just one that happens to work. You have to take the good and the bad if you want to use it, but it's never going to be perfect no matter how hard you try.

Could be. I have a mark on the fender for the middle of the air intake hole and a mark on the snorkel for the hole center.
It does move around a bit. Just taped up.
Also if I squeeze it to the fender it the geometry changes a bit.

I'm still trying to decide whether to go with it.
Wanted to throw up some pics to help anyone if they had same questions as I did.

Thanks

 

[subspd]

Could be. I have a mark on the fender for the middle of the air intake hole and a mark on the snorkel for the hole center.

It does move around a bit. Just taped up.

Also if I squeeze it to the fender it the geometry changes a bit.



I'm still trying to decide whether to go with it.

Wanted to throw up some pics to help anyone if they had same questions as I did.



Thanks

I had the exact same issues with the flare and decided to not go forward with it. I'm going to wait for the legit version I guess...

 

[davidaw]

I had the exact same issues with the flare and decided to not go forward with it. I'm going to wait for the legit version I guess...

I saw your post above. I see what you meant about not being able to get that top stud in of you are that high on the fender.

Also, my timing sucks. I bet as soon as I cut the fender, the Safari version will ship. Wont be $67 though.
Pretty sure there wont be any Gen 4 knock-offs for a few years after.

 

[davidaw]

Made some progress on the Amazon Snorkel,
I ratchet strapped it to the bumper on my truck and heated it for a long time, constantly pulling it up and away.
Trying to make the angle greater and pull it away from the windshield at the same time.

It actually seems to have worked, at least somewhat.


Before [leaning right, not level]

After [no so much lean]

It has a nice clean line up the A-Pillar and is almost level at the top.

The A-pillar from inside looks a little better too. Not sure how much I was able to increase the angle. At least a bit.

Before

After

May work on the angle a bit more tomorrow.

 

[chmura]

Any update on the safari snorkel release for the 4th gen??

 

[t-man]

Ya, they aren't doing it this year. This company is apparently worthless.

 

[chmura]

Ya, they aren't doing it this year. This company is apparently worthless.

Wow. Are you serious? That is completely ridiculous! Starting to dislike safari myself now.

 

[t-man]

Wow. Are you serious? That is completely ridiculous! Starting to dislike safari myself now.

They have taken over 18 months already and don't even have a prototype. They obviously don't care. They just made one for the 5th Gen because they figure it is a popular vehicle choice over the 4th. Tells me they don't care and maybe they will make one, someday, if they feel like it.
Some small entrepreneur could make it big with a good solid design here. Hint hint *calling all entrepreneurs*

 

[techno]

I spoke with my buddy at Safari over the weekend. Their resources are focused on local demand in Australia, which is about a 1000% higher than the US market. However, the tooling for the 5th gen is almost complete and the new Taco one is done. Apparently they had contracted out some of the design work for the 4th gen 4Runner, but they were not happy with the results and they need to make significant changes. They are still waiting for all the CAD data to come back from that contractor. Also, it seems ARB has not placed any orders for 4th gen units, so according to Safari, the demand is low. Hence it's not on their priority list. The 3rd gen unit is also still on the board, but also not a high priority for them.

So before you all start bad mouthing the company like spoilt little millennials who don't get everything that want immediately when they want it, understand the economics of running a design and manufacturing business first. If you still want to sprout-off and sound like a cry baby about it, then direct your feelings towards ARB. They are the ones spreading misinformation and false hopes.

 

[t-man]

I spoke with my buddy at Safari over the weekend. Their resources are focused on local demand in Australia, which is about a 1000% higher than the US market. However, the tooling for the 5th gen is almost complete and the new Taco one is done. Apparently they had contracted out some of the design work for the 4th gen 4Runner, but they were not happy with the results and they need to make significant changes. They are still waiting for all the CAD data to come back from that contractor. Also, it seems ARB has not placed any orders for 4th gen units, so according to Safari, the demand is low. Hence it's not on their priority list. The 3rd gen unit is also still on the board, but also not a high priority for them.

So before you all start bad mouthing the company like spoilt little millennials who don't get everything that want immediately when they want it, understand the economics of running a design and manufacturing business first. If you still want to sprout-off and sound like a cry baby about it, then direct your feelings towards ARB. They are the ones spreading misinformation and false hopes.

Arb, safari, eBay, whatever. I really don't care. I know and respect the work that goes into this but that isn't the point. Im not a millennial sniveling whiny *****, I make Shit happen, own a business and work my dick into the dirt for what I have. As far as I'm concerned they can all kiss my ass. I'll buy the cheap $70 unit off eBay or make my own. I refuse to spend 300,400 + on some piece of plastic some acne scarred, greasy fat kid can pump out out on his 3d printer his mommy bought him for Christmas in HER basement.

 

[chmura]

I spoke with my buddy at Safari over the weekend. Their resources are focused on local demand in Australia, which is about a 1000% higher than the US market. However, the tooling for the 5th gen is almost complete and the new Taco one is done. Apparently they had contracted out some of the design work for the 4th gen 4Runner, but they were not happy with the results and they need to make significant changes. They are still waiting for all the CAD data to come back from that contractor. Also, it seems ARB has not placed any orders for 4th gen units, so according to Safari, the demand is low. Hence it's not on their priority list. The 3rd gen unit is also still on the board, but also not a high priority for them.

So before you all start bad mouthing the company like spoilt little millennials who don't get everything that want immediately when they want it, understand the economics of running a design and manufacturing business first. If you still want to sprout-off and sound like a cry baby about it, then direct your feelings towards ARB. They are the ones spreading misinformation and false hopes.

Their resources are focused on local demand in Australia excuse have been heard 1000x times for the past 10 years. This is nothing new. They should expand their company overseas if needed. It took them 10 years to make a snorkel for the 2nd gen Tacoma which is astonishing. All that money they could of made if they released a snorkel for the Tacoma in 2005 which the design of the Tacoma basically stayed the same for 10 years! Wish Safari just expanded their resources into the US and have a group of engineers and designers specifically focus on North American market.

And what do you mean ARB did not place any orders? I contacted them a few times and each time they said they are getting closer and closer. They did not ask me to put a deposit down. If they did I would be happy to place a deposit down on one. I do not see ARB reaching out to the community to see what the demand is like.