Snorkel Position Question

[bikerjosh]

“The great snorkel debate”
I’m sure this has been brought up before, but is there a consensus on when you should have your snorkel facing forward versus backward? I’ve heard that you should run it facing to the back if snowing but in the rain forward: I don’t understand why but there you have it. It would seem if traveling in a group off road in a dusty/sandy environment you should face it to the rear to avoid clogging up your filter prematurely. Does facing it forward give you a better flow of air into the engine like a ram intake? Does facing it backward, make the engine work harder getting air in?
Ok thanks, I think that is about it.
Anyone changes their snorkels position based on weather, trail etc?
Josh

 

[josh.bunch]

I think the main reason people face it to the rear is to avoid grabbing every limb on the trail.

 

[Jon]

Well the whole point of the snorkel is to keep water out of the airbox right? I run with mine forward facing for the most part but if I know I'm going out to trails where I'll be bajaing through puddles I'll turn it backwards, no point is splashing water in there. I do notice a very slight loss in power with it flipped around. But the slits in the Safari head keep the majority of rain out. A lil water wont hurt it. I completely saturated the old paper filter before the snorkel and it was still running fine, now I have a K&N. It can get wet and just dry back out.

 

[Gerdo]

The only thing that I have heard is to turn it around in the snow to keep it from getting packed tight.

I know that the Safari Snorkel head sheds water.
Safari - Snorkels (scroll down)

 

[bikerjosh]

Thanks everyone and thanks chris for pointing out the link.