If you plan on driving your ATV through deep water or mud, getting a snorkel on your machine is something you might want to consider. A snorkel will help keep water out of your engine, so you can get through some pretty nasty areas on the trail without damaging your ATV.
If you get yourself into some deep mud or water for too long, your engine could stall. Your air intake could take on water causing major problems and costly repairs. I’ve done this before, as you can see in the picture, and that quad didn’t have a snorkel on it.
Luckily I was able to shut the engine off before major damage was done, but still it ruined the day of riding for us. I need to be towed out of the muddy water, then we had to open the air box and wait for everything to dry out before we were able to get the quad running again. If that ATV had a snorkel, there would have been no problems.
Snorkeling your ATV is when you install a system onto your engine that will allow air to get where it needs to even in deeper water or mud. You will most likely see risers or stacks sticking up from the quad to capture or release air safely above the water line.
After you install a snorkel on your machine, the only part you need to worry about keeping above water is the opening of those stacks.
Snorkeling your ATV is most useful for getting though deep water or mud. It will keep water out of the most important parts of your engine that are only supposed to subject to air. Feeding clean air safely to your engine to keep you riding through wet environments.
The main components you will need to snorkel are the air box, your clutch belt intake, and clutch belt exhaust. The clutch belt intake and exhaust will both need their own snorkel. If you try to connect them, the intake will be getting the heat from the exhaust and will overheat and wear out your clutch belt.
You may want to snorkel your exhaust ports as well. If you’re giving the engine enough gas going through the water, that pressure should prevent any water from entering the exhaust.
But if by chance water does enter through your exhaust it could cause major problems. This will most likely happen if plan to sit idling in the water.
It’s also a good idea to water proof your electrical connections. I’ve heard of people snorkeling their electrical box, but that seems like overkill. The point is to just prevent water from getting to the electrical parts of the engine.
Other areas to snorkel might include thing like your crackcase breather tube or differential vents and carb vents. If you’ll be hitting the occasional mud pit or stream crossing, the air box, clutch belt, and electrical stuff need to be taken care of as well as the carb breather if your engine has a carburetor.
There are some pretty good kits available on the market for most machines. The snorkel kits will vary from quad to quad because they are all set up a bit differently. A snorkel kit will be more expensive than making your own, but will come with everything you need and make for an easier quicker install.
Plus the kits might even come with some kind of warranty.
You can use this link to find a Good ATV Snorkel Kit on Amazon. Just be sure to get the right one for your machine. They kits will vary a bit and the parts are custom made for each different engine.
I don’t need to go over installation here because the snorkel kits come with instructions that are really easy to follow along with. You will need some basic hand tools to get the snorkel kit installed and you’ll be all set.
Making your ATV snorkel can be fun and won’t cost you too much money either. I’ll admit, a lot times it won’t look as nice as the professional snorkel kits you can buy, but if you do it right it will work all the same.
The cheapest thing to use is just some good old pvc pipe. You can find pvc pipe at any home repair store like Home Depot or Lowes. It’s best to know the path you’re going to take first and plan out how many bends, how much pipe, and how many 90 degree connectors you will need.
First, locate your air box and see what you’re going to need to snorkel it. A lot of quads already come with a factory snorkel, they just don’t go very far. In this case you can hook some pvc right to that factory snorkel and just extend it up as high you’d like.
I’ve seen some people use pool hose to navigate around the engine easier than you could with pvc pipe. It looks a little raggedy with the duck tape and all in this picture, but i’m sure if you secure it right and use some better connectors you can get a decent looking snorkel system going.
If you have a carburetor on your engine, it’s pretty easy to just extend the carb breather tube that’s already existing on the quad. You can find little tube connectors at most auto parts stores like Napa or Autozone. The just get some tubing and extend the carb tube up to a safe area on the machine.
Do the same thing for the front and rear differential breather. These lines are usually already ran pretty high up onto the quad up near the handle bars.
But if you want them to be even further up out of the water it won’t hurt to extend them.
Snorkel kits or snorkeling your ATV may be illegal in some states. I think for the most part it’s allowed on private property either way. But some states don’t allow snorkeled machines on public land.
Check your local laws before riding any modified machines on public land.
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With more local authorities becoming increasingly fussy about where ATV enthusiasts can ride their vehicles, ATV snorkel kits have grown in popularity as many riders look to protect their vehicles from the wet or muddy surfaces of deeper terrains. For such a level of protection, you need to buy and install the best kits.
The best ATV snorkel kits are designed to take the factory air and belt intake points as well as the belt exhaust point on the ATV from off the lower part of the machine.
They ensure the engine gets a fresh supply of air when running across water puddles or mud, keeping the engine safe.
What qualifies as the best ATV snorkel kits will vary from one vehicle to another. This guide will look at the 14 best ATV snorkel kits you can get on the market today for your ATV as well as everything you need to know about ATV snorkel kits in general.
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This snorkel kit from High Lifter contains everything you need to make sure your Can-Am Outlander 1000 (15-18) ride is properly protected. It comes with 2” (5 cm) risers featuring custom-molded elbows.
You also get heavy-duty vinyl tubing, which you can use to route vent lines. You can protect the critical parts of your ATV with its high-heat silicone hose. The bellows are excellent when it comes to keeping water out of the transmission and differentials.
You’ll get all the mounting hardware required for the installation in the box, and there’s a properly designed step-by-step list of instructions made to simplify the process if you choose to install it on your own.
The Honda Foreman 500 kit does an excellent job of moving the stock air intake point away from below the seat and onto the location above the front fender. This allows it to guarantee clear and fresh air when you are riding through a water crossing or muddy path.
It is a 2” (5 cm) snorkel kit with two warrior risers. However, you do not have to install the second riser as it’s there for decorative purposes and to create an even appearance. The risers come with vent line options that are designed to ensure the vent lines remain dry and properly secured.
There’s an extra vent line meant for use when you intend to extend the stock venting points—a common theme with most manufacturers. The risers are also threaded to ensure easy disassembly and assembly. You can install this kit on your own if you’ve got some tools and can follow the detailed instructions in the box.
Photo Credit – motoxmall.com/This Kawasaki Brute Force 750 snorkel kit comes with 2” (5 cm) risers and heavy-duty vinyl tubing for the vent lines.
It also comes with a custom powder-coated riser bracket designed to keep the risers straight and spaced evenly. Your ATV will not only be protected from mud and water; its aesthetic appeal will increase a great deal.
It’s also another option made with high heat silicone hose protecting the critical areas to prevent melting. Mounting hardware is included in the box, alongside the mounting instructions.
Photo Credit – https://www.wildboaratvparts.com/This snorkel kit features 2” (5 cm) piping on the air intake system, dual CVT outlet, and dual CVT inlet. It comes with dark-colored SYA risers that form a perfect straight installation when they are locked together. Like most of the competition in other models, the risers also have built-in vent line slots designed to keep the vent lines at a high position, away from mud and water.
The snorkel kit comes with powerful rubber boot connections, and everything is assembled with ease of installation in mind.
Photo Credit – snorkelyouratv.
com/This dual air intake kit comes with Warrior Risers and pre-filter tips. The risers also have built-in vent line slots to ensure the vent lines are properly snorkeled. The side-mounted built-in slide connections of the risers mean you can lock the warrior risers together cleanly.
The kit also comes with an intake warrior plate that’s injection molded. The risers are threaded to make them easy to assemble or disassemble. With the design of this kit, maintenance won’t be difficult as you can still get to the components under the lid of the front storage box.
Photo Credit – highlifter.comThis snorkel kit comes with a custom powder-coated riser bracket and heavy-duty vinyl tubing, which makes it easy to reach difficult parts of the ATV. It also features a high-heat silicone hose that won’t melt from use. The manufacturers include all the mounting hardware you need in the box, and the installation is simplified, thanks to the step-by-step instructions.
If you have this Honda model, this snorkel kit from High Lifter should be high on your list.
This snorkel kit was built for the G2 and G2L (XMR models). It provides comprehensive protection for your ATV with its CVT exhaust and extended air intakes. The CVT outlet integrates seamlessly into the post cover.
With this snorkel kit, you can ride your Can-Am XMR ATV in muddy conditions safely. However, the installation process is not as seamless as some of the kits for other brands on this list, which means that you’ll need professional help.
Photo Credit – extremesnorkels.comThe Can-Am Renegade Gen 2 kit uses a 2” (5 cm) piping system for the CVT inlet and outlet, as well as the air intake. It also comes with an extra vent line for extending factory venting points like the rest. The kit’s risers come unglued, allowing you to design the appearance of the risers in any way you deem fit.
Apart from the risers, everything else comes assembled, so you can install easily by following the detailed instructions. The kit is complete, so you won’t need to buy anything else.
This 2” (5 cm) snorkel kit is similar to all others in its range, with the only difference being that it’s made for Honda models. It comes with two Warrior risers, but you only have to install one of them. The risers come with all the usual vent lines as well as the standard extra for extending factory points. The connections on the kit are threaded, so you can assemble or disassemble them by just looking at the pictorial instructions.
Photo Credit – wildboaratvparts.comThis kit comes with 2” (5 cm) fitting and pipe, which has the reputation of delivering better airflow compared to the stock fittings the ATV models mentioned are shipped with. The risers are from Warrior, and of course, they have multiple vent line slots.
The kit is almost completely made of hard pipe. You get heavy-duty but flexible PVC and no cheap vacuum. This is another kit that is easy to install.
Photo Credit – vividracing.comThis is one of the most innovative snorkel kit designs in the market today.
It is the first in the niche to come with high-temperature custom-molded silicone hoses. The molding makes installation easier and ensures a more reliable connection. Just like the stock vents, it blows belt exhaust across the manifold, which ensures better heat dissipation overall.
With this snorkel kit, you’ll get a better rear view when compared to other snorkels thanks to the tactical snorkel riser placement, which ensures the rearview is not blocked when you are looking behind the ATV. The riser bracket is also powder coated. It comes with all the mounting hardware you need for a complete install.
Photo Credit – wildboaratvparts.comThe 3” (8 cm) risers are the main feature that sets this snorkel apart from the rest. It has everything else you’d expect from a kit design, including built-in vent line slots to keep the lines properly secured. The risers are made of hard pipe, and the installation process is simplified by the rubber boot connections and detailed installation instructions.
This is another kit with 3” (8 cm) risers in customer coated brackets. There are rubber grommets designed to hold the riser tubes in place. It also comes with heavy-duty vinyl tubing for routing vent lines and high heat silicone hose in the areas exposed to high temperatures.
The kit is able to keep your transmission and differentials safe from water, thanks to the bellows. The box contains all the hardware you’ll need for a complete installation, as well as step-by-step instructions of the process.
Photo Credit – wildboaratvparts.comThis Yamaha snorkel kit comes with 2” (5 cm) risers fitted in powder-coated riser brackets for aesthetic purposes. The riser tubes are held in place by rubber grommets. The kit comes with all the other expected features such as vinyl tubing for the vent lines, bellows to keep water out of differentials, mounting hardware for a complete installation, and more.
I wrote a pretty in-depth article on how snorkels work as well as the different types of snorkels.
You can check it out here – How Does A 4WD Snorkel Work?
An ATV snorkel is a form of breathing apparatus designed for all parts of the ATV that needs a vent to the atmosphere or a regular supply of fresh air. Some of the newer ATVs come with snorkels made for their clutch housing vent and air box, but these may not work in some scenarios.
Photo Credit – motosport.comIf you only occasionally wade through a shallow pool that does not block out the vents on your ATV when you are riding past, you can get by without needing an ATV snorkel. If your riding route or chosen terrain has a lot of mud or water, you need ATV snorkels to ensure you have a pleasurable ride and also prevent damage to the machine.
If the water or mud can reach the conventional openings on the vehicle, it can get into your transmission, engine, differentials, and more.
ATV snorkels typically cost a few hundred dollars, but they can prevent damage that can set you back thousands.
Even when you avoid damage, you do not want your ATV to go off deep in the mud. Towing it can be difficult, even when you have other riders that can help.
Snorkels on an ATV are meant to protect all openings into the transmission, differential engine, and so on that can be submerged when riding across a pool of water. The best ATV snorkel kits will cover the clutch/belt housing exhaust and intake, as well as the airbox inlet. These are the most critical.
Photo Credit – PublicDomain Offroadaussie.comHowever, some snorkel designs also make provisions for the carb vent tubes, differential vents, electrical connections, and the crankcase breather tube.
To be completely sure that everything is protected, you should speak with a snorkel dealer that is conversant with your ATV model. You can also look for your snorkel design while shopping around.
comThere are lots of snorkel kit options in the market today. If you are an ATV enthusiast looking for snorkels that will allow you to go deeper into wet terrains, the first thing you should do is to look for systems that can be easily installed on your ATV model and are also easy to repair when there’s damage.
You also have to choose between kits that have already been partially assembled, with comprehensive instructions on how to get them installed, and options that come in bits, requiring the help of professionals to install.
Various snorkel kits are made for different ATV models, so you need to ensure you are getting the right one for your model. ATV manufacturers like Honda, Polaris, Kawasaki, etc. all have their designated snorkeling kits. These kits generally feature PVC pipes as well as rubber bellows and grommets, all designed to protect the transmission and differentials from water damage.
In some cases, the kits are made of silicone hoses and heavy-duty vinyl tubes.
PVC pipes are, however, a more popular option amongst ATV enthusiasts. This is because they are easy to repair and replace. The pipes are also generally resistant to corrosion and are very much pocket-friendly.
Some higher-end snorkel kits feature a steel crash plate, designed to ensure that the entire system does not disintegrate from the airbox in the event of an accident. The plate is typically mounted to the rack of the ATV and connects the exhaust vents to the PVC snorkel found under the plastic.
Photo Credit – extremesnorkels.comWhen the exhaust pipes sitting on the top suffer damage or fall off completely, you can get rid of the broken pieces and affix new ones to the top of the plate. With this approach, you won’t have to dismantle the existing snorkel system to install a new one.
The crash plates are made durable with rubberized undercoating. You should also consider installing flexible radiator hoses if you are an ATV enthusiast that spends a lot of time exploring new terrains.
The flexibility of the hose will make it more resistant to breakage in the highly likely event of a rollover or crash.
Making a decision from the various types of snorkel kits in the market should come down to knowing what works best for your specific situation. Cover all bases in your consideration, and you’ll be able to save yourself a lot of money over time.
As we mentioned earlier, top ATV makers also produce snorkel kits. However, there are other brands focusing on producing aftermarket ATV parts, including ATV snorkel kits, which can go on various four-wheel models. Below is a look at some of them:
They offer kits made for a wide range of ATV models including Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Polaris, Can-Am, and Arctic Cat. You can count on them if you are looking for snorkel kits to be used on the Polaris RZR and the RZR-S. You can also get the Yamaha snorkel kits for use on the Rhino.
Bayou has been around for a while, and their Louisiana (Southern swamp hub) base means you can trust them to make kits designed to excel in swamp conditions.
The brand started making kits for Honda but has since grown into a trusted name for products from other brands. They are one of the most innovative in the space, known for their kits that exit in the headlight or upper pod beneath the handlebars. You should consider their kits if you are looking for protection for your ATV, but do not want to make any radical changes to the stock plastic on the front of it.
Photo Credit – triangleatv.comTheir speaker box snorkel is also an interesting innovation you should consider if you want to go a bit Mad Max Fury Road while protecting your ATV. Blazing through swamps while your favorite tracks blaze through the speakers can make your ride all the more fun!
The brand is located in Beaumont, Texas and can help install any kits you purchase.
This is another innovative brand that became popular thanks to their snorkel kits that use marine exhaust hose as the tubing.
They also use black PVC as their extension stacks. They make kits for various brands, including Arctic Cat, Can-Am, Yamaha, and Polaris.
This is a trusted brand in the ATV mudding world, known for their heavy-duty axles. They also make ATV snorkels for a number of brands, including Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Polaris, Arctic Cat, Can-Am, and more.
This is one of the newest brands in the market today, but they have grown a great deal over the years. They started with Honda kits, but have since added Polaris RZR and Kawasaki Brute Force snorkels. If you own a Honda Rancher and do not want to create holes in your fenders, you’ll love the external kits for that model made by this manufacturer.
These are just some of the popular places you can look when you are in the market for ATV snorkels. However, you can also find excellent options from your local ATV or four-wheeler dealership or repair shops. Look for professionals that are experienced in constructing snorkels for your brand and see what they have to offer you.
On paper, ATV snorkel kits are supposed to offer complete protection. However, since there are so many variables to take into consideration—such as the depth of water, the installation process, etc.
—many manufacturers do not offer any guarantees.
They often make it clear that the kits won’t make your ATV waterproof and certainly is not a license to run your ATV underwater. You’ll also find warnings on the dangers of having your ATV snorkel installed incorrectly. Also, some manufacturers protect themselves by adding that even a properly installed kit can still leak under certain conditions and damage your engine.
Therefore, although snorkel kits do an excellent job of protecting your engine, transmission, and differentials from water, they are not fail-safe in all wet conditions. Otherwise, the manufacturers won’t have many disclaimers, and they’d be more open to refunds and returns.
If you regularly wade through deep water or mud with your ATV, you need to protect it with a snorkel kit. If you are not up for some DIY or do not have tools for it, take your four-wheeler to professionals and have the snorkel kits fitted properly. For more technically inclined people, however, most of the snorkel kit manufacturers make them easy to install with just a glance through the instructions.
With your ATV snorkel kit installed, you will be able to explore more terrains and easily get through some mud and water without any issues. Do not forget to get your exhaust snorkel as it is almost never a part of the kit.
from Kherson Notebook
How to install a snorkel with your own hands on an ATV?
The snorkel allows ATV riders to ride through shallow streams, puddles, marshes without any problems.
This device is available for purchase. But it is quite possible to make and install a snorkel on an ATV with your own hands. If you plan to overcome water obstacles, the ATV must be properly prepared. You can make different types of snorkels for an ATV with your own hands. Popular models of four-wheelers are sold in our MotoGO online store https://motogo.com.ua/kvadrocikly/. You can also order accessories and equipment from us.
Before you make and install your own ATV snorkels, you need to understand what such a component is intended for. This is a device that prevents water from entering important parts of the vehicle. It does not allow avoiding unpleasant consequences when overcoming water obstacles.
Water can get on the variator, motor. To avoid this, a snorkel is installed. This is a tube that acts as an air intake. It is not difficult to install a snorkel on an ATV with your own hands.
Even a beginner can handle this task.
It should be understood that when overcoming a deep ford, when the water is at the level of the headlights, it is required to muffle the outputs of the gearbox. Failure to install a snorkel will result in costly engine repairs in the near future.
Do-it-yourself ATV snorkels are made from different materials. It is important to consider how the tubes will be placed on the structure. This needs to be carefully considered at the planning stage. There are some tips on how to make a snorkel for an ATV. To do this, you need the following:
All components are sold in plumbing stores .
To install the snorkel with your own hands on an ATV, you need to perform several sequential steps:
The carburetor air duct and the snorkel of the CVT cooling system are further removed. In the hood, 2 holes are made for a pipe with a diameter of 50 mm. Next, a drainage system is assembled from sewer fittings.
In order not to assemble the structure yourself, you can contact the service center of our MotoGO store. You can order the necessary components, motor vehicles, equipment from us. Delivery is carried out within Ukraine promptly.
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consequences, then you need to prepare the equipment, in a special way protecting engine from moisture. Without special training, crossing the next shallow river, a water hammer may occur, followed by an oil change and costly repairs.
In order not to be exposed to such danger, experienced ATVs install a snorkel.
the working functioning of the ATV engine when overcoming water obstacles and driving on dusty roads. And also the snorkel will help to significantly cool air and ensure that it enters the filter or variator. Due to such Cooling increases the power of the ATV and significantly saves fuel. In addition to all the useful properties, the snorkel will give your ATV more aesthetic look.
It is clear that the installation of a snorkel is an important and necessary procedure for hard use of the ATV. But before making a decision to the installation, you must take into account that the removal of the air sampling pipes threatens to lose factory warranty for new equipment. Since tampering with the device breathing system of an ATV is considered a violation of the factory parameters of the ATV.
But if the ATV is not new or you are not afraid of loss warranty and you still decide to install a snorkel, follow a number of our recommendations:
- make sure that there is a complete sealing, otherwise at the first deep puddle, moisture will penetrate into system and wet the air filter, causing dust to be sucked in and subsequent breakdown with piston repair;
- choose the right diameter snorkel tube . For 300-500 cc ATVs, we recommend using a 50 mm tube, and for more powerful 600-800 cc ATVs - at least 63 mm. With the wrong when choosing a tube, the valves may burn out;
- do not forget to install the air receiver. This is a container with a small supply of air, which may be needed when you sharply press on gas so that your ATV does not stall at high speeds;
- almost 100% of all-terrain vehicles have CVTs and their must also be provided with a cool air flow.
This is necessary in order to so that when overcoming a deep-water obstacle, the ATV does not get up "Tightly" due to water getting on the variator belt;
- note that the snorkel must be installed without the radiator extension up does not make sense, because in a deep ford, the radiator cells can become clogged dirt. This will lead to inevitable overheating of the units and constant complex washing equipment.
The snorkel is an essential accessory for your ATV. He will allow you to overcome a deep ford, without fear of driving on a dusty off-road, as well as give additional power due to a more cooled air. Remember that equipping a new ATV with a snorkel deprives you of guarantees. Consider all practical advice during installation. In our online store you can find radiator extension and snorkel for ATVs CF Moto, BRP, Stels, Yamaha, Polaris et al. Buying a new snorkel will save you time and hassle. But if the budget is limited, you can make a snorkel with your own hands (we will talk about this will be discussed in another article).
