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ATV
Snorkel
Kits Guide.
Everything You
Need to Know About ATV Snorkels.
ATV snorkel kits have become one of the most popular ATV accessories
over the last couple of years. Several manufacturers now offer kits,
with more entering the market. If you plan on riding your
ATV in mud or deep water - you'll be needing some of these ATV
aftermarket parts.
This Guide will cover the most popular kits and where to get the best
deals. We'll tell you what to look for and why, along with some more
tips about how to have some fun with muddy 4 wheelers.
Check out this article about ATV Snorkels for some background info.
What
do ATV Snorkel Kits Do?
The main purpose of ATV snorkels is to allow you to ride in deeper
water or mud than you probably should or that the manufacturer of your
four wheeler intended. The idea is to extend breathers, air inlets, and
exhaust above the water level you're operating in.
The critical thing to remember is that no matter how you do this, the whole snorkel system
must be water proof! Even tiny leaks can be catastrophic with major
engine or driveline damage.
If you decide to go the do-it-yourself route - be sure to use plenty of
sealant around all the joints and fittings. That's the best tip I can
give you. Everything else is pretty obvious - just follow the
instructions and use the right tools.
What parts are included in ATV
Snorkel Kits?
- Flexible or rigid tubing made from PVC,
aluminum, rubber, plastic, or steel.
- Connectors to join the tubing together.
- Fittings to attach the tubing to the various
components on the ATV.
- Glue, clamps, sealants, etc. to provide a water
tight connection to all joints.
- May come with support brackets or rack mounts
to improve stability of the snorkels.
Note:
Most kits don't include a snorkel for the
exhaust - but the manufacturers do have them available separately.
ATV
Snorkel Kits - Manufacturers
This list includes those builders that distribute to retail outlets
and/or offer online sales. We know there are several local shops doing
snorkel kits - and if you have a good one near you - that's great. They
may have as good or even better product than those listed. But we thought it best to include established companies with widely
available products for this list.
Bayou Snorkels - Offers
kits to fit a wide variety of ATV models including: Arctic Cat, Can Am,
Honda, Kawasaki, Polaris, Suzuki, and Yamaha. They also have Polaris
snorkel kits for the RZR and RZR-S. Yamaha Snorkel kits for the Rhino
are available too.
These guys have been in business a while - plus they're in Louisiana (swamp capitol of the South!).
Triangle ATV
- Started with kits for Honda but has expanded their product line to
several other makes. These guys seem to be the most innovative with new
"Stealth" kits that exit in the headlight or upper pod under the
handlebars. That would be a good solution for those that just want some
extra protection without having to do radical surgery on the front end
plastic.
Now the Speaker Box Snorkel Kit
is the latest innovation. It comes as a pod that mounts on the front
rack and houses both speakers and built-in snorkel extensions.
You might want to ask if those speakers are waterproof first! I have to admit this combination would never have occurred to me.
Triangle is in Beaumont, TX. and offers full installation of their systems.
Submarine Snorkels
- Widely available through retail and online outlets. They have kits
for several models from all the major manufacturers. Even a Suzuki
snorkel for the Vinson! The Submarine kits look to be well engineered
and of good quality materials. They even claim a power increase due to
better air flow.
Steel crash plates are included to prevent
damage in case of rollovers. You also get a choice of flexible or rigid
extension stacks depending on your needs. Submarine says their kits
have been pre-assembled for a precision fit. They do recommend
professional installation.
Performance ATV Snorkels
- Recently came out with their version of a snorkel kit using marine
exhaust hose for the tubing. Extension stacks are black pvc. They only
had kits listed for the Yamaha Grizzly at this time.
Gorilla Axle Snorkels
- This company is well know in the ATV mudding world for their radical
high lift projects and heavy duty axles. Now they have jumped in the
deep end of the bog with their own line of ATV snorkel kits. Model
coverage is a little thin right now, but they do have something for
most of the top manufacturers other than Suzuki.
Extreme Snorkels - A newer company that started with Honda kits and has now expanded with Kawasaki Brute Force and Polaris RZR snorkels.
For
those of you that don't want to cut holes in your fenders but still
want maximum snorkel height - they offer this external kit for the
Honda Rancher.
Top Snorkel Tips- Get one that fits your exact model ATV. Universal fit kits can be tough to install and it takes a lot more work.
- If
you don't have the right tools or aren't confident you can install the
kit - pay a pro to do it. You'll be money ahead in the long run.
- We like kits with the fewest joints - the more joints the more likely you are to spring a leak.
- Pre-assembled kits are easier to install.
- Don't spare the sealant around joints and fittings. Even a small gap could be disastrous.
- Be
prepared for extra hassles when it comes to maintenance. Flexible hose
may be better than rigid pipe when you have to disassemble the snorkel
system for access.
- Flexible extension stacks are safer and may cause less damage in a roll over.
- Stacks need to be stabilized so they won't cause the snorkel tubing to move if they get hit.
- Be aware that you may lose a lot of rack space.
- Don't forget the exhaust snorkel. If your engine dies in water over the tip - it will suck it in like a vacuum!
- Check
for leaks often. Impacts and vibration can cause joints to shift or
loosen. It only takes a small leak to do your engine in!
- Belt housings need to be well sealed or the snorkels won't help.
Best Buys - ATV Snorkel Kits
ATV Snorkel Kits - Disclaimers.You
probably guessed that there might be a down side to this snorkel thing.
And you would be right. Just to be sure we're giving you both sides of
this story - we've included some excerpts from the disclaimers posted
on manufacturer's web sites.
"No ATV snorkel kit will make an ATV waterproof!"
"Keep
in mind that a snorkel system that is incorrectly installed can cause
damage to your ATV and there is a NO RETURN POLICY on snorkel systems."
"Snorkel kits should only be used as an added protection against
water. Snorkel kits DO NOT allow your atv to operate under water!!"
"Riding in deep water can be dangerous,
possibly leading to serious injury or death."
"Even a properly installed
snorkel kit may leak under certain conditions potentially causing
catastrophic engine failure."
Final ThoughtsIf
you've been thinking about getting more serious about deep water and
mud riding then you already know it takes dedication and money to do it
right. First on the list should be ATV Snorkel kits. There just isn't
another option.
And you'll need special ATV tires for just mud
riding. A lift kit to clear those mud tires, maybe a gearing change,
and maybe heavy duty axles. Major commitment! Major dollars!
There
is no doubt that ATV mudding is exploding in popularity with thousands
of people participating at events around the country. If you're
prepared to do it right it's a ton of fun. But try to half-ass it and
it can quickly turn into a muddy nightmare.
Casual riders that
just want some added protection for those deeper than expected water
crossings can probably do fine with one of the less radical kits that
fit in a headlight housing or front pod.
Related links:
ATV Accessories
World of ATVs Home from ATV Snorkel Kits.

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