Airflow Snorkel Install for Tacoma

Anathollo

Armorall is my choice of lube
Staff member
First, let me start by saying that you should not buy this product. Go ahead and order the new Safari Snorkel that ARB finally released (It only took them a decade to get off their ass and release one :rolleyes:). That being said, let me explain why in the following steps below.

1. Upon spending $500, your package shows up shittly wrapped in plastic. I'm amazed I didn't lose any parts. That being said, it's not like they shipped all the parts with it anyways.


2. The directions show an install on a Toyota Hilux. You make a product specifically for a Tacoma and you can't show that on a damn Tacoma?? :facepalm:




3. The template they provide is wrong. It's so far off that it's useless damn near. DO NOT trust the template. I cannot emphasize this enough. Put some black grease on the bolts and rim of the intake outlet, press it against the fender flare and then mark them accordingly. It states to do this in the directions, but it's crazy how far off it is.



4. The intake tube that Airflow provides is damn near impossible to seal. It's like trying to seal off a whale's vagina, there's so much gap in it. It's embarrassing how shitty the tube is and I'm 99% certain that the tube they provide is the same hose that you hook up an RV to the septic tank. It was also BADLY cut. Need I remind you that you just paid $500+ for this product? I used a whole tube of RTV seal as well as some flexible door seal that I had to use to close it off. So that meant an extra few hours on your install time waiting for the RTV to fully dry. That's really annoying when the install time is supposed to be a few hours.



5. You will need to purchase (3) G/Bolt M6 x 1.25" bolts (what ever that works out to metric). Three of the bolts Airflow provides are too short. These will be the main three on the side facing the door. DO NOT install the longer one where the intake tube goes by, as it will rub the septic tank tube badly. I don't have any pics of this, I'm just recalling from memory, but you will know it's wrong if you do it. Also, go buy fender washers as the washers they provide aren't adequate enough.





6. Airflow provides two plastic clips. They don't tell you in the directions what they go to. Their just fucking there. Thankfully, I've done an ARB snorkel install with another member here so I knew from memory where they go. They will go into the holes you drill into your A-pillar. Get a drill bit size to match the diameter of the plastic clip, dab a fuckton of RTV on the inside of it and stick that wet prong into the hole, square it up and let it dry. Then install your snorkel bracket clip. Also, this clips won't even be close to being right, you will need to stick it in a table vise and bend it into shape.




7. This is the most important tip I can give you. For the top fender bolt, the one that's impossible to get to without small child hands, the bolt most people leave off (which I couldn't do since the snorkel was still pretty wobbily), get some blue painters tape, tape the fender washer and nut together, then put it on the bolt, then push the snorkel body into the truck so that it locks the nut in-between the truck and the bolt and THEN tighten the nut. The bolt will push through the blue tape while holding the washer and nut together.

8. On the Airflow snorkel, they provide two mounting holes to secure the top part to the truck. You only use one of them. WHY? WHY DID YOU NOT PROVIDE A CLIP THAT UTILIZES BOTH OF THEM?? On the ARB snorkel, you have three holes that secure the snorkel to the truck. Also, the bolt I needed to secure the bolt to the clip wasn't provided by Airflow. Thanks a lot you fucks. I found that out later and had to make a trip to the hardware store.



9. Here's some part number for the fender clips you'll need. I found out that later that it's a better alternative to use black 3M glue instead of these stupid, crazy expensive clips.





Overall opinion: I'm sorry for the rants, but for $500+ product, they are bending us over a barrel by providing sub-quality product. You do not get what you are paying for and it's apparent from the moment you open the cheap plastic bag. But 0/10, I will NEVER purchase another product from them. I ended up spending ~$60+ on RTV and bolts that should have been provided.

Reasons I went with the airflow snorkel are as follows:

A. I didn't know ARB was releasing a Tacoma specific snorkel just a few months later. I'd been waiting for one since 2007, and I'm still not a fan of the design they released either.

B. My gas mileage improved and the truck is a little preppier on take off's.

C. It is a larger diameter, 4", than the hilux ARB, 3", so you get more airflow and it was compatible with superchargers.

D. I like that it has a smaller outside trunk, so that's less risk of getting ripped off by a tree or rock on the trails.
 
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Silverback

Lima Gulf Bravo Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
Best product review of the year. Lmao!! That sucks man... Real does.
 

balakay

BabyMax
I never liked the look of the Airflows anyway. Good to know they suck just as bad as they look.
 

Boomtacoma01

Tommy want wingy..
Forwarding this on to Airflow customer service

Well at least is on there even though it was a pain in the ass.
 

Anathollo

Armorall is my choice of lube
Staff member
Forwarding this on to Airflow customer service

Well at least is on there even though it was a pain in the ass.

I actually typed an email to them but I deleted because I reread it and realized they could probably file a restraining order against me rofl This install is 12 hours of my life I'll never get back.
 

Anathollo

Armorall is my choice of lube
Staff member
I never liked the look of the Airflows anyway. Good to know they suck just as bad as they look.

I don't like the look of any of them to be honest. I did it for MPG gainz and power pickup.
 

tx_shooter

It is not a war crime the first time.
Staff member
I was trying to see if that was sarcasm or not. Nothing helps a SuperCharger except a SuperCharger.
 

Anathollo

Armorall is my choice of lube
Staff member

Anathollo

Armorall is my choice of lube
Staff member
I was trying to see if that was sarcasm or not. Nothing helps a SuperCharger except a SuperCharger.

Oh, ARB stated that the hilux snorkel was not rated for TRD superchargers due to airflow being restricted. Airflow company stated that you can run their snorkel with a supercharger.
 
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Anathollo

Armorall is my choice of lube
Staff member
Damn man, you have been doing a lot to your truck. Question, is there room for a third in that RTT? lol jk

There's always room if it's just you & me. :bentover: lol
 

Oswego

n00b
All that talk in the forums over how great these Airflows were and this is what people actually get? Yikes.
 

Anathollo

Armorall is my choice of lube
Staff member
All that talk in the forums over how great these Airflows were and this is what people actually get? Yikes.

Yup, only install thread I've seen for these has been NYCO's and what he installed is definitely different from mine.
 

tex

That's Mr Asshole to you
Yup, only install thread I've seen for these has been NYCO's and what he installed is definitely different from mine.

Nathan at Trail Toys has the same snorkel on his. He rolled his eye about the instructions when I asked him about it the other day. Said the template was worthless.
 

Anathollo

Armorall is my choice of lube
Staff member
Nathan at Trail Toys has the same snorkel on his. He rolled his eye about the instructions when I asked him about it the other day. Said the template was worthless.

Yep, it molded to the fender great and looked awesome but once you dap the black goo onto the threads and put it up there, it's crazy how far off 3 of them are to the molding. By doing this writeup/rant, I'm hoping to save someone from the same issues I had.
 
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