snorkel for T5

[Bushprikle]

Hi, does anyone know where I can get a snorkel for my T5 Transporter????

[Cousin]

Bush, Auto Seikel in Germany have done one in the past, not sure if they still do

Home: VW Auto Seikel GmbH

There were always concerns that if you got the water high enough for the snorkel to be useful, say a metre or more, you'd then end up with some pretty expensive repairs with your electrics, at the least

And with the vee dubs there has also been talk of 'floating' once the level gets up, more so than other off roaders


M

[MultiplexMan]

^+1 - Seikel are handled by Trakka. The snorkel comes with either a cyclonic pre-cleaner or a "ram scoop" which can be mounted forward/aft. It is expensive. I'd be tempted to DIY if you really had to have a snorkel.

I noted a T5 floating through Toowoomba during the flood. The water reached just above the wheel arch before it took off...

[Transporter]

The snorkel is also useful when driving in the sand and on rough roads (it is better for the air filter). You would be limited by the lack of the ground clearance in your standard T5 for crossing a deep waters somewhere off road.

But hey, for the flooded roads, the snorkel could be handy as long as you take other steps like positioning the gearbox breather as high as possible (practical) and making that the rest of the air intake is water tight as well.

[Bushprikle]

thanks for your advice everyone. I wont be doing any wading that stretches too far beyond the manufacturers recommendations(300mm depth from memory)....the main reason I am considering a snorkel is because I'll likely be travelling quite often on very dusty roads. I want to lift the air intake as high as possible to avoid as much dust as I can.

I found the Seilkel snorkels on line for 595 euro (about $800)...I might investigate having a custom job made up at the local metal fabricator....a few bends in a pipe here and there...powder coat it black...might turn out to look half decent.

[Seano]

I'd be more inclined to see if you can put an oiled foam pre-filter over the air intake. I'm not familiar with the T5 intake but this mod is certainly something I've pursued in a T4 (using a flat plate) and on a Subaru Forester (using a beer can sized sock) with great effect. You can get the filters custom made by Unifilter Australia Foam Air Filters for Economy and Performance for just a few tens of dollars. Much cheaper than a snorkel and far more effective....

EDIT: What do you know! Uniflow have caught on! 4x4 Pre-Cleaners

[MultiplexMan]

^+1

I would go the pre-cleaner too. I'd avoid hacking the T5. I don't fancy drilling inserts into the A pillar to secure the snorkel or cutting a hole through the quarter panel - but I'm a wimp

You should also note that Seikel state intake noise will increase...

EUR595 for a Seikel snorkel is cheap - is that delivered? RRP is EUR550.

SEIKEL VW T5 bis MJ 2010: VW Auto Seikel GmbH

[Bushprikle]

Hmmm, pre filter might be a much better option...i hadn't thought about one of those.

The EUR595 price I found was sans delivery. I would assume another EUR50 on top for delivery....much cheaper than the price in AUD....$1500 supply only, $1800 fitted.....with mark ups like that, its no wonder online shopping is killing local traders.

[calibrated]

Hmmm, pre filter might be a much better option...i hadn't thought about one of those.

The EUR595 price I found was sans delivery. I would assume another EUR50 on top for delivery....much cheaper than the price in AUD....$1500 supply only, $1800 fitted.....with mark ups like that, its no wonder online shopping is killing local traders.

Its not mark up's that push the price sky high.
Freight will not be 50Euro. Importers wont bring in 1 at a time, so we get slugged with import duties and gst, then there's fees for importing on top of that, and fee's for a clearing agent.

Moral of the story, you cant blame the importer for the price. The govt often makes more on the product than we do

[Sunny43.5]

I would agree with Seano foam oiled filter would be the best , we use the same system on our MX bikes and believe me the air intake is very close to the track and some places the dirt is like talcum powder . Naturally depending on how long you are off road they need to be cleaned to prevent blockage .