Do I need snorkel for cape???

[emjays Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close emjays]

We are heading up the cape next September with 3 other cars I was wanting your thoughts on fitting a snorkel and do I really need one am not planing on going through stuff over the bonnet or been much of an idiot with 3 small kids I will have a car tarp for the front what's your thoughts and where is the air pick up height is it above wheel height I would imagine

[emjays Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close emjays]

Petrol ones seems to do it without snorkel what's the difference?

[outback7 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close outback7]

Yep.

[Tauras Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tauras]

Even with a snorkel, can you handle getting stuck mid crossing and your interior getting flooded ?

[peter_mcc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peter_mcc]

My dad's just been up there in a stock standard diesel 120 without a snorkel and he was ok. I did it 10 years ago in a Landcruiser without a snorkel and we were ok.
I think part of it will depend on where you want to go and what risk you're willing to accept.

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

You could do it without it, but for peace of mind I would do it not only to be water crossing safe but also for the dust etc and the health of your air filter and engine internals...

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

I have done The Cape on a bike and I would certainly fit a snorkel to a 4wd for the trip.

[The Alberto Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Alberto]

I did the cape in 2012. You could do it without a snorkel, however I would NOT. If you plan on driving the Tele Track and / or the Frenchman's Track, no question - you WILL need a snorkel. Even just on the dirt roads, a snorkel raises the height of the air intake and therefore your engine is getting slightly cooler, slightly less dusty air. If you are planning a trip like that, honestly for the price of a snorkel, I would just put one on.

[tonykarter15 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tonykarter15]

I did the cape in 2012 and would strongly recommend a snorkel. Totally agree with the guy above

There are some deep bog holes that you need to get through right at the tip even if you drove up the development road

[emjays Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close emjays]

Thank you all for that I will be fitting a snorkel now

[JoshF Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoshF]

If you are going in September the water levels should be lower than when most who go in June/July. Therefore you probably don't need one if you are careful and walk the creek before you cross, take a tarp and cross using good techniques.

If there is significant rain over Christmas and into the first quarter then the creeks will probably remain higher for longer

We did the cape in June/July 2012 and had 2 of 4 vehicles without snorkels. We didn't do Nolans and Frenchmans track as they were deep at the time but did all the other crossings, tarped up for one crossing for those 2.

A snorkel doesn't a submarine make as there are lots of electronics that can fail with water issues

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

When we did the cape a few years ago late in the season there was 3 inches of rain a couple of days before we hit the Tele track and Frenchmans was impassable due to the Pascoe river being 4 foot deep, so you can get deep crossing at anytime of year.

You can do it without a snorkel, but I wouldn't.

Cheers Andrew

[Chaser Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chaser]

500 bucks for a safari fitted vs 15k on a engine rebuild and a very pissed off wife with a wet bum whilst walking home.....

[Dusty74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dusty74]

Consider it's not all about water ingress. Sure that's the main reason, but an added bonus is the cleaner, cooler forced air provided by a snorkel. Sure the crossings might be drier late in the season, but that just means the tracks are dustier. Think red talc powder in some spots! If you fit a pre filter (foam sock) to the snorkel, the life of the air filter can be extended further. It's likely in real bad dust the foam would need daily rinsing, something that can be done at dinner each night while out on the tracks. As AJ has said, you can but I wouldn't.

Cheers,
Dusty

[Hazza Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hazza]

Its all been said below snorkel is cheap insurance.

I have done the Cape twice and both times without a snorkel. Having said that I also have ingested water in an old Hi-Lux and bent two con-rods. Thankfully not to expensive to rebuild one of those old engines and I could do it myself. These days you would not get much change out of 15 to 20 k.

I currently don't have a snorkel but if I was to traverse the Cape again I would have it fitted. As its been said additional benefits are cleaner and cooler air.

For what it's worth, it if it saves your engine and wife from blowing their top just get it done, the cape is not place to be stranded.

Hazza