why a snorkel is important

Hopefully there's a followup post - why paragraphs are important.

Spend the dosh to get a new one fitted - they don't break the bank, and as you've found, are a necessity for some 4WD activities.

bush after rain? Muddy water? What's that stuff?

Davoe,

I'm with you mate.

It's a funny old world, this world of 4 Wheel Driving isn't it? Some of us go out to deliberately get bogged or see how far we can get and others just use the vehicle as tool to get around far away places.

I've never seen the sense in going out to get purposely bogged. Too much trouble. Of all the things in all the world, I hate getting stuck.

But, to answer the lad's question - get a new one. Get a Safari.

Bilbo

There are a few new kits turning up on Ebay for around the $400 mark. You just need to know what model will fit the surf.

I too have been known to play in the mud in the past, it is just my limit of traction doesn't let me get me into too much trouble.

Oh, and my vehicle didn't do anywhere near as much damage as the bulldozer that levelled all the bush so Landcom could subdivide it. and the stuff on the other side of the hill could be turned into an open cut coal mine. So there went my test track.

Ithink that most of us have learnt that a 4w.d is designed to take us safely from A to B where a conventional car cannot. Deliberately trying to get it bogged proves nothing to anyone and I would not be boasting about it particularly where there could have been a big cost involved not to mention destroying the tracks---only myopinion.

i use my 4x4 for play 70% long camping trips 10% and 20% road I expect to break thing i dont want to blow an engine and will try to avoid it by buying a snorkel i have a 90 mod surf paid $3000 for it. It has scratches a couple of rust spots and doesnt look beautifull thats why i bought it so i dont have to worrie about adding a few scratches and dents. i go 4x4ing about twice a week and have allready got my $3000 worth of fun out of it and there is still much more fun to be had

Good on you for enjoying for 4by dirty dirty.

For my 2c have the snatch strap attached next time, check the depth first and try not to go alone. I'm guessing the smurf is a diesel so a snorkel is a must IMO.

Patrolman Pat

Is it a petrol or a diesel? If it's a diesel it is absolutally amazing it fired up, but god knows what damage you have done. I would be thinking maybe bent valves at the least. I don't think that all is well.

Firstly, if your engine stops while crossing water/mud - DO NOT TRY AND START IT AGAIN, espically over and over and over because each time you are doing more damage.

If it's a petrol, recover the vehicle and remove the spark plugs and turn it over. That will expel the water with out trying to compress it in the cylinder and fuk everything. If it's a diesel, remove the glow plugs and turn it over to expel the water.

With my surf the quater panel was the same as the hilux and the 4 runner. At the time safri did not make a snorkel specifically for the surf so we had a look at the diagrams in the brochure and decided that the 2.8D Hilux had the closest fit as far as the airbox connection went. It was a simple matter of replacing the inside hose with a soft rubber one with a spring inside it to stop it kinking and it fit straight on. The only difference with my air box and the 2.8 hilix was that mine was on a 45 degree angle instead of being straight up and down (or somthing, can't remeber exactly) so a bit of flexiable hose and we were away. I used the safari, I like the look of them and they are probably the most common ones out there.

As far as the bush goes, I'm as much of an advocat for looking after the tracks as anyone, I'm anal about it and about rubbish being left around. BUT. I fail to see the point of "treading lightly" on areas that are going to be bulldosed and have houses put on them in 12 months time, so to me, those areas are the areas to go a little silly if you are that way inclined. I'd much rather that than people tearing around the national parks and reserves getting them closed down.

I'm a relativly reserved guy when it comes to my 4bying, the most of my 4bying is on the beach for a camp/fish or out in the bush for an explore and camp. However, I have been known to have a little fun too and I think anyone who claims they havn't is either lying or very boring! :-P

It's all about the right time and place and being reasonably responsible even if you are just having a play. I don't know the area in question here, but it doesn't sound like he was doing anything wrong.

Some people buy 4bys for touring,
some for work,
some for towing the boat or van
some for hardcore 4wding
some because they have little dicks and feel like they need to be better than everyone else

Whatever your personal reasons are for owning/driving and enjoying your 4wd vehicle does not make it the only reason to have one for everyone else.

I don't particulary like sliding around on my back getting mud in my eyes while washing the 4by either, but it doesnt' stop me getting mud on it from time to time. If you don't want to get mud on your 4by because you don't like cleaning, just make sure you only drive it in summer. :->

I don't particulary enjoy sliding around on my back washing the salty beach sand of the underside of the car either, but I still drive it on the beach.

I cannot believe that you did not bend a conrod. Water in a diesel is normaly terminal.
While I dont go looking for trouble anymore I can remenber about 2o years ago going 4wheeling of a night just for fun. Drove an Suziki LJ80 into a ditch dug by a kato, it was so steep the front spring hangers dug into the ground , but it still clawed it way up the other side
Cheers Pete

Good luck with the snorkel hunt and good luck with the motor.........As has been mentioned we all buy or 4x4's for our own reasons if "dirty dirty 4x4's" reason is not the same as yours tough bleep and get over it, as long as its legal and the right place at the right time whats the problem??? Some of the older ones forget what it was like to be young and have fun and worry about the repairs when the funs over...........Case in point my first 4x4 was a clapped out tb42 GQ, I trashed it bashed it and flogged the guts out of it, but I also learned alot about what breaks them and what they take, now I have my GU which cost alot more it is always a compromise between the fun factor and the repair bill.....but sometimes I take the risk knowing it could result in damage just to say I climbed that bloody big steep rocky hill and take a nice pic from the top.

Have fun and enjoy your car for the reason that YOU bought it

Cheers Stefan