Safari or Mantec Snorkel

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2003 Defender 90 and want to get it wet and dusty this year, so I need to go buy a snorkel. I am not sure of the pros and cons between the Mantec plastic snorkel or Safari snorkel, but which would you buy and why?

I will also add a wading kit, does the Safari or new plastic Mantec look or work better with a wading kit?

Apologies if this is a silly question, but we were all beginners once you know!

Any information is appreciated!

Thanks,

John

All I know is that Mantec are cheaper than Safari but don't look as good.

Hy M'lud.
Nowt to choose between the Mantec or the Surfari, go for whichever one jerks your gerkin.
I've used Surfari personaly, and like 'em. but they are more expensive than Mantec, I think Surfari look better on Japs, but on a Land Rover I don't think the Mantec looks bad at all.
Anyway, dont think anyone who buys a 90 is looking to win any competitions for body styling.
Just my two penneth.
Dont forget tho', there is a lot more to do to a vehicle if you want to do some serious wading.
High level breathers for front and rear diffs, T case and gearbox for starters.
Cruisermik.

hey there,
as has already been said, it really down to what you like the look of and what you want to spend. how about trying rebel4x4

http://www.rebel4x4.co.uk/raised_air.htm

for a copy of the mantec style snorkle and at £88 for a 200/300tdi or td5 compatable one or £115 for a n/a compatable one you really cant go wrong.

One of my mates owns one and it hasnt let him down so i can vouch for them!

oh and they do a universal snorkle for 88 quid also that will fit most series etc...

Hi my name is john also
i have just brought a defender 90
i had it custom built and i had a safari snorkel fitted
it cost me 150 pound and it is great
i use it a a lot aon my farthers farm im rivers and steams
you shoul'd get one it is great.

John Phillips Birmingham

Must admit I chose a Safari, but as above, they all seem to do a similar job, buy the one you like the look of or whichever is the best price.

Dave

You could have posted the pictures so we could see for ourselves.

Hi,
New to forum so just posting my thoughts on this. I'm about to buy a snorkel for my 130 and I'm also not sure whether to go with Mantec or Safari. The plus point for Mantec to me is it fits into the standard Landy vent so there is no need to drill extra holes in the wing, (useful if you want to sell vehicle without snorkel) however I'm not sure about the effectiveness of its funnel style airvent versus the front opening one on the Safari and I agree I think the Safari looks better and seems to have a better rep. Anyone whose used both and can add to this would be appreciated.
Cheers
Peter

...............Thank you all for your comments. I purchased the Safari in the end. It is a little more expensive, but looks much smarter. You need to drill holes in the screen frame, so once a snorkel is fitted, it's a snorkel for life .


I appreciate your help, if I get a chance to fit it the weekend, I'll post some pics.

John

By the way, should I fit the breather pipes with the snorkel or can I add them later????

How does everyones mpg fair with a snorkel?

I would be interested to know, if the design of the Mantec snorkel would suffocate the engine at all. The shape of the safari design would surely force air down the intake (if the scoop faces forward), whereas the Mantec seems to have less intake area.

Any opinions?

I have a mantec fitted to my d90 200tdi and regularly achieve 25-6mpg, which is what I was getting prior to fitting; this is with MTs, winch, rollcage, underbody plating (all of which adds some serious weight to the vehicle). No harm done there then!!!

Chris

Hi guys,

Same choice here but thinking of going with the Safari.

Another daft question I know I need to fit the breathers for front and rear diff. Can these be run up inside the snorkel or do I run them up the outside?

Up the outside but into the intake (so they're sheltered). This is easy to do but make sure you do the crankcase, gearbox, both axles and the transfer box. Also, regardless of which intake you choose, you'll need to ensure you get a fully watertight seal all the way through to the filter by using LOADS of silicone on every join. Take your time, don't rush the job, and allow a good afternoon or more for full completion.

Chris

get the safari. loads more pros then the mantec. safari would get my vote by a long way.

Hi.

I have not currently got the funds to buy a mantec or safari and so have fitted an old snorkel that I got at Old Sodbury years ago for my series three. It is more in the Mantec style but doesn't look as good! I was concerned about the provision of air to the engine but found that the snorkel pipe was a larger diameter than the pipe that linked to the original air in-take. I took all the orginanal air ducting out right back to the filter and connected the snorkel tube directly to there. Also blocked up the drainage hole on the lid of the filter case so it should be totally water tight. My worries were unfounded and the decision to fit the unbranded snorkel vindicated in the last couple of days with it (which included a 100 miles down the M5 tonight) because the car runs fine, the temp gauge sits a little lower as the snorkel is actually channeling more colder air to the engine and I have seen no adverse affects.

Hopefully this will help anyone who is worried that the Mantec ones don't provide as much air to the engine as the Safari snorkels since my cheap old one is doing fine!!

Andy

p.s. My Dad has just bought a Defender 90 300TDI and it has a Safari snorkel on it which he was orginally not a fan of but seems to have come around!

I am looking to fit a safari snorkel onto my 1999 110 TD5 (used to have one on my 200Tdi in Oz which worked well) - however one of the suppliers (famous four) says on their website that this involves moving the radio aerial on a RHD TD5 ?

Can anyone who has fitted one confirm or deny this ?

Thanks in advance - Dave

Yes fitting the Safari to a TD5 RHD does mean moving the aerial 2.5 inches or so forward.

Just fitted one myself and had to cut off the aerial bracket on the top of the inner wing. The only way I could reach it was with a hand held hacksaw blade. Took a while with curses and blood. Then filed and painted sharp edge to avoid cutting connector hose. A flexible hose clip tool was useful as was taking off wingtop blanking plate to help access.

I ran breather pipes (diffs, gearbox and engine) into a 4 way connector behind the engine block then a single pipe out between bonnet and wingtop up the back of the snorkel and, with a bit of filing, in between snorkel body and top so it is hidden. A couple of long zip ties hold it in place.

I've also mounted a GPS aerial on the top of the snorkel and get much better signal strength.

Only problem is wing mirror makes contact with snorkel body when opening door and stops it staying open.

BTW, also fitted Mud Rails which transform the seating position, SS bolts and the new Mantec wheel carrier.

Next payday will probably be tank and diff guards.

I have a 90 with a Mantec snorkel fitted. I chose this over the safari one as i belive that the width of the pipe is very important to the TD5 engine. especially in dusty conditions. The Wolf (300tdi "ish") has the wide mantec snorkel as it has the mushroom on the top to prevent dust particles from being driven into the system, the cheaper MOD spec version is being replaced as the pipe is not wide enough.

The safari does look good but the mantec performs well and has a proven record in hostile areas!!! enough said.

I think the chap might be talking about the new Mantec plastic one piece snorkel which is about to become Land Rover OEM equipment.

Just bought one at Billing and fitting it tomorrow...Only been out two weeks mind!

As far as I can see there is no need to move the aerial but you do still need to drill two holes in the windscreen surround.

I am also led to believe that the Mantec intakes spin the air coming in which helps to remove some of the dust. This seems to be borne out by the shape of the inlet fins.

More pics when it's fitted..