How to Make an ATV Snorkel

An ATV snorkel allows your ATV to remain safe even in deep water.

An ATV snorkel helps to prevent water from entering your ATV's engine, potentially causing serious damage that would require the replacement of the engine. Snorkels can be purchased for ATVs from their respective manufacturers, but with a little ingenuity, you can produce one yourself that is just as effective and will not allow water to enter your ATV engine, even if the ATV stalls out in deep water. The most important thing to remember is that the snorkel itself can become flooded if you aren't careful. Keep the top side of the ATV out of deep water to prevent serious engine damage from occurring.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Screwdriver
• Hacksaw
• Plastic zip ties
• PVC pipe
• PVC pipe elbows
• Compression bands
• Screwdriver
• Rubber pipe-fitting couplers

Instructions

1. Measure the diameter of the intake duct on your ATV. This is the size rubber coupler you will need to install the snorkel. Slide the coupler over the lip of this intake duct and fasten it securely by tightening the metal compression band included with the coupler. You will need a screwdriver to tighten this compression band.

2. Select the best route to run the pipe for the snorkel. The pipe must not interfere with the steering of the ATV, but should extend forward of the handlebars, then up through the front fender of the ATV. If you regularly use your front gear rack, be careful not to route the snorkel pipe up through the center of this rack.

3. Construct the snorkel by first inserting a length of PVC pipe into the rubber coupler you installed onto the intake. Tighten the compression band on the coupler to prevent the PVC pipe from pulling out. Cut off the end of the PVC tube with a hacksaw at the point at which the first elbow is to be installed, turning the snorkel tube up through the fender of the ATV. Use plastic zip ties to attach this first length of PVC tube to the chassis of the ATV.

4. Install an elbow onto the end of the length of PVC pipe that turns the snorkel upward. Use PVC pipe cement to seal the pipe and prevent entry of water into the intake snorkel.

5. Slide a second length of PVC pipe into the elbow. This length of pipe should extend past the ATV's fender to approximately 8 inches above the cargo rack. If necessary, cut the pipe with the hacksaw to the necessary length. Use PVC cement again to seal the elbow and the tube together and prevent the entry of water. Attach this length of tube to the frame of the ATV with zip ties.

6. Install two more elbows onto the top of the pipe you just installed to turn the snorkel 180 degrees downward. This will prevent rainfall from entering the snorkel tube. As you did with the other PVC connections, use PVC cement to glue these pieces in place and complete the snorkel installation.

Tips & Warnings

• A snorkel will not prevent water from entering your engine if the tip of the snorkel is fully submerged. Take necessary precautions to prevent the ATV from becoming this completely submerged.

References

• "ATVs: Everything You Need to Know"; Steve Casper; 2006
• "ATV Handbook"; The Chilton Editors; 1999
• "ATV Projects: Get the Most Out of Your All Terrain Vehicle"; Len Nelson; 2005