Best Snorkels for the 70 Series LandCruiser — Top Picks & Install Tips

The factory air intake on the 70 Series LandCruiser sits at bonnet level, positioned to draw air from the engine bay environment. On a sealed road in dry conditions this works perfectly well. On a river crossing, a flooded outback track, or a dusty station road where fine red clay hangs in the air at wheel height for hours at a time, it is a significant liability. A snorkel relocates the air intake to roof height, fundamentally changing what the engine breathes and what conditions the vehicle can safely operate in. For a platform as widely used in genuine remote Australian conditions as the 70 Series, a snorkel is one of the most important functional upgrades available.

Safari Snorkels is the benchmark choice in the Australian market for the 70 Series. The company has been designing and manufacturing snorkels in Australia for over 40 years, and the Safari range is the product of consistent development and testing against the exact conditions Australian owners encounter. This guide covers why a snorkel matters on the 70 Series, what differentiates the Safari range from generic alternatives, and how to choose between the ARMAX and V-Spec variants for the 70 Series specifically.

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Why Every Serious 70 Series Should Have a Snorkel

The most obvious benefit of a snorkel is water crossing capability. With the factory air intake at bonnet height, the maximum wading depth is determined by where the intake sits, and any wave or bow wake that pushes above that point risks hydrolocking the engine with consequences that are at best extremely expensive and at worst irreversible. A snorkel raises the intake to the roofline, dramatically increasing the safe wading depth and giving the driver meaningful confidence margin in river crossings, flooded tracks, and beach access points where water depth is unpredictable.

The dust argument is equally compelling for any 70 Series owner operating in outback conditions. Fine red dust in central Australia, Western Australia, and northern Queensland hangs in the air at vehicle height in a way that is invisible on a calm day and devastating for engine air filters over time. The factory intake, positioned in the engine bay, draws air from the most contaminated zone around the vehicle. A snorkel drawing from roof height pulls air that is cooler, significantly less loaded with fine particles, and well away from the dust plume generated by the vehicle's own tyres. The practical result is substantially longer intervals between air filter cleaning or replacement, and a cleaner combustion environment for the engine on every drive.

For post-2016 70 Series models fitted with the diesel particulate filter, the air quality argument takes on additional relevance. The DPF regen cycle depends on the engine burning fuel cleanly and efficiently at sustained high temperatures. Cleaner, cooler incoming air contributes to more complete combustion, which supports consistent regen completion and reduces the soot accumulation that causes DPF warnings and limp mode on vehicles used in low-speed working conditions. A snorkel does not solve DPF management on its own, but it is a meaningful contributing factor in the overall engine intake equation on post-DPF models.

Why Safari Snorkels Are the Right Choice for the 70 Series

Safari Snorkels have been manufacturing in Australia for over 40 years and the 70 Series range reflects that depth of experience. The bodies are manufactured from UV-stable, cross-linked polyethylene with thick walls designed to withstand the physical abuse of dense scrub, corrugated roads, and the kind of contact that off-road use involves. The material does not crack, fade, or become brittle under prolonged sun exposure in the way that cheaper snorkel bodies from offshore manufacturers do, and it holds paint or leaves cleanly in black for owners who prefer the unpainted look.

Every Safari Snorkel for the 70 Series is backed by a lifetime warranty - a statement about the manufacturer's confidence in the product that no generic alternative can match. The air ram design, whether V-Spec or ARMAX, incorporates water separation geometry that removes rainwater from the incoming air stream before it enters the snorkel body. In heavy tropical rainfall or a fast-moving river crossing, the air ram actively separates water from the airflow and expels it before it reaches the engine. This is an engineering function specific to purpose-built snorkels and entirely absent in poorly designed generic alternatives that simply relocate the intake without addressing water management.

The fitment hardware in the Safari range uses stainless steel throughout, with EPDM moulded rubber connecting hoses that seal properly and resist deterioration in the temperature extremes that engine bays reach in Australian summers. These are the detail decisions that distinguish a professionally engineered product from a budget alternative, and on a vehicle that may be the only machine between an owner and safety for days at a time, those details matter considerably.

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ARMAX vs V-Spec: Which Safari Snorkel for the 70 Series?

Safari produces two distinct snorkel lines for the 70 Series: the V-Spec and the ARMAX. Both provide the full suite of protection benefits - raised intake, water separation, cooler and cleaner air, and the Safari build quality and lifetime warranty. The difference between them is airflow capacity and who that capacity is built for.

The V-Spec uses a 3.5-inch air ram and is calibrated to deliver airflow comparable to the factory air cleaner housing. It replaces the factory intake efficiently and cleanly, giving the engine everything it was designed to receive in terms of air volume, delivered from a far better position and through a far cleaner path. For a 70 Series running a standard engine tune with no significant performance modifications, the V-Spec is the correct and complete solution. All of the protection, filtration, and water crossing benefits of a Safari snorkel are present, at a more accessible price point than the ARMAX.

The ARMAX uses a 4-inch air ram and is engineered to deliver up to 100% more airflow than the factory air intake. The wider bore body, the larger air ram, and the internal geometry were all developed and validated on Safari's in-house 1200 CFM airflow bench, with CFD analysis to optimise flow paths, FEA testing for structural integrity, and NVH analysis to minimise noise and vibration at high airflow rates. The ARMAX is built for 70 Series engines that have been modified for higher output and need more air to match - performance tunes, larger turbos, and upgraded exhaust systems all increase the engine's demand for incoming air, and the ARMAX is designed to supply it without restriction. On a stock engine the ARMAX performs every function the V-Spec does; the additional airflow capacity simply sits in reserve unless the engine is pulling hard under modification. Owners planning a tune or exhaust upgrade alongside a snorkel fit are better served by the ARMAX from the outset, rather than upgrading the snorkel later.

Narrow Front vs Wide Front: Getting the Fitment Right

The 70 Series has been in production since 1984 and covers a significant range of model years and body configurations. Getting the correct snorkel fitment for the specific variant is essential, and the key distinction for snorkel selection is the front guard width, which changed with the introduction of the V8 diesel engine in 2007.

Pre-2007 70 Series models, including the HZJ and HDJ variants across the 71, 73, 75, 78, and 79 Series body types, use the narrow front configuration. The engine bay is narrower and the guard shape differs from the later wide-front models. Safari produces specific ARMAX and V-Spec patterns for narrow front 70 Series fitment, and selecting the wrong pattern will result in a snorkel that does not mount correctly or seal properly against the guard.

From March 2007 onwards, the 76, 78, and 79 Series were updated with the 4.5-litre 1VD-FTV V8 turbocharged diesel and a wider engine bay to accommodate it. The front guards on these wide-front models are shaped differently to the earlier narrow front vehicles and require the wide-front Safari snorkel pattern. The 2024 facelift 70 Series, which introduced the 2.8-litre 1GD-FTV four-cylinder diesel to the Australian market, also uses its own specific snorkel fitment pattern. When selecting a Safari Snorkel for a 70 Series, confirming the exact model year and body type at the point of purchase ensures the correct kit is supplied.

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Installation: What to Expect

Safari Snorkels for the 70 Series are supplied with all mounting hardware, the rubber connection hose, and a full template and instruction set for cutting the guard and firewall penetration. The guard cut is the step that most owners approach cautiously, and correctly so. The template is designed to produce the right aperture in the right position, and following it precisely makes the difference between a clean, professional-looking install and one that requires remediation. The cut is permanent, so taking time to correctly position and secure the template before committing to the cut is the single most important step in the installation process.

The overall installation on a 70 Series is achievable as a DIY job for an owner with basic mechanical confidence and the right tools, typically taking three to five hours on a first attempt. The alternative is a workshop installation, which most 4WD accessory specialists can complete in a half-day. Either way, the result is a snorkel that is sealed correctly at the guard, connected cleanly to the air box, and operational immediately. Proper sealing at the guard penetration and at the connection hose is the most important quality check at the end of any installation, as any unsealed gap admits the contaminated air that the snorkel is specifically designed to exclude.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best snorkel for the 70 Series LandCruiser?

Safari Snorkels are the benchmark choice for the 70 Series in Australia. The range is Australian designed and manufactured, backed by a lifetime warranty, and engineered specifically for the protection and performance demands that Australian owners place on the platform. The ARMAX variant suits performance-modified engines requiring up to 100% more airflow than the factory intake, while the V-Spec suits stock and lightly modified engines. Both deliver the full suite of protection benefits including raised intake height, efficient water separation, and cooler and cleaner incoming air.

Does a snorkel improve engine performance on the 70 Series?

Yes, in two meaningful ways. First, cooler air drawn from roof height rather than the engine bay is denser and contains more oxygen, which supports more complete combustion on every cycle. Second, cleaner air from above the dust zone means the air filter stays cleaner for longer, reducing airflow restriction through the filter element over time. On a performance-modified 70 Series, the ARMAX snorkel's additional airflow capacity actively supports the modified engine's increased air demand, removing the intake as a restriction on power output.

What is the difference between the Safari ARMAX and V-Spec for the 70 Series?

The ARMAX uses a 4-inch air ram and delivers up to 100% more airflow than the factory intake, built for performance-modified engines running tunes, larger turbos, or upgraded exhaust systems. The V-Spec uses a 3.5-inch air ram and delivers airflow equivalent to the factory air cleaner housing, built for stock and standard engines. Both use the same stainless steel and EPDM hardware, both are made in Australia, and both carry a lifetime warranty. The choice depends on whether the engine is modified or standard.

What is the difference between narrow front and wide front Safari Snorkels?

Pre-2007 70 Series models use the narrow front snorkel pattern, suited to the HZJ and HDJ engine variants across the 71, 73, 75, 78, and 79 Series. Post-2007 models that received the 4.5-litre V8 turbocharged diesel use the wide front pattern, which matches the different guard shape of the updated body. The 2024 facelift models with the four-cylinder diesel also have their own specific pattern. Selecting the correct variant for the exact model year and body type is essential for correct fitment.

How deep can a 70 Series with a snorkel wade?

The practical wading depth with a snorkel fitted is significantly greater than the factory configuration and is ultimately limited by other factors before the air intake becomes an issue. With the air intake at roof height, the intake is well above any water depth the engine bay, axles, or differentials are designed to handle. The main constraints on wading depth with a snorkel are differential breather height, electrical component exposure, and the driver's confidence in reading water depth rather than the air intake position. A snorkel removes the intake from the equation and allows the owner to focus on the mechanical limits that remain.

Does the Safari Snorkel require cutting the factory guard?

Yes. Fitting any snorkel to the 70 Series requires cutting an aperture in the factory guard for the snorkel body to mount through. Safari supplies a precise template with every kit that positions the cut correctly for the specific model and variant. The cut is permanent, so following the template accurately before committing is the most important step. The finish around the cut is sealed and covered by the snorkel mounting flange, producing a clean result when the installation is completed correctly.