Review on 🚙 Rugged Ridge 17756.21 XHD Snorkel Kit for 07-18 Jeep Wrangler JK with 3.6L/3.8L Engine by Rahul Schatz

I won't lie it's a complicated installation but despite everything I did mine in a day and a half and without any help. I've read reviews saying this is a two person setup and a second person will help, but you can do it yourself. I have a moderate inclination to mechanics, so it does not require special knowledge, but a lot of patience. Here are the problems I ran into (or at least the ones I remember): - VERY IMPORTANT: Measure the cutout on the template to make sure it's correct. The one in the installation guide was off by a full inch for me, but the one I downloaded from the Rugged Ridge website was accurate. Measure it before using it to cut the wing. I carved with a dremel because I forgot I needed a new cutting disc for my angle grinder, but the dremel worked fine. - When cutting the wing, you will most likely need to cut the plate for the antenna. This is stated in the instructions but be aware that you need to be careful with this cut as you can easily cut through the outside of the wing and ruin it. I did it very slowly and carefully. A second pair of hands would be helpful here, but again you can do it yourself, just take your time. - Drilling the welds on the hood was a little tricky simply because the surface is flat and fairly smooth so movement of the drill could cause the pilot hole to come loose. This happened to me on one of the welds and I used a spatula to pry off the rest of that weld. This is where you need to be careful to store the hood if you ever want to take the hose off and restore your Jeep to its original appearance, which Rugged Ridge gives you the facility and equipment to do. - I've spent a lot of time beating the heat shield to the point where it can't be flexed and it still vibrates when it's cold and around 3000rpm so it's a shift indicator now. I'm not happy with it, but at least it's not permanent. The heat shield took up the most time for me as it's not easy due to the location and limited work space. This step is probably where I cursed the most. It sucks, but take your time and get it back as much as possible. - Since the airbox is now lower, I can't reattach the main hose to the motor. It's just not enough, but it doesn't move either. The manual says to attach it, but mine doesn't. Maybe you're lucky, but if not, it doesn't matter, the hose won't move. - You will need to bend the Z-bracket that goes into the hood area and attaches to the tube. Aligning the screws is tricky and at first I didn't think they would align properly but they do. It's a little tricky due to the position, but with some tweaking it will fit right. - I spent a lot of time dry fitting and trimming the 90 degree hose until it was properly seated. This is from the air intake side. I recommend taking your time here and getting it right. - DO NOT SKIP the step of painting the hood area black or you will regret not doing it. I painted mine and it looks great. If your Jeep is no longer black, you will notice a gap (albeit small) between the pipe and the hood area, as any color other than black will accentuate the gap. - I had to fold back the area where the inside of the tube wraps around the wall of the wing area. Make sure you have some sort of touch up paint or clear coat to cover this area as the paint will chip off if you flex it. - They say the inner fender doesn't need to be cut, but mine didn't fit until I did. It's plastic, easy to cut, and looks great when done right. - Installing a metal pipe is not easy, but if you are patient (which I am not), it will do. Just take your time and step back if you must. I got a bit confused here too. - I had some trouble aligning the metal tube bracket with the brake line bracket. It will take some work, but it will balance out. I ended up unscrewing the mounting screw all the way (the instructions say to loosen it) and if you find that you need to loosen the mounting screw, be aware that screwing it back in can be a difficult task. - Check if you have all your parts. I was missing two high mount plastic snorkel spacers for the screws (should be four). I contacted Rugged Ridge and they asked for proof of purchase (which I found odd for two pieces that were supposed to cost less than a dollar together). I sent them a screenshot of my Revain purchase and that was all that was needed and they emailed me the details. They may seem insignificant, but they are vital to installing a high-mount waterproof pipe. - In several reviews I noticed that the box is in poor condition, and so is mine. I'm not sure why that is, other than that they use a low quality cardstock. I expect more from a product in this price range. It's not picky, but it represents the quality of the company. That could also have been the reason why two parts were missing in my package. I know the list seems long, but don't let that put you off. Again, I'm not a professional mechanic and would rate my skills as moderate as an amateur. So if you can identify the tools required for this job, you can do it yourself. I just want to let you know here about some of the issues I'm having so you know what you're getting into and be prepared before you tear your Jeep apart. I would plan to complete this project over the weekend and if you do it in a day you will have a day off to get your Jeep on track but allow at least a day and a half. In the end I am very happy with this product with the exception of the 3000rpm vibration from the heat shield and I love that you can switch between high and low mount as I don't like the look of the high mount. I've received many compliments on this tube both on the track and on the street. I only ride the High Mount on trails and the Low Mount daily and am very happy with the way the Low Mount looks. If it wasn't for the heat protection issue I would give this product five stars.