Rugged Ridge XHD Snorkel Install & Review

This year, I partnered with RealTruck.com to tackle one of the most important upgrades for any serious overlander: a snorkel system. RealTruck sent me the Rugged Ridge XHD Snorkel, and in this blog post, I’m going to walk you through why I chose this snorkel, the full install process, what I love about it, and a few things that gave me pause.

1. The Ozarks in Arkansas – This region is filled with high water crossings. Some are shallow, sure—but others can creep up fast, especially after rain. Without proper protection, a waterlogged airbox can spell disaster for your engine.

2. Cape Lookout, North Carolina – This is an isolated, 60-mile-long barrier island off the coast. We’ll be dropped off with nothing but our rigs and what we pack. No stores, no services, just deep sand, ocean mist, and the raw Atlantic air. A snorkel offers protection against both water and airborne dust and sand that can clog your intake and compromise performance.

In both cases, I knew I needed something more than just wishful thinking. A snorkel would give me peace of mind, engine protection, and improve airflow while doubling as a cold air intake.

• Modular Design – This system can be run in a low-profile configuration for daily driving, then easily converted to the high-mount intake for trail days and water crossings.

• OEM-Inspired Aesthetics – Other snorkels can look bulky and bolt-on, with large tubes running down the fender. This model integrates much more smoothly with the Jeep’s natural body lines for a cleaner, more refined appearance.

Plus, Rugged Ridge is a trusted name in off-road accessories, and I knew I could count on RealTruck to get it to me quickly and offer great support if I ran into issues.

Now here’s where things got interesting.

I initially thought this install would be straightforward but time-consuming. After all, it required removing surface-level components like the passenger door, fender flare, and side panel. I figured it would be a 4–5 hour job, maybe longer since I’d be filming for YouTube.

But I quickly found out this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.

• Stubborn Hardware – Several components did not want to come off easily. Removing trim pieces without breaking clips or damaging panels was tricky.

• Fitment Sensitivity – Reinstalling parts after mounting the snorkel was frustrating. The alignment had to be just right, and even then, some areas felt overly tight or required persuasion to get everything back into place.

• Sealing Points – There were six separate locations that required watertight sealing using silicone. Each one became a potential failure point if not done perfectly.

There’s a lot to like about this system:

• Dual Configuration – Having the option to run either a low intake or a high-rise snorkel gives this setup flexibility that most systems don’t offer.

• Clean Look – I love the OEM+ appearance. It’s not bulky or obtrusive, and it blends into the Jeep’s design beautifully.

• Cold Air Performance – Snorkels don’t just help with water crossings—they can also boost airflow, acting as a true cold air intake. That’s a nice performance bonus, especially on long highway drives or high-altitude trails.

1. Too Many Seals

As I mentioned earlier, this snorkel requires six silicone-sealed connection points. That’s a lot. One bad seal could defeat the entire purpose of having a snorkel in the first place. While mine passed the smoke test, I’d recommend everyone double-check these seals before hitting any deep water.

2. Inner Fender Liner Incompatibility

Unfortunately, this snorkel blocks the ability to install an aftermarket inner fender liner in the front passenger wheel well. That means my Jeep is now more vulnerable to mud, debris, and rocks getting up into areas I’d rather keep protected.