Safari V-Spec Snorkel SS175HF — Isuzu D-Max and MU-X from 06/2012, 3.0 diesel

The D-Max is a working vehicle: gravel, muddy access tracks, water crossings several times a day. The factory intake draws in exactly what hangs lowest — water thrown up by the wheels and the densest dust cloud behind the vehicle in front of you.

The Safari V-Spec snorkel moves the intake point to roof height and connects into the original airbox. The engine gets air from above, and the filter element stops working as a vacuum cleaner.

Key features

• 3½" Air Ram head with water separation — it does two jobs at once: it directs the air stream and drops rain and spray out of it.
• Cross-linked, UV-stabilised polyethylene with substantial wall thickness — it takes branch strikes and years of sun without losing its properties.
• Two templates in the kit — one for the inner guard and one for the guard panel, which genuinely shortens and orders the fitting job.
• Connects into the factory airbox — no improvised adaptors and no giving up the original filter element.
• Designed and manufactured in Australia — tooled specifically for the D-Max body.

Fitment

Isuzu D-Max and Isuzu MU-X from 06/2012 with the 3.0 diesel engine, including the 2017 facelift versions. The snorkel runs alongside the A-pillar and mounts to the front guard.

The kit does not fit 4x2 narrow body versions. Earlier D-Max models and the generation from 2020 onwards have different part numbers — if you are unsure, send us the VIN and we will check before dispatch.

Technical data

• Part number: SS175HF (listed here as ARB-SS175HF)
• Product line: Safari V-Spec (the HF suffix marks the V-Spec version)
• Material: cross-linked, UV-stabilised polyethylene with increased wall thickness
• Head: 3½" Air Ram, separating water out of the incoming air
• Vehicle: Isuzu D-Max / MU-X from 06/2012, 3.0 diesel (not for 4x2 narrow body)
• In the box: snorkel body, head, mounting hardware, radiator overflow bottle, fitting guide plus inner guard and guard panel templates

Fitting and notes

Fitting is permanent: an opening has to be cut in the front guard and holes drilled in the inner guard. The manufacturer supplies two templates — one for the inner guard, one for the outer panel — plus the full instructions. That is why fitting this snorkel is predictable, as long as you stay with the template.

Difficulty is moderate to high. The parts that need most care are cutting the sheet metal squarely, protecting the edges against corrosion and sealing the connection into the airbox — a leak at that joint defeats the whole installation, because air then gets drawn in beside the snorkel.

We can also fit it for you — Szekla4x4.pl is an online shop, a bricks-and-mortar store and a workshop focused on off-road and overlanding, so you can leave the vehicle with us and collect it with the intake already fitted and sealed.

Frequently asked questions

Will the snorkel let the vehicle wade deeper?

No. A snorkel moves the intake point up to roof height and protects the engine from ingesting water, but the wading depth declared by the vehicle manufacturer does not change. You are still limited by axle and gearbox breathers, door and floor seals, wiring, control modules in the sills, and bearings and joints that water reaches regardless of the intake. A snorkel removes one risk — the most expensive one, hydraulic lock — not all of them.

Does the guard have to be cut?

Yes. The snorkel passes through the front guard, so the opening is unavoidable. The kit contains two templates — for the inner guard and for the guard panel — which mark the cut. Cut edges must be treated against corrosion.

Does it fit my year and engine?

This part number is intended for the D-Max and MU-X from 06/2012 with the 3.0 diesel, including the 2017 facelift. It does not fit 4x2 narrow body versions. Earlier D-Max models and the generation from 2020 have different part numbers — send the VIN if you want certainty.

Can a cyclonic pre-filter be added?

Yes. The V-Spec head separates water droplets out of the incoming air on its own, and for dusty work it can be swapped for a cyclonic pre-cleaner. That is the standard answer to convoy driving on gravel: dust ends up in the collector bowl instead of in the air filter element, which then lasts considerably longer. Message us and we will match a cyclone to the head diameter.

Does the snorkel change intake behaviour or engine output?

The V-Spec line (the HF suffix in the part number) is a protective snorkel — its job is to raise and shield the intake and separate water out of the air stream, not to increase flow. Increased flow is what Safari's separate ARMAX line with the HP suffix is for. If you want a snorkel that primarily protects the engine and needs no tuning changes, V-Spec is the right choice.

Why it is worth it

• The D-Max usually works where the factory intake has the worst conditions — one part changes that, with no engine modifications.
• Two templates in the kit and body-specific tooling mean fitting without improvisation and without crooked edges.
• Thick-walled, cross-linked polyethylene handles branches and UV better than light copies that fade and crack after two seasons.

We are happy to confirm your D-Max version from the VIN and book a fitting slot in our workshop.