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Keeping Your Snorkel and Roof Rack From Looking Like Shite

Red dust, creek crossings, and corrugated roads don't just test your 4WD—they test your cleaning game. Most people get it wrong.

Off-road gear takes a beating from UV and red dust. Here is how to keep your snorkel and rack looking fresh without spending all day on it.

MT
Mick Thompson Senior Detailing Editor
| Updated: 18 March 2026
What You'll Learn
Keeping Your Snorkel and Roof Rack From Looking Like Shite

Aussie Conditions

Aussie red dust is iron-rich and bonds to paint. A regular rinse won't cut it—you need proper pre-wash and pH-neutral soap to avoid scratching.
Quick Summary

Look, we all love a kitted-out 4x4, but nothing looks worse than a faded, chalky snorkel or a roof rack caked in salt and dead bugs. After the summer we've had, your plastic and powder-coated gear is probably crying out for some love. I'm going to show you how to protect your investment before the autumn sun finishes it off.

01

The Reality of the Aussie Sun

Most blokes reckon once the snorkel is bolted on, that's the end of it. Wrong. Between the brutal UV we get in March and that nightmare red dust that gets into every pore of the plastic, your gear can go from 'brand new' to 'old farm ute' in six months. I learned this the hard way on a black Commodore I used to have, left the trim alone for one summer and it turned a nasty shade of grey that no product could fix. Don't let your Safari or Rhino-Rack suffer the same fate.

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Blast the Dust First

Before you even touch a sponge, give the snorkel and rack a proper high-pressure rinse. That red outback dust is basically liquid sandpaper. If you start scrubbing straight away, you'll scratch the hell out of the powder coating on your rack. Give it a good blast, especially in the channels where the salt spray likes to hide if you've been near the coast.

Ditch the Tyre Shine

I see guys at the servo all the time chucking cheap, greasy tyre shine on their snorkels to make them look black. Honestly, don't bother. It's a dust magnet. Five minutes down a gravel road and your snorkel will look like a lamington. Use a dedicated trim protectant like Bowden’s Own 'Mr Black' or Gtechniq C4. It dries to the touch and actually blocks UV.

The Bug Problem

If you've just come back from a trip and the front of your rack is plastered in guts, don't just scrub harder. I once had a customer try to scrape dried grasshoppers off his rack with a kitchen scourer, ruined the finish. Use a proper bug remover or even just a wet towel draped over the area for 10 minutes to soften them up first. She'll be right then.

Check Your Bolts

While you're up there cleaning the rack, give the mounting bolts a quick wiggle. Corrugated roads have a way of loosening things you'd swear were tight. I make it a habit every time I'm washing the roof. A loose rack isn't just annoying, it'll vibrate and rub the paint off your roof gutters, which is a massive headache to fix later.
02

The Essential Kit

What You'll Need

0/5
Soft-bristled brush — Great for getting into the grill of the snorkel head.
Quality APC (All Purpose Cleaner) — Something like Meguiar's APC diluted down works wonders.
Microfibre wash mitt — Use a separate one for the roof than you use for the paint.
UV Protectant — Must be non-greasy so it doesn't attract dust.
Step ladder — Don't be a hero and stand on your tyres; it's not worth the fall.

Watch Out

Never use WD-40 or silicone sprays to 'shine up' your snorkel. It might look good for a photo, but it'll bake in the sun and eventually cause the plastic to go brittle. Also, stay away from the automatic car wash if you've got a big rack, those brushes love to get snagged on light bars and awnings.
03

Common Questions

How do I get red dust out of the textured plastic?
Use a soft brush and a decent cleaner. If it's really stuck, a clay bar can actually work on plastic, but usually, a bit of elbow grease with a citrus-based cleaner does the trick.
My roof rack is already turning white, can I save it?
If it's powder-coated, you can try a very fine polish to bring back some life, but once the UV has truly killed it, you're looking at a respray or a replacement. Prevention is the go here.
Is it worth ceramic coating a snorkel?
Reckon it is, actually. I did it to a mate's 79 Series and the dust just blows off now. It's more expensive upfront but saves a lot of cleaning time in the long run.

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