Does anyone have the Rusty's Offroad tube intake? It's only 40 bucks without a filter, about 70 with a K&N, but I see no heat shield? Did I get ripped off & waste 240 bucks on the Air Raid or is the Air Raid worth the extra cash?

 

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modified-jk-tech-2/rustys-off-road-air-tube-filters-4038/

I am thinkin about getting the rusty's air tube, we talked about it a little on this thread. I would imagine it is the same thing, just without the name brand on it and the protection like the air raid has.

 

Mine (the Air Raid) has a smooth tube that goes from the air filter back, I didn't know whether that made any difference or if the larger K&N filter would have better airflow.

 

I am planning on building my own also, thought some of you might find this link of interest.


http://www.amazon.com/Thermo-Tec-Coo.../dp/B000GKIESY

 

The Rusty's set-up appears to lack any dedicated, heat-shielded, sealed-off "chamber" for the inrushing cold air to stay cold, whereas my AIRAID has a very nicely designed and integrated metal chamber that seals with the top of the hood to create an isolated "chamber," shielded from engine heat... maybe a negligible difference, but I'm very happy with my AIRAID. I was really impressed with the product's fit & finish - it fit together VERY tightly, and I'm beginning to think I got an especially good one, because I haven't experienced any of the dreaded "CAI Whistle" that some others have complained about.

Additionally, AIRAID came in as the top-rated filter for filtration (very narrowly edging out AEM) in a 4x4 dirt comparison test (don't have the link to the forum post handy, but search the forum and you'll find it), whereas even the mighty K&N finished beneath these...

So, Rusty's may be a nice "budget" air intake, but I'd have to think that AIRAID is better - I'm using my own personal experience with my AIRAID (admittedly without any point of comparison for Rusty's), plus the old "you get what you pay for" maxim... Just my $.02.

 

I have the rusty's intake. It seems to give me a good little boost. My buddy had a jeep without, and I can tell the diff. I don't have a shield on it, and i think that makes a difference on highway driving - cold air gets to it easily. But i don't know how it will work in the summer. Seems to do fine in traffic also. Love the whistle it gives.

 

Yup yup. You got that right. Smoothing out the air transition is just as important as keeping heat out. That thing uses the stock intake tube with all those stupid folds in it. It's a waste of money. But then, so are most CAIs.