S&B or Vararam or something else

[jimmyjames523]

I need input on which CAI intake i should install on my ram 1500. Mind you, I live in Ohio so i have to deal with crappy wet winter months. Please give me on which is best!! Seems like S&B and Vararam are the best

 

[doz]

I have used both. Vararam eeks out performance but the S&B fit and finish is top notch. Id go with S&B personally. Your butt dyno wont notice (the real dyno will hardly notice).

 

[Ram Man]

Had the vararam for about 5 months, nice top end gain that was incredibly noticeable. I always felt that the active shutters with the 8 speed hindered it to some point when they are closed.
With that said, I swapped intakes with a member on here last week so now I run a K&N,which gets the most hate on the forum. Love the switch honestly and haven't looked back. I did in fact loose that top end power gain, but what I did gain with the K&N was an awesome sounding rumble and also I gained 1 mpg back. The vararam adds no audible noise so I dont know if that's a good or bad thing for you. The k&n is very loud and sounds great with the stock sport exhaust IMO.

*these are my individual results/opinions, take it for what its worth

 

[blkbaretta]

I've been pleased with a Spectre CAI that I purchased recently. I was going more for looks and sound since these intakes don't really net much of a performance gain anyway - good way to save a few bucks and put them into some other mods. Just my opinion.

 

[Nanuk]

I have Vararam and live in North East , no issues , runs great and noticeable performance gain , not so much with MPG s thou ..... Got it from Moes and they sent me a free cleaning kit for the filter maintenance .

 

[xrsman]

I've got the S&B and I'm happy with it

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Witch]

Volant, very happy with it

100,000 mile filter = WIN

 

[regulator54]

Save yourself some money and do your own CAI mod by opening up the airbox in the bottom and putting in a 3" intake coupling. This is basically what the S&B does which adds another intake opening into the front of the airbox. There are DIY instructions in past postings you can search.

 

[DannyMK2]

having had them both....i'd go with the s&b if i had to do it again.

 

[Stp2001]

I have Vararam as well. i enjoy it and love how ppl react when they see it haha.

 

[Casper]

I need input on which CAI intake i should install on my ram 1500. Mind you, I live in Ohio so i have to deal with crappy wet winter months. Please give me on which is best!! Seems like S&B and Vararam are the best

For snow prone areas the S&B is probably your best option--I live in VA and we get our sloppy months too. No problems with S&B for over three years.

The thing is a CAI is only going to give you a little better combustion air. It feeds all the other add-ons, like headers, ported throttle body, and a tuner to bring it all together and in the darkness bind it (apologies to JRR Tolkien, but the tuner is where the big power payoff happens).

Spectre, Airaid and K&N are all open top designs. They attempt to seal against the underside of your hood and do a poor job of it. They do produce a heck of a lot more under hood throttle noise and some even whine at idle. No one would ever think that was power, or a supercharger, just a whiny intake.

That means instead of cold air you're getting heat saturated under hood intake air from those open top designs. Funny thing is they're not that much cheaper than and S&B, just not as well made or as effective. If you are just looking to jam more air at any temperature down the pipe that's a different story and explains why you often see customs intakes hanging in the engine bay with just a big filter. Your near-stock truck only needs a little bit of air more until you start goosing the HP with other stuff.

If you're not worried about sucking liquid, slush, snow, and don't go deep mudding, then the Vararam is the one with the ram-air effect with the drag strip time slips to prove it helps the 5.7.

 

[Rzrman328]

S&B has a nice look...sounds good under wot. But that's about it. Not gonna notice anything crazy without other mods being done.

Note: you have to remove the inner wheel well liner to install the s&b.

Can't speak for vararam as I have no experience with it.

 

[N1ck]

I want an Orange Vararam to use in the summer months but $$$$

 

[RR7_905RAM]

I love my Mopar intake!

 

[Hemi450hp]

You cant go wrong with either of these kits. The Vararam wins in the all out performance category, but the S&B has a better overall fit/finish. I have run both on my own trucks. I didnt see any mileage increase from either. And the S&B is a little louder than the Vararam.

 

[doz]

S&B has a nice look...sounds good under wot. But that's about it. Not gonna notice anything crazy without other mods being done.

Note: you have to remove the inner wheel well liner to install the s&b.

Can't speak for vararam as I have no experience with it.

You arent going to notice anything with the Vararam either. While they will provide gains, they are so minimal on a stock vehicle. Get some better exhaust flow and ported TB and a tune and then you will notice a difference. These trucks are constricted to all hell in the exhaust department. If you are looking for performance, you do not look for an intake first.

 

[jimmyjames523]

i have a flowmaster super 40 exhaust installed on my truck, just need an intake to go with it. im afraid to do a tuner because i dont want to void my warranty

 

[doz]

Then do not worry about what power an intake makes and go with what you like. If you like the "ram air" look when you open the hood, go with the Vararam. If you like a closed box solution, get the S&B. If you want an open element (I would suggest against this personally), get something like the K&N or a knock off brand.

 

[Ram Man]

Spectre, Airaid and K&N are all open top designs. They attempt to seal against the underside of your hood and do a poor job of it. They do produce a heck of a lot more under hood throttle noise and some even whine at idle. No one would ever think that was power, or a supercharger, just a whiny intake.

That means instead of cold air you're getting heat saturated under hood intake air from those open top designs. Funny thing is they're not that much cheaper than and S&B, just not as well made or as effective. If you are just looking to jam more air at any temperature down the pipe that's a different story and explains why you often see customs intakes hanging in the engine bay with just a big filter. Your near-stock truck only needs a little bit of air more until you start goosing the HP with other stuff.

Whiny?... Definitely not the right word. This video does a good job showing the difference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-8rGjUY5Ko

Also I think you're forgetting a huge part; the fender intake. The intakes aren't just sucking in hot engine bay air. Fresh, colder air is constantly being brought up from the fender just how the engineers designed it too... Its known that the Rams come with a pretty efficient intake to start with, this is the reason why.
The thing that never sat good with me about my vararam was while my active shutters are closed, what fresh, cold air was my vararam sucking in? According to my mpg's...not much. The ram air effect worked beautifully under heavy acceleration though!

Its all about what you want out of your purchase honestly. they ALL have pros and cons. Not one is gonna be superior in all ways. Too many people get caught up in confirmation bias

 

[Juniorss]

Hmm really debating the S and B. I like the audible noise. I just wish I could find it cheaoer than 300!