[Drivesthebeast]

I've driven for many km's, and through the winter with the AEM CAI...no bypass, no bogging, just either avoided really deep or large puddles if possible, or just drove very slow through them, all with no problems.

Like the others said, it's upto you, and yes it's cheap to get one and put it inline between the filter and pipe. I wouldn't bother with a short ram...get the same effect from a stock airbox with the baffle removed and a K&N flat panel filter.