Okay I think I finally got my wife to cave and she is going to let me buy a CAI. But I have a concern about mudding with a CAI. So my question is #1 what is the best CAI. #2 Will i have a problem mudding with a CAI?

A prefilter is cheap insurance against mud. silk and water. I have the volant, several good kits out there.

I have the Airaid cai and it stays bone dry when i take the truck through heavy mud and water. Plus it performs amazingly.

The problem isn't so much the Cai but the fact that the fender liners on the Se and LE trucks don't come down as far as the XE so when you get stuck and throw it in reverse you throw mud and water up into the air box. This will happen no matter if you have a Cai or the stock intake.

These are pics of my XE now go see if yours looks the same?
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Squidsup/1trans004.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Squidsup/2trans005.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Squidsup/3trans006.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/Squidsup/4trans008.jpg
As you can see this is my only opening.

squid hit the nail on the head, its not the intake, but the fender well liner that is of concern

I can attest to the lack of protection the liners give as i like to hit everything with speed, muddy water included. My engine was brown afterwards. Im also not to happy with the stock air box, it closes quite loosely. Any aftermarkets intakes which replace the stock box that anyone has opinions on?

VooDoo What lift and tire size are you running? I like the look of you SE.