jimbo486

Does anyone here have an on-board air system? What are the specs of your system (compressor, tank size) and what accessories are you running? I just got my hands on a Viair 400c compressor; 2.54cfm @ 0psi, 33% at 72degs and 100psi duty cycle with a max. working pressure of 150psi, 2 gallon tank and some Omega air horns. I plan on piecing together a system to become fully self-reliant.



I think I'm going to rearrange the trumpets though. After mounting them and studying them more, I realized that they can be moved. The longest of the 3, the furthest in the picture, is pretty close to the shock. So I think I'll move it to the bottom for additional clearance. Maybe even try to turn them around to prevent water from getting inside of them also. As they are now, there wasn't any clearance to point them backwards. I've also thought of trying to mount them a little higher and aim them downward to prevent any excess water from gathering inside at the diaphragms.

sooty

check out the puma 12 volt portable, its way faster than my quick air, comes with the tank and regulator, i separated them to fit under hood, around 200. quick air-350.

BarryG

I am using an extremeaire from exteme outback
http://www.extremeoutback.com/produc...ompressor.html along iwth a 2.5 gal tank.
Have had it for 7 or 8 years and still works good as new.
As far as accessories I use it to run the horns and I ran a line to the front and rear of the truck so that I can air up the truck tires, trailer tires, my fishing float tube or whatever. I have a compressor in the garage so I dont really use it to run air tools.

jimbo486

I like your idea of having connections at the front and rear of the truck. What did you use to make the runs from the tank, PVC, copper, steel pipe...??

sooty

get specialized air line at the truck parts supply, like plastic water line, only very high pressure, vibration proof.

whiskers

I have the same Viair unit to run my airbags, also have a coupling at the rear bumper for air hose. Have aired up a feqw tires on the road. Not quite enough for my 360 ft lbs impact though. But handy as hell.

jimbo486

I got some instrument air lines from my work which is a plastic line as you mentioned. It's made by Parker called Parflex. 3/8" OD x .062" wall and rated for 125psi. I'm not sure what pressure the compressor cuts off at but if it's more than that, I'm sure I'll find out. This hose was free so I won't complain . This same hose is used on centrifuges at my work that are, for the most part, running 24 hours, 7 days a week. Being that a centrifuge is typically used to separate media of different masses, they don't exactly stay balanced well and because of that they are constantly vibrating. Of course, when I install all the line, it will be tied up and secured and kept away from anything that could wear or burn through the line.

Jim Lane

I built my system around a Viair 380-C compressor mounted in the back behind the passenger rear tire, it is connected to 2) 6- gallon air tanks off from a semi tractor, the first tank is by the compressor and the second air tank is mounted under the bed in front of the passenger tire, they are connected through a 1/2" ball valve and them a check valve to keep them isolated, they are connected using 1/2" Nylon air brake line, air from the second tank is then routed to various take off points on the truck, my air horns are fed using 3/8" nylon air brake line.

I have a coupling for my air hose under the hood and in the rear where I can connect my 12' hose or my 50' coiled air hose.

Tank pressure is maintained bteween 150 - 160 PSI

Tank pressure is displayed on a pressure gauge mounted behind my air horn valve.

Here is the air compressor I want to get, looks like a modified A/C compressor, 100% duty cycle @200 PSI



http://www.oasismfg.com/index.html

Jim

BarryG

For my air lines I just used heavy duty line (cant remember the material) snaked up front through the frame rail wherever possible. Been there 7 or 8 years and no problems. The rear is a short run and is more exposed but again no problems so far.

Jim that Compressor seems to be the macdaddy of electric on board air compressors. I looked seriously at them when I first started looking years ago but just couldnt justify the price of that bad boy. If I knew I was going to be using air tools frequently off the truck that might have been a different story but for horns, tires etc just couldnt make the leap.

jimbo486

How about any pictures of where you mounted your compressor(s) and tank(s)? I'm still trying to decide where on my truck would be a good location.

BarryG

Sorry no pics but hopefully a description will suffice
I didnt want to drill the frame rail so I went to homey depot and got some 1" square tubing with the holes drilled in it. I mounted my compressor to two lengths of that which were long enough to go above and below the frame rail. I then used two more sticks of equal length on the other side of the frame rail and bolted them together. Sandwiching the frame rail between them. Doing this allowed me to raise the compressor as high as possible underneath the bed behind the cab (higher than attaching it directly to the frame rail would have allowed). I then used some pieces of diamond plate aluminum that I had laying around and made an enclosure out of that which I attached to sides of the square tubing. The top is open but other than that it is very well protected. There is only a couple inches of space between the top of the enclosure and the bottom of the bed.

As far as the tank I used the same method with the square tubing mounted tank to two sticks of that and then placed two additional sticks on top of the rear bed crossmember and bolted them together as I did on the frame rail.

They have both been there 7 or 8 years with no issues.

Thunderhog

I mounted 2 Viair 100% duty cycle compressors and a 3 gallon tank under the left side cab. I have 1/2" Semi truck D.O.T. approved lines front to rear with quick connect fittings. I also have an air horn that I use frugally.
It does not perform as well as I expected, more air storage will help that.
That compressor Jim found looks AWESOME!
When you buy you fittings, purchase ONLY the good D.O.T. approved push lock fittings, spend the money up front and yo will never look back. The cheaper brass ones will leak, the good ones are Steel, and NOT cheap.
Also, make sure you cut your tubing straight! Mine will charge to 150 psi and takes several days to bleed down.

Sandaholic

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...p-t254430.html
Sandaholic's OBA & Airhorns Slideshow

jimbo486

I crawled around under my truck for a bit today looking for optional mounting locations. I was hoping to do something similar to what BarryG did but I had no such luck. Maybe since I have a flat bed as opposed to a standard pickup bed. Here's where I ended up mounting the compressor.







I also moved the longest trumpet to the lower position to keep it away from the shock. I think I'll be mounting the tank just above the hitch, between the frame rails.

jimbo486

Today I mounted the air tank and plumbed air lines. I built a cross-member out of flat aluminum, 37.5" x 2" x 1/4" that I bolted to each frame rail. The length of aluminum slipped between the frame rails by itself and I was hoping to be able to set it inside the frame with the tank bolted to it but there wasn't quite enough room to do so. That being the case, I have it bolted to the bottom of each frame rail using 3/8" 316 stainless bolts and hardware (even lock washers) and I feel like they'll hold well enough if I were to leave it bolted to the bottom of the frame. I'd still like to put it inside the frame but I'll see how it holds up after a couple days of driving.

















Pressure switch for 110psi on / 145 off.




I just might change all the brass push-lock fittings to 316 stainless compression fittings. Right now, everything is sort of mocked in position yet, functional.