on board air

[SLinse]

I installed firestone air abgs awhile back, and well it's a pain not being able to air em up. I think I will also maybe add some air horns and a couple other things. What you guys opinion on on board air compressors?

 

[WDaniels]

Best thing since sliced bread.

WD

 

[Rman]

I'm designing a system for mine right now, I've been gathering parts for a month now. This spring I plan on the install. I'll post some info as the day comes.

 

[JGK]

This is the one I'm considering. Depends on your needs, of course. For air bags, horns, and occassional tire refill/top-off this one looks to be the best bang for the buck. If you're going to run air tools, probably need a belt-driven one.



-Jay

 

[SLinse]

JGK, that Viair pump looks about perfect! I will have to check around town to see if I can find a dealer.

 

[Dane]

Portable air

This is what I use -



#ad




I built it up from parts. It's a 3/4hp 100% duty cycle air cooled compressor. The power plug picks up the 40 amp trailer plug power.

 

[David Muench]

I'd go with www.onboardair.com for sure.

 

[GerryDrake]

Jay, that one you link to looks nice, but is pretty steep in $$... I bought one OTC that is used in Firestone air bag kits. It was around $130 and about 90% of the capacity of the one you mentioned. Then, I went on e-bay and bought a very similar one for a buy-it-now price of $46. 99 ... Just do a search for "12V compressor" and you will find several. The guy I bought from is forever listing more and more of them. Lists them as installed, but never operated, and the one I got looks brand new and operates as such.



If you are just airing up tires or such, they are fine alone, but for most air horns, and any kind of air tools, having an air tank in the system is a must. I mounted mine on a 6' length of 'unistrut' along with a relay, solenoid and a 5" diameter by 24" long tank, then mounted the whole thing up under the side running a short piece of angle iron from each end of my step rails. Now if I could just find that really really slow leak. . #@$%!

 

[Turbo Thom]

I've had the Thomas pump on mine for a year. It's used for the air ride and horns. With a 4 gal tank it hardly runs and has not given any trouble mounted under the truck. A tough little pump.



. . Preston. .

 

[mjlexus]

Does anyone have a half way decent electric onboard air as I just spoke to kilby they are not sure when their's will be done?

 

[mjlexus]

Does anyone have a half way decent electric onboard air as I just spoke to kilby they are not sure when their's will be done? It is about time I get one can't wait forever. it's an 03 ram.

 

[RWood]

Extreme Outback Extremeaire

This is a good compressor. It it 3/4 horsepower at 100% duty. It pushes 3. 8-4 cfm at the lower preasures. This is twice as much as most. It also has a lifetime garrantee. It can be found for around $350, but watch out for where the store is located beause you might have to pay taxes. It is avaliable a few online stores so do a search on google to find it.

 

[RJOL]

... Now if I could just find that really really slow leak. . #@$%!...

I've had one in my 2001 for over 4 years. Home made setup.



The slow leak your looking for can come from several places. Ruling out the obvious leaks at the connectors, the slow leak is usually caused by air leaking back through the pump, or if you have a air gauge it could be leaking there, or last but not least are the seleniods for the pressure switch or horn solenoid. Those leeks can be really hard to cure...

 

[Turbo Thom]

For the air leak, check where the line come out of the pump. If you have any movement at all, a leak can start there. Soapy water will tell you every time where it is.



. . Preston. .

 

[RJOL]

For the air leak, check where the line come out of the pump. If you have any movement at all, a leak can start there. Soapy water will tell you every time where it is.



. . Preston. .

Good point, but if the leak is in the solenoid, itself (in the inner seals) you will not detect it with soap. you will just have a very slow leak down the air line. This is hard to fix and if bad enough, you will just have to find a different solenoid (went through two or three different manufacturers until I found a good one) ...

 

[GerryDrake]

So slow

It is so slow a leak that the approximate 2. 1 gallon reservoir when left at 120# will still run the air horns pretty loud after sitting for 6 or 8 hours. Overnight, it drops off, but it's not that big a deal I guess. I used soapy water when it was still on the bench in the garage, and tightened up everything. The solenoid is not a likely suspect in my mind, but I guess I could undo the disconnect just upstream from it and see if it drops off. I think I will wait for warmer weather at any rate. . Thanks for the replies. . Gerry

 

[DBazley]

Shane:



I did my onboard air system in '98 when the Ram was new. It's been a swell deal to have plenty of air anytime. I run air horns, fill or empty my firestone bags, run tools, fill tires, etc.



I went to Grainger, the industrial supplier, and bought their best 12 v air compressor, a massively strong unit by Thomas. It makes the stuff at the Off Road Shops look 'discount' in comparison. It's the kind they put on ambulances, firetrucks and other Emergency vehicles. Back then, it was approx $ 500..... now, ??? ** But it's the most important item in your system, so why go cheap if you're going to the trouble to design & plumb the whole system ?



Next, a standard 5 gallon air tank from Home Depot, fab frame brackets to bolt to frame in space under bed passenger side at the front of bed, plenty of room. Compressor mounted above, with air switch and then connect the air line through inner bed.



I had a sheetmetal cover fabricated so when the bed is open, it's weather protected, and hidden. I then had it plumbed to the Air bag guage & control in the cab, mounted the solenoid for the air horn and also added quick disconnects at the tank itself for an airhose connection, and I carry a coiled hose to fill anything.



One improvement I'd like to make: I should take the time to have some braided steel air hoses made (maybe they're standard somewhere... . ) to help cure that slight air leak... .....



Hope this is of help to you... ... lots of good suggestions in the posts..... you won't be sorry once it's done..... makes your rig truly versatile.



It's kinda fun to see someone who desparately needs air lamenting their lack (usually it's a REAL need... ) and you shock the socks of of 'em when you click it on and air 'em up !



David B.



** The company that sold me the airhorns featured the exact Thomas unit in their catalog and it was $ 1300 +. I suspected such and the sales guy confirmed it was the same unit Grainger sold me for $ 500. He said they regularly sell them to municipal agencies, fire, police, etc and they don't complain about prices like us 'normal' folks do.

Lesson: I guess we give those guys so much in taxes, they don't have to shop around, right ?

 

[rbattelle]

Does anyone have a half way decent electric onboard air as I just spoke to kilby they are not sure when their's will be done? It is about time I get one can't wait forever. it's an 03 ram.

We've been waiting patiently in this thread in the 3rd gen forums. About once a month someone brings it back up to see if Kilby's got anywhere on it.



-Ryan

 

[rbattelle]

I went to Grainger, the industrial supplier, and bought their best 12 v air compressor, a massively strong unit by Thomas. It makes the stuff at the Off Road Shops look 'discount' in comparison. It's the kind they put on ambulances, firetrucks and other Emergency vehicles.

This one?



Flow rate seems low...



-Ryan

 

[Bob V]

Another option is to get an inverter and run a small 110 volt compressor. This is what I have on my truck and it works better than the modified AC compressors that I use to run, I have less that $300 in it and has lasted over a year so far with no problems. I got the Inverter from Costso for under $100. 00 and the compressor I got from Sears for under $100. 00 also.

Bob V