On-board air

[NPear]

I have a 2005 Ram 2500 Diesel quad cab, long bed. I do lots of forest road driving and would like to air down my tires to make for a smoother ride. I'd like to install an engine-mount air compressor and an air tank and lines to air up the tires when I reach pavement. My question is what are good options for the air compressor? I know of some small air compressors like the ARB but I want something that moves more volume faster. I have a Jeep CJ7 with an air conditioning compressor mounted where an idler pulley was and is run by the drive belt that was converted to on-board air, and I'm looking to do something similar with the Dodge. Any ideas? I'd rather not take up bed space by putting a compressor there, but I will if it ends up being best for me. Thanks for your input.
NickP

 

[6speed]

A compressor won't supply volume, you will need a tank to store the air if you want an run onboard system. I have a 3 gallon tank to run air horns, a supplemental air ride system and that is about all it can handle. But mine is a small electric compressor. And it is not a constant duty compressor. You might be able to find one that is run by the engine, there isn't a lot of room under the hood to run them and then they need oil supply mounting hardware and different belt. I think what you need is one of those that clamps to the battery that is designed to pump tires, but they are limited also.

 

[n7gxz]

If you want to go with an engine driven system using a converted AC compressor check out Kilby Enterprises, here is a link to the Dodge kit for '03-'06 trucks http://kilbyenterprises.com/KE-3100-K.htm

Kevin

 

[Ozymandias]

I installed a Viair System.
There is Room in the left fender for the compressor and the airtank is along the frame under the driver side.

#ad


#ad



#ad

 

[Ozymandias]

If you want to go with an engine driven system using a converted AC compressor check out Kilby Enterprises, here is a link to the Dodge kit for '03-'06 trucks http://kilbyenterprises.com/KE-3100-K.htm

Kevin

Thanks for the Link - that is a real sophisticated solution!

 

[NPear]

Thanks for all your responses. I checked out the Kilby kit and it's pretty nice but it's pricey. Makes me think of going the electric route such as the VIAIR. I wonder how long the air-up time would be for four tires going from 15psi to 55psi with the VIAIR and the air tank. Have you timed it, Ozymandias?

 

[Ozymandias]

I'm really sorry but I just don't know the Time.
Check it out here.
http://viaircorp.com/oba.html
For me the decision was to have a compressor with 100% Duty Cycle rather then maximum Speed.
So far I'm happy with it, and yes it is pretty fast with the filled tank to 150psi.

 

[CBari]

If time is an issue you can always add another tank. I got my tank from a OTR tractor salvage yard for cheap.

 

[BarryG]

Might also look at extremeoutback
https://www.extremeoutback.com/products/2/Air+Compressors.html

When I got mine over ten years ago they did not have the magnum compressor otherwise I may have gotten that one it provides close to twice the amount of air.

I have a 2.5 gallon tank and it is not near enough to fill the tires from 20-60psi anytime fast. However since the continuous duty cycle compressor it is of no importance outside of time.

Our tire (obviously variable depending on actual size) but a 32 inch tire 10.5 inches wide minus the rim I think is in the neighborhood of 15cf of air at 60psi. You already have 20psi in the tire so you are needing to add something like 10cf. 10cf with a compressor rating of 1.5 cfm is 6.6 minutes per tire of fill time (based on the 100psi cfm rating of the compressor it should be a bit quicker than that as the tire psi isnt that high). The tank will help the first tire some but you will need one very large tank to fill them all back up to 60psi.

Another option would be one of the co2 power tanks that hold like 3000psi Once low or empty take it in and get it refilled.
http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Power_Tank_System_15A

I had looked at Kilby when I did mine but even back then they were quite pricey. Regardless of how nice the system I could not justify the cost for my needs. I did my setup for well under half the cost at the time. Is it as fast, no, were I going to use air tools I may have thought differently but I don't, at least on the road.

 

[CharlesHoward]

My 5 Gallon Tank fed by VIAR compressor at over 100 PSI can take half an hour to air up a totally flat tire as it seemed to me (didn't time it)... Usually can top off the RV tires on just the tank.

 

[NPear]

My 5 Gallon Tank fed by VIAR compressor at over 100 PSI can take half an hour to air up a totally flat tire as it seemed to me (didn't time it)... Usually can top off the RV tires on just the tank.

Thanks for all your inputs. Now that my wife wants on-board air for her 4Runner (both rigs drive the dirt roads), as well, I'm now considering the Powertank for its portability. See link.


http://powertank.com/products/sfID1/13/productID/76

 

[lpennock]

I have a CO2 tank and wind up using my portable air compressor most of the time. With CO2 you need to go to a welding supply shop and have it refiled periodicialy which doesn't bother me too much. With CO2 the tires don't hold pressure so unless you are going out all the time you need to check your air pressure weekly if you use CO2 which bothers me more.

 

[Ozymandias]

Thanks for all your inputs. Now that my wife wants on-board air for her 4Runner (both rigs drive the dirt roads), as well, I'm now considering the Powertank for its portability. See link.


http://powertank.com/products/sfID1/13/productID/76

Did you find the Time Chart on the ViAir Site?

 

[Shadrach]

I had the Kilby on my 03. Worked great, overkill,but that's what we do best I just ordered a Pac 325 series to do the same thing as the OP. On Pac's site they make a Exhaust Brake kit for the 6.7 and in their install manual step 11 it shows the compressor being mounted behind the left driving light. http://pacbrake.com/wp-content/uploads/L6299.pdf

 

[n7gxz]

You can go with just the mounting kit and then source your own compressor/clutch/tank/etc. http://kilbyenterprises.com/KE-3100.htm

I built a Kilby style mount for my old 2001 5.9L and also for my new 2011 6.7L. On my 2011 I used a York 209SC which is the smallest 209 made and it will go from 0psi to 160psi filling a 5 gallon tank in about 90 seconds at engine idle speed.

Kevin

 

[BIGNASTY]

https://www.extremeoutback.com/products/2/Air+Compressors.html

And like CB said go to a BIG TRUCK junkyard and get a tank or Two and be done with it, this runs 1/2 impact without any problems.

 

[Ozymandias]

I had the Kilby on my 03. Worked great, overkill,but that's what we do best I just ordered a Pac 325 series to do the same thing as the OP. On Pac's site they make a Exhaust Brake kit for the 6.7 and in their install manual step 11 it shows the compressor being mounted behind the left driving light. http://pacbrake.com/wp-content/uploads/L6299.pdf

I would not recommend to install the compressor down there in the corner behind the foglight, this is one of the wettest, ugliest places on the truck for an electric installation.
This is just an easy, comfortable place for PAC to install it with less work.

 

[Shadrach]

Where would you mount it OZY? I don't drive my truck much in the winter anyway and where I live it is fairly dry.
David

 

[Ozymandias]

See my Picture on page one of this thread, I installed it in the rear upper corner of the left fender, there is plenty of room.
Dry and only a few dust. A good place for it.

 

[Bob4x4]

I used 2 big rig air tanks on my 94 mounted one each under the bed out side the frame rails,enough volumn to remove and reinstall the full set of tires on the truck.I used a 1/2 hp 12volt compressor from graingers.It was the same model used on my brothers H-1.The compressor was run off batt cable inside the bed -didn't take up much space
I used 1/2 inch air brake line to connect the componets.This system was enough to run a 1'' impact to do a big rig tire swap on the road,aired up tires from sand pressure to towing pressures about the same speed as my power tank does.