Opinions about 12V On Board Air Compressors Please

[mwilson]

Good Morning All,

I am ordering my National Air Ride Seats and bases on Monday, also ordering Air Bag Kit for the rear suspension. I am going with the in-cab controls and will do an air system with an on-board compressor and tank.

What experiences have you had with the various brands of 12V compressors???

I know Pac-Brake, Firestone, etc. offer them and wonder about the following

(Noise)

(Mounting Location)

(Longevity)

I have viewed some older posts with very clever looking installs but with the passage of time I am wondering how things have held up.



I have also entertained the idea of adding a gear driven Cummins Air Compressor but need to get a CPL for a pattern from Cummins to see what would be involved. Might be prohibitive cost wise.

Be pretty cool to hear an Air Dryer purge off on a pick-up though..... :-laf





Any input, feedback etc. will be appreciated... .



Thanks,

Mike.

 

[seafish]

Mike, if you do a search under "air compressor" or on-board air, you will find several threads that already talk about the different compressors available. If you really want an engine driven compressor, Kilby sells a top-quality, trouble free kit that will run all day long off your cummins. Of course, this is an expensive option, IIRC about $1200.



Via Air makes a line of solid performing and relatively affordable 12v compressors that you can size to fit you budget AND air needs. Extreme Aire also makes a top-notch continuous duty compressor . Some people are also very happy with their Air Zenith compressors, despite some EARLY bearing failures that were a Parts sourcing problem. AZ is well past their early problems.



Remember, choose your compresor size based on your current and future air volume needs. Duty ratings are important because they represent the compressors ability to pump and run without overheating. Also rememebr that a larger 12v compressor will demand larger wire running to it. Some of these compressors pull 60 amps or more!!



If I had to get a large, continuous duty 12v, and I could afford it, I would go with the Extreme Aire or Extreme Aire magnum. There is a good write up here on TDR of someones installation. If I didn't want such a large compressor, I would pick the Via Air 400c. They have been making 12v compressors for a long time and are NOT a fly by night company. I would stay away from the smaller or rebranded Chinese made compresssors. I don't know hwo makes PacBrakes compressor, but I would stil pick the Via Air over it...

 

[AH64ID]

I have had several Viair's over the years and they are great pumps. My current one is a 450C.

 

[mwilson]

Just checked the Viair compressors out on my lunch break, nice looking units.



Has anyone mounted one vertically behind the RH front splash shield??



I will do some in depth thread searching when I get home tonight, just looking for info today to get me in the groove... ... ... ... .



when the paperwork and related issues get to be too much this afternoon I can think about compressors... :-laf

 

[BIGNASTY]

Extreme Air can run air tool's to make flat tire changing a snap can run air bags and about anything else you can think of and a very large set of AIR HORNS for the people that are busy on the cell phone at lights

 

[wcjp]

I had a small Viair that died. No replacement parts available. I am happy with my Air Zenith. It has an 80amp relay, 70amp fuse, 60 amp start up, 35amp continuous draw. Works awesome. Can't say it's better or worse than some of the others mentioned.

 

[SierraRam]

I have run a ViAir 450C for 7 years now and it has never let me down. I have a 165# pressure switch to operate my train horns at the optimum level and use it to air up my 37's. It usually runs continuously for 20-25 minutes while airing up. For the price you can't go wrong. I would make sure you by a continuous duty model.

 

[BarryG]

My Extreme aire is still going strong after 5+ years.



Products : Extreme Outback

 

[griggsd]

My Extreme Air is 7 yrs old, powers lockers, pac-brake and assorted air tools through a 2gallon tank; no problems whatsoever. Mounted it on drivers side, frame, ahead of rear axle with a fabbed splash guard.