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Air compressor in a truck??

Deuling

Deuling

“I like to make things”
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Is their a way to hook up a small air compressor in a truck and somehow convert the 12v batter or off the alternator to power a small compressor??

At the sand dunes you have to air down your tires so you dont sink in the sand, and then when you leave theirs always lines for the air compressors so i thought it would be cool to have a reel mounted in the back and just air the tires up, or be able to really find the perfect air pressure on the dunes by starting real low, and working up and seeing how the differences work, because i want to be able to run the highest pressure possible and not get stuck. Idk just wondered if anybody has tried, im a plumber not an electrician lol.
 
Check out Viair. http://www.viaircorp.com/

You could also do a power tank. I made mine for around $100.00. I use it for air tools and airing up the tires. I used it once to swap out 4 axles on 2 Jeeps and their is a lot of air left.
 
If you wanted to run a 110v compressor, you could get a big inverter for it...but it would cost a lot. Construction uses gasoline powered compressors that are very tough and are 100% duty cycle, but for electric your best option is something like Viar that is a good duty cycle 12v compressor.

There is also CO2 I.e. Powertank.

The best option is to run an air conditioning compressor. My stock Delco A6 is 12ci displacement and will seat the inner+outer beads on my 40s at idle with no tank hooked up. Cost me about $30 in hoses and fittings so far, and I have a pressure switch I'll wire in once I drill some holes in the bumpers to use them as air tanks.
 
So, to summarize:

1: 12v compressor and tank -- cheap and easy, but slow.

2: Powertank/SCUBA bottle -- works great but can't refill on-site

3: OBA (on-board air) -- works great but fabbing in the compressor to run off the engine belts can be difficult. Not bad at all if you don't run A/C.


Dave
 
teacher_dave said:
So, to summarize:

1: 12v compressor and tank -- cheap and easy, but slow.

2: Powertank/SCUBA bottle -- works great but can't refill on-site

3: OBA (on-board air) -- works great but fabbing in the compressor to run off the engine belts can be difficult. Not bad at all if you don't run A/C.


Dave
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I personally run a compressor with a sump, but I have several friends that run a modern compressor and just put grease in there every month or so. There's have been working for years, and even if you broke it you could just get a cheap one from a junkyard...they're easy to check before you buy. I honestly feel like the only thing that should hold someone back on the on board system is if they want their AC to work because it's damn near easier than finding a place to mount a powertank or a big 12v compressor lol.
 
I setup a small 12v compressor with a 7 gallon tank for a trip a long time ago to the dunes and it kinda sucked. It took a long time to fill up and just wasn't worth the hassle. When I get ready to do OBA I'm going the York route (but no way in heck would I recommend buying that setup linked above, Kilby thinks their junk is gold plated). I also know guys that use CO2 and I think it's great bang for the buck. Fill-ups are cheap and the tank itself isn't bad (just don't get a "Power Tank", get a regular ol' CO2 tank from a welding supply house) plus CO2 is kinda handy because of the volume you can put out. I used a friend's tank to re-seat the bead on one of my TSL's on our last trip.
 
Hmm ok i guess i didnt think it would be that costly lol. I just thought it would be something cool in my truck or in my van. I do have a scuba tank for use with paintball gun refilling, i wonder if that would work at all or does it not compress enough?
 
Hey, That SCUBA tank idea is good. I have one sitting around. It hasn't had a hydro check in years but I am not breathing it either.
 
Yah cuz they pack them full with like 2000 psi so im sure with a regulator on it it would be good in an emergancy situation and not a huge waste of space or wiring headaches. The guy that fills mine knows its not used for diving so he doesnt even check the hydro date.
 
Deuling said:
Yah cuz they pack them full with like 2000 psi so im sure with a regulator on it it would be good in an emergancy situation and not a huge waste of space or wiring headaches. The guy that fills mine knows its not used for diving so he doesnt even check the hydro date.
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The reason for checking is to make sure the tank can still handle the pressure. If a tank explodes that he fills and is outdated it is his ass on the line. My guess is you either know him really well or he's just plain stupid.
 
I was thinking aqbout using my york compressor. They are awesome because they have their own oil supply seperate from the pump system
 
4X4HIGH said:
The reason for checking is to make sure the tank can still handle the pressure. If a tank explodes that he fills and is outdated it is his ass on the line. My guess is you either know him really well or he's just plain stupid.
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Ya I had an outdated 12oz for paintball explode in the back seat of my truck. I thought the defroster set off one of my 30-30 shells. I always blew those safety regs off because I store my tanks inside, don't drop them, etc but I am damn careful meow. I can't imagine a big tank in an enclosed space.

The scuba tank would be excellent. They have very thick walls and the aluminum is not terribly heavy.
 
4X4HIGH said:
The reason for checking is to make sure the tank can still handle the pressure. If a tank explodes that he fills and is outdated it is his ass on the line. My guess is you either know him really well or he's just plain stupid.
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Yep, that is true. They also check it for defects and it is there butt on the line.

The main reason for the hydrostat check on a SCUBA tank though is for moisture and corrosion inside the tank. One, you breath it, and two, like stated above, the corrosion can make the tank unstable.

As long as you keep your tank "very" secure, inside the vehicle, you will be okay. They are heavy and if you roll the truck it becomes a big, metal, head bashing, hunk of metal. If the valve gets busted off, it then becomes a big, metal, head bashing, MISSILE.
 
Lol yah he knows me, and this tank has never seen water, nor has it ever really left the bag its in. The guy i bought it from kept it in this padded duffle bag and filled his smaller air tanks with it. I keep it in my bedroom and use it maybe once a year. I would definately strap it down securley. How much volume you think they contain??? How many tires could be filled with a standard size tank??
 
The tank works great. Friend of mine has one and we used it a bunch when we were playing around Grayling.

Need to get one of these come to think of it.
 
Hey all,

The Oasis is awesome! My pockets aren't that deep yet. Is there a way, or has it been done, that I can run my 6.2 Diesel w/ turbo on Pass side, A/C on drivers side, PLUS another a/c compressor for air. I know it would be brackets and belt, but my trucks at the shop and I'm trying to remember if any belts will put tension on it if extended and if there is room to mount another a/c compressor sort of below and outside the real a/c compressor. Ideas?

-Dave
 
I thought yo had an M1009, those don't have A/C
Mohawk Dave said:
Hey all,

The Oasis is awesome! My pockets aren't that deep yet. Is there a way, or has it been done, that I can run my 6.2 Diesel w/ turbo on Pass side, A/C on drivers side, PLUS another a/c compressor for air. I know it would be brackets and belt, but my trucks at the shop and I'm trying to remember if any belts will put tension on it if extended and if there is room to mount another a/c compressor sort of below and outside the real a/c compressor. Ideas?

-Dave
Click to expand...
 
iceman,

A/c is on it's way to me via UPS! :thumb:

You are correct, they don't have a/c in military trim, but I live in SoCal and it gets HOT! and since i DD this, I bought a/c.

So, any ideas on my idea?

-Dave
 
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