[davetha]

Hey guys,
I'm looking at doing an onboard air setup in the bed of my Ram HD. Have any of you done this before? I'm wanting to do something at minimum 6 gallons, but ideally around 10.

Should I go with a 12v compressor or belt driven? etc..

 

[davetha]

I think I found a solution that will work out best. Something like this http://www.viaircorp.com/oba-dual450C.html#tabs-3

I'd go with their 5 gallon tank though and maybe a dual 480C compressor. I went with the 220amp alternator. Is that going to be sufficient for running these compressors, or am I going to need to install another alternator?

The amp draw will be just shy of 50amps on the compressor.

 

[Off-Kilter]

What are you planning to use this for? If it is just for occasional use airing tires or lug wrenches, etc. it might be fine. Keep in mind that the compressor is probably going to get very hot.

Otherwise, I know some off-roaders that use air conditioning compressors on switched relays in the engine bay for better air flow output and higher duty cycling to re-air tires, run air tools, etc. That setup is more difficult and custom to install, but runs off of the motor and can be coupled with an onboard air tank.

 

[davetha]

This will be for airing up tires on my off road rigs. I've got one TJ stretched with D60/14bolt on 40s, and another TJ with 33s. I'm wanting to run a setup for airing up on the trail, and to allow me to use an impact wrench.

I know some people turn their AC into a compressor for a tank. I don't want to do that in the truck though. What I could do is get a belt driven compressor, and run a line to a tank though.

I was thinking about making a little box in the bed of the truck for the Tank and 12v compressor. Whenever I'd run it, I would just open up the box... that was at least the idea.

 

[Off-Kilter]

I don't have any experience with the viaair products but have used quickair in the past and been happy with them. I had some friends with the quickair 3 setups in their truck beds for what you talk about doing and they've been happy. I have a quickair 2 that I use and am happy, but the air flow isn't great for big tires. I had an FJ40 with a sbc 350 in it and compressor on the engine and buffer tank that was awesome. Never worried about running air tools or filling up tires on the trials. Used it a lot for fixing broken things on the trial, including re-seating tire beads.

 

[DonT]

I am using the ARB twin compressor kit which includes a small tank to do the same thing you are doing. I like that I can move it from truck to jeep or even the wife's car when we travel. It will run an impact wrench to change tires. If you need more air you can easily add a larger tank.

 

[huntergreen]

subscribed........

 

[Off-Kilter]

check out ih8mud . com and search for onboard air. Here is a link pulled from there:

http: //onboardair.com/kits . htm (I have no experience with this site)

I had a York compressor on my FJ that would smoke the quickair and viaair setups filling tires at the end. Could air up 2 vehicles to one even without the buffer tank.