NW WA Meet / BS Thread

I LOVE my ARB dual compressor. Yes it is expensive but you have TWO compressors.

It all depends on what you are going to do with your truck.. What size tires are you going to be running? If its anything over 33" tires then i'd go dual because it'll take a while to fill them up each time with just a single.

Do you plan on running any air tools? If yes then you have to go with the ARB dual compressor from what i have heard the single isn't enough to keep a tank filled.

Are you going to run lockers as well? Im not sure if the single can run both front and rear lockers but the dual will easily.

I plan on putting on 35" tires and running full lockers in the future so thats why I went with the dual. As for mounting the guys at Mule Expedition Outfitters made me a custom mount, wired up and installed my compressor yesterday in 3 hours, behind the rear seat on the drivers side. If you'd like to take a look at it sometime let me know id be happy to show you. The dual is to big to fit anywhere under the hood without moving something so thats why I mounted it elsewhere but under the hood would have been most ideal. Hope this makes sense and im not just rambling haha

As for Viair I don't know much about that other than JDAM has one and loves it. If you don't plan on running lockers and just want a good portable compressor then it is a good option.

 

I can get a video of it running if you want

 

I have an old 4Runner... I bought a Viair 380c (I think) and I wired it up with battery clamps, so it works as a portable right now. I need to hard-mount it and I'm thinking I might be able to put it under the hood. If I get a tank, far off in the future, I would like to mount the spare on a rear bumper swing-out and put the tank in place of the spare. You could do something like that. I have heard of people mounting their compressors in place of the spare tire too, but I won't be doing that. Too much risk of it taking a dunk in a water crossing. Under the hood, I will try to mount the compressor behind the air intake pipe, and I plan to run the intake filter into the cabin to take advantage of some cleaner air. Without a tank, I will run the output to a block with multiple ports... One will have the pressure switch, I'm thinking one fitting going to the rear, and one fitting directly for the front. I'll probably seal off the rest and maybe do a pressure gauge and maybe airhorns in the future. I have heard that a tank, like 2 gallons, doesn't really do much for OBA to keep the compressor from running a lot. I think it is best to buy something with a high duty cycle and just plan on letting it run. Mine is 100% duty cycle, which is why I bought it instead of a more convenient portable solution.
Another thing about long inflation times... I recently bought a locking air fitting. That should make life a little easier at least. It will lock onto the valve so you can let go while it fills.

 

From what I understand, unless you have special needs, high PSI is the last feature you should worry about. Duty cycle is important for long times filling tires and scfm is more important than high PSI. Dual compressor systems will have far better/higher scfm, and that is really nice. Air lockers, from what I have read, require very little of any OBA system. They don't require high scfm, or high pressure, or long duty cycles. Any system should be capable of running a locker. Air tools are a whole different game. Having high enough scfm to run tools takes a serious install, but I am sure some of the dual ARB systems would be good. Those seem like really good setups.

NWTaco, that setup looks awesome!!

 

Thanks!! I love it, I know I said before "who needs OBA when you could have a CO2 tank and fill your tires 3 times faster" but this compressor is so amazing, Mule did a perfect install on it and couldn't be happier.

BTW if all you want to do is fill up your tires then a 5lb or 10lb CO2 tank is another good option, if you don't mind having to refill it every so often.

 

I have a single ARB with a dual output:
1 to locker
2 to air up tires via hose

Issues:
It is slow to pump up tires, nothing more than that.
It was installed by the prior owner so I have no clue on the age of it.
But the ARB tech in Renton HQ did help me with the solenoid and 90 degree coupling as it was too deep and wouldn't release the locker.
New solenoid, new 90 degree coupler, new blue air hose to locker = awesomeness.

I just found this: Extreme Outback

 

Back when i had my Jeep Grand Cherokee, I had THIS kit. I substituted the 2.5gal for a 1gal tank as i only had room for 1gal installing it into the spare wheel well in the back. and i only really needed it for running air-lockers. but i wanted to ability to fill tires as well. Now with that said, I could use it to air up tires after coming off the trail, but i found the compressor got quite hot, as it was running constantly, and it was only designed for 33% duty cycle. It did however manage to fill my tires much quicker than my buddy's who had a portable 12V cigarette plug compressor. If you're gonna be filling big tires, i'd recommend you get a 100% duty cycling compressor. just my two cents.

 

Blasphemy on Yahoo about our Tacoma's.
https://www.yahoo.com/autos/10-cars-youd-be-foolish-to-buy-115305847262.html

 

The setup you have seems sick... just a little pricy for me right now. I like the Co2 idea, didn't think of that. But I don't want to have the bulky tank in the bed. Listening to you guys and seeing your pics I was thinking........ I sold my stock tires and rims and have a full size 5th wheel I put in the bed when wheeling. Im thinking I do the Medium Duty VIAIR system mount the tank under the bed and run the compressor and lines from underneath the seat. might take some modifying of the plastic storage area under the seat, but I like the idea of it being out of the way and running a connector coming out from under the seats!?

Someone mentioned something about heat issues??? NWTACO have you had and plastic melting behind the seats at all?
I would like to find a way to run and electric switch to the dash to turn the compressor on and off, allow the tank to fill as Im driving and when I stop be able to just connect the hose and start filling my tires. Eventually...... long term, it might power a locker and maybe a small tool or two. But I haven't planned for that or needed it yet...... so its not a priority (mostly just for airing up and a potential front locker)

 

Thanks for the interest/input from everyone so far today!! I will watch the thread and post up when I make a decision...... and when it arrives!! I might need a hand, weather is getting warm, BBQ has already been going, beer drinking has never stopped! Maybe we can set up a MOD day and take advantage of the weather.

 

I've only had the compressor there for 2 days now so no plastic melting haha but since I only have 265's it doesn't take long for the dual compressor to fill them up so Im not worried about heat.. If i had 37"s then id get the manifold kit for the compressor.

 

twas i who was having heat issues. but that might be because it was tucked away in a spare wheel underneath the rear floor board. but nothing melted, as it was all metal in there.
Food for thought though, if you get a portable compressor to air up tires and such, then you can at least take it out of your tacoma, and put it in a different vehicle for when you're using that vehicle for a long trip or something.

I like BBQ and beer. They go well together.

OOO me too! 265/75R16 BFG A/T KO2.

-C

 

I had a good laugh at that article. Good for towing...ummm not really. Punchy engine...dont htink many of us are going ot say its a "punchy" engine...well maybe with a supercharger! THen they top it off by saying dont buy a fully loaded Taco cause you can get a base model full size for the same price Oo

I did like the Mitsubishi Mirage review. I had one as a rental car. What a giant POS. No acceleration at all, vibrated, no comfortable at all!



As for the air compressor...i have the single ARB unit waiting for me at home. ECGS did a video of a 33" tire 0-35psi in like 4 minutes which isnt to bad. I'd love to devise a setup to fill all four tires at once but the single unit is probably bit to weak for that

 

Well I went out and actually timed it and it was 1 minute 5 seconds to go from 10-35psi, I thought it was less but that is still pretty quick.

As for all 4 tires at once look up CTIS (central tire inflation system), I would love to have it..

 

Most of the setups i see being sold are expensive. not a true CTIS since those are WAY to expensive. But Ive been looking at basically just running a setup withe a 4 way slipper at a manifold with some way to have a gauge connected (ive seen them made). Then just have a "in" port by the compressor and then a "to tire" port close to each wheel. Then be able to just hook up a like 4' section of hose to each tire, hook up compressor to the in and start inflating. Could work for deflating too with a like blowoff valve.


But thats way in the future! I have to many mods to do already

 

So being a truck driver, compressed air is very important to me. and if i have an air leak i'd like to know where and why. Would a CTIS system notify you that it's constantly filling a tire that has a nail in it? i'd rather the tire go flat, and then i know where the air is going. Plus even 100% duty cycle compressors need a break. running them constantly is not a good thing. it will burn itself out. Even the air compressor that's on my semi doesn't run all the time. and if it is, then that's not good.

 

I think the only way you'd know would be hearing the compressor run a lot, although you could install gauges that show each specific tires pressure.

 

I have a Viair dual 380 compressor set with an 11gal tank where my spare tire goes.

I have had no issues and it supplies a lot of air fast. I have a small gauge in my temp/compass overhead.

 

Whats the word on any upcoming meets?