OBA -> On Board Air Mega Thread & BS

That's simple enough. But why don't you have the drain on the bottom?

 

Drain is on the bottom. Looking at the bottom of his truck.
Mine is mounted in the same fashion but at the front of the bed.

 

Like said obove, that is the bottom.

 

Maybe I'll do 2 of those lol

 

mine is the same as this.

 

Cut out your spare tire rack and weld in straight cross bars. That would give more room but still provide the structural support the rack gives and also give more manageable mounting options.

 

Hey Y'all,

I have an cmta12 compressor and an led light bar that I am rigging switches for into the below HVAC switch blanks and have a jerry level question.

I have the arb harness to power the compressor and since i am not running lockers, that means i have 2 plugs not in use. I am thinking of taking the easy way out and rigging the switch 1 plug on the harness to run my light bar relay.

The issue i am having is the diagram implies that the isolator/compressor power switch is the master for the other 2 switches, so i would have to power on the compressor to run the light bar. It l like the load to the compressor would cut off almost immediately with no air demand. I know for a fact that I would run the light bar more than the ARB, but both would be fairly seldom (to and from MTB trailheads, etc)

So my questions are:
1) Is it ok / safe to have (potential) load to the ARB for decently long times when not in use?
2) Does it make any sense to do it this way?

 

Having car seats in the back I can't ever get to the "storage" bins behind them so I put some tanks and a compressor back there and mounted a quick connect in the bed box. 4gal of air at 120psi.

Looks kinda shitty right now. I change my mind more often than I change underwear so I want to make sure this is where it's going to be and it works before I spend the time to make it pretty.



My helper:

My asshole alerter:

 

Got your own pit crew lol

 

Installed my compressor into my access cab today. Its a bit overkill for just airing up tires but I got a smokin deal on the compressor.
Thanks to all that contributed to this thread. It made my install much easier.



I did add a backing plate to mine as I did not trust the interior plastic to hold up over time.



There is a bit more detail on my build thread if anyone is interested.

 

All the parts needed for my setup arrived yesterday. Drilled all the holes yesterday on the mounting plate. Final install today.

 

After this past weekends debacle, I am looking for a small (portable) compressor to carry in my truck for emergencies/just in case moments. My budget is sub 100$ as I dont plan on using it every weekend to air up/down. I want something reliable that can inflate a flat tire after plugging in the woods on a camping/hunting/fishing trip. Im not super concerned about fill time, I just want something reliable thatll get the job done. Being able to pressurize a jug water would be a nice feature too for camping.

Narrowed it down to 3 - MV-50,

$91 Viair 88P Portable Compressor Kit (12V, 120 Psi, Forup to 33" Tires)

Viair 88P, and

$132 Smittybilt 2780 2.54 CFM Universal Air Compressor , Black

Smittybilt 2780. I remember seeing threads comparing the three but cannot locate them currently.

From all my research, Ive found that the gauge on MV-50 and the 88P is not reliable. Not a big deal.

The biggest things Im looking for is...


1. The ability to add a quick connect off the compressor to make storage easier and to be able to run a coiled longer/shorter hose as needed.

Research shows the MV-50 used a metric fitting, but can be drilled and tapped for fit a 1/4" NPT fitting. Ive not been able to find anything on the 88P. The Smittybilt 2780 has quick connect, but I cannot find any info on the thread size it uses. It appears to be a standard fitting of some sort.

2. Out of the 3, the biggest selling point Ive found is both the MV50 and the Smittybilt compressor gives the option of permanently mounting and hard wiring them. Ive found a few thread with some info on permanently mounting em which kinda has me leaning towards those 2 option. From my research, the Viair 88P isnt recommend to be under hood mounted.

Storage space in the (access) cab is already limited with all the other crap I have as it is and mounting a compressor under the hood would be MUCH more ideal than anywhere else. The only other unused spot to store the compressor would be in a rear cubby pocket.

3. I like the option of being able to convert the setup to a closed system by adding a check valve, water trap, pressure switch, & tank eventually.

I have some experience with on board air. My old lady's Jetta has air ride on it that was all set up and built by me - Viair 380c, check valve, water trap, 110/145 pressure switch, 5 gallon tank, then into the management. Its going on 4 years now with no issues. Im not looking to go anything that elaborate in the truck. Just a simple open setup that has the option of going closed eventually (but doubt I will as I have no need currently).

Im kinda leaning towards the MV50 based on the price and the fact it seems to be a popular option.

I would love to hear some real world input from fellow members who were in similar situations and came up with a solution. The truck has 265/70/17s on that get inflated to roughly 38psi. Lookin for real world inflate time and overheating info, ect.

 

Installed

 

I have the

$132 Smittybilt 2780 2.54 CFM Universal Air Compressor , Black

Smittybilt 2780, hard lined, hard mounted, and hard wired.
The smittybilt 2780 uses metric threads, I'd have to look it up to give exact numbers. You also have to be careful, the smittybilt and others that have open hoses, no pressure is built up when not connected to a tire, need special modifications(unloader) to relieve head pressure. If you don't relieve the head pressure you will damage the compressor.

265/75/16 about 3 mins each 18-40 psi
The compressor hasn't overheated, even after filling 3 trucks in summer.

 

Thanks for the reply. I believe I saw some stuff you posted about that a while ago which got me thinking.

 

So I am starting to look into an OBA system and really appreciate the great builds and this thread. I did a Google search comparing the VIAIR and the ARB and had a few questions. I understand the difference in the duty cycle and being that I want to run front and rear lockers, be able to air up all 4 tires (no larger than a 35"), and possibly be able to run some air tools it appears that I may want to run an external tank. The VIAIR has a nice package for all of it, but how big is the 450C and will it fit in the engine compartment? I would like to run the pump in the engine bay and keep the tank under the bed.

The ARB seems to have a nice product but for a pretty penny. I hear the twin compressor is a work horse, but has anyone ran a

$323 CKMA12 On-Board Air Compressor High Performance 12 Volt for Air Locker Differentials and Tire Inflation

CKMA12 to a tank with success? If I could run the single compressor to a tank, maybe that will work well for my use? If I weren't using a tank the single may be a little slow for airing up and I wouldn't have the option of using air tools.

Im sorry if this has been answered in this thread previously, I didn't make it through all 61 pages before I lost interest.

 

Any compressor can hook up to a tank. Fitting the Viair 450C in engine compartment really depends on which model taco you have and what kind of space you have - there's a lot of diff kinds, I can't keep up.

I actually had that set up: 450C + tank. I wasn't airing up as fast as my friends with the ARB compressors. Instead of scrapping what I had, I just got a second 450C and plumbed it inline. The ARBs generate more CFM so it'll air up faster. I would even have a "head start" by airing up the tank beforehand and everyone was still airing up faster than me. Now with two 450C plus the 2.5 gal tank (where I still do my "head start" trick), I can air up at pretty much the same time as them.

 

I have my ARB twin compressor going to a manifold then to a tank with no problems. Takes about 1 or 2 to fill the tank, granted it's a 1 gallon. But I just bought the tank so I'm not running the compressor so much.

 

Thanks for the input. So what exactly does the manifold do? From my understanding it's not required unless using a tank and it helps with heat dissipation but beyond that I don't understand its purpose. I was think of a 2 gallon tank just for the tires and air tools if needed.

 

It does help a little with heat, just more distance between the compressor head and the 'rubber' lines. It is not needed. I see 2 scenarios for it: 1-A small air tank for the lockers when not running a larger tank, 2-A distribution block (and more tank capacity) when used with a tank.

Any tank smaller than about 10 gallons will not help much with filling tires(negligible difference), and using air tools(better than no tank though).