On board air questions

Questions for you guys with on board air. Installing a Four Wheel Camper Project M on 2018 DCLB OR Taco. Set to install Firestone airbags. Looking at on board air. What are the pros and cons of going with something like a tankless ARB compressor vs a compressor and tank system? I would like to run a line out the back bumper for a chuck as well. Thanks for contributing.

 

Might want to take a look here. Wish I could help more but I’m still researching myself.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/oba-on-board-air-mega-thread-bs.299523/

 

Thank You

 

With the ARB, you’ll have endless air for bag adjustments and to help give consistent filling if you sprung a small leak and needed to get a repair done down the road.

The main con I can think of is noise from compressor running every time you use it

For the tank, pros are a quiet and cheaper setup, but cons are a limited supply without a compressor to refill.

EDIT: I realized you said Compressor VS Compressor and Tank, not just compressor VS tank. So ignore parts of my points where I didn’t realize this.

Would you ONLY use the compressor for filling bags or do you have a need for siding down/up for off road?

Having run PowerTanks, the single ARB and now the dual ARB, my take would be to get a small compressor (ARB single or Viair) if you just want adjustment in the bags and get a dual ARB if you want to use it for airing tires up after deflating for off road use. Tankless either way, IMO, unless you just find a dirt cheap tank.

 

The only difference in the setups you described is how often the compressor would kick on and how much of an air supply you'd have before kicking on.

 

Thank You Jman. I had not thought of a stand alone tank; just compressor vs compressor +tank. Id like to be able to adjust the bags for load and level. I’ve never had the option to air up or down tires but I’m pulling the trigger on a set of E load rated AT tires ( gonna be over 1000lbs wet) as I do go out to rocky rutted desert roads so probably a good option to have. The dual ARB is a likely candidate; Im still unclear as to the advantages/disadvantages (necessity?) of adding a tank to the system.

 

Not exactly related, as I have a 2nd gen and don't run airbags, but here's how I installed a ~6cfm compressor with ~1.5 gal tank and pressure regulator on my truck. Plenty of room for a tank under the cab!

 

Ah that makes sense. Thank You Strictly!

 

Thanks Mk5! Quite the mod! I like your writing style; especially in the Conclusion! Lol

 

Like stated above,
The tank is a reservoir so it’ll give you a good initial blast till the compressor needs to kick on, thus reducing cycles.


If you don’t plan on fluctuating the air often, might as well go tankless (less plumbing, less chance of air leaks)

I’m tankless and use an ARB single strictly for my 35s.

 

Thanks AlwaysHi, I get the picture now! Doesn’t seem like I would need a tank.

 

Chuck in the front bumper on mine. Reduces me opening my hood

 

Nice!

 

Thanks!

Now a couple years down the road, I'll say that my system has totally proven its worth for quick air-ups. It's only really slow trying to push the PSIs above 40. If I'm quick on my feet, I can easily air up from 15 to 30 -- probably safe for interstate speeds -- in just a few mins. It's really quick!

I only sit around waiting on the compressor for the final drive home, when I'm wanting 45 pounds in the tires. And regarding my rant, my buddy with the ARB only airs up to like 32, so no wonder I'm sitting there in a jealous rage waiting for mine to kick off at 45 after he slams his hood shut.

I don't think the 1.5 gal air tank and regulator play a huge role in quick fill-ups though, as I don't wait for the regulator to shut off the compressor. I could probably get the same result running the compressor directly to the tires. The air tank might help set a bead, but I haven't yet encountered that need. And for air bags, so long as they don't leak and are manually filled, I'm not sure you would need a tank either. The tank would only help if the system leaked air and required continuous pressure regulation -- it would reduce compressor cycling.


Without doubt, the ARB is the higher quality compressor. I should have bought it, but for me it's easier to ease into these "upgrades" by cheaping out on the central component. So I bought a cheapo compressor.

Also, if you're considering a tank-only option, then without doubt, CO2 is the way to go. So much air (err, moles of non-breathable gas) in such a tiny tank! No air compressor can come close to delivering those CFMs per weight or volume. Only downside is that the storage is finite. If you've got a leaky system, or can't find a CO2 refill en route, then you'll be stranded with no air.

 

Tank gives you more volumetric flow at a given pressure. Basically, the tank keeps a reserve of pressurized air that allows you to run air tools, seat beads, or fill tires/bags/etc. much much faster.

I have a tankless high output ARB on the daily driver for occasional tire inflating and air locker activation.

On the trail rig I have the small ARB just for air locker activation and am currently installing a second ARB twin compressor to a 2.5 gallon tank with chucks at every corner. This tank is to speed up the airing of 40's, seat beads, run air tools, and eventually power a ride height system. Also, the tank gives you emergency reserve in case the compressor goes down. It just depends on how powerful you want your system to be. The tank adds serious power to your compressor which in this case is the rate you can do work with air.

 

I run AOB on my tundra with dual Viair 444C compressors and a total of 7.5 gal air. I have air bags, chuck tucked up between the spare tire and the back bumper, and have an air horn waiting to be installed once I stop driving in mud every day. My air bags are hooked up with a self leveling kit which uses air from the tank via a valve vs the small compressor it came with.
I put my chuck at the back bumper so it would reach all 4 on the truck plus all 4 on my double axle trailers. I haven't used my AOB to run tools as I have a battery powered impact that I use, but it didn't have any issues filling my tractor tire when it was flat from a loose valve.

 

I've used the Viair compressor and fitted it into my bed mount toolbox. No. 6 welding cable goes back to the battery for power with no voltage drop. Its a 450 model and I also fitted the little air system with an "on-off" toggle that operates a 85-105 pressure switch relay. The 100% duty cycle rating of my particular compressor is at 100 psi / 20 amps so the pressure switch is there to remind me not to overwork the electric motor. I believe there is a thermal overload in the Viair unit - but I'd rather not use it.

After using the system for a while (for tires and Firestone bags), I got a small mil surplus aluminum tank from epay. It bugged me to stop and start the little compressor so many times for very limited air use. The air tank is on a short hose, plugs into the system with a quick disconnect - and it is free to be moved to fit whatever cargo I have in the bed.

 

I've got an ARB twin mounted under the front passenger seat on a desertdoesit mount. Haven't had a chance to finish to wiring yet though. One con I've heard is that they get hot when running for extend periods. A tank would cut down on that I suppose, but you've got to find a place to mount it. Do you really need a tank for just airbags? Mine will be for inflating tires only.

 

You can literally operate the air bags with a bicycle pump - I've done that on an older outfit (car with airlift overloads for a trailer). Volume requirements are tiny compared with tires (unless you have plumbing leaks!). The amp load of the compressor uses enough battery amps that the truck has to be running for a lot of use.

The compressor is basically a tire filling accessory - and more a requirement for refills after an off-road excursion. I also have a 5 gallon reservoir I plumb in the line when I want to idle the truck in my driveway and use it as an air source.