OBA -> On Board Air Mega Thread & BS

This thread is exactly what I was looking for.

I just ordered a dual Viar 480c kit. I was planning on the 2.5 gal tank but now I have more options.

I plan on doing a tank for horns, tire inflation and quick disconnect in the bed for tools.

 

Not sure where the OP disappeared off too

 

It's all good. I just wanted to sub. There is plenty of information on the 11 pages. I think I can get it all pieced together but I may have questions while I am at it.

 

You mounting the 480s behind each tail light ?

 

I haven't really decided. My original plan was to mount small compressors in the useless storage bins toward the front of the bed but those small compressors were crap. Thats when I started looking at different brands/makes, prices and CFM. I decided to go with the 480c. The cheapest 480c I could find was $245 shipped but I found a dual 480c kit for $350 shipped so I just went with that.

While going through this thread I have found a lot of good mounting spots but, like someone mentioned earlier, I worry if I mount the compressors too far away from the tank I will loose compression through the lines. I will probably use the storage bins for the breathers at least. I'm pretty sure I will be installing the gauges/regulator in the bed above the power unit.

Do you guys stay pressurized at all times or do you just air up when you plan on using it? Did anyone end up getting those AVS 2 gal slim tanks?

 

No need to worry about loss of compression with extended leader hoses, it's just more space for the compressor to fill. It's going to fill until the entire system reaches the pressure switch's set PSI. I have a leader hose thats 2x the length of the included. Just make sure to get a stainless steel hose made that can withstand the heat and pressure.

I'd mount the 480's behind the tail lights. I wish my Air Zenith would have fit there. Somewhere you can co-locate them together would be good too, it'll minimize the fittings and wiring. The AVS slim tanks arlong, so they'd have to go inside of the bed sides. A ton of work, to get access to the tanks, and fittings. I have the AVS 5 gallon under my bed. e

If I know I'm heading somewhere to air up, I'll kick it on so it'll be full when I need it. I do have a slight air leak somewhere I need to locate so my compressor kicks on every 2hrs or so when it drops below 160psi.

 

I am all about minimizing lol

I am hoping that once I have everything installed and working I wont have to access them too much (other then to drain the tank occasionally). Not saying I am going to do it but would there be any pros/cons to having multiple tanks? example: 5 gal under bed and 2 gal in bedsides?

Also how does your 5 gal fit under there? is it snug or do you have room?

 

I

Way overkill to have 7 gallons of air on a truck for filling tires and run a air horn.

The 5 gallon is TIGHT between the frame rails. Can't use some of the Ports because of this.

As far as draining, you can wire a valve to remotely dump the tank. Adding more tanks also makes more fittings for leaks !

 

I totally agree; more fittings, more leaks. I was looking at the AVS 5 gal and they have a bunch of differnet options. They only make ones with ports on the top (bottom in our case) for the 9 port version.

And I just realized I paid $350 for the dual 480c kit when there is a dual 480c kit with 5 gal tank for $400 shipped... Thats annoying.

 

You can always run a manifold block. Not too concerned with ports on the tank. I can use three of mine. Pressure switch, leader hose and one out. Going to put a manifold block on it for my regulator for lockers and running front and rear air line for quick disconnects in each bumper.

You can also use the block to eliminate the need for extended leaders as they are expensive and you'll need two.

 

Just received my Viair 480c compressors today. I am hoping to be able to play with mounting locations this weekend. Aaron, you said that behind the taillights is the best location. Will I have to pull off my bedsides or can it be done through the cubby hole and under the bed?

 

You'll just have to pull the taillights and the Cubby's out of the bed. Should be able to get up there no issues. That's how I test fit mine, and found it was too beastly.

Looking forward to your oba build !

 

I started playing around with the passanger side. I pulled the tail light and the cubby. It fits but just barely. I got one whole drilled but it's looking like I have very limited access to the other 3 holes I would need to drill. If I could get the rear wheel well liner out I should be able to shoot the holes from the inside but other than cutting them out it looks like that will be a job in it's self.

I will update as soon as I have time to mess with it again.

 

I ended up just ripping mine out, I have to cut them for my hc bumper anyways. Just remove the three rear bolts, and pull the clips out. You can flap it towards the front and have plenty of room

 

I got the holes drilled and finally found a 3/8" theaded female coupler to put on the end for now. I also worked on a dual tire chuck to fill one side at a time. I got most of the wiring yesterday so I may be trying to finish that part up this weekend. This shit is NOT cheap.

 

Brass and copper costs are outrageous

 

Going to have to get some photos of my set-up and post it here. Viair 450 (I think?) compressor mounted on RH tail light bulkhead, 4 gallon tank under the bed (no spare under there anymore). A cubby mounted home built manifold with regulator for ARB lockers at 80 PSI and Quick Disconnect for hose to fill tires, pressure gauges pre and post regulator, two ASCO solenoids for the lockers on manifold. 8 gauge wirie for compressor 16 gauge for control all in Riuku (German) flex conduit routed bside factory wire harness so it looks legit. All wire connections sealed inside aluminum junction boxes with gasketed covers. Dash panel for compressor on/off swithc and locked enable switches with indicator lights.

 

Sounds legit!!

 

So I'm a little retarded but its what ever. I just mounted the compressors through the cubby holes. I started with the Passanger side and it worked great. I then did the Driver side and forgot that the cubby on that side is deeper because it doesn't have the electrical outlet. I will have to cut the cubby just a little bit but thats not a big deal to me. If it's not raining tomorrow I may finish up the wiring.

 

Might as well copy/paste my install on here. Eventually I"ll have to add a manifold when I do an air locker but for the time being this is my setup, maybe it'll help some people.

Well I've been gathering parts for the past couple weeks to do onboard air. I picked up a Viair 444c pump and 5 gallon aluminum tank from a friend of mine who was reworking his airbag setup on his Audi. My dad had a pressure gauge from an overload airbag setup he had a few years back and the rest of the hose/fittings/wire I either had laying around or picked up from a local commercial truck shop. My plan was to mount the tank under the truck and the pump in one of the rear cubbies. That plan changed a bit when the pump was larger than the cubby and I didn't really feel like cutting into the storage compartment to make it fit, so then I decided to mount it behind the rear seats on the passenger side. I still mounted the tank under the truck where my spare tire once was. Under the truck is a sweet spot for the tank since its basically unused space but I wanted the tank protected and mounted level too or above the bottom of my high clearance rear bumper. The solution to protecting the tank and mounting it that high was to build a skid plate/mount for the tank. Lucky for me we were having a mod day here in Reno at the Relentless Fabrication shop. Eric was cool enough to take my rough idea, draw it up in CAD and cut it out with his CNC Plasma. We then used his press break and some big hammers to create the bends needed to mount the skid to the factory rear bumper mounts. All in all I'm very happy with how the compressor, tank, and the skid turned out to complete my OBA setup. Thanks again Eric! Here are some pics of it all complete and where I routed the air chucks too.


Front of the tank, with the pressure switch/relay unit facing forward.


Compressor mounted behind the seat in the storage compartment.




Front air quick connect with protective cap.


Pressure gauge and compressor on/off switch.....just haven't gotten the correct switch cover yet. Pay no attention to the coffee dribbles.


Rear quick connect with cap. Mounted it to the tank mount as well since its fairly accessible.


Side view from the rear of the truck.


All tucked up and out of the way. Ready to go camping!