Show Me Your Co2 Mounting Solutions

While it's probably not wise to leave the tank exposed in direct sun for days at a time, the real issue is leaving it inside the truck itself where temps get quite higher than ambient air on a hot ass day. But it won't "ignite" it's just going to send freezing ass co2 everywhere.

That and I meant to add, people have fire extinguishers in their truck beds with no issues, it wouldn't be any different with a CO2 tank

 

No... I know that CO2 is inert. The location of that pressurized tank is somewhat troubling.

 

I'd imagine that if it were to pop, it would do so at the weakest point. Sending that nozzle several thousand feet into the air...

 

I don't think any pressurized tank should be left sitting to bake in the summer sun, and I wouldn't do it. However, I have seen plenty of Robert's Oxygen Trucks making deliveries year round with the tanks strapped in a stake bed truck https://www.robertsoxygen.com/.

 

There's usually a relief valve or whatever you call it to mitigate that.

 

Could always switch to nitrous oxide, dent the f*ck out of your truck while bashing through the woods and over rocks for no other apparent reason than the fact that the obstacles are there, and then giggle your way home.

 

This is from another board but certainly applies:

This is the safety warning from Outback Air, and I think it's worth reading as summer cab temps can reach 160F and it also addresses the phase change differences at different temps/pressures.

. A CO2 cylinder is filled with liquid CO2 by weight. At the time of fill the temperature of the charge is extremely cold and the pressure is around 100 psi.
. When a fully charged CO2 cylinder warms up to room temperature (70 F), the pressure inside the cylinder increases to 837 psi.
. When the same cylinder reaches 87.9 F the entire charge becomes a gas no matter what the pressure. A fully charged CO2 cylinder at 87.9 F will have an internal pressure of approximately 1100 psi.
. At 120 F the same cylinder will have an internal pressure of nearly 2000 psi. This cylinder at 120 oF now has an internal pressure greater than the marked service pressure of a cylinder that is properly filled, not overfilled.
. At 155 F the same cylinder will reach a pressure of 3000 psi, a pressure great enough activate the safety vent on the valve, venting the CO2 charge.


Also, the tank should be kept vertical, from the other board as well:

"Boy I sure found that out the first time I used my CO2 tank. I didn't understand that the CO2 in a full tank was actually in liquid form and that I had to air up with the tank in an upright position. I had the tank, prone, behind the driver's seat and re-inflated my tires. The air chuck got very, very cold. But I persevered and aired up wishing I had a pair of gloves handy. Afterwards I closed the tank valve and headed down the road only to have the **** scared out of me and my brother when the air hose exploded, sounded like a rifle shot right behind me. Apparently the hose had filled with liquid CO2 and exceeded the strength of the hose. I found out why when chatting with the folks at the welding supply shop where I get the tank filled. I was buying a new hose, of course. The tires did seem to air up very quickly that day though."

 

Nice find. Very useful information!

 

Bumping old thread but tell me more about your mount.
Looking for something to bolt to the stock rails if possible, without making any new holes. @goblue82

 

Bumping for two reasons

1) Looks like the amarex 810 (I think) mount. I found mine on eBay for $45

2) What kind of regulators are you guys running? I'm leaning towards this one with the high(er) pressure hose wheelers also offers. Any other useful tidbits I should be aware of?

 

Note that most of these (purpose built) CO2 tanks are rated for at or near 3000 psi. While baking them in the hot sun isn't recommended, the engineering safety margins for quality cylinders are quite large. I'd never mount one in the cab or pointed at my head, but mine is mounted pretty similarly to those above in the bed of my truck and I have no worries about. That's why they're required to be inspected every 5 or 10 years depending on material. Typically pump them up to 5/3's working pressure during that test, which is why I don't worry about having the tank at my back.

 

Did that bracket have holes that lines up perfectly with the bed rails?

 

Co2 for tires? Wow

 

It's cheap, effective, and refills in 1/4 the time of compressed air.

 

HP tanks are supposed to be hydro tested to 3000 psi every 5 years. Smaller CO2 tanks for paintball have a burst disc that releases all the gas at a certain pressure and you have to replace the disc before refilling. Don’t paint the tank black. Don’t use it in it’s side unless you have a draw tube designed for horizontal use, you only want the gas beyond your HP valve, pressure regulators can be damaged when liquid CO2 changes to gas inside them, the rapid temp and pressure change fatigues the parts. Any hoses or other lower pressure parts beyond the regulator are unlikely to tolerate the pressure change from liquid to gas.

 

Do you mean line up with the the actual bed mounting rails or you mean the vertical grooves on the cab side of the bed? If it’s the latter, then yes they lined up if I recall. It’s been a while since I sold the entire setup but I still have the rivnuts in place.

 

I found a regulator specifically for CO2 on fleabay pretty cheap. I run 120psi through a hose rated to -40C, a working pressure of 300psi, and a burst at 3000psi. I found the tank on Craigslist for $40. When it's empty, I take it to a commercial gas exchange and swap tanks for about $35. They inspect each tank to ensure they're safe.

 

Yeah the vertical grooves in the bed/cab wall itself.

I have a mount but I would need to drill two more holes in it, argh! It’s seaigned for 6.5-8” fire extinguishers. But doesn’t lock as it’s meant to be inside a vehicle. I’m going to keep it as a way to lock the tank down in the LC though.

I like the idea of the PowerTank unit because it’s also locking, hmmm....