is an air storage tank necessary?

I was just trying to think if it was worth it to install a tank at all... mostly for airing up the tires (precharge the tank when you get near the trailhead on your way out). reduce the workload on the air compressor (duty cycle), and the transition from 1 tire to the next should be sufficient to have the compressor recharge to quickly fill the next. It would all come down to the max pressure the tank can handle (most are tested to withstand 220-250PSI burst), the ARB dual can go as high as 150PSI, and storage of 1 gallon at 150PSI is about 1.3ft cubed. not sure of the calculations on a 33.3"tire, but I imagine the compressor would be kicking back on within seconds of starting to fill the first tire, so tank is kinda useless.. my other thought was the tank could be usefull for a larger impact, but again, capacity, and CFM used, just makes a smaller tank a bit useless...

as said before, an airtank/CO2 tank doesnt work for me, i have nowhere near me to get it filled easily. the cost, weight, and storing it onboard is a bit of a PITA as well. the ARB Dual I can hide away in the bedsides, and leave a quick connect in a convenient spot. I prefer not to take up one of the bedside cubbies (I store my ratchet straps, and 550 cord in these), but will if I have to.

I do have electrics.. I have a M12 1/4" impact, M12 ratchet, and I have a rigid 18v 1/2 impact (485 ft./lbs. of torque in forward and 620 ft./lbs. of torque in reverse)....

 

I think this is what it boils down to. My home compressor is a 24 gallon tank at 150 psi and if I'm airing up one of my 35" tires from 15 to 30 psi, it's cycling on by the time I get to the second tire. So a 1 gallon tank really won't be any help at all.

 

bringing this back for people who want to have the best of both worlds.

kick on the compressor, have tank filled to 150 or 200 or whatever highest pressure you are willing to run.
first tire benefits from the full tank, compressor is starting to cycle at whatever pressure you have the compressor pressure switch set up to, but until the tank drops to under the 35 (or so) pressure setting, it continues to provide help.
once the tank is depleted enough to be below the pressure switch, tank is cut off and eliminated from the circuit, so the compressor is only filling the tire volume.
between tires, while you are walking around the truck, the compressor will start filling up the tank to give you a small boost at the beginning of the next tire until the tank drops below the 35psi again.
continue until done with all tires.

basically a win-win for everything. and you can get a solenoid valve and pressure switch for probably under $50.

 

I have the same setup as @tacomarin , except I added a water separator (even though it's a horizontal tank), a psi/pressure valve (after the tank ), and an aux air chuck outlet by the rear bumper bracket. I also have an ARB locker up front.

I use a trigger style air chuck with a digital gauge for airing up tires and bike tires. I also have a trigger style air gun for blowing out filters, etc. I use the air gun almost as much as the digital air chuck (maybe even more so), and it wouldn't be possible without the tank.

I couldn't mount it in the bed because the Northstar slide in truck camper would block the compressor door (although, may not be an issue if it had a remote switch and remote air chuck outlets.

I also keep a mini 1/4" palm air driver for fun, with a 1/4" drill bit adaptor, and a step bit. It might work on soft wood or thin plastic, but I haven't tried any of it for real world use.
I also have a full M12 Milwaukee setup

Pictures and details upon request.

 

Back in the day people were running engine driven air compressors on their bagged trucks all the time. There were even dual compressor options so you could keep your air con. It's kind of surprising this isn't a more popular option. It's more work than wiring in an electric but way faster.

1 gallon of air at 150-200 psi won't fill a tire. Not even close.

The benefit of running the tank is you have a less restrictive path going to the tank from the compressor. The tank then fills the tire through the more restrictive schrader valves. Since your compressor doesn't have to fight against the schrader valve it runs more efficiently. In theory. But if you fill two tires at the same time that probably flows the same or better than the compressor can.

 

it's harder to fit an extra AC compressor on these OHC engines nowadays. It's still done all the time for trail rigs but you definitely don't see too many street cars going the edc route.

completely agree 1 gallon tank isn't going to fill a tire. but the theory works, and gets better with a bigger tank. Still no drawbacks aside from cost and packaging space

 

Interesting thoughts, I’ve been contemplating rear air bags and would rather have a compressor on board to air them up, then thought, why not have an air hose to fill a tire if need be.... tank or not..... sounds like not needed but won’t hurt. I’m not airing up tires for off road, just the one low trailer tire ya notice at the wrong time. Duty cycle will be the thing to watch I guess.

 

I have one of these air guns from ARB to blow dust or whatever. Haven’t used it yet. But I’m noticing that an air tank might be required to actually use the air gun, is this true? I have the arb single high output compressor but do I need to add a tank to use the air gun?

I’m considering adding a 3 gallon tank for airing up and to use the air gun.

And I’m seeing in this thread that I can add a low pressure switch to the tank so it bypasses the tank when it’s not useful and directly fills the tires as I air up, am I reading that correctly?

thank you for any help

 

I'd assume you need a tank, yes. Mine is the 1 gallon, and it only blows strong after the tank is full, then slowly dies off until I let it recharge, so I can't blow full steam. I also have a dual compressor, so twice the airflow. Sorry, I can't answer about the low-pressure switch. I'd imagine a 3 gal tank will work, but the recharge will be 6x slower than my dual compressor with a 1-gallon tank from empty to full pressure.

 

I’m assuming the same thing. That a tank is necessary to run the air gun. Damn! I didn’t realize that. Glad I haven’t tried to use it yet I guess. Maybe I’ll test it tonight just to see.
Now I’m wanting a tank and dual compressor. But I don’t need it. My single arb fills my 33s in about 10 minutes or so from 15psi. It’s really not a bad unit.