On Board Air, My Holiday Project

This is my first original post here at TW.
I have been fabbing my whole life and have posted fab threads on other boards.
I recently sold a truck after removing tons a goodies, only to sell to capture a little more return on the truck.
One item that didn't sell is a Viair 330C pump and 2.5 gallon tank I had built on to a modular rack system.

The rack system as it sits would only fit in the bed and I don't want that.
I removed the tank from the rack and cut the mount legs off. Then shortened them by an inch and a half.

I haven't welded it back yet until I'm sure of the location. There is great room for it inboard the frame rail on the passenger side next to the exhaust. Just need to figure out how the tank will be removable before I continue with that.
My 2019 TRD Pro did not come with the driver's side bed cubby storage.
I bought the Tuffy bed storage box and began fitting it.

Some masking tape and measurements got me close.
Cut out the rough rectangle with a zip wheel and realized the bed is a form of fiberglass.
I'm still trying the get glass slivers out of my hands.
I fitted the box back in after clearancing a little more and then marked 6 holes for fasteners. Pilot drilled and then bullet drilled the holes. Bullet drills and really slow RPMs help minimize the fiberglass blow out.

I inserted steel 1/4"-20 extra long RivNuts for fastening, standard length RivNuts are too short and aluminum are too weak.

I trial fitted everything and figured out where I will install an air supply manifold.

I installed a 6 port manifold with 2 "J" type quick couplers (female) on the inside of the Tuffy. I hole sawed a spot for the "J" type (male) connector to exit towards the front of the truck as the supply line will probably route over the wheel well.

Now the Tuffy box is fully installed. When everything is finished I will silicone around the input port and possibly the whole box to the bed.

This is todays finishing point. I'm on X-mas vacation for 2 weeks and I have other projects going on but hopefully I will get further along tomorrow.
I am not using the Viair 330C pump but instead upgraded to a 485C pump that will most likely be mounted up front behind the grill, unless I can find a good spot somewhere else.
Opinions and questions are always welcome with me.
The primary purpose of this onboard air is for utilitarian use but will probably used mostly for a horn as I have alot of dumb driver's in my daily surroundings.
Later, I may buy another Tuffy box for the other side. I really like the extra storage and locking door.

 

Awesome job and write up. I put a comp in the storage and 2gal tank under the bed front pass side.

 

Thanks Grossomoto.
I'll assume your pump stays cool enough in the cubby or maybe you only run it with the access door open.
You gave me an idea.
The 2.5 gallon tank doesn't fit well on the driver's side cuz of what looks like some brakelines.
But it would be much easier for me to have it there, ie. wiring and supply lines.
So I chopped the tank down 5.5 inches to give me 2 gallons of area and a nice fitting on the driver's side.


Now I need to get some welding supplies, weld and test my welds for seal.
Thanks for the idea.

 

I guess you’ll have a remote valve to drain the tank water accumulation. Always a problem in the Cold up here. Great ideas here.

 

That's friggin cool man. Nice work. Really like the 6 port manifold. I was put off that they eliminated the driver side cubby on the 20s. I did the same thing and installed the locking cubby door, with the ARB compressor behind it. I put the air coupling and the switch to turn the compressor off and on above and to the left of the cubby.

 

Thanks, the tank still has the original petcock valve.

 

Thanks, nice clean work you have there.
My power switch is inside the cab. I want to be able to power the compressor while driving and watch the psi with a remote gauge.

 

That actually makes sense. I only use it when I'm getting ready to get back on pavement and pull over to air back up. I can see the advantage of powering it on and filling it up before pulling over so as not to have to wait once you get out of the vehicle. Right now I hit the switch and then go fumble around to get the hose & gauge

 

Yup, I'm lagging.
A little further along. Pump is mounted to a cross member of aluminum as well as the 4x air manifold, PSI gauge and one QD for now.
One of the other ports will be horn.
Originally the pump was going to be on the driver's side but the oil cooler line was getting pushed out of shape.
Everything here is mounted on rubber isolators, the pump and the cross member.
I flipped it around and had to tweak the condenser hardline just a little bit.
The tank is done and paint is drying before I mount it.