Where should I mount my 2.5 gal viair tank?

I picked up a used viair OBA system but can't decide where to mount the tank and compressor! I have a 2006 quad cab long bed with abs. What have you seen around?

I was thinking about bolting my tank under the drivers seat. It would be hanging from the floorboard and sit almost flush with the bottom of the frame. Pressure switch inside the center console next to the gear shift (there's room!) 2" gauge next to the cup holder in the center console. Switch next to the sport lights. And finally the compressor mounted sideways on the fender well in front of the master cylinder but behind the fuse box.

Advice greatly appreciated! Ill post some mock up pics later this week

 

I want to say I've heard of guys mounting them where the spare usually is beneath the bed.

 

It sounds like you've got it mostly figured out!

I have heard of people mounting them in the spot where the spare is.

If I mounted a pressure tank on the under carriage of my vehicle I would never drive with it pressurized, well I would never off road with it pressurized. That's just asking for a pipe bomb under your ass. If you do plan on that, I would think about fabbing up some sort of skid plate for it.

If money was unlimited I would get a roof rack and mount it on there. I've seen that a few times and it can look pretty cool. Very expedition-esk.

 

At least I'm not the only one thinking that, but I don't want to move my spare and I need to fit in parking garages or the rack would have worked! I took another look and I think I found a solution. Inside the right rear fender forward of the tire. Looks like it will fit but I'm a few drinks in. Now I have to figure how to support the weight in a space with no right angles and only 2 useable sides to mount to. Has anyone heard of this being done before?

 

In between the rear bumper and spare tire carrier. I also put my compressor next to it. Put the switch gauge combo and the compressor intake filter into my driver side bed box

 

Thought about it but I wanna keep my spare under the bed still

 

If you put a small spacer on the spare rack. The spare should fit back in. I have 33's on my truck so I left the spare off.

 

I run 32s but I plan worst case and don't want to end up stranded, if I had a set of 5 rims/tires I'd move the spare to a tailgate rack but I can't justify the expense right now. I'll have to check out the spacer idea, that would be much easier then inside the fender! Not a bad idea!

 

I looked at it a lot before I installed it. I also thought the bed wasnt strong enough to hold the tank alone so i cut a piece of starboard for extra support.

 

Starboard???? I'm navy, I don't think u mean right of centerline haha, had much to drink just got home from long time underway! The beds good, I mean do you remember the original bolts that came with the kit... Ok for a in bed mount but thats stupid! Threw those in the trash! Self locking fasteners are required. The bed hold mores than expected, I've had 2 1000cc bikes in the back of my taco with no noticeable flex. Plastic or not I have no doubt it will hold the tank! If the spacer works I'm callin you a genius and will rep you all day

 

Question what does small mean... 2" it's dark outside or I'd go look and fab some shit out

 

yeah i would say 2''give or take

 

just made me feel more confident about the mount.. yeah the bolts it came with are junk. i tossed them immediately and picked some longer stainless ones make sure they fit through the brass pieces for the rubber tank supports.

 

How'd it work?

 

Haven't looked yet, drank too much the night we were talking and been workin late, tomorrow ill check it out

 

not so well, im assuming you were talking about in front of the spare above the axle. i have dual exhaust that runs in my way. if i went behind the spare i wouldnt have access to the raise/lower chuck for the spare. and on top of that i have a plastic bed that has support beam i would have to cut in order to make it fit with about a 3-4" spacer holding the spare. i have included some photos of options that i think might work. easiest option is currently under the drivers seat. the difficult but smarter option would be inside the RR fender in front of the wheel. it fits in there nicely with plenty of room. however there is no easy way of mounting it. as there are no right angles and once its installed i wont be able to access the top 2 mounting bolts. if i go this route i will have to remove the fender, fab out a bracket thats strong enough (without a welder or a vice) install fix any leaks and then reinstall the fender. i have removed front fenders before and it wasnt that hard to get everything lined up again but i feel this will be extremely difficult.

has anyone removed rear fenders before? advice?

 

more photos of what im thinking... remote air filter next to the box above the wheel well to easily change the filter

 

Yea I cut the pieces on the bed down. I will admit though I didn't think about being able to access the spare chuck only because I had already decided to leave my spare off though. If you wouldn't mind sacrificing a bed box you could mount the compressor in one of those.

 

I'm interested how this pans out as I plan to add a tank to mine. I was going to use the side of the frame ... Right side ... Between frame and box side.
Of course I don't have the tank yet, so the dimensions may limit that choice.
What size (gal) tank is it?

 

I just mounted my Viair last week, I have an aftermarket hitch and used 1 3/4" muffler clamps to secure the tank to the hitch. Works like a hot damn! You could do something similar with a bracket bolted to the bed or the bumper. There is still plenty of room for the spare and it's low enough that i can still use the stock tools to lower the spare.



I put an outlet through the bumper. I also put one on the front bumper, sorry no pic yet.



Compressor as you say in the engine bay behind the fuse box with the remote inlet taking air from the cab, pressure switch in the rear cubby.




I plan on getting a gauge pod for the psi gauge, but for now I just removed the fuse cover and zip tied the gauge in place.



Hope that helps