Post your CO2 Tank Mounting Ideas - For FAQ

Romer · 01-19-06, 09:48 PM

There are quite a few CO2 tank mounting ideas scattered across many threads. I plan on adding this thread to the FAQ.

Please describe what you did, parts required, estimated cost, steps and pictures. Also, what you would do different if anything.

I know B did a setup welding a plate and bracket to the rear seat bracket. Slee also sells an upright bracket that mounts to the ceiling and floor. Would appreciate write-ups on these two approaches at a minimum.

Thanks

alvarorb · 01-19-06, 09:53 PM

Romer,

I'm thinking to put it on the my Inti roof rack. I have a 10 lbs C02 tank. That came with a mounting bracket. My idea is pretty simple. Just attach the mounting bracket to the roof rack.

The down side that I see to this is that I would need some kind of bag to protect the valve. I don't want it getting dirty up there. Any ideas?

Regards

Alvaro

Romer · 01-19-06, 10:02 PM

You might try a welding shop for a cap or bag. I would take the regulator off if it is going to be outside

PKP80 · 01-19-06, 10:08 PM

Angle mount and in the rear corner of the cargo area. Check out my ROTW.

SAm

Exiled · 01-19-06, 10:32 PM

I don't run a roof rack all the time, so I mounted mine on the rear bumper's ladder. Bought a couple of clamp mounts of the type used to mount accessories to roll cages, and drilled four new holes on the mount. Works well, it's hard to see in the picture but there's still enough space to use the ladder. I have a neoprene cover with a velcro cinch that covers the valve, works great so far.

NorCalSam · 01-19-06, 10:37 PM

Seems like the perfect place, out of the cargo area which is usually taken up and off theroof rack. The ladder is usually only used for loading the rack, so seems like the perfect spot and you can still get around it. Great rig.
Teresa

cc93cruiser · 01-19-06, 11:50 PM

here is mine on top of rack....

notyourmomslx450 · 01-20-06, 06:35 AM

cc93cruiser,
pm'ed you.

cruiserdan · 01-20-06, 09:06 AM

Here is the thread showing my design:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/33066-where-put-power-tank.html

Brentbba · 01-20-06, 12:35 PM

Romer,

See page 4 of this thread.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.p...&highlight=co2

It shows both Beo's platform and what I did. My pics include the bracket by itself and with the CO2 tank installed.

If you'd like something separate for your FAQ, let me know and I'll write something up to post.

PKP80 · 01-20-06, 02:09 PM

Here u guys go

FirstToy · 01-20-06, 02:25 PM

Here's mine- tucked next the the fridge slide

sleeoffroad · 01-20-06, 02:41 PM

Stripper Pole Mount

bumperdoggy · 01-20-06, 02:43 PM

I don't want to be a sky is falling kind of guy but given that CO2 displaces breathing air, it is a significant hazard to have inside your rig. Options for leakage around the valve and regulator are many and possibly undetectable if slow enough.

I can imagine a scenario of sleeping in the truck and not waking up or simply getting groggy from lack of oxygen and then crashing.

With your life being the wager, do yourself a favor and mount outside.

Sorry to be such a downer.

Bump.

cruiserdan · 01-20-06, 02:52 PM

If it pops when you are awake you will know it and it has a destinctive odor. If you are worried about taking it to bed with you, set it outside the truck at night.

cc93cruiser · 01-20-06, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumperdoggy

I don't want to be a sky is falling kind of guy but given that CO2 displaces breathing air, it is a significant hazard to have inside your rig. Options for leakage around the valve and regulator are many and possibly undetectable if slow enough.

I can imagine a scenario of sleeping in the truck and not waking up or simply getting groggy from lack of oxygen and then crashing.

With your life being the wager, do yourself a favor and mount outside.

Sorry to be such a downer.

Bump.

Where I go and refill up my tank, they won't let me take it home if I put it inside my cruiser for the same reasons mentioned above. That's why I actually came up with the idea of putting it on my roof rack + I have a 2 year old with me that travels everywhere I go

. Wouldn't want to put my little bugger in any danger..

Brentbba · 01-20-06, 03:51 PM

I leave mine in the truck and have since 11.05. I'm still alive.

Beowulf · 01-20-06, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiserdan

If it pops when you are awake you will know it and it has a destinctive odor.

If it pops the safety valve when you are asleep you will quickly be awake. It makes a LOT of noise and the cargo area gets quite nippy.

Technically, CO2 is odorless but you will notice an extremely pungent "smell." It's hard to describe but you get kind of a burning in your nose. I had an accidentally overfilled tank (~14.7#) pop in the 80s cargo are when the truck was in my garage.

Robert,
I believe your fill place doesn't want you carrying the filled tank in the vehicle due to the effects of the heat. They don't want to have it blow the safety valve, then they have to replace the valve, and have to refill the tank.

-B-

Boston Mangler · 01-21-06, 11:36 AM

ANyone have any methods to mount a 20lb tank?

MH_Stevens · 01-22-06, 08:09 PM

Why is a CO2 tank necessary at all? I have a CO2 tank (I use it for top pressure on casks of real ale) but in my truck I have an electric compressor that is light and small and fits with the inverter under the hood. My Jeep friends all have compressors attached to their engines that work good too. Is there an advantage to CO2 I am missing?

Mike

FirstToy · 01-22-06, 08:32 PM

ability to reseat a bead, run air tools and air up very quickly. You can take it out and also use it elsewhere. It's a simple, easy solution.
Those are the advantages for me and it doesn't take up much room. Good compressor is nice too but it can't do the above things (unless you have a aux.air tank setup).

nakman · 01-22-06, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleeoffroad

Stripper Pole Mount

Hey, that guy's running the same CO2 mount that I am..

And for the sake of perpetuating this friendly discussion, I leave mine in the truck all the time, and have never worried about CO2 leaking into the cabin. There seems to be plenty of air coming in to displace any leaking out of the tank.. which I doubt there is.

What about heat? I'd be freaked out to leave a tank up on the roof, there was quite a warning about heat that came with my tank, I believe it was temperatures over 150F? I'm more worried about the tank exploding from pressure buildup due to heat than I'm worried about the tank exploding and asphixiating (sp?) the passengers. I keep it covered with a club head cover, just so it never sees direct sun.

Beowulf · 01-22-06, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nakman

I'm more worried about the tank exploding from pressure buildup due to heat than I'm worried about the tank exploding and asphixiating (sp?) the passengers.

As mentioned above, the tank will not "explode." There is a pop-off valve built in to the tank valve. If the pressure exceeds the limit, the safety valve will pop and you will be unable to have it filled until the valve is replaced.

-B-

clarkrw3 · 01-23-06, 08:27 AM

How much usable CO2 do these 10lb tanks give you?? I had planned on setting up a tank and compressor system but if these thanks allow air tools, repeated airing up ect maybe one of these is the way to go??

hoser · 01-23-06, 12:14 PM

Clarkrw3--here are some figures from the powertank website.

http://powertank.com/chart.htm

Beowulf · 01-23-06, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarkrw3

...repeated airing up ect maybe one of these is the way to go??

Clark,
CO2 is very convenient, fast, portable, and relatively inexpensive. The biggest drawback is that it is a finite resource; when you're out, you're out and a refill may not be convenient. The other thing that is an irritant is that you have to guess at how much CO2 is in the tank and what that translates to tyre fills. Example: you weigh the empty tank, then weigh the "full" tank. You use it a few times and re-weigh; estimating that you have 1.2# remaining. Is that enough for 4 tyres? You and a buddy? If you are taking a multi-day trip do you purge the 1.2# and refill?

With CO2, a spare tank would avoid some of these issues *or* you can rig up a portable air compressor like the MV50 so that you can use all of the CO2, then switch over to compressed air. The addition of an air storage tank makes compressed air viable for running air tools & reseating beads where a compressor alone usually will just fill tyres.

With a big compressor (York, ExtremeAire, Thomas) you can do a lot but installation and cost becomes a bigger issue.

I have decided to have both; CO2 for portability and speed; tank with compressor for infinite source of air and capable of running air tools, reseating beads, or just inflating tyres.

-B-

Rich · 01-23-06, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beowulf

...The other thing that is an irritant is that you have to guess at how much CO2 is in the tank ...

There are stick on liquid crystal "gauges" that are intended to be used on propane tanks. They work only when the tank is in use. They are temperature sensitive, and depict the level in the tank based on the difference in temperature that exists due to the cooling that results from the liquid expanding into a gas. I would guess that they would also work for a CO2 tank.

Brentbba · 01-23-06, 10:46 PM

Here's my solution to a CO2 mount. Credit for the idea goes to Chris Geiger and Beowolf with a little innovation I'll credit to the welder I had do the work.

The CO2 bracket that most of us have is a fairly standard fire extinguisher bracket.

I used a 7"(w)x8"(d)x1/4"(h) piece of steel that's welded between the two circular knobs found on the 3rd row seat bracket. The knobs sit 7" apart, thus the 7" width. The bottom of the plate is futher supported with a triangular piece that's welded in on the bottom of the plate and to the seat bracket. I chose to have the CO2 tank bracket welded to the steel plate as opposed to just bolting it on. Bolts would add some versitility to the bracket as an option. The entire welding job and piece of steel ran me all of $20. I cleaned up the piece with some acetone I have. You could use paint thinner or other solvent to remove residue left by the welds. Your paint will adhere better if you spend just a couple of minutes cleaning the bracket before painting. I did rattle can primer before rattle canning the gloss black to match the OEM bracket and CO2 tank bracket. Total paint cost $10 for a total project cost of a whooping $30!. It's extremely sturdy.

Here are some pics of the bracket:

Brentbba · 01-23-06, 10:47 PM

One more pic of the bracket showing the triangular support piece and one of it installed in position without the CO2 tank. Yes - those are 12V outlets to the left of the tank bracket - one switched and one unswitched.

Brentbba · 01-23-06, 10:50 PM

Here are a few of the bracket with the CO2 tank from The Source installed. I've subsequently rotated the tank so the regulator faces the rear of the truck and with the supplied air hose, I can reach all four tires thru the rear without taking the tank out. You could also route the air hose out the passenger doors or rear sliding windows.

I've been very happ with it. No rattles, nothing. It's solid.