LX gets Onboard Air (5 Viewers)

[TeCKis300]

Not completely done yet, but here's a sneak peak of the onboard air project for my LX. Different take than the usual beastly dual-arb underhood. My original intent was just to get a portable Viair unit with gater clamps. Thing is, the LX has engine bay covers EVERYWHERE, even over the battery/batt terminals. I needed something because airing up for an hour after off-roading with a cig lighter type unit is a no-go.

New direction was to hard mount a larger Viair unit. In this case, I split a dual pump kit, continuous duty cycle Viair 444C unit with my brother. Basically a 450C pump but physically larger, bit faster, and 200psi capable. This is a high quality, rebuildable, fully sealed from the elements (IP67 rated), air tank style compressor. What it lacks for immediate speed, it'll make up for in pressure and volume with a little tank. Which should prove to be just as fast as most anything in use, and also have compressor type functionality. (EDIT - if not fitting an air tank, I recommend the smaller but faster 400C)

It's a large unit. I mounted it directly on top of the crashbar to keep it away from engine heat. It's breather and air coupler will be mounted away from the front to keep those out of the elements. I would have preferred it not be bright chrome, but it'll be discrete enough.

On the LX, the grill comes out relatively easily and it's wide open access with more than enough space to install it.

EDIT: $246 Parts List here - LX gets Onboard Air

 

[grinchy]

Looks nice! I considered that location but ultimately decided I wanted it for the distant future winch. Also didn’t want my air tank outside the perimeter of the frame for what I’m certain is a crash paranoia.

Are you putting the tank there or under the hood?

 

[Markuson]

Interesting idea & placement.
I like how you moved it in front of the heat zone.

Curious to see how it goes with the tank in relation to speed. In my limited experience with small tanks, they haven’t built enough capacity to help much, but maybe you will find a better result if it really cranks the pressure between each tire fill.

What size is the tank?

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Nice install! Definitely an interesting location.

Thing is, the LX has engine bay covers EVERYWHERE, even over the battery/batt terminals.

An easy solution to that is to wire-in an anderson (or similar) connector. One end on the air compressor, another hard-wired to the battery and hanging somewhere accessible.

 

[TeCKis300]

Looks nice! I considered that location but ultimately decided I wanted it for the distant future winch. Also didn’t want my air tank outside the perimeter of the frame for what I’m certain is a crash paranoia.

Are you putting the tank there or under the hood?

I debated it, but I don't believe I will ever go down the winch path. If so, there's also a nice void to the sides of this space under the headlights which wouldn't interfere with a winch. Most important to me was that the pump was in a cool location, as heat rather than exposure to the elements is IMO the bigger concern. These pumps get mounted all over the chassis on work vehicles and air suspension vehicles with great durability.

Will likely install the air tank in the driver rear, behind the tire and under the bumper. There's a nice large void there. I want a port near there too so running a line and locating the tank works together well. Yes, outside the frame, but within the body structure. I'm not particularly worried about the tank outside the perimeter of the frame as I will never have it pressurized when under way. I'll will only use it on demand and purge it when done.

I haven't decided on the air tank size yet, likely 1/2 or 1 gallon. Enough for a bolus of high pressure air to speed inflation, but don't need or want a large tank to pressurize before use.

 

[TeCKis300]

Nice install! Definitely an interesting location.

An easy solution to that is to wire-in an anderson (or similar) connector. One end on the air compressor, another hard-wired to the battery and hanging somewhere accessible.

Yup, may ultimately have an Anderson plug for my travel trailer.

I'm justifying an OBA install, because these pumps are large and bulky, so this also eliminates the need to storing them in the vehicle interior.

 

[RET2]

All of these relatively small compressors will suffer more from their self generated heat than ambient making air circulation very important, IMHO.

 

[TeCKis300]

All of these relatively small compressors will suffer more from their self generated heat than ambient making air circulation very important, IMHO.

Agreed. Part of locating it here is that with the vehicle on for longer pumping sessions, the radiator fans will be drawing airflow over the pump, keeping it cooler in operation. Unlike the Arb twin, this unit is fully sealed, IP rated, and without an external fans or moving parts

I opted for this type of pump as it is not as highly stressed with the hope that it'll last the lifetime of the vehicle. More a continuous duty cycle high durability component rather than a smaller high performance unit that gets hot hot hot. I turned it on after mounting, and it's a smooth running and surprisingly quiet unit. Angry bees it is not. Though the dual angry bees Arb is way cool in its own way.

 

[TeCKis300]

Couldn't get exactly what I wanted shipped in time before a trip tomorrow. This will have to do. Still, it's working nicely and I'll see if I want to make any changes after.

About $230 in for OBA.

Engine bay covers will go back completely without any modifications. Simple and functional.

Just an angle bracket supporting the few key things underneath.

 

[RET2]

You may want to attach and remove the hose sans any air pressure. Sometimes working the quick disconnect against pressure can be amusing. It would be fair to ask me how I learned this gem of knowledge.

 

[terdrocket]

You may want to attach and remove the hose sans any air pressure. Sometimes working the quick disconnect against pressure can be amusing. It would be fair to ask me how I learned this gem of knowledge.

This is spot on. When I had OBA on a previous vehicle, I had an inline valve installed right at the disconnect. 150psi and a little corrosion made it hard to connect and when you go to disconnect, it fires out like a rocket.

 

[tbisaacs]

That's really clean....well done!

 

[TeCKis300]

You may want to attach and remove the hose sans any air pressure. Sometimes working the quick disconnect against pressure can be amusing. It would be fair to ask me how I learned this gem of knowledge.

Very true! Part of what I didn't accomplish was to put in a safety/pressure relief valve.

It might be the arb air port as normal air ports aren't as hard to put in once pressurized. The arb's are nice in that there's no pulling of collars necessary on insertion. Perhaps that's why it's harder to insert under pressure. I will just power mine up after putting the hose in.

 

[Mogwai]

I debated it, but I don't believe I will ever go down the winch path. If so, there's also a nice void to the sides of this space under the headlights which wouldn't interfere with a winch. Most important to me was that the pump was in a cool location, as heat rather than exposure to the elements is IMO the bigger concern. These pumps get mounted all over the chassis on work vehicles and air suspension vehicles with great durability.

Will likely install the air tank in the driver rear, behind the tire and under the bumper. There's a nice large void there. I want a port near there too so running a line and locating the tank works together well. Yes, outside the frame, but within the body structure. I'm not particularly worried about the tank outside the perimeter of the frame as I will never have it pressurized when under way. I'll will only use it on demand and purge it when done.

I haven't decided on the air tank size yet, likely 1/2 or 1 gallon. Enough for a bolus of high pressure air to speed inflation, but don't need or want a large tank to pressurize before use.

I have a 1.5 gallon tank on my Puma air compressor, the reality is I plug it in, it fills in the amount of time it takes me to connect the hose, the air filler attachment, and unscrew the first tire valve cap. That first tire gets the benefit of the tank, but after that it pretty much is drained and the compressor runs constantly to fill the rest of the tires. Takes roughly 2.5 mins per tire to go from 18psi to 41psi, and about 10 mins overall. The PIA is having a hot compressor that I have to strap down in the rear cargo area once I'm done, I sort of have to pack/plan around this, it's easy if it's a trip w/ just me or with one of my kids, but harder when it's the whole family and we're loaded to the brim.

I've been trying to figure out my OBA situation too, have thought about mounting the Puma somewhere in the back (inside) of the truck where the 3rd row seat would be (high and tight to the rear window) or whether I'll ditch it and go w/ the dual-ARB. On one hand I just want to use what I have, on the other there really isn't anything that beats the speed and compact nature of the dual-ARB.

 

[Mogwai]

This is spot on. When I had OBA on a previous vehicle, I had an inline valve installed right at the disconnect. 150psi and a little corrosion made it hard to connect and when you go to disconnect, it fires out like a rocket.

Yeah having a bleeder valve on the tank would help relieve the pressure and allow for any moisture to drain.

 

[RET2]

What's funny is the ARB units don't all come with the version quick disconnects you have, you're lucky!

 

[RET2]

On one hand I just want to use what I have, on the other there really isn't anything that beats the speed and compact nature of the dual-ARB.

Sure there is, just pull up to your buddy that has one just as he finishes his tires and say "Hey can I use your air?" fill up and drive off.

 

[TeCKis300]

I have a 1.5 gallon tank on my Puma air compressor, the reality is I plug it in, it fills in the amount of time it takes me to connect the hose, the air filler attachment, and unscrew the first tire valve cap. That first tire gets the benefit of the tank, but after that it pretty much is drained and the compressor runs constantly to fill the rest of the tires. Takes roughly 2.5 mins per tire to go from 18psi to 41psi, and about 10 mins overall. The PIA is having a hot compressor that I have to strap down in the rear cargo area once I'm done, I sort of have to pack/plan around this, it's easy if it's a trip w/ just me or with one of my kids, but harder when it's the whole family and we're loaded to the brim.

I've been trying to figure out my OBA situation too, have thought about mounting the Puma somewhere in the back (inside) of the truck where the 3rd row seat would be (high and tight to the rear window) or whether I'll ditch it and go w/ the dual-ARB. On one hand I just want to use what I have, on the other there really isn't anything that beats the speed and compact nature of the dual-ARB.

Avoiding storing the pump was a big reason for me going OBA, yet I didn't want to go overkill. Also, thanks for the useful insights on the tank.

The goal of the tank is to capture potential work that could be done by the pump in transitions. It's a balance between the tank being too large such that the tank causes more work with lead time and volume to pressurize, vs having enough volume to allow it to store pressurized air at a greater pressure bias to aid and speed inflation.

Having said that about the tank, I'm still on the fence. In a rough timing with engine off, seemed to take mine 2:30-3 minutes to inflate my 33's from 20psi - 44 psi. It could be incrementally faster with engine on (higher voltage).

How much more speed do I really want/need? And is it worth the effort to plumb/mount a tank?

 

[RET2]

IMHO no it's not. Back in the Stone age a tank was used for impact tools for repair and tire changing but with the advent of more powerful battery powered tools the original premise becomes mute. Look at this way it takes x amount of air to fill a tire now whether you pump it beforehand or on demand still same amount of air. Now if you had an eighty gallon tank sure you could pump it up beforehand but a 1 or 2 gallon tank meh? BUT if said tank was chrome plated that's a different story.

 

[TeCKis300]

Pump worked out great this weekend. It was plenty fast for my purposes, even filling to towing pressures, from 20 to 44 psi. The pump was only warm after filling 4 tires, with its location right in front of the condenser fan drawing cool air over it. Given this, I'm not going to change a thing. With the inflator I have, I was able to purge excess pressure when done so connection and disconnection proved not to be an issue.