Where to mount the CO2 bottle...

[Exiled]

First, let me say that I like the benefits of both the compressor-based OBA and the CO2-based onboard air, so I have *both*. The compressor is a York and I'm about 2/3 done with the project, but in the meantime, I wanted to have an easily transportable OBA setup. After shopping around and realizing that Outback Air was owned and operated by a fellow Cruiserhead, the solution was a no-brainer.

Came home from work one day to find my setup here, and then the dilemma of where to mount the bottle began. Initially I thought I was going to mount it in the cargo area, but the dimensions interfere with my design for a cargo drawer, plus the height of my SOA wagon made this unwieldy. I also considered the roof rack, but I didn't want to mount it horizontally, and climbing up there to air up didn't sound like an practical solution. Besides, I don't run with my roof rack all the time.

I walked around the vehicle several times, perused the web, looked at other setups, then decided to mount it on one side of the ladder of my rear bumper. This allows me to mount it vertically, doesn't interfere with my rear visibility, and although tight, I can still use the ladder when the roof rack in on.

Check out some shots, I'm pretty pleased with it and all it took was drilling four holes into my bracket and mounting it.

 

[sandcruiser]

looks good!
Any thoughts as to how to secure it (and the fittings) from wandering off? I find that more and more, I'm putting everything inside these days to deter sticky fingers

 

[Overlord]

Looks good Henry. I also want to know how one might secure it. Would hate for it get stolen.

 

[Landpimp]

bottle looks great and its WONDERFULL to see the Princes getting some love

 

[lowtideride]

dont let any tractor trailers rear end ya.......kablamo


p.s. sweet rig

 

[Exiled]

Co2 bottle won't explode, but there's going to be some frozen plastic on the front of the tractor trailer!

Seriously, the bracket I got is lockable, although I'd imagine that if someone wanted the bottle bad, they'd get it. In any case, I'm not planning on leaving the bottle installed, this is for wheeling trips. During a long trip or when the truck's parked unsupervised for long periods, the bottle sits inside or locked in the trailer.

I figure that when my York OBA is finished, I'll probably mount the CO2 bottle on the trailer.

Thanks, John, she's been neglected for a long time, but I'm making up for it. I made a solemn promise to do a little project every weekend, so far I've restored the sliding OEM windows, disassembled the front grille and repainted it, installed some of the SOR molded carpet covers for the inner fenders, cleaned and conditioned the leather seats, and drained/refilled the cooling system.

Next week is onboard shower, and if I get ambitious, adding two more rocklights. One weekend at a time, and she'll be ready for a long trip next summer.

 

[sandcruiser]

Long trip? How about Costa Rica?

 

[lowtideride]

Hey sandcruiser I'm taking a surf trip to costa in a few months.

 

[sandcruiser]

Great! contact me via email steve @ sandcruiser dot com
My cellphone is 376-6278. Gimme a call when you get here.

 

[Landpimp]

few years back the relief valve went on my Co2 bottle(in back of 80) came out to the 80 to find beau dwag had pee'd the seat........must have scred the piss out of him when it went. It wil suck the oxygen out of the air........so if pets(or kids) are in the car leave the window down.

keep it up Henry

Co2 bottle won't explode, but there's going to be some frozen plastic on the front of the tractor trailer!

Seriously, the bracket I got is lockable, although I'd imagine that if someone wanted the bottle bad, they'd get it. In any case, I'm not planning on leaving the bottle installed, this is for wheeling trips. During a long trip or when the truck's parked unsupervised for long periods, the bottle sits inside or locked in the trailer.

I figure that when my York OBA is finished, I'll probably mount the CO2 bottle on the trailer.

Thanks, John, she's been neglected for a long time, but I'm making up for it. I made a solemn promise to do a little project every weekend, so far I've restored the sliding OEM windows, disassembled the front grille and repainted it, installed some of the SOR molded carpet covers for the inner fenders, cleaned and conditioned the leather seats, and drained/refilled the cooling system.

Next week is onboard shower, and if I get ambitious, adding two more rocklights. One weekend at a time, and she'll be ready for a long trip next summer.

 

[lowtideride]

Great! contact me via email steve @ sandcruiser dot com
My cellphone is 376-6278. Gimme a call when you get here.

sweet, Im thinking Feb. We are trying to make it so everyone can go and picking a date is becoming hard but I'll let ya know. We'll have to get together and have BBQ on the beach and hit up some waves...

hasta man,
-Al

 

[Jman]

few years back the relief valve went on my Co2 bottle(in back of 80) came out to the 80 to find beau dwag had pee'd the seat........must have scred the piss out of him when it went. It wil suck the oxygen out of the air........so if pets(or kids) are in the car leave the window down.

keep it up Henry

Yowsa, that's one lucky dawg--he might have even passed out initially and then regained consciousness when it cleared out.

Didn't the spooks used to leave dry ice in fairly airtight rooms to snuff people while they slept? (Evidence would disappear.)

 

[Russ in California]

Nice, drooling now.

Russ in California

 

[fsusteve]

Co2 bottle won't explode, but there's going to be some frozen plastic on the front of the tractor trailer!

Actually, any high pressure bottle can explode under the right circumstances, whether it contains inert gas or not. I doubt that's an issue at the height you have it mounted thou.

 

[lowtideride]

Co2 bottle won't explode, but there's going to be some frozen plastic on the front of the tractor trailer!

Actually, any high pressure bottle can explode under the right circumstances, whether it contains inert gas or not. I doubt that's an issue at the height you have it mounted thou.

Nut huh, What if I run into him?

 

[calfj60]

Ok Henry, time for a thread hijack I need some info on what you did with the windows....I wanna get mine in soon but they need soem work first and I wanna know where you are going next summer???

Tim

 

[Exiled]

Ok Henry, time for a thread hijack I need some info on what you did with the windows....I wanna get mine in soon but they need soem work first and I wanna know where you are going next summer???

Tim

Hijacked! Tim, I'll get back to these two questions tonight after work, I'm already late right now!...stupid Cruiser obsession......

 

[calfj60]

I hear you on that. I have spent the last two nights polishing my 45LV rear brake lenses to take them to a guy to see if he can use them as a mold for repro work. I haven't even looked at the truck but everyone on POR needs the cateye lenses so I thought I should clean mine up and see if they were good enough to use as a mold Later Tim

 

[Tooth Fairy]

Exiled,
That looks great!

 

[Exiled]

Tim, the OEM windows I got from MAF have been a *very* frustrating project. The price was right and I'm pleased with MAF's service, but these things were HAMMERED, I think at least one came from a rolled Aussie truck. All the rubber was dry-rotted and crumbling, the frames scratched and faded, the hardware dry and very faded, the glass a bit scratched but overall decent.

I took mine completely apart, used super fine steel wool and rubber protectant to "restore" the hardware. Stripped all the dry-rotted rubber, cleaned the frames out, sanded them, primed, painted them. Cleaned the glass carefully. Then came the fun part, shoving the aftermarket gasket in there with the glass. Took me an entire morning to do one of them, but at the end, they came out nice, real nice.

Haven't mounted them, I'm waiting to paint the truck first, I'm only mounting them once. Besides, I still have to get back to CDan to order the compression gasket for the insider of the frame.

Would I do it again? Sure, man, I love my dog and I think he's going to love them....


As for what I'm planning next summer, I'm not really the guy planning, but I have a couple of options. The first one is an expedition across Utah next September, the other one is joining the annual trip to Southwestern Colorado in August. The first one sounds better but it's a longer commitment for time, a much more demanding trip, and will probably not include my wife and son. The second one is more laid back and will be more of a vacation, won't demand a whole lot from the Cruiser except reliability.

I'll let you know how the progress goes, so far I've kept to my promise of tackling one small project per weekend, and with the heat diminishing and the mild Texas winter headed our way, I expect a lot of progress.

I just got my custom aluminum roof rack box today, built to the exact dimensions of my INTI expedition rack, very low profile and light, but strong and secure. It's a work of art!Now I gotta shell out to powdercoat it to match the rack!

Later....

Henry