So last winter when I wasn't wheeling and really couldn't be outside working on the truck I dreamed up a "better" solution to the task of airing tires up and down. Previously I was using a semi-complicated and slightly over engineered and pretty expensive 4-way valve/gauge/hose rig that I had build a couple of winters before (notice a theme here?). Being able to air up/down all 4 tires at a time to exactly the same pressure while not having to kneel down for extended periods of time was great but that rig was cumbersome and took more time than I liked to deploy and pack away.
So drawing on the powers of pencil, paper, Google and Amazon Prime I set to work. What follows is what I came up with. Having used it last summer I can say that without a doubt is is in fact "better" to use. Does it have multiple possible points of failure: yes. Is it way more expensive that it is worth: probably. Are there perfectly satisfactory air up/down solutions out there that get the tires aired up/down that are much cheaper and way less complicated: yes.... but should I why let any of that stop me?
Here we go:
The Air Rig system supplies air from an under hood mounted Extremeaire compressor to air up tires. All functions other than hooking up to the tires are controlled from in the passenger compartment. (Compressor independently supplies air to a small under body tank for the ARB air lockers.)
12v solenoid valves control air flow. 2 are larger for maximum flow for AIR IN and AIR OUT, one is small as it only supplies air to the gauge. Valves and hoses are connected via a manifold arrangement mounted under the hood.
A dash mounted switch controls the valves and only allows one valve at a time to be open:
“Permanent” air hoses run from under hood along the frame rails to “T”s at the front and rear, then out to the ends of the bumpers, terminating in quick release couplers.
From there 4 short removable hoses with quick releases on one end and air chucks on the other (normally closed) are connected from the quick connect to the tires for AIR UP & AIR DOWN.
Air up:
Air down:
So drawing on the powers of pencil, paper, Google and Amazon Prime I set to work. What follows is what I came up with. Having used it last summer I can say that without a doubt is is in fact "better" to use. Does it have multiple possible points of failure: yes. Is it way more expensive that it is worth: probably. Are there perfectly satisfactory air up/down solutions out there that get the tires aired up/down that are much cheaper and way less complicated: yes.... but should I why let any of that stop me?
Here we go:
The Air Rig system supplies air from an under hood mounted Extremeaire compressor to air up tires. All functions other than hooking up to the tires are controlled from in the passenger compartment. (Compressor independently supplies air to a small under body tank for the ARB air lockers.)
12v solenoid valves control air flow. 2 are larger for maximum flow for AIR IN and AIR OUT, one is small as it only supplies air to the gauge. Valves and hoses are connected via a manifold arrangement mounted under the hood.
A dash mounted switch controls the valves and only allows one valve at a time to be open:
- AIR IN sends compressor air to the tires
- AIR OUT exhausts tire air
- GUAGE allows the dash mounted gauge to “see” stable system (tire) pressure for both airing up and airing down. When turned off the GAUGE solenoid vents to relieve pressure to gauge.
“Permanent” air hoses run from under hood along the frame rails to “T”s at the front and rear, then out to the ends of the bumpers, terminating in quick release couplers.
From there 4 short removable hoses with quick releases on one end and air chucks on the other (normally closed) are connected from the quick connect to the tires for AIR UP & AIR DOWN.
Air up:
- Turn on compressor with dash switch, leave controller switch in OFF position.
- Hook up 4 short hoses to tires
- Turn controller switch to AIR IN
- Periodically turn controller switch to GAUGE to check tire pressure
- Repeat #4 until desired pressure is reached then turn controller switch to OFF
- Turn off compressor
Air down:
- Hook up 4 short hoses to tires
- Turn controller switch to AIR OUT
- Periodically turn controller switch to GAUGE to check tire pressure
- Repeat #4 until desired pressure is reached then turn controller switch to OFF
