York vs electric compressor vs CO2 (1 Viewer)

[NLXTACY]

Background:
Recently found myself in a position where I need to air down tires in order to gain ANY traction. Wound up going down to somewhere between 2-4psi knowing full well that the other driver I was with had one of those lame Pep Boys DC air compressors. After getting out of the situation, the lame Pep Boys DC air compressor fails after filling ONE tire. One. This isn't good. So decided to say screw it and drove on the washboard road and then on to the freeway until I could get to the gas station...14 miles away. I was in the middle of no where, I really had no choice...and it was getting dark. Needless to say, I destroyed two of my tires and I am very worried about the other two. Lesson learned.

So the question:
And folks, don't be lame and tell me to read the FAQs and do the search and blah blah blah, I LIVE off reading the archives and using search. My brain is exploding with fun knowledge now. I want to know which OBA solution would be best generally speaking; York, Electric Compressor or CO2?

Now I know, after reading about them, all the ins and outs of each one but I still cannot bring myself to make a decision. The way I see it, costs seems to almost be moot because Im not a junkyard hound. Installation seems to be moot because if going the basic install route, they pretty much are all the same level of difficulty.

Now my truck is currently stock in the engine compartment. I will be installing a dual battery set up very soon. I have no plans to run turbo (getting in way of York) and its seeming pretty unlikely that I will ever go S/C because of cost and now lack of availability. So the engine bay is a black canvas.

As far as lockers, I have none and because I am not a hard core rock crawler, lockers have not been my #1 priority. I would like some ARB lockers but there are too many things ahead of it and it would be years before that would happen.

As a part two of the question I would also like to get feedback about which two would you go with if you are also interested in redundancy. I've seen a couple solutions but it always seems like there was something else already there so I went with X. Or I was gonna add this go fast do hickey so I went with Y. I have none of those limitations.

So blank canvas, which should I go?

 

[blzrfn]

After reading all of that just get a CO2 tank, if you ever upgrade then you can sell it for nearly what you paid and it is the most affordable option. I wouldn't recommend airing down to 2 psi ever though without beadlocks.

 

[NLXTACY]

Oooooooh I learned the hard way. I was desperate with no shovel, no pull strap, no extra hands, no winch, no brains and it actually worked. I would say that cost isn't that huge of a deciding factor for this because all of the solutions are relatively close in cost.

 

[blzrfn]

If cost isn't a factor and you are looking to upgrade to lockers later then an engine driven compressor would be ideal IMO.

 

[CodyRx7]

I'm going the CO2 route with a big 20lb tank because I run monster tires. I already have a QMAXX or MV50 $50 compressor from Costco.........because its only $50.

It works quite fine, I just don't like having to wait like 30 minutes to air up all 4 tires after a trail run with the little compressor.

I'm going to keep the MV50 in the car since it is such a small package so I have SOMETHING in case there is a problem with the 20lb Powertank at some point.

On another note - what kind of tires are you lowering to 2-4psi?

 

[NLXTACY]

They are/were Bridgestone Dueler A/T. Now as I have been reading about tire deflaters after sitting there and holding the the stupid schraeder valves for 4 tires, I started reading about the tire gauges. Well I have one of those cheapy pen-like gauges with the white plastic piece that pops out. And so far what I have been reading is that they are horribly inaccurate. Sooo take my 2-4psi reading with a grain of salt.

CO2 seems like something I am leaning to. But for a redundancy I want something that I can count on. And if its another $50 compressor, no thanx. Pep Boys can keep their crap.

 

[RavenTai]

with electric lockers and not that often of a need I went with CO2 for simplicity, I find the cost and hassle of refills a bit of an annoyance but I have only filled it thrice in the past 2 years so not bad, most of my consumption is from remote air tool use, I would like to have a york, had I went that route the parts would probably sill be on the work bench with all the other "To do" stuff. I amy still do a york, the co2 tank will still be handy for tool use away from my garage or cruiser.

if it is york vs electric go engine driven more air for the same or less money. especially if you burn up a compressor as most of the cost of a york is in the bracket & pulley not the compressor itself.

 

[NLXTACY]

Well I do have an AIRGAS in Northridge (home of the 94 quake) about 5 miles from me so I dont think that will be an issue. Air tools has been high on my list of must haves. Its sounding like I may go York with a CO2 back up. I've been looking at Slee's York bracket...but also their ARB mount.

 

[RavenTai]

I have an Airgas by me also, they don't pump Co2, exchange only, I have to go a couple towns over to get mine filled, that is one disadvantage of an owned Co2 tank.

 

[NLXTACY]

Oh man that would suck big time if they wouldn't fill mine. Hmm. As a side note, I have been considering carrying a 5lb bottle of Oxygen as well. We ran into a woman that was experiencing some pretty bad altitude sickness during this trip and I too was victim to it last year. Dunno, feels like overkill but if I were to go CO2 it would be nice to do both at the same place. Although pure O2 in the truck during a nice crash...hmm...

 

[Trailbus]

I've been using CO2 for over 3 years now. I ran across 2 bottles, a 10 lb & 20 lb that were very cheap (like too low to tell). Then after a lot of research for a regulator, ende up ordering one directly from Cramer Decker Industries (www.Cramerdecker.com) for $24 back in 2005. now you would have to get it from The Source and it looks like they are a bit more now:
OFFROAD AIR Hyper-Flo Regulators
OffRoadAir Hyper-Flo regulators – Fast Flowing – non-freezing, high pressure 150PSI static regulators. Nothing to adjust - Just turn on the tank valve!
Part # Description Price
CO37580-150 Regulator w/1/4 F.NPT outlet $45.00
OA-REG150 Regulator w/fixed 45 degree & quick connect $50.00

There's only a few drawbacks I had with this system. Like not keeping 1 full at all times. I also never mounted a bracket in the back so I had to lay it down & strap it in all the time. Then pull it out & carry it from tire to tire. It also sucks for wheeling in the snow. It's cold enough out and the air chuck I've been using freezes up & sticks. Oh, & my hands get real cold even with gloves on.

I recently installed a Sanden AC Compressor for filling up tires (the York won't fit on my 3FE with dual batteries) I am extremely happy with it even though I am still working out the bugs. I am now leaning towards My CO2 stuff pulling duty with my garage fridge.
I personally would go with a york . The cost would be close to the same & it's always with you. Plus, it's cool to pull up to someone you don't know sitting in the parking lot & offering to fill their flat for them.

You speak of redundancy, I have a chevy load leveling electric running my ARB, my sanden for filling tires (which I am going to tie into my ARB plumbing with a check valve ), and my 2 CO2 bottles for just in case.

I also agree with blzrfn & RavenTai about CO2 being simple & getting your money out of it if you decide to go a different direction in the future. You can't go wrong in that respect if you are unsure of your future needs.

 

[AppleTech]

I am going to be running the York setup and I'm nearing completion... just waiting on the bracket to be fabbed up. The reason I went with this choice is because I don't have a shop compressor and want to be able to use my truck to run air tools in my garage or on the trail. The York system with an attached air tank will allow you to fill up all your tires in just minutes as well as run air tools without worrying about the tank running out of air. Also those little electric compressors scare me - they fail way too easy. The York has an internal oil reservoir so it will last you a long time.

If you decide to go with the York setup, I'm selling them for $60 on this thread (assuming I can continue getting them at the current price, otherwise prices might go up). You can check out my OBA buildup thread here. There is also the thread where Lumpdog is selling his fantastic 1FZFE bracket for the York.

-Phil

 

[NLXTACY]

Trailbus I love your triple...no quadruple...redundancy. I do tend to go overboard on things but my wife would kill me for going THAT overboard


Phil, I am in fact leaning to the CO2 & the York. $60 for the York with the Clutch? (I guess I could re-read the thread). How does Lumpdog's bracket differ from Slee's? And I read on that thread about welding. IF I were to go this route, everything would pretty much have to be bolt on. I can do drilling and such but no welding, cutting or grinding. I really hate HOA's, sheesh.

 

[AppleTech]

$60 for the York with the Clutch? How does Lumpdog's bracket differ from Slee's? And I read on that thread about welding. IF I were to go this route, everything would pretty much have to be bolt on. I can do drilling and such but no welding, cutting or grinding. I really hate HOA's, sheesh.

$60 + shipping would give you a fully functional York unit with functioning electric clutch. Not rebuilt or anything, just cleaned up and verified that it works - these are stout units and will last you for a long time... especially when only using it every so often to fill up your air tank. Think about the fact that these compressors normally run much of the time during the summer when the AC in on... you would be using it only a fraction of that!

Lumpdog's bracket is closer to the motor (= less stress on the block), allows for tensioning your belt from the top instead of from under the truck, its a bit cheaper than the Slee kit. I think either kit would be great... I'm choosing to go with Lumpdog's because of its simplicity and the ability to tension the belt from the top instead of underneath, less stress on the block, and price.

His kit will be bolt-on, no welding required. You will have to reroute your heater pipe (some hardware for this included). See the thread for more info.

-Phil

 

[jonheld]

Personally I think electric compressors should be removed from your equation. None of the 12 volt ones out there can produce enough CFMs to justify the cost.

CO2 tanks run out so you must be sure to keep them filled. However, they are the most complete "plug and play" systems.
Spend some time talking to the local welding shops in your area. What are their hours and do they correspond to your schedule? In my area it was out of the question. I would need to plan several days in advance if I needed a refill and take a day off of work.

That left me with only one option and I couldn't be happier. Is it foolproof? No. Not by any means. It's an old unit and it can fail in a variety of ways. In fact I always keep a short belt in my truck in case I need to bypass it. However, I have the ARB compressor installed with an air chuck in my engine bay. While it is PAINFULLY slow to air up 4 tires, they do eventually get there.

I have a writeup on my site if you're interested.

 

[Prophecy]

ARB has a compressor out that I am going with, and going to add a small tank somewhere. This way I can air up rather quickly, and already have the air for my Lockers when I order them. The compressor was priced to me at around $265.00, then was going to get one of those small long cylindrical tanks like a 1.5 gallon or such.

Just my .02
Jeremy

 

[e9999]

CO2: fast but big and you need to refill (a pain) / get empty (not good)
York: not too expensive but needs some level of fab (not sure how much)
MV50: inexpensive ($50 at Costco) and a very good unit. More flexible and small. Can move around between trucks. (Only complaint: hose a bit short, can't make it to trailer without extension cord.


MY choice in order: MV50 (mine does everything I ask from it), York (if not too costly or difficult to install) and last CO2 (I have one, I never use it).

Eventually, I'd like both York and MV50.

 

[NLXTACY]

Ok so now I've learned that CO2/York people are night owls and electric compressor people wake up at the butt crack of dawn on a Sunday

 

[flintknapper]

If you just need to fill tires from time to time, then I'd go Co2.

If you need a constant source of air, or are interested in a dedicated system that will make enough air for all your needs, then do the york.

I haven't installed the one on my Cruiser yet because I am waiting to see whose bracket turns out to be the best.


But, I do have one on my Early Bronco. In fact I timed it a couple of days ago to see how quickly it would fill my 5 gallon tank.

Engine RPM set at 800. (just barely high idle).

From 0 to specified pressure were as follows:

0-50 lbs. psi.....20 seconds!
0-100 lbs. psi.....50 seconds!
0-135 lbs. psi.....1 minute 13 seconds (press. switch set @ 135)


That is a copious amount of air. I am pleased with it.

 

[Bergretter]

CO2 works great for me. Using a powertank setup and have had no problems with reseating tire beads (33x12.5 Goodyear MT's), airing back up many times, and running die grinders for weld jobs all on a 10lb. tank. It does suck when it runs out, so on longer outings I bring a spare 10lb tank. I like the fact that I can use tools without running the truck, and I found that I end up using the air to save others more than myself, so the portability can't be beat! All have pro's and con's, good luck choosing.