On my last trip to the Outer Banks NC moving between beaches in my Suburban on the highway I blew a tire due to low pressure and highway devider pegs. Not much pleasure in changing tires in 100+ temps.

Does anyone have an onboard compressor? I don't mean these wimpy ones you buy in the five and dime, but one that I could be mounted permanently in the engine compartment.

 

Do a web search for "On Board Air". There are plenty of solutions out there. Also, Warn makes a series of winches with a fairly good compressor build into them. The only problem I have with these is that *may* not be as easy to plumb into an aux tank. My plan is to relocate the muffler and put an air tank in its place.

-E

 

I recently found a nice alternative to the air compressor. A 10 lb C02 tank can give 10 fills to 35" tires. Its relativly small and a hell of a lot cheaper than a tank/compressor set
Does anyone use these tanks or do they suck compared to your typical on board air?

 

Many people use them. They are great if you're just going to air up tires. If you want to run air tools on the trail or anything like that, they are a no-go. The other problem is that you have to get them filled! But they are a great solution as far as airing up tires.

I don't know that they are really much cheaper than doing on board air though. You can get a complete Viair electric compressor on board air system for about the same price as a Power Tank CO2 system. Both are in the $300-$400 dollar range. If you already have some of the components like hoses and fittings, you can get just the Viair heavy duty 12v compressor for $200.

-E

 

Thanks guys, lots to think about.

 

I thought I already posted a response to this??? maybe it went somewhere else??? If anyone see's a strange response in another thread that is the reason

anyway... checkout www.hornblasters.com They have tanks on there. Their tanks are to run the horns but they can be used for only air as well. They also have a compressor that will re-fill the tank. In looking at the size I'm pretty sure I get one to mount inside the front bumper with only having some brackets made, or I may even just weld it in there.

 

Yes, you did, I am just trying to ask as many people as possible and I did find some alternatives.

 

For my CJ7 I have a York compressor - it'll run off the fan belt and be plumbed to the front bumper which is also the air tank. It will run air tools, fill tires, etc. I've got it all ready to be installed but I just have to make time to do it

 

The engine powered compressors definitely have an advantage for speed and noise, but they are more expensive, and I doubt anyone has a bracket made for the 3.8 V6 yet! I think I'm going to go electric, to save money and let me mount it wherever I like.

-E