Kinda thinking out loud here, so bear with me...

I'm thinking about mounting an air tank, but don't really want to mount it inside the vehicle. Has anyone thought about or mounted a tank underneath? I am considering either relocating my muffler under the cab and then using the orginal muffler location for a small tank or two...or leaving the muffler as is and mounting an air tank in that relocation space. Would heat or damage be less/more likely to occur in either spot? What about several small tanks mounted inside a steel bumper, or having sections of a steel bumper welded shut to hold air?

I will mount a small cheapo compressor somewhere on board and run a switch into the cab. Or, if I can air up 4x35's with the size tanks I can get mounted, I may skip the compressor.

I think I would want a fitting to be able to use my home air compressor easily to fill it up (mainly if I don't mount a compressor). And I would need an easy to reach fitting to snap in a tire hose when ready for it...which could be similar to the reciever hitch power plug on rear, but not sure on the side or front?

Has anyone done this? How big a tank is needed to fill 4x35's without the need of a compressor? What size tanks will fit under the vehicle? Where can I buy empty tanks? Can I connect several small tanks to better utilized the space and how would I do this?

 

I have a Viair 2.5 gallon tank mounted where the stock muffler was. It tucks in there fairly nicely. There might be room for a 2nd one, but Id have to measure. I purchased the complete Viair 450C ssytem from David at northridge 4x4, but Im sure he can get just the tanks too.

River Raider also makes a skid the mounts a tank and relocates the Evap Cannister. This goes with their onboard air system, but can also be purchased seperately.

 

That looks good Brian. How much $? How is it holding up off road? I currently have my tank that came with my Warn PP in the rear well but it doesnt fit there very well. I origianly thought I wouldnt care but I find that that space would be better if it was back to being flat.

 

I dont have that skid yet, so Im not sure on the price. I just have my tank mounted where the stock muffler is. I havent hit it yet, but I know I will eventually. Im planning on using the RR skid where I have my tank currently mounted.

 

i was thinking about doing the muffler relocation as well... but i like the looks of that RR skid!

 

-----------------------------------------------------

A 33 x 12.5 takes about 4 gallons of 150 psi air to fill, a 35" would take more than that...(Its a toroidal shape, but I don't know your rim size, etc....)

So, w/o a compressor, assuming 150 psi in the tank, you'd need around 16 or more gallons of tank capacity. (Too big to fit any where useful...)

For an OBA system....it all comes down to patience....how long are you willing for it to take to air up 4 tires from soft aired down, to firmed up highway ready?

And -

How much are you willing to spend in time/$?



The giant Oasis compressors, AC compressor based Kilby's, and CO2 systems, etc...don't need a tank, as they deliver so much flow in of them selves in would hardly matter.

The other compressors that deliver fewer PSI, and few cubic feet per minute (cfm), etc...benefit from a tank, as they can fill the tank between your uses, say recharging between tire fills or air tool bursts, etc....smoothing out the delivery, and helping to maintain a higher rate of flow, etc.

I find a 4 gal tank's about the minimum to reset a blown tire bead in one shot, I can stuff more reserve into a 150 psi tank, but most air tools only need around 90 psi, so I can store the air at 150 psi, but use a regulator to meter it out for air tools, etc.

They make flying saucer / pancake shaped tanks, hot dog shaped tanks, traditional barrel shaped tanks, and, you can tap your sliders and or bumpers if they are made with tubing, to add capacity.

150 psi is not enough to worry about if you have crappy hollow sliders and they get punctured...it would merely hiss, not explode, etc.



Food for thought.

 

I have the same question about tank placement so instead of starting a new thread I will just bump this one to see if I can get some more replys. Perhaps some more pics.