I'm looking for some advice on CO2 tanks here. I went wheelin' this past weekend with someone who had a Powertank that most of us bummed air from. I was impressed and now I have to have a CO2 tank. I was a little set back by the price but I do subscribe to the pilosophy: "you get what you pay for". Now I've been surfing the web and this forum for some more details to help me make my decision. Here is what I'm trying to decide and get input about.

Does anyone know how well The Source CO2 systems compare to Powertank. Does Powertank have anything that makes it so much more expensive than The Source. The basic system (10lb.) from the Source is $247 where the Powertank is over $400.

The other thing, if I did go with The Source, should I get the adjustable regulator. I mainly want it to air up my tires after an offroad trip. It appears to me that all of the Powertank systems have adjustable regulators so you can run air tools or for other applications.

I realize that it is going to cost to refill the tank every so often. I don't want on onboard system even if in the long road it will be less expensive.

I don't mind paying more for something if it is worth it but I also don't like to spend extra money if I don't have to for name recognition.

Your two cents would be appreciated.

 

I did mine myself.
Hyperflo regulator--fixed psi at 150---about 40 to 50$
Beverage 10lb co2 from beverage factory.com---the powertanks are the same type, just powdercoated--about 85$
and you can get a rubber hose for about 15$$--rubber is better because the co2 gets cold and the coiled hoses can get brittle
an air chuck from lowes is about 5$$

I then fabbed up a mount in the back of my 4dr that used the the bolts for the subwoofer.
In all It cost me about 150 or so.
Works fine, and It'll run air tools. Sure I may have too much pressure, but for short durations that you'll use them on the trail, you'll be fine.

I wasn't about to pay 300 plus for this.

I can get three fills of my 35 inch tires with the 10lb bottle.

There is one caveat on co2 though, before you make the investment make sure there is a local welding beverage shop/etc that will fill your tank. A lot of places just want to do an exchange.

 

For fills, also keep fire equipment people in mind. Same CO2 in fire extinguishers as beverages. That is where we got our supply to push beer in college.

 

seriously, a fire station refills cO2 tanks?

 

I like this option. If I can make it and it works it gets the big .

 

can't speak about the Source's products, but I've got a PowerTank SuperFlow regulator on a 20lb tank with a 4-way air hose. Fills my 35x12.5's from 8 psi to 30 in the time it takes me to count to 30 in my head.

300+ psi at 45 CFM is FAST