Onboard Air Compressor

[Lou Hamilton]

Has anyone installed or looked into installing an onboard air compressor?

I always wanted one, especially when camping, but never pursued it.

I know they are popular with pick-up truck owners. I've seen a number installed on the Ford Super Duty's, just not on an Expedition. My only requirement would be that it uses the standard quick connect ball coupler.

Not even sure what brands to consider.

 

[Shaffer9]

I just went down this rabbit hole for camping in my truck, I ended up putting together DIY CO2 tank setup for onboard air.
https://powertank.com/ Is the extremely nice/expensive version of my setup. Their website talks about the benefits, but you can air up tires faster and quieter as well as run air tools if desired. I've used mine a lot recently and it is a great option.

 

[AAOO]

Someone posted a train horn install here with an air compressor. Search for train horn.

This might me the thread I’m thinking about.

https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/train-horn-on-the-expedition.42287/

 

[aggiegrad05]

We’ve sorta been down this road before, although there’s not much here:


https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...mpressor?.40931/&share_type=t&link_source=app

 

[Fozzy]

What is your main use? I have found the ARB twin to be one of the best 12v vehicle mount around. It can be portable and with an air tank run an impact for small bursts. But with the new cordless tools there is no reason to need air for that anymore. I have a few power tanks and for Jeeping found this to be my favorite as it can help you seat a bead on large tires. 35” with no starting fluid. 40’s you need starting fluid and some luck. Great to blow the dust off with. It would easily last a weekend in Moab airing up and down, quite and convenient . I also have a large Powertank in my RV for fast instant air. Down side is you need to fill them and they need to be upright or angles up when using them. I have the quick shot Powertank with a regulator (paintball tank size) on my SxS. Roll bar mounted and it can seat a bead on my sand tires and 34” dirt tires with starting fluid. Take my 34” tires from completely flat to full two times. Perfect for emergency travel. I keep a Milwaukee cordless M12 in my Expy for travel. Great little compressor for topping something off. And last but not least a Rule high speed inflator for water toys. It’s expensive but worth every penny.


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[Lou Hamilton]

What is your main use? I have found the ARB twin to be one of the best 12v vehicle mount around. It can be portable and with an air tank run an impact for small bursts. But with the new cordless tools there is no reason to need air for that anymore. I have a few power tanks and for Jeeping found this to be my favorite as it can help you seat a bead on large tires. 35” with no starting fluid. 40’s you need starting fluid and some luck. Great to blow the dust off with. It would easily last a weekend in Moab airing up and down, quite and convenient . I also have a large Powertank in my RV for fast instant air. Down side is you need to fill them and they need to be upright or angles up when using them. I have the quick shot Powertank with a regulator (paintball tank size) on my SxS. Roll bar mounted and it can seat a bead on my sand tires and 34” dirt tires with starting fluid. Take my 34” tires from completely flat to full two times. Perfect for emergency travel. I keep a Milwaukee cordless M12 in my Expy for travel. Great little compressor for topping something off. And last but not least a Rule high speed inflator for water toys. It’s expensive but worth every penny.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, I have gone through numerous "cheap" portable air compressors over the past few years. Most seem like they last a year or so. I have the privilege of being able to work from anywhere and my wife works in the schools, so summer time is camping time. Our oldest son stays at home to work and keeps care of the house, while the wife, our other son, and I travel around camping. Since I check tire pressure before every drive and I have a bike with a slow leak tire (too lazy to just fix or replace the inner tube), I am almost using it daily.

I have a nice DeWalt one right now that seems to be better quality than the off-brand $20-30 ones off Amazon. I think this one was just under $200 because it included an extra battery (which works perfectly with my other DeWalt cordless tools).

I just thought something on board would be nice since the Expedition doesn't have the same rear storage that my Pilot had and I am looking for a good spot to store it. As an option, a permanent one was being considered. The one that I was looking at at previously (since I wanted the F-250 and the wife said absolutely not) was a Viair system. I have not looked under the Expedition to see if there are any good places to mount it.

Anyway, enough babbling.

 

[Fozzy]

I have never owned a ViAir, but I hear good things about them as well.


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[duneslider]

I have an ARB in my jeep and like it. I have not been able to find a good location to mount one in the expedition. The engine compartment is pretty cramped it seems and my hope to find a good spot there didn't work out. I think with a good mount (enclosure) you could put one under the expedition but that has its ups and downs too. I may look closer at mounting one under the floor in the storage area in the back.

Viair are nice pumps, just watch the duty cycle ratings on them. I think the ARB's are all 100% duty cycle numbers, that isn't the case with the Viairs so they sometimes look better than they are. I have had an ARB under the hood of my jeep for 10 years and it still works good as the day I put it in. I should route the air intake into the cabin but I haven't yet.

 

[Lou Hamilton]

I have an ARB in my jeep and like it. I have not been able to find a good location to mount one in the expedition. The engine compartment is pretty cramped it seems and my hope to find a good spot there didn't work out. I think with a good mount (enclosure) you could put one under the expedition but that has its ups and downs too. I may look closer at mounting one under the floor in the storage area in the back.

Viair are nice pumps, just watch the duty cycle ratings on them. I think the ARB's are all 100% duty cycle numbers, that isn't the case with the Viairs so they sometimes look better than they are. I have had an ARB under the hood of my jeep for 10 years and it still works good as the day I put it in. I should route the air intake into the cabin but I haven't yet.

I have not looked, but I was hoping somewhere near the rear hitch area would have some sort of place to install it. The pick-ups that I have seen it installed on are on the frame below the area between the driver and passenger seats.

Again, I don't know how crowded the underbelly is of an Expedition versus a Super Duty truck.

 

[Dclr]

I installed a compressed CO2 on board air system about 10 years ago in a toyota rig.

My experience:

+ Very convenient, no electrical connections, zero noise, no mechanical parts to fail.

- Finite amount of air (10 lb tank), potential grenade in a catastrophic event, sourcing a local company to fill it.

 

[Shane Goddard]

Someone posted a train horn install here with an air compressor. Search for train horn.

This might me the thread I’m thinking about.

https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/train-horn-on-the-expedition.42287/

That's my Expedition with the train horn. I have the Viair 444 compressor and a 5 gallon tank (as well as an Airchime K5LA train horn) mounted underneath the rear of the Expedition. If you are thinking about it, do it! I love having it on there and use it more than you'd think. If I see people about to pay to put air in their tires I'll go over there and let them use my air.

 

[duneslider]

I have not looked, but I was hoping somewhere near the rear hitch area would have some sort of place to install it. The pick-ups that I have seen it installed on are on the frame below the area between the driver and passenger seats.

Again, I don't know how crowded the underbelly is of an Expedition versus a Super Duty truck.

I haven't looked really hard but there seems to be a lot of free space under the expedition. What I haven't been able to determine is how much road spatter different areas experience. I don't want an area where there will be a lot of road spray hitting the compressor in the winter. I do think there are some available spaces under the expedition though.

 

[Lou Hamilton]

That's my Expedition with the train horn. I have the Viair 444 compressor and a 5 gallon tank (as well as an Airchime K5LA train horn) mounted underneath the rear of the Expedition. If you are thinking about it, do it! I love having it on there and use it more than you'd think. If I see people about to pay to put air in their tires I'll go over there and let them use my air.

Do you have a specific post showing the placement of the tank and air compressor? I see you removed the spare tire for the horns. I can't afford removing the spare, especially with traveling.

Any further details that you can share will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[armoredsaint]

remove your 2nd and 3rd row seats and bolt this down, you'll be the envy of us all!

 

[Shane Goddard]

Do you have a specific post showing the placement of the tank and air compressor? I see you removed the spare tire for the horns. I can't afford removing the spare, especially with traveling.

Any further details that you can share will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I did not make a specific post, but I can take some pictures for you in the next day or two and post them up.

 

[Scott Carden]

I have a good twin I bought off Amazon that works great. Paid about 125$ for it. Runs directly off the battery, but keep the expy running while I use it as it draws some juice. It’s quiet and fast. I also have a portable 5 gal air tank I keep with me most of the time. I’ve had no issues with either item once I set them up. The compressor is portable but can be permanent mounted.

 

[bwhinnen]

A little thread necromancy here.

I did not make a specific post, but I can take some pictures for you in the next day or two and post them up.

Researching the same thing at the moment. I like the ARB compressors the best and would like to use one of those. I’ve not looked at spaces to mount it yet.

Just wanted to see if you had any install pics of the compressor and tank (as cool as the k5 sounds, it’s not on my list)

 

[Expedition Dave]

Just bought the VIAir and started this thread. If I use it this weekend, I will report in but after researching on/off, it looks outstanding for the $150 +/- class, and comes with a few extra items and a deflator. None of it used yet though--

https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/best-12v-tire-inflator.47152/#post-433787