On Board Air—where To Mount

I bought a VIAIR on-board air kit with 2.5 gallon tank. I thought I could find a spot under the hood but that seems doubtful. Any suggestions on where to put this thing? I’m thinking the fender well inside the vehicle.

 

Is the tank integral to the compressor? If separate, the tank can go anywhere you can fit it. The ARB twin compressor will mount on the right fender under the hood.

 

They are separate, but the pump hose to the tank is a short pigtail, so it has to be close.

 

Consider this maybe?
https://www.amazon.com/AstroAI-Cord...-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

When I did the ARB compressor on my TJ, I just used push-lock truck air brake lines and fittings. Easy to route wherever you want.

I mounted a one gallon tank under the hood and the ARB compressor beneath the brake booster:


The fittings and hose I used:

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SHL11LP/?th=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072YZTRFX?th=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y668BSS?th=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074KD1DCH?th=1

 

Any reason you can't replace that with a longer hose? The tank in my 3B is mounted under the bed, behind the under-box cross member but in front of the axle. Modified aluminum medical oxygen cylinder. That has been under there for 16 years now.

 

Nice! Not sure. The instructions say not to remove that fitting from the compressor.

 

Then cut the line and extend it.

 

This is basically the system I suggested as an alternative to the Power Tank idea. You will be happy with it. The storage tank is nice for blowing trail dust off yourself when you get to camp or cleaning your engine bay. It fills your tires and does what you need. Air tools on the trail are kinda obsolete with all the great cordless stuff out there now. Milwaukee 18v for example. No air hose to drag around, light, powerful, full duty cycle….so many advantages.

My Viair compressor is mounted on the passenger fender, and there’s a 1 gallon tank under the tub. I’ll try to post pics for you if you want. It may take a minute as I’m in the middle of fall hazard tree removals. Busy during the days.

Edit: Like Fireball, I’m a fan of the push lock fittings. For my system I just picked up all the separate components I wanted and built it out custom. My OBA ties into my ARB air locker compressor which can be separated with a ball valve. So yeah, there’s 2 compressors under there.

 

You can run push to connect line and fittings at the end of the compressor pig tail to remote mount it away from the tank. You might be able to fit the tank behind the glove box behind the dash. And the compessor on the inner fenderwell. You can also get a kit to remote mount the air intake filter so you can frame mount the compessoe and not have it suck up water.

 

Thank you. After you suggested this kit I thought about it or a power tank. I prefer the compressor because the power tank is a pain to get filled. However, it would have been easier to find space for. I bought the 20001 model kit, which comes with a 2.5 G tank. Nice tank, but it’s longer. Certainly I can remove that pigtail and put something else on there. I’m just a novice with air tank stuff and don’t want to get hurt by messing with it. I’d appreciate the pictures if you get a chance.

 

EXCELLENT idea! I was looking everywhere but there! I will check this morning to see if would fit there. I could even pass the pigtail through the firewall and mount the compressor under the hood, which I would prefer. I saw a Viair video that indicated I could mount the compressor in any orientation without a problem.

 

Here is the compressor with that pigtail. I wasn’t sure what type of line is required from the compressor to the tank. Certainly I can make that longer. Oh, it says NOT to use teflon tape, but rather use a fitting sealant. Any suggestions?

 

Wow! Thanks for the pictures and detailed information! The thing I don’t understand is the connection between the tank and pump. Can you show me that?

 

Ues permatex teflon paste for the threads. Works great for sensors that ground through the treads as well. The compressor head gets very hot, thats why the braided hose is there plus the fitting at the end is a check valve to keep the tank pressure from back flowing into the compressor. You can attach compression or push to connect fittings with nylon air line if you need more length to the tank. Use the same type of fittings and hose to mount the air chuck where ever you want. I used a similar setup with a smaller tank and i found it to be slow to air up tires. I switched to a power tank. Only cost 25 bucks to fill at my local welding supply store.


Btw did you get the full kit or just the tank and compressor? The full kit should come with all the hose and fittings you need.

 

Wow. I regret not getting the power tank now because of fitment issues. Thanks for the explanation on the check valve. Can I just mount the compressor without a tank and use the compressor straight? I guess I’d just add a fitting to the end of the braided hose and call it good. No problems with over pressuring the tank that way and rust in the tank—maybe safer. I think that’s the way I’m going to go. Oh, it was a complete kit and you’re right, there are hoses and fittings included. Hose is a plastic type. The kit was Viair 20001.

 

Without the tank may not work because there would be no pressure switch to control the compressor. The switch to tell the compressor to turn on or off is located on the tank. Off at 200 psi and on at 165 psi. If I just run the compressor without a switch I wonder if it would quickly blow out that braided line?

 

I’ll get you pictures of my set up. You can run it without the tank…or get a 1 gallon tank which is smaller. You will have to purchase a few additional items…not sure what you already have:
-air line
-pressure switch
-connectors
-50 amp relay
-misc air / brass fittings.

I removed the stainless hose off my compressor and used other brass fittings. The whole thing is plumbed with push-lock poly line. There is no one right way to plumb the thing.

How about a pic of you engine compartment?

 

Probably burn the compressor motor up first. As above, just replumb and add pressure switch. This is the one I now have in my 3B and it is set for 95-105 psi. Compact and easy to adjust. Prior to the ARB's, I previously ran the system at 150 psi with a Square D pressure switch.

 

Duffer makes a good point. 165-200psi is a little high for a OBA pressure switch. Certainly too high if you have air lockers. And you might add a pressure gauge to the above list.

90-120 or 140ish is about right I think.