Air Tank Questions

[kmroxo]

I currently have a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. In about four or five years I will be inheriting my wife's GX470 so I want to try and keep everything as modular as possible. Instead of installing on board air, I was wondering about adding a portable air tank. I have a 26 gallon, 160 psi Craftsman air compressor in my garage. Can I get just an air tank and refill it with my compressor after trips are done? Or is it better to get the portable compressor that hooks right up to the 12 volt system?

 

[jh504]

My buddy, who mainly uses his rig for weekends at the OBX uses a tank. He says he has plenty of air for the weekend. If I were going any longer than that I would rather have a compressor though.

 

[spressomon]

It all comes down to how much air you need/want and the space you have/don't have to house whatever air source makes sense for your needs. Air, relative to CO2, doesn't compress very well.

And, although my 10# CO2 Powertank has gotten me to this point, the $22 refills and double trips dropping/picking up along with the space it requires...is leading me down the path of an OBA set-up.

 

[Azlugz]

Air your tank up and then let it sit for a day and see if it still has the same pressure, some will drop a bit. Then, in your driveway, drop the pressure in all your tires to wheeling pressure. Now, air them back up with just the tank. Did you make it?? If you have bigger tires, chances are your tank (if average sized) will not get you fully aired up.

Now, for roughly the same cargo space as the typical air tank, I can fit my portable Puma compressor and have more than enough air and I can usually air up 2 to 3 vehicles in the time people with ViAirs do just theirs.

If necessary, I can even run air tools, not long burts but its enough to remove bolts and drive the air ratchet and its an all in one package with shut off and tank. I bought mine on a forum here for $175 but I have seen them new for $225 on EGay and on the net. Best 12v compressor I have found for the money and its still portable. SO, with one of these, you use roughly the same space as your tank, its portable so you can move it to the new rig and if you want, when you get it there, you can build it in. I plan to hard mount mine in the back of my Grand Cherokee.

Good luck what everway you go

 

[kmroxo]

Thanks for the ideas and options. I am leaning towards that Puma or just a portable powered compressor.

 

[rusty_tlc]

For casual off road use the $40 or $50 compressors sold by Pep Boys and Harbor freight work well. I've been using my HF unit for a couple of years with no complaints. I use it on two truck that see moderate trails, have relatively small tires and don't get aired down to really low pressure. I like the portability of the unit from rig to rig, I've even thrown it in my wife's sedan along with some tire plugs for long road trips "just in case".

On my more hard core trail rig I use CO2, electric pumps get very hot airing large tires up from low pressure. Cost wise CO2 comes in right around the price of a better electric (Puma Viair etc.). However as Sperssomon pointed out there is also the on-going cost of re-fills. If I had a way to do it I'd add a York or Sanden mechanical compressor.

 

[bj70_guy]

I'm sure impressed with the Puma. I had a C)2 bottle for my rig but decided to go the Puma route after seeing it in action in the Copper State Land Cruisers' rigs.
I solid mounted mine to my drawer rig, but keeping it portable is nice too if you have the space. 100% duty cycle, btw. I upgraded the wiring to 6 GA as recommended by the CSLC guys. Very pleased, especially for the price!