On board air

[Hay Dude]

I have been trying to solve the problem of "shop strength" on board truck air for a while now.
Previously, I would take one of my Honda powered nail gun compressors on the back of the truck (typical farmers flatbed F-350/550/etc). I didnt like that because of having to climb up on bed in between tool boxes, wiggle it out, pull start, etc. Hose was always a mess. It got real old after a few years and it beat up the wheelbarrow compressor.
Then tried a small electric portable type. It was worthless for big tires and I have some big tires.
Long ago I had an ARB under hood compressor that was nice quality,, but still took a while to inflate anything big.
Looking for something in between. I like the Rol Air GD4000 Rolair GD4000PV5H 118cc 4.5-Gallon Contractor Pancake Gas Powered Air Compressor w/ Honda Engine

However, it's $800+ shipped. I could swing that, but it requires a supply of gas and a pull start-would probably confine it in a boxy toolbox.
Has anyone else found a better or cheaper way? Have a new diesel truck coming and wondered if having dual batteries and dual alternators (440 amp) would there be a way to wire a reasonably powerful electric air compressor into the truck?
Another important constraint is I dont want compressor out in the elements anymore. My truck is coming with a flatbed with (2) 30"x 16"x16" tool boxes under bed and (2) 48"x16"x16" on top of the bed. So the Rol Air may NOT quite fit (it's 16" high and 16" deep).
Looked at some other systems that were very expensive.
Any thoughts or do any of you have any source of powerful air?
Would prefer electric on board air with a concealed system to keep it out of rain.

 

[Peter 315]

Here you go pto powered off the truck....What Is A PTO Driven Air Compressor? | VMAC

 

[herm0016]

a lot of overland travel people like the Puma 12v stuff. you could get 2 of 3/4 hp models for less then $500.

the vair 480c is also a high quality unit.

you wont be running a sander or impact for long, but it will do anything you can do with a pancake compressor. the rolair will obv. put out a lot more cfm, but its also going to be very difficult to match that with anything integrated with the truck.

some also go with a belt drivin solution. get a pump and mount it to the engine, then install a tank and pressure switch mated to the pulley clutch. you can actually use some of the old A/C compressors for this, and they produce quite a bit of air.

 

[Hay Dude]

Here you go pto powered off the truck....What Is A PTO Driven Air Compressor? | VMAC

LOVE IT! But whats the cost? Probably 5 grand:shocked:

 

[Hay Dude]

I could commit one of the tool boxes for a compressor & tank. That would also make it nicely sheltered, yet accessible. Was thinking of mounting one of the retractable hose reels for hose next to tool box.

Most common air uses will be blowing out large clogged radiators and inflating tires.

 

[Peter 315]

LOVE IT! But whats the cost? Probably 5 grand:shocked:

More like 7k all said and done......

 

[Hay Dude]

More like 7k all said and done......

:shocked::confused2::laughing:

 

[jaxs]

some also go with a belt drivin solution. get a pump and mount it to the engine, then install a tank and pressure switch mated to the pulley clutch. you can actually use some of the old A/C compressors for this, and they produce quite a bit of air.

Now there's a man that use's his head for things other than to store a hat and hold his ears apart. Ford and Chrysler compressors with flat head is what you are looking for. Already has electric clutch that can be hooked to pressure switch. If you can work out the drive and clutch,a little 2-3 horse engine works pretty good but not capiable of as high pressure as ac compressor. Output come's from spark plug hole. I'll probably be slammed for suggesting a water heater tank but I'm prepared to support the idea with facts.

 

[jaxs]

Most common air uses will be blowing out large clogged radiators and inflating tires.

Might consider useing water from a pump similar to rv water pump. It pull's far less amps than air compressor and easier on the lungs and eyes than air.

 

[Hay Dude]

The under hood space available is really limited on newer trucks.

 

[Peter 315]

The under hood space available is really limited on newer trucks.

None and a serpentine belt that's a mile long....

 

[herm0016]

Now there's a man that use's his head for things other than to store a hat and hold his ears apart. Ford and Chrysler compressors with flat head is what you are looking for. Already has electric clutch that can be hooked to pressure switch. If you can work out the drive and clutch,a little 2-3 horse engine works pretty good but not capiable of as high pressure as ac compressor. Output come's from spark plug hole. I'll probably be slammed for suggesting a water heater tank but I'm prepared to support the idea with facts.

a steel tank made for air pressure is not hard to find, and in a mobile application, much preferred. water heaters are designed for a liquid, which is in-compressible and holds very little energy compared to air. the PSI rating may be ok, but its not designed for it and I would advise against it. many years in the oil industry and 10k psi certified operator have taught me that gas in a tank made for liquids can be very dangerous, even if both are not explosive like we deal with.

yes, the old york style compressors are easier as they are oiled, and do not rely on the oil in the A/C lines for lube like modern compressors.
The problem with a small engine, is you have to rethink the valve train to make it really work as you want to be filling the cylinder on each down stroke, and compressing on each up stroke. so you need a different cam / timing set up or you need to replace the valves with reed valves. 2 strokes have issues because of lubrication.

 

[jaxs]

a steel tank made for air pressure is not hard to find, and in a mobile application, much preferred. water heaters are designed for a liquid, which is in-compressible and holds very little energy compared to air. the PSI rating may be ok, but its not designed for it and I would advise against it. many years in the oil industry and 10k psi certified operator have taught me that gas in a tank made for liquids can be very dangerous, even if both are not explosive like we deal with.

yes, the old york style compressors are easier as they are oiled, and do not rely on the oil in the A/C lines for lube like modern compressors.
The problem with a small engine, is you have to rethink the valve train to make it really work as you want to be filling the cylinder on each down stroke, and compressing on each up stroke. so you need a different cam / timing set up or you need to replace the valves with reed valves. 2 strokes have issues because of lubrication.

OMG,an engineer with credentials! My suggestion is based on simple fact,not hypothesis ｷ thesis ｷ conjecture ｷ supposition ｷ speculation ｷ postulation ｷ postulate ｷ proposition ｷ premise ｷ surmise ｷ assumption ｷ presumption nor presupposition.. No engineering whatsoever required. Farmers have been pumping tires up with spark plug pumps since combustion engines were first built. I never heard of one altering the engine in any form.

 

[Hay Dude]

OMG,an engineer with credentials! My suggestion is based on simple fact,not hypothesis ｷ thesis ｷ conjecture ｷ supposition ｷ speculation ｷ postulation ｷ postulate ｷ proposition ｷ premise ｷ surmise ｷ assumption ｷ presumption nor presupposition.. No engineering whatsoever required. Farmers have been pumping tires up with spark plug pumps since combustion engines were first built. I never heard of one altering the engine in any form.

Diesels don’t have spark plugs :laughing::laughing:

 

[countrybumpkin]

I have a couple of the York a/c air compressor setups, absolutely love them, from airing up tires to air tools in the field. I have mine set to on at 120 psi and off at 160 psi. Then regulate anything from there that needs it. Kilby was one company that had bolt in kits, but think they have sold out to another company. Air boss also had kits for dodge Cummings setups.

 

[herm0016]

OMG,an engineer with credentials! My suggestion is based on simple fact,not hypothesis ｷ thesis ｷ conjecture ｷ supposition ｷ speculation ｷ postulation ｷ postulate ｷ proposition ｷ premise ｷ surmise ｷ assumption ｷ presumption nor presupposition.. No engineering whatsoever required. Farmers have been pumping tires up with spark plug pumps since combustion engines were first built. I never heard of one altering the engine in any form.

it may work. I have not used one. only you mentioned engineer, but as an engineer i like things to work as efficiently as possible and last a long time. a 4 stroke will, obviously work like you suggest on the compression stroke, but you will be wasting the other 3 revolutions of the engine, and even then you will still have to "modify" it with a check valve. i think a 2 would work as well, but i have not messed with 2 strokes much.

 

[Hay Dude]

I have a couple of the York a/c air compressor setups, absolutely love them, from airing up tires to air tools in the field. I have mine set to on at 120 psi and off at 160 psi. Then regulate anything from there that needs it. Kilby was one company that had bolt in kits, but think they have sold out to another company. Air boss also had kits for dodge Cummings setups.

Rats, won’t work for me. I have a dodge CUMMINS :laughing:

 

[dieselscout80]

I have a Sanden AC compressor mounted on my IH Scout which has worked great for me. It is plumbed into a small air tank from a old compressor.

I have used it to run a framing nailer to build wood rail fence.

 

[Peter 315]

Here you go just make your own well you wait for the grass to grow ........PTO Driven Air Compressors

 

[Hay Dude]

Here you go just make your own well you wait for the grass to grow ........PTO Driven Air Compressors

You really know how to spend a guys money :laughing: