Ronin8002
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- March 23, 2003
- Messages
- 4,416
- Reaction score
- 17
- City, State
- Virginia
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2008 XLT Ironman
Just finished installing my on board air system on my 2004 Eddie Bauer. I was looking for something that would fill all my tires with ease and also allow me to do some light air tool use, so I went with the Viair 20001 Ultra Duty kit.
It is a continuous duty 12v compressor and it comes with a 2.5 gallon air tank and it will pressurize up to 200psi.
As for mounting locations, I could have put this under the hood or mounted to the framerail, but there is this cool bin under the floors of the 3rd Gens (without the 3rd row) and I wasn't using it for anything else. Turns out it would fit the compressor and tank PERFECTLY so I decided to go for it even though it would make the install a bit trickier. I was also hoping that the location would help quiet the compressor down a bit:
Here's what the rear cargo area looks like:
Open up the forward panel and here's the compressor and tank:
Compressor:
Tank:
I drilled 1 hole thru the bottom of that space for a 3/8" air line and ran it down to a Tee fitting at the frame:
Then I ran 3/8" lines to the front and rear bumpers along the top edge of the frame, zip tying it to the frame every foot or so:
Each supply line was capped with quick disconnect fitting. Here's the one at the rear bumper with a rubber dustcap on it to keep road crud from getting in:
There was also a line run from the tank to a pressure guage that came with the kit. I kind of jacked up the top part of the hole when I was cutting it...need to fix that somehow:
There wasn't any room under the tank to be able to open the petcock valve to drain it, and even with drilling another hole and running a line for it underneath I realized it was going to be a pain to crawl under the truck and open the petcock up every time I wanted to drain the tank. So what I did was run another line from the drain hole of the tank down to the same vicinity as the Tee fitting for my supply lines. I put a weatherproof water/air 250 psi rated solenoid valve there (like a nitrous solenoid basically) so I can drain the tank remotely:
It just vents to the air.
I ran the wires from it back to a button in the truck. I also put in a switch for the compressor with a cover over it so it is protected a little if I have something loose in the back and it hits the switch. The red momentary pushbutton next to it is for the tank purge:
Here's a video of it in action with the floor panel back in place and a demonstration of the tank purge. The video makes it sound loud but you can easily talk over it in an "indoor voice" when you are standing where I was filming.
http://youtu.be/_NC5B0XYZ4g
I am very happy with it! The tank gets up to 200 PSI in about 5 minutes, and the compressor kicks on when it gets down to 165. Fills tires with no problem, and I was able to use my air ratchet and impact with it also. You can't go real crazy with the air tools because they eat up air quick and the compressor/tank can't keep up with heavy use, but for short bursts/light use they work well enough for me.
Here's the website if anyone is interested:
http://viaircorp.com/OffRoad/20001.html
It is a continuous duty 12v compressor and it comes with a 2.5 gallon air tank and it will pressurize up to 200psi.
As for mounting locations, I could have put this under the hood or mounted to the framerail, but there is this cool bin under the floors of the 3rd Gens (without the 3rd row) and I wasn't using it for anything else. Turns out it would fit the compressor and tank PERFECTLY so I decided to go for it even though it would make the install a bit trickier. I was also hoping that the location would help quiet the compressor down a bit:
Here's what the rear cargo area looks like:
Open up the forward panel and here's the compressor and tank:
Compressor:
Tank:
I drilled 1 hole thru the bottom of that space for a 3/8" air line and ran it down to a Tee fitting at the frame:
Then I ran 3/8" lines to the front and rear bumpers along the top edge of the frame, zip tying it to the frame every foot or so:
Each supply line was capped with quick disconnect fitting. Here's the one at the rear bumper with a rubber dustcap on it to keep road crud from getting in:
There was also a line run from the tank to a pressure guage that came with the kit. I kind of jacked up the top part of the hole when I was cutting it...need to fix that somehow:
There wasn't any room under the tank to be able to open the petcock valve to drain it, and even with drilling another hole and running a line for it underneath I realized it was going to be a pain to crawl under the truck and open the petcock up every time I wanted to drain the tank. So what I did was run another line from the drain hole of the tank down to the same vicinity as the Tee fitting for my supply lines. I put a weatherproof water/air 250 psi rated solenoid valve there (like a nitrous solenoid basically) so I can drain the tank remotely:
It just vents to the air.
I ran the wires from it back to a button in the truck. I also put in a switch for the compressor with a cover over it so it is protected a little if I have something loose in the back and it hits the switch. The red momentary pushbutton next to it is for the tank purge:
Here's a video of it in action with the floor panel back in place and a demonstration of the tank purge. The video makes it sound loud but you can easily talk over it in an "indoor voice" when you are standing where I was filming.
http://youtu.be/_NC5B0XYZ4g
I am very happy with it! The tank gets up to 200 PSI in about 5 minutes, and the compressor kicks on when it gets down to 165. Fills tires with no problem, and I was able to use my air ratchet and impact with it also. You can't go real crazy with the air tools because they eat up air quick and the compressor/tank can't keep up with heavy use, but for short bursts/light use they work well enough for me.
Here's the website if anyone is interested:
http://viaircorp.com/OffRoad/20001.html
Very nice job
