Thread: Fixed install of an ARB Twin compressor to a 5 seater

I have a five seater SE 2019 SD6. I bought an ARB Portable Twin Compressor with an air tank at a 4WD show earlier in the year. It was at a good price and I could not resist... On a recent trip I decided I would rather have it permanently installed in the car to save space in the boot and to move the weight further forward. As I have the SD6 there is no room under the bonnet to mount it and I figured it would run much cooler in the back anyway. I spoke to ARB and they said it would be fine to mount in in a body cavity.

I decided to go the easy route and place it under the false floor of the boot. This proved to be extremely simple to do. All I had to do was unbolt it from the case and then cut a small opening in the foam liner under the false floor and feed the cable and the air hose after protecting them. The whole thing took about 30 minutes to do. I had already cut the power cable and put in two 175 Amp Anderson plugs so I could connect it to my auxiliary battery or my starter battery but still plug the alligator clips on to the end of the cable if I needed to blow up someone else's tyres. I had also attached a short length of 6B&S cable with a 175 Amp Anderson plug and 80 Amp fuse to the starter battery so I could plug in the 175 Amp Anderson plug on the compressor cable and run it directly from the starter battery with the engine running - it pulls around 65 Amps at full pressure. The end of this cable sits near the jack for easy access. I had also bought a 90 degree adapter for the hose at EnZed.

So, in sequence, to add the pump:

1. Undo the eight screws holding the compressor and air tank into the case.
2. Remove the false floor in the boot.
3. Place the compressor in the foam insert in the space under the false floor.
4. Unplug the power cable from the compressor and encase the power cable in corrugated tubing.
5. Plug in a length of air hose.
6. Encase the female end of the air hose in corrugated tubing for about 500 mm.
7. Cut a small hole - about 50 mm x 35 mm in the foam where you want to pass the hose and cable through.
8. Pass the compressor end of the power cable through the hole.
9. Put some foam lagging over the air hose near the end of the corrugated tubing and a second piece loose on the air hose for Step 12.
10. Pass the female end of the air hose from the compartment into the space under the starter battery and run it up to the jack area.
11. Slide the lagging over the corrugated tubing and into the hole to hold it in place and pad the hose and cable.
12. Coil the excess hose up and keep it together with some 25 mm double sided Velcro.
13. Unplug the air hose and run another section of lagging over the male end of the air hose up to the coil. Plug it back in to the compressor.
14. Position the two pieces of lagging - the one in Step 7 and Step 11 above - along the air hose to the coil in Step 9 above.
15. Place the coil in the pocket in the foam and arrange the two lengths of lagging so they pad the hose where it is going to enter and exit the pocket.
16. Plug the power cable back in to the compressor.
17. Switch the compressor on.
18. Put the false floor back in.

Now all you have to do is remove the jack cover and plug in your air hose and inflator then plug in the 175 Anderson plugs. The compressor will fire up and fill the air tank in the time you take to uncoil the hose and unscrew the first valve cap.

Once the lockdown is lifted - whenever that might be - I will go to EnZed and get them to shorten the air hose so I do not need the coil.

Some photos:

Overall:



The compressor in place:



The air hose and power cable passing through the foam liner:



The extra hose tucked in to the pouch in the foam:



The hose end and the 175 Amp Anderson plug, ready to attach, in the jack storage compartment:



Cheers
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PS The compressor is much quieter now, especially if the boot is full!

I got EnZed to make up a 1400mm heavy duty, rubber air hose for me. Ordered yesterday and arrived at 0800 today. Not bad for the times of Covid!

I encased it in corrugated tubing, shrink wrap and foam lagging to protect it. It has tidied up the install and given me back a 4 metre air hose extension.



The air hose and 175 Amp Anderson plugs are easily accessed from the jack storage.



Now, hopefully I will be able to try it out - if this lockdown ever ends...

Cheers
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