Thread: Is an air tank worthwhile ?

Is there lots of room under the tray?

What I was going to do in my Discovery was to have the compressor mounted in the engine bay (done) and have a hose/pipe going to a tank underneath and then a line to the rear bumper so I can reach trailer tyres and not have to open the bonnet to use the compressor.

I did all that but without the tank.
What I learnt was that you should have a valve on the compressor to close off the larger tank and line. This way if you have trouble with that line you can shut it off and still use your lockers.
Also put a tyre valve on the new tank or somewhere so you can pump it from an external source if your compressor dies.

Originally Posted by Utemad

Also put a tyre valve on the new tank or somewhere so you can pump it from an external source if your compressor dies.

That's a damn good idea. Not heard of that before, but so simple!

Easiest tanks to sorce are those off trucks.

They already have the fittings in place and mounting brackets etc and most truck wreckers have an abundance of them normally.

The pressure switch you can buy on Ebay, 90 to 100Psi is about all you want to run or the compressor will be working too hard to keep the tank pumped up.

A 1 way valve in the charge line near the tank and a ball valve to shut the system down near the compressor will mean if the line fails the tank will stay full and the compressor as said above can still be used for your lockers.

I would fit the tank under the tray, plenty of room there and put the fittings on either side of the head board s you can plug in a hose and do both front and rear tyres easilly from both sides of the car.

The best reason for having a tank is that you can inflate tyres heaps quicker and also have the capacity to use air blowers for cleaning up parts or chainsaws etc, rattle guns or other air tools (for short periods of time) or even run air over hydraulic brakes on a trailer.

If you dont need to do any of that then I would just run the air lines and leave it at that.

I put my compressor in the empty box below the back seat of my 130, operated by a dash switch and pressure switch via a relay. I used an old aluminium air ram, removed the piston and shaft and fitted a second end cap for a receiver (also under the seat) with an air fitting each side of the box, just inside the rear doors. The fittings used to corrode or jam up when fitted under the tray. It's good to be able to reach the trailer tyres too. It's cooled by a 4" switchboard fan, which runs independently of the pressure switch so it cools after it cuts out at pressure also

What mcrover said, spot on, Regards Frank.

So I already have an ARB compressor under the drivers seat which runs the locker. WOuld I be best just to use this in the new system or is having 2 compressors (one for each function) the best way to go do you think ? I already have the 2nd compressor so cost is not a consideration in that respect.

101 Ron bought one of those little 12V compressors that look like mini full sized workshop compressors from the autoparts retailer starting with Sup.......

He then dismounted the compressor joined it up with the hose and stuck it in his wife's car. Then mounted the tank behind the grill of his 101 with hose connections in various locations including out the grill.

Provided you don't fit a one way valve between the tank and the outside connection you can use an adaptor to re-pressurise the tank from the outside connection. If using a double ended male hose fitting it would be worthwhile having a shutoff in the adaptor. Having a schrader valve in the adaptor will allow you to recharge from a service station air line and not risk a leaky schrader valve in the system.

We have the valved female air line fittings on the air tanks of our truck/s so they can be moved when the engine or compressor aren't running. The adaptor above is used to charge the air tanks and get the air brakes off.

Diana

i have a small receiver (sits under the driver seat with the compressor) and will upgrade one day that is connected to my max-air, having stored air is handy if you need a short burst of air to blow something clean or blow out you air filter

if you install the second compressor i would hook both up to the reciever with both being turn on and off with the pressure switch for your locker. this will shorten the time for the reciever to fill therefore the more often you can use bursts of air

and you will be able to engage and disengage your locker all day with out a noisey compressor starting up under your seat

an air tank will not really help out with inflating tyres any quicker...well i guess it depends on how big you go with the tank

i have an air fitting on the bullbar for inflating tyres