By ho on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 02:10 am: Edit

some of you air down for the trail.
what do you use for airing up?
what kind of compressor mounted where? or CO2 tank?

any comments on likes and dislikes?

thanks.

By Frank gregg on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 05:28 am: Edit

I have a 1999 DSII with an ARB Air Compressor mounted inside the engine bay on the rear of the right tire well.

It's great, I can air up a 265/75 from 20 to 42 lbs in about 1.5 minutes. It came with a 25 foot air hose and all the hardware.

Very sweet.

By chrisvonc on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 07:54 am: Edit

I dont think I got a chance to show too many people while we were out in Moab, but I have an ARB compressor under the drivers seat.
Two of the driving factors to install it there were that I dont have air lockers so it would not be running a lot, and the fact that I do go through a lot of water (sometimes not very well) and inside the cab offered more protection of the unit from possible water damage from crossing deep water.

By MA on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 09:02 am: Edit

I use a portable air compressor that I found in my local Autozone. It pumps out 350psi, more than the ARB! It plugs into your 12-volt and can pump air for 5 hours straight. The unit is not too big, it can fit in your trunk or something. It takes <2 minute to fill up my stock tires. It only costs $45 too, the ARB goes for $150+.

By Chris Browne on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 12:19 pm: Edit

Ho:
I've been using a portable unit (branded as Delco, but made by some company in NY) bought from Autozone for a few years. Nowhere near as quick as the unit Ma has. Airing up from a sand run takes ages
Been thinking of hardmounting something with a stronger output. Add an airhose coupling mounted on grill to plug into and presto!
They also talk about air powered tools on the trail.....
Good luck

By Chris Browne on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 12:19 pm: Edit

Ho:
I've been using a portable unit (branded as Delco, but made by some company in NY) bought from Autozone for a few years. Nowhere near as quick as the unit Ma has. Airing up from a sand run takes ages
Been thinking of hardmounting something with a stronger output. Add an airhose coupling mounted on grill to plug into and presto!
They also talk about air powered tools on the trail.....
Good luck

By Tom on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 12:35 pm: Edit

Ho:

Check this out:

http://www.squirrelcreek.com/co2tank/co2.htm

A friend of mine is selling C02 tanks that are basically just like the PowerTank system, but much cheaper.

Sorry for the lame "page" but that is only temporary until I build a better site for him, and the actual tanks that he is selling now look way better than the one in the picture. Drop him or me an email if you want more information.

The best thing about this approach, like many people with powertanks know, is that it airs up WAY fast and only costs about 7 bucks to have the tank refilled. It also allows you to run powertools on the trail.

Tom

By Bill Gill (Bluegill) on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 12:54 pm: Edit

Just visited another scuba shop yesterday looking for used tanks to plumb into my dinky little ARB compressor. I currently use the ARB, but it takes forever and a day to air up truck tires. Unfortunately, not too many scuba shops here in the desert, and none have extra tanks. I'll bring one back from the Keys next month (my dive shop down there gives them away) and try to work it into place between the frame rails. Two potential problems: 1) protection (will need to fab a steel skid plate) and 2) keeping fittings free of water and mud. I can't stay out of the mud, so I may just do quick connects and toss the tank in my trunk when I go off-road. When I get my lame ass around to putting on a roof rack, I'll probably just hard mount the tank up there and quick-connect air supply when I hit the dirt. The tank will let the ARB compressor rest longer between cylces, too.

By Bill B on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 01:02 pm: Edit

Bill Gill - you might look for a wrecked Rangie with EAS or get the tank from someone who has converted to coils - mount it to the frame just like it does on the RR and that will give you 10 liters of air. Can't solve the quick-disconnect problem, but once the frame brackets are welded on, the tank bolts on with only two fasteners (I think - going from memory here). A friend of mine has one tank mounted on each side and has the RR compressor, but also fills up with shop air before leaving. System was cheap (all scrap parts) and works well.

By Bill Gill (Bluegill) on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 01:10 pm: Edit

good idea - I'll check local recycle yards and Aaron Auto...thanks

By DiscoFever on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 02:58 pm: Edit

Bill B,
Repeat that slowly....
Do you mean that I can use my tank from my former EAS system the same way I'd use an air compressor?...Please break you explanation down for me some please...
You got my full attention here...
I actually think I read that somewhere else, but I wasn't really thinking about it at the time because I still had a working EAS system....

By tms on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 02:58 pm: Edit

The tanks attach with 4 bolts on the Rangie and I fabricated brackets to weld on the Disco to use all 4 mounting bolts. I mounted the compressor (from the EAS) under the rear passenger floor, added a pressure cut off switch in one tank and a shop quick connect on the other. The tanks are fed off a tee from the compressor and the air intake is above the right rear tailight assembly. Seems to work pretty well and was cheap

By Ron on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 03:14 pm: Edit

I want one. Ever since I have heard of it I have been on the lookout for a tank and compressor. What PSi do they run at? Could they run lockers.

Ron

By TMS on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 03:15 pm: Edit

Discofever:
If you are trying to re-activate your non-functioning Range Rover EAS to work as on-board air on a Range Rover, I am sure that could also be done. Haven't had the oppurtunity, but it sounds like fun!

By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 03:23 pm: Edit

Has anyone ever converted their rear ac unit to on-board air? I have thought about it and am wondering what kind of pressure I can generate with it. Would work nice in conjunction with what Bill was talking about with the RR tanks under the frame. I don't know a lot about compressors and the like, anyone else with knowledge feel free to tell me how stupid that sounds.

-josh

By Bill B on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 04:20 pm: Edit

DiscoFever - you got it from the horses mouth, so I won't elaborate any more - TMS is the "friend" mentioned in my post. Now I'm looking for some EAS tanks too!

By nadim on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 07:15 pm: Edit

GUYS...

look at the 87 RR in the "for sale" section of the bboard...ask if the guy has the tanks and whatnot...

enjoy...

By ho on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 08:05 pm: Edit

joshua, doens't the rear AC share compressor with the main front AC?

By nadim on Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 10:57 pm: Edit

Ho, I think you are right, just simply a matter of routing the compressed air to the rear...

By Milan on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 01:20 am: Edit

A/C compressors are capable of around 500 psi but what matters is the volume you can produce at certain pressure. For 12V electrics I have not seen anything work better than a 1/3 hp Thomas unit. It is as good as or better than rotary A/C units in output at idle. Long stroke York compressors are better than the rotaries but I have not seen one adapted to a Disco yet.

As far as converting an existing A/C unit, I don't know what the system looks like on the Disco but believe you still only have one compressor under the hood and a cooling/heating element in front and rear of the vehicle. Thus I fail to understand the bit about routing air hoses to the back. You just have to plumb the compressor to pump air instead of the A/C coolant and you're set. However, you will loose both front and rear A/C.

By Ron on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 09:16 am: Edit

Only 93 and up RRC had eas so the 87 won't do us any good :-(

Ron

By Hot Air on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 10:43 am: Edit

The June 2001 FOUR WHEELER mag has an article on compressors, testing 9 of them.

By mrbieler on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 11:08 am: Edit

Harry Lewellyn from 4Wheeling Adventures gave a field tire repair demo for the SCLR club a month or so ago.

His web site has some real world test data he did using various compressors (ARB, Big Red, etc). Rated very well in the "bang for the buck" category was the $55 Truckair system.

http://www.eco4wd.com/

He also had a very nice tire repair kit from Safety Seal.

By John on Friday, May 04, 2001 - 11:10 am: Edit

I have some water/air filled fire extinguishers I was planning on modifying and using as a tank. They are chrome and can hold up to 200 psi. I also have a QuickAir II air compressor (purchased on ebay with case for $130) which I plan on installing permanently in the engine compartment or in the cargo area. I'll make the hole for the bleeding nipple in the tank and buy a gauge and other h/w needed.

I was thinking of hanging the tank under the shelf where the tools are. I probably would have to add a support so that the shelf doesn't bend or break off.