Agreed.

ROB ought to stream a live web-cam everytime he works on his truck.

 

Okay, it's in.

Before you see the pictures, you have to hear the explanation.

I have been in circumstances before where it would have been advantageous to be able to take my compressor with me. Sometimes I can't get my rig to the rig that needs air or I want to take the compressor with me on a ride along with someone with no air. Before, I had the choice between a small portable or a true vehicle mount, I wanted something in between.

So, we took the ViAir 550C and built it into a tool box.

The hardline for air on the truck quick disconnects and the power unplugs. Then the box can be lifted out and moved. Once I get it to another rig, I can use clamps to attach to the battery, plug in a hose and I have "mobile" air.

For most use, the compressor can be run while still in the bed mounted toolbox, inside it's own box. We vented it well and in tests tonight it barely got warm pumping up my 35's from 15 to 33 in 2.5 minutes each For extended runs, I can open the lid of the bed box and the lid of the compressor box and let it breath. The box also serves the the purpose of keeping stuff in the bed box from sitting directly on the compressor. It has a pretty good bit of breathing room around it, inside the box.

Some compressor manufacturers are selling portable versions of their truck mounted compressors in boxes, but I haven't seen a larger compressor mounted like this yet.

Thoughts?



Several more shots are here; http://www.watrd.com/work/Compressor

 

I should also mention that mounted like this, the compressor is barely audible over the engine idling

 

That's nice work Rob!

 

Pretty cool dude! I love unique stuff. The only thing I can think of - is that you will need to be sort of careful about protecting the power and air hose leads that are inside your truck box. I can see you doing some bumpity-bump on the the trail and having some tools or parts get tangled up in that stuff. I am about to start using my QA2 for running the ARB locker, and I am wondering if it will hold up okay with the air tank setup and pressure switch. I have already been using it for about 5 years with no problems, but just for airing up tires.

 

Wow! That is an awesome idea. Did you have to run wires from your toolbox to your battery or was the toolbox already hardwired?

 

I will have to watch for things moving around in the tool box, but once we put everything back in, it was packed pretty full. The space you see around the black box was only there for the install.

The box was already wired for 12v and 110v, for the power jack and inverter output, but we cleaned that wiring up some and ran some heavier stuff in to power the compressor.

Baja, you have had pretty good luck with that QuickAir2 and should continue to do so. Once it has your tank pumped up, you will be able to use the locker on and off all day and I doubt the compressor will run more than once or twice to top up the tank. Locker use is pretty light duty, that's why the ARB compressors are so small. It's tire filling that puts a drain on compressors and it sounds like yours is already doing that well

My compressors get abused. I use them to air up me and whomever doesn't have air at the end of runs, to fill innertubes for sledding, to pump up air mattresses for camping, to blow air into campfires that don't want to start, etc. Sometimes they are expected to run for some extended periods of time.

 

How does that upgraded alternator/battery setup you have like it?

 

Everything seems to be playing happily together The 550 actually draws less power than the QuickAir2 did, so I dont' anticipate any problems from it's addition.

 

Nice setup man,
Like I wouldn't expect anything else! I was actually thinking about this yesterday when looking at the airhorn threads. Why not mount the compressors in the rear? Your going to have to run air hoses to the rear for rear lockers anyway, so why not mount the comprossor/tank back there too. If you only use it for lockers and tires you only need it on when off road and even then with a tank its on only once in a while so What about mounting it inside away from the elements/dirt/mud as well as the heat of the engine. That one is massive, but if you had a smaller one then it would fit behind the rear side pannel, but now that I look at them, they are a bit bigger than I thought. Hmmm, Either way, Nice install Rob, I hope that thing can keep up!

 

The QA2 that I mentioned - I had it installed in my engine bay for years, and it got HOT when I ran it. I recently moved it to the back, inside my camper, mounted under the cargo deck. What a difference - it runs waaaay cooler.

 

GOOD GOD MAN! I never knew they made a compressor that big.

I like innovation and you my friend are an innovator. I'm supprised you didn't put a fan on the end of your homeade portable compressor to help keep it cool.

 

I'm so glad I went for the 450C... It's fine for me, and I'd have NO room for that monster!

You got a SCREAMIN' deal Rob!

Good luck!

 

Actually, the compressor has a fan built into the end to keep the motor cool. ChrisCo and I also designed the portable box such that we could put a fan into it if I see symptoms of heat build up So, it's possible that we will take that next step, but for now we are relying on the built in fan to move enough air.