Power tank vs. onboard air

[gturismo]

What do you guys think.  I can't decide which way to go.

I'm interested in your pros and cons, because I'm sure there's lots I haven't thought of.

[RokCrawlinToy]

Heres my 
I got Powertanks (2 15lb tanks) and they kick ASS!! They fill my 37s FAST  . The only thing that sucks is that after a 2 or 3 wheelin trips with some of my friends that don't have any type of air source, I end up having to go to the welding shop to get them filled. Those 37s & 35s just seem to suck up the CO2, maybe I shouldn't air down so much?

[gturismo]

What does it cost to have a 15lb tank refilled?

[RokCrawlinToy]

I think the last time I had them filled it cost me around $25-26 for the 2 of them. When I first got them about 3 years ago, it was under $20

[Hyena]

Onboard air would be faster and hold more air.  The pully type compressers are faster then the electric ones also.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

depends what u are using it for. i love my CO2 for my arb. i would never run a compressor. for filling tires get a yourk.

Drew

[rebel racer]

oba cost nothing to refill

[FatAzzRunner]

I have doubts about on board air being faster.

It my depend on the brand you run as to if its faster than co2.

true on board air costs nothing to fill but it is only portable as far as your hose will reach.  On tight single rig width trails or switchbacks, you cant very often reach the guy 3 or 5 rigs behind you.

I have several times had to unlock my o2 tank and run it either up, down or over to a rig needing air.

I have friends who have onboard air and they all want to at least get an o2 tank for that reason.  Oh and my o2 is faster than ALL of the onboard air systems I run with on the trails.

[Supra 4x4]

I agree. I think you need both. And if you plan to get both eventually go ahead and get a Co2 tank, nothing is faster , more mobile, more reliable, or easier to get started using. (No fab work involved)  I love mine 10lb cost $10 to fill.

[derek]

i love my onboard air.
i have run air tools on the trail, aired up everyones tires and never had to worry about running out.
a couple times of filling/buying a power tank and you could have built a few oba setups and never have to refill.
i have a 50' coil hose for mine and have never had a time where it didnt reach.
but if i had to i also have an extra 50 hose tucked away.

derek

[BigMike]

No way is the power tank faster then oba, unless you are using like an ARB pump - or some electric pump - as your oba pump :barf:

Of course simplicity rules with the power tank, so if you dont plan on wheeling more then once a month or less, then just go with the power tank.

But if you are going out often and also are with other people who don't have any air, then please build a bracket and run a York upright compressor or the twin piston v-compressor, like what I'm gonna install sometime this spring.

Marlin is running a York upright compressor and holds air in his roll bar. I dont know how large it is if you were to calculate it, maybe like 8 gallons or so.. I've already got a 3 gallon tank that's gonna go under the bed.

I air Marlin's rollbar up to 180, and man I can air up a tire from zero to 35 in under a min probabely. It is the same thing as shop air. I keep his compressor going while I am airing up and it is able to maintain around 120 psi at all times.

About the twin v-piston compressor I've got that came off a '73 Dodge Newport, Marlin has seen this thing in action with a small tank, like 3 or 4 gal, and it actually cycles on and off while airing up tires! The air will drop to a point where you've got a pressure switch set to turn the compressor on, like 130psi, then it will air back up to 180 while you are still airing up the tires, and then it will actually turn off, you're still airing up the tires, then it'll go back down to 130-whatever and cycle again. That's amazing.

When I went up to the snow, Dean had a Power(less) Tank with some new valve which is faster, and it took so long to air up the tire. The sound of the air entering the tire was really quiet, you could tell it was going to take a while.

Anyone who thinks power tanks are fast has never used shop air before.

My

[BigMike]

I forgot about the power tools option. Marlin carries 1/2" and 3/4" air guns and its so nice to wip out dead axles using air, again, just like shop air

[Prismo]

I have been more than happy with my OBA (Toyota compressor). The ability to use air tools has come in handy more than once. I am on my 2nd compressor as the first one burned up after 3 years. This one has lasted me 2 so far. I have never used the tank so I am a bit biased.

[FIREBALL]

Another vote for OBA. You never have to worry about running out. The first time you go out without having your CO2 filled all the way, and you run out you'll be wishin you had OBA. I've run my air tools, and my air powered blender too. You can do OBA without a tank, but to be truely happy I suggest you find a good spot up under the bed, or a nerf bar, etc, and put a tank in. The compressor won't have to run all the time, and it gives you that big blast of volume when you are using an impact.
I had mine set up with a york compressor, going through a standard air compressor switch that shut off at 120, and back on at 90, then it split and one side went to the tank and air chuck at the front bumber, and the other went to a regulator/seperator for my ARB. When I hit the trail, i'd turn on the switch and leave it on. The compressor would only come on if the tank got below 90psi.
The york is nice because you don't have to worry about oiling issues like you do with the yota compressors, but the yota's will work, and if you build a oil recycling setup they will last much longer.

[derek]

another plus.
no vavle freezing up like they do sometimes on the pt setup.
i have seen them completely freeze up when used in cold weather.
my oba always works.

derek

[gturismo]

Thanks everyone for the replies and the input.  Seems like most of you prefer the onboard air and I understand why.  I have  the yota compressor on it now, but the AC is still functioning.  My truck is not a DD but its not a trail only rig either.  I'm going to use it for camping and fishing trips as well as wheeling, so I'm planning on keeping the AC as long as it works.  I'm sure adding another compressor has been done many times before, but I'm not sure I want to cram   it in there.  I think I'll go power tank for now, and reconsider when the AC dies.  I also don't PLAN on using air tools since I'm an occasional wheeler (probably once a month, or less).  Of course, all these plans will change within a year

If I did change my mind, does the York have an oil reservoir built into it?
Does anyone make a mounting bracket or kit to install it?

And if I just used the yota compressor I already have, it has to be oiled manually, correct?

[gturismo]

I've run my air tools, and my air powered blender too.

Blender?    As in:  I can make frozen Margaritas on the trail? 

[HFCRAOffroading]

My question is, can your OBA pop a tire back on the bead?

I love my PowerTank for that reason!!

  Jack

[FIREBALL]

I've never had a tire that I couldn't get back on the bead with my OBA. Like I said, having a tank is definetly a benefit.

Oh ya, frozen rita's, daquiries, what ever you want.

Now if I could figure out how to have an on board ice maker, for those long trips.

[FIREBALL]

'85 4runner, so no smog pump, plenty of room for another yota compressor under your a/c compressor. Marlin built a bracket that puts his compressor out board of his power steering pump. Kind of way over there, but it works.
Don't know of anyone making a comercial bracket.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

i saw on budbuilts web site somethign about a yourk bracket.

DRew

[derek]

http://www.budbuilt.com/new/york_brackets.html
bracket to mount york on toy with stock ac.

derek

[reklund5]

I just got a 10lb Powertank setup for Christmas from my folks.  I decided today to see how it worked, so I pulled the valve stem outta one of my 37" MTRs and aired down to around 8psi.  The powertank did seem to be going slow refilling the tire, so I removed the valve stem and attached a clip on chuck to the end of the hose.  My Powertank aired the tire up pretty quickly, but not as fast as the 130 PSI shop air we have at the dealership where I work.  I'm a little concerned about the main tank pressure dropping pretty fast too on only one tire, but its still above the "normal" zone on the tank (Maybe they overfilled it a little??)   It still think I can air up all 4 no problem, but it's definitely more expensive than OBA-  My local welding supply place  charged me $17 to fill up the tank 

If I was sure I was going to run the 22RE in my truck forever, I might have opted to build a bracket and set up some OBA.  For now, the PT is a happy medium, with the understanding that it has limitations. 

Just my 

Ryan

[Marketing]

When doing tires, you can turn the pressure valve all the way up. This will deliver air much faster to the tire. When using some air tools or ARB's you should turn the pressure back down.

[reklund5]

I had 'er cranked up  and flowing pretty well.  The fittings got all frosty and my hand got damn cold.  Gotta wear some gloves next time 

Ryan

[RokCrawlinToy]

In the Feb05 issue of 4WD&suv magazine, they do a comparison of several portable air systems.

[Ferg]

Now if I could figure out how to have an on board ice maker, for those long trips.

Previa vans had an ice maker/cooler between the front seats....

Marlin built a bracket that puts his compressor out board of his power steering pump. Kind of way over there, but it works.

Had one of these once-worked goood! 

Blender?  As in:  I can make frozen Margaritas on the trail? 

Lock and Low 4wd club (Visalia) makes air driven blenders.

[reklund5]

any old air powered die grinder makes a great blender....just chuck up an old blender and margaritas are mere seconds away!

Ryan

[gturismo]

In the Feb05 issue of 4WD&suv magazine, they do a comparison of several portable air systems.

Thanks for the tip!  Picked one up today

[FIREBALL]

Ya, that's what I use....(die grinder) makes them rita's quick!

Previa van eh........hmmmmmm.