EOE Sliders as air tanks

[Aussie]

Todd will this work?
I would say the main 2x4 section is strong enough but how about the bits welded on the ends. Is the inside coated with anything? I am concerned about rusting if moisture gets in there. A quick measurement on the volume came to 1.3 gallons each.

I have the QuickAir 2.5 gallon tank but can't find any places to put it. I know Gordon put smaller 1 gallon tanks in his front wheel wells, but if the sliders are strong enough, then this may be the way to go.

Thanks

[cmxterra]

Ouch.. I just blew up the side of my truck and the peices are scattered all over the eastern seaboard.

[ned946]

That is what I did with my JP products bars. No boom yet (and at a max of 110 lbs, it would need to be a REALLY crappy weld not to hold.) You can place drain cocks if rust is a concern.....place 'em wisely though, don't wanna knock on of them off.

[Matt Peckham]

I don't see what the big deal is. It's a low pressure emergency tire inflator, not a scuba tank. I am aware that compressed oxygen can go boom if the container is "compromised" but I really don't see that happening.

What does the mount for yours look like, Ned?

Matt

[Goliath the X]

How many tires could you fill off a slider once converted?

How much pressure are you going to put in the sliders?

Where are you going to get them filled? Does a "air station" at a gas station contain enough pressure to sufficiently fill the slider for use?

Just curious, I'm interested in on board air. Affordable compressors are too slow and I would like to avoid the bluk of a CO2 tank. I'll probably end-up going CO2 eventually

[Aussie]

I have a QA2 mounted in the engine bay. I will probably get some ARB lockers soon which require a small air tank. The ARB compressor comes with a very small tank.

Max pressure will be about 100psi. You will probably need about 10 gallons at 100psi to get your tires back up to pressure.

The main use for the tanks will be for lockers, may be some small air tools but I don't think the QA2 has the volume for it. It will also be useful for blowing off sand, lots of sand in Florida.

I'm just trying to find out what my options are.

Richard

[Goliath the X]

Why do you need a larger holding tank for a locker? Aren't people running lockers off the QA2?

You could always go with CO2, run your lockers, fill your tires, run power tools, seat a bead, and yes, blow off sand.

[Aussie]

I already have the QA2 so I won't be getting a CO2 tank. The lockers may work with a QA2 with no air tank, but it is recommended to use one.

Richard

[xoc]

Originally posted by Aussie
I have the QuickAir 2.5 gallon tank but can't find any places to put it.

Have you tried along the frame underneath ?

I've been thinking about the QA 2.5 tank for a while, and figured it would fit with the measurements advertised (24"x6").

[Aussie]

It was a while ago that I tried it, but I believe it came below the frame and I wanted to get skid plate eventually. I will try it again this weekend and see if I can take some photos for you.

Richard

[warmonger]

Originally posted by xoc


Have you tried along the frame underneath ?

I've been thinking about the QA 2.5 tank for a while, and figured it would fit with the measurements advertised (24"x6").

XOC,

I was unable to find a spot big enough to mount even my 1.25 gallon tanks, much less the 2.5 gallon one. I tried along the frame, but on the left side the exhaust is in the way and the right the fuel tank. You could mount one in the rear where the spare tire used to mount if you have relocated the spare. It would be best to use a pancake style tank and I couldn't acquire one of those for less than $150 or so. If you can get one used somewhere would be good.

As for using an air tank for air lockers, there is a reason to do this. While the ARB compressor stock can only power one locker three times before having to turn back on again, my system with 2.5 gallons of air can operate my lockers 33 times before re-engaging. This means I run the air compressor one time for one minute and 45 seconds, and then don't fire it up again until I start airing tires back up to get on the road. This means that my 100% duty cycle compressor will last that much longer since it isn't working so hard. You can accomplish the same thing using an ARB or QA2, but they max out at around 105 psi, reducing overall air volume and are slow to build pressure to that level. Instead of 1 minute 45 seconds, you are waiting 10 minutes or more for it to reach full pressure. I am not sure whether the compressors are 100% duty cycle or not, but if not, you could very well burn out the compressor doing that on a regular basis.

[ned946]

Originally posted by Goliath the X
How many tires could you fill off a slider once converted?

How much pressure are you going to put in the sliders?

Where are you going to get them filled? Does a "air station" at a gas station contain enough pressure to sufficiently fill the slider for use?

Just curious, I'm interested in on board air. Affordable compressors are too slow and I would like to avoid the bluk of a CO2 tank. I'll probably end-up going CO2 eventually

I don't think you know what the reserve tanks are for Goliath. It speeds up the "air-up" time when filling your tires or the other benefits War mentions. The QA2 with tanks is faster than without. The bigger the tank, the faster the fill.

I don't think anybody uses a pressurized skid rail like the scuba tank system.

All I did was tap into my line from the QA2 to the quick disconnect and run lines to each of the rails. I know the capacity isn't huge, but for a couple of bucks to drill, tap and add a couple of feet of line, it can't hurt either.

[Fletch908]

I am currently keeping a SCBA (Fire Department Breathing Apperatus) bottle in the truck for tire refill and air tools. It is very simular to a SCUBA tank. The tank holds 2216 psi and only drops 500 psi with filling 4 GY MT/R's from 16 psi to 32. The regulator that I have for operation is adjustable to 160 psi so it is easy to dial in 90 for the air tools. I am currently looking for a 4000 psi bottle for the additional air in the same amount of space. Approx. 8"dia x 24" long.

Bottle refill is not a problem with being a fire fighter.

[Kerensky97]

There has to be a way to get smaller tanks that could fit under the Xterra. 4" Diameter or something.

Even if you have to connect a few together along the frame, maybe in front of the spare, under the rear seats.

[warmonger]

Originally posted by Fletch908
I am currently keeping a SCBA (Fire Department Breathing Apperatus) bottle in the truck for tire refill and air tools. It is very simular to a SCUBA tank. The tank holds 2216 psi and only drops 500 psi with filling 4 GY MT/R's from 16 psi to 32. The regulator that I have for operation is adjustable to 160 psi so it is easy to dial in 90 for the air tools. I am currently looking for a 4000 psi bottle for the additional air in the same amount of space. Approx. 8"dia x 24" long.

Bottle refill is not a problem with being a fire fighter.

Fletch,

That is the same as running a Power Tank. I know I have heard of someone running a Power Tank in their X and one of the members of my group with a Pathfinder runs a dive tank set up the same way. They work well, they just take up a lot of space and cost money to refill. You spend money intially on an on-board air system, but it is an infinitely renewable resource after that. It really is a matter of deciding what you want to accomplish. Each has their good and bad sides.