Truck, on board air compresor & tank,

I had wanted to build an on-board air compressor/tank system for my truck. Typical uses would be to fill up bike tires, trailer tires, and occasional vehicle tire when camping, or driving off road.  Retail kit systems are over priced, under built, and not the right configuration for my space constraints.  I decided to build my own system, piecing it together from new and used parts. 

I started with a used, non working, 3gal 110V air compressor that I found on CraigsList for $20. This had everything I needed; like a pressure relief valve, pressure switch, drain valve, check valve, and was the right shape configuration I was looking for. (long and skinny)

Step 1

I stripped the dead motor and compressor head from the tank, and prepared to mate a 12V DC compressor motor to the tank. This 12V DC motor is from Harbor Freight Tools. It is their HD 150PSI unit, which I modified to hard mount to the tank, and plumb its air outlet to the tank.

Comments

[Foxtrot70]

I recently purchased a motorhome and I am going to add a compressor like this to it. I think I will have schrader valves at each of the wheel wells, and also provide air for a set of 42" long buell airhorns. This should be a nice touch.

[JeepinWNC]

I really like your idea of sourcing different parts that aren't really designed to work together to acomplish your goal. I'm looking to do something very similar with my Jeep, although I'm using a 110v portable Craftsman compressor, powered through an inverter. The Craftsman compressor gets me a 1.5 gal. tank, 150 max psi. compressor, with a tank pressure gauge, an off/auto switch and an adjustable output pressure, with gauge, and a 200psi blow-off valve, 25' coil hose, and tire chuck for $100. I have a four gauge wire ran to a fused distribution block that is designed to power two amplifiers already ran to the back of my Jeep. One "side" of the distribution block is indeed being used to power a small amplifier for one subwoofer. I'm hoping that the other "side" will be suficent to power an invertor that I've found NewInBox at a local second hand store for $80. I'm thinking that I should be able to leave the switch set to auto on the compressor, and use a solenoid to switch power on and off from the driver's seat for the invertor. I've already purchased a two way tee-fitting and two quick connects; that way I should have one air out put for airing up tires, and another for plumbing for an air-locker in my Jeep at some point down the road. As a by-product of running the compressor off of an invertor I will now have a 110v source in the back of my Jeep when camping etc..

[l8nite]

nice hack !

[knife141]

Nice! I may have to do something similar. Thanks for posting this.