On Board Air system for a new Super Dooty

[Cdog]

I built a pretty decent system on my 06 Duramax back in 2006 with a Viar on board air kit. It filled my onboard 2.5 air tank with an analog air pressure driven gauge that had twin measures for both air pressure and bag pressure. Later I added train horns with a 1/2 inch line to the horns for volume, upgraded to a 3 gallon amazon tank and viar 200psi pressure switch. The only down side to this system was needing to run air line in and out of the cab as well as the fittings/manifold the distribution to the gauge.

As I geek out looking at what's currently available it doesn't seem the industry has had any leaps and bounds in the last 15 years. It seems I'm going to have to assemble a kit as I want it which is fine by me. I plan to correct the mistakes of the past and eliminate any air hoses and manifold fittings that WILL leak in the future.

I also found this company for some mounting brackets. They appear to specialize in the air horns. I might see if I can buy their compressor and tank mounts separately.

Ford Compatible Bolt-On Systems

Ford Compatible Bolt-On Systems. Compatible with Ford F150 and F150 Raptor truck horn systems. Train Air Horn systems include high quality trumpets and complete onboard air system. A must have for Ford trucks.

kleinn.com

My plans:
I already bought Firestone 2600 bag kit based on Cody from CJC's recommendations

Viair 485C (Gen. 2) Stealth Black Air Compressor 200 PSi

3 gallon tank. This is what I had on my last system. https://www.amazon.com/Vixen-Horns-...s=3+gallon+200+psi+tank&qid=1609525924&sr=8-6

Where I need some help....
I'm looking for a wireless tank pressure app or switch I can use to fill bags and know tank pressure up to 200psi. Does this exist? Firestone has one that goes up to 150 psi and Air lift has one that goes up to 120 I think. Those are pretty weak in my opinion. Do any of you know of a product/remote switch/manifold etc.. that has an app or remote switch that can display tank and bag pressure up to 200psi? Possibly from the custom car or lowrider world?

Here are links to the two options I'm disappointed by. Both fall short in a big way and are more or less just for air bags. I'll also add I have not seen any need for having independent bag pressures on my last system. I'll run a T from one source valve and fill both equally.

Air Compressor Kits

www.firestoneip.com

On-Board Air Compressor Systems for Air Springs | Air Lift Company

Air Lift on board air compressors and control systems.

www.airliftcompany.com

 

[lbhsbz]

Best setup I had was a Puma 12V compressor. https://www.aircompressorsdirect.co...MIlNq0mLL77QIVnw2tBh1XSg79EAQYASABEgIqF_D_BwE

I remote mounted the tank and added a few more 2 gallon sausage tanks.

 

[Cdog]

Best setup I had was a Puma 12V compressor. https://www.aircompressorsdirect.co...MIlNq0mLL77QIVnw2tBh1XSg79EAQYASABEgIqF_D_BwE

I remote mounted the tank and added a few more 2 gallon sausage tanks.

Problem is it doesn't get anywhere near the performance of the Viar pump and probably isn't designed too be mounted upside down or sideways. My last Viar pump lasted 15 + years. It's definitely a proven product in my opinion.

 

[Cdog]

This controller set up looks legit

3P with 1/4" Threaded FNPT ports (1/4" Airline, No Tank, No Compressor) - 27680 | Air Lift Performance

Performance Air Suspension and Air Management

www.airliftperformance.com

 

[evantwheeler]

This controller set up looks legit

3P with 1/4" Threaded FNPT ports (1/4" Airline, No Tank, No Compressor) - 27680 | Air Lift Performance

Performance Air Suspension and Air Management

www.airliftperformance.com

I’d say it better be legit. It should give road head for that price. I would opt for a cheap on board tank that can be filled from the garage compressor,two regulators and two ball valves and some push tube. $1300 for a controller is outrageous. You’ll have $2500 into an onboard air system. There’s a better way, albeit slightly less convenient, unless you’re just looking to burn some money

 

[Cdog]

I’d say it better be legit. It should give road head for that price. I would opt for a cheap on board tank that can be filled from the garage compressor,two regulators and two ball valves and some push tube. $1300 for a controller is outrageous. You’ll have $2500 into an onboard air system. There’s a better way, albeit slightly less convenient, unless you’re just looking to burn some money

LOL! It's a 75k truck. I might end up with 2k into the on board air yes but that's probably what guys are paying for a std viar system and having a shop install it.

Looks like they have a cheaper/basic system called the 3S for around $600. That's about what the major brands cost anyway.

Air Lift Performance 3S 1/4″ Manifold, App only

www.airliftperformance.com

 

[2Driver]

You know, If your hobby wasnt scaring the dentures out of the snowbirds you could forget all this stuff.

 

[Done-it-again]

@Cdog i got the Firestone air command. I needed a air bag system quickly prior to the Tx trip. So that’s the one I got and didn’t want to manually fill bags.

It works good, I can fill bags by a remote automatically and adjust different pressure per side.

If had more time, I would have gotten the hi capacity compressor with a couple gallon tank. Once the trip is over I’ll look at doing that along with an air chuck connection. Don’t need 200psi but 150 is sufficient for me.

 

[SoCalDave]

This thread reminds me that I need to finish installing my system on the truck. All the hardware is installed and I just need to install the remote on/off rocker switch. I elected not to install the pressure gauge in the cab as I'm not running bags.
Will be watching this thread on remote control/monitoring.

 

[Hdgasser]

So I’m in the process of doing this same thing to my ram. 2 big Viairs, 200psi switch, 5 gal stainless tank, air chuck in my fuel door where my DEF fill was located, big horns where the spare was and a set of Firestone bags with daystar cups to let it all move freely.

I too wanted something better than standard kits so I put it all together myself. Bent up a piece of stainless to mount it all on.

but I’m gonna do it up old school and mount a dual needle gauge and a manual switch in the center console. I thought about doing a couple electric valves and plumbing in a psi switch to my edge monitor but that’s gettin a little fancy for just helper bags.

 

[Cdog]

So I’m in the process of doing this same thing to my ram. 2 big Viairs, 200psi switch, 5 gal stainless tank, air chuck in my fuel door where my DEF fill was located, big horns where the spare was and a set of Firestone bags with daystar cups to let it all move freely.

I too wanted something better than standard kits so I put it all together myself. Bent up a piece of stainless to mount it all on.

but I’m gonna do it up old school and mount a dual needle gauge and a manual switch in the center console. I thought about doing a couple electric valves and plumbing in a psi switch to my edge monitor but that’s gettin a little fancy for just helper bags. View attachment 957451 View attachment 957452

Awesome post thx! How big of a lift are you doing on your truck? Are you running the deaver springs? Is that why you're using the daystar cups? I mentioned them to Cody at CJC. After showing him the squat with my 5th wheel on the truck/stock he recommended I just go with the Firestone 2600 kit. We may add the add a leaf later. He said the DS cups are only needed with the deaver spring pack.

Thats a big tank! Will that tank fit dimensionally between the spare and the bed or are you removing the spare all together?

I found this tank online. It's 3 gallon, aluminum and will be able to fit in that space with some home made brackets so I can still keep my spare.

Black 3 Gallon Aluminum MPM Tank

Gauge Store is a wholesale and supply house for custom suspension systems like Air Ride or Lift Kits, as well as a wide variety of custom wheels and rims. Upgrade your vehicle's suspension and style with air suspension kits, lifted or lowered suspension systems, roll pans, wheel tubs, and wheel...

store.gaugemagazine.com

I get it, most guys don't see the need to spend on the wireless air management. On my last build I used the best fittings and equipment available and still had them start to hiss and leak after a couple of years. It always happened in summer when it was hot as fuck in the garage to torment me too. LOL! I'll be towing to Indiana and across CA a couple times this year for racing. I need a rock solid set up I don't need to tinker with once it's finished. Minimizing the air fittings means less leaks and more happy faces for me.

 

[Done-it-again]

Awesome post thx! How big of a lift are you doing on your truck? Are you running the deaver springs? Is that why you're using the daystar cups? I mentioned them to Cody at CJC. After showing him the squat with my 5th wheel on the truck/stock he recommended I just go with the Firestone 2600 kit. We may add the add a leaf later. He said the DS cups are only needed with the deaver spring pack.

View attachment 957458

Thats a big tank! Will that tank fit dimensionally between the spare and the bed or are you removing the spare all together?

I found this tank online. It's 3 gallon, aluminum and will be able to fit in that space with some home made brackets so I can still keep my spare.

Black 3 Gallon Aluminum MPM Tank

Gauge Store is a wholesale and supply house for custom suspension systems like Air Ride or Lift Kits, as well as a wide variety of custom wheels and rims. Upgrade your vehicle's suspension and style with air suspension kits, lifted or lowered suspension systems, roll pans, wheel tubs, and wheel...

store.gaugemagazine.com

I get it, most guys don't see the need to spend on the wireless air management. On my last build I used the best fittings and equipment available and still had them start to hiss and leak after a couple of years. It always happened in summer when it was hot as fuck in the garage to torment me too. LOL! I'll be towing to Indiana and across CA a couple times this year for racing. I need a rock solid set up I don't need to tinker with once it's finished. Minimizing the air fittings means less leaks and more happy faces for me.

I was told the same about the DS cups, but not running a lift so I returned them.

 

[Hdgasser]

So my truck is a 2500 and is coil sprung in the rear with cjc soft ride springs... squats quite a bit with my lil ol boat hooked to it.

 

[Hdgasser]

yeah the tank is big but a while back I had a rattle... so I shook the shit out of my truck and all this shit fell out so now there’s TONS of room under there lol

horns are going where the spare was, I tried to get a 37 to fit but to no avail so I said fuck it, horns it is.