On Board Air Compressor Location Question

[Xwaz]

Not quite sure the best location to post this but it is applicable to tires I thought this might be a good location.
I am planning on picking up a ranger in the next month, and starting to modify it for personal overland travel as well as for a shop build and product prototyping.
One question I have is where are people locating on board air compressors. Specifically the ARB Single or Dual Compressor. I am thinking of trying to locate it under the floating coolant reservoir on the passenger side. When I was at the dealer looking over the engine bay I remember seeing just enough clearance to stick a single is not a dual compressor under it. I have seen someone on here put one next to the battery, but because of my job at Off Grid Engineering, it is highly likely that this ranger will be getting a custom dual battery system. That will take up that space.
I would love to see where y'all have been mounting your air compressors or where you would like to see one mounted. I look forward to picking up my Ranger and getting hands on with it soon.

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[HoosierT]

I put mine under the back corner of the bed next to the spare tire. It is exposed there but it hasn't failed yet. I do plan to fab a splash guard for it though in the near future. Also, mine is the smittybilt 5.56, not ARB. It's much larger than the ARB so under the hood wasn't an option.

 

[Xwaz]

I put mine under the back corner of the bed next to the spare tire. It is exposed there but it hasn't failed yet. I do plan to fab a splash guard for it though in the near future. Also, mine is the smittybilt 5.56, not ARB. It's much larger than the ARB so under the hood wasn't an option.

Nice looks like a decent spot!

 

[HoosierT]

Nice looks like a decent spot!

It's actually cleaned up in that pic lol. I've had it caked with mud and it still hums but a splash guard will still be a good idea for the long term. It's a really good spot for a compressor though IMO. You'll see just how much room is there when you get your hands on your truck.

 

[Xwaz]

My idea of under the coolant tank comes from a custom Dual Battery system I did on a Colorado ZR2 Diesel and it having tons of space under the coolant tank for a group 35 battery on its side.
You can just see the battery hanging out under the reservoir, and the reservoir was moved up about an inch just to gain us a touch of clearance.

 

[KnightRanger]

Not quite sure the best location to post this but it is applicable to tires I thought this might be a good location.
I am planning on picking up a ranger in the next month, and starting to modify it for personal overland travel as well as for a shop build and product prototyping.
One question I have is where are people locating on board air compressors. Specifically the ARB Single or Dual Compressor. I am thinking of trying to locate it under the floating coolant reservoir on the passenger side. When I was at the dealer looking over the engine bay I remember seeing just enough clearance to stick a single is not a dual compressor under it. I have seen someone on here put one next to the battery, but because of my job at Off Grid Engineering, it is highly likely that this ranger will be getting a custom dual battery system. That will take up that space.
I would love to see where y'all have been mounting your air compressors or where you would like to see one mounted. I look forward to picking up my Ranger and getting hands on with it soon.

We have a thread about onboard air setup....
in case you want to check it out:
https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/on-board-air-setup-on-your-ranger.2471/

 

[Xwaz]

So I took a look at a friends Ranger a couple days ago, I think It will be likely to be able to wiggle an ARB Single under the coolant tank. I don't think that I will be able to fit a dual compressor under there with what appears to be AC line near by. But single should be able to fit. We also measured for a Dual battery system, which will fit but we likely will have to figure something out for the fuse block that is attached to the battery.

 

[Xwaz]

Well I have up on the whole coolant tank compressor deal, ended up finding arb makes a compressor mount for behind the rear seat. So I got my trusty ARB and got it all mounted up. This is the 5th vehicle this compressor has been in, 3 Tacomas, a Jeep, and now a Ranger. 6 Years on and it's still working perfectly.
Anyways, it's a pretty involved requiring trim removal, drilling through the floor to install rivnuts, custom plumbing and wiring.
So if there is a better easier mount it might be work going with that. But installed it's super cool, easy access and looks super clean.

 

[JetEngr19]

Well I have up on the whole coolant tank compressor deal, ended up finding arb makes a compressor mount for behind the rear seat. So I got my trusty ARB and got it all mounted up. This is the 5th vehicle this compressor has been in, 3 Tacomas, a Jeep, and now a Ranger. 6 Years on and it's still working perfectly.
Anyways, it's a pretty involved requiring trim removal, drilling through the floor to install rivnuts, custom plumbing and wiring.
So if there is a better easier mount it might be work going with that. But installed it's super cool, easy access and looks super clean.

I like this install. Unfortunately I have a Lariat and the factory amp for the sub is mounted in that location.

 

[KnightRanger]

Well I have up on the whole coolant tank compressor deal, ended up finding arb makes a compressor mount for behind the rear seat. So I got my trusty ARB and got it all mounted up. This is the 5th vehicle this compressor has been in, 3 Tacomas, a Jeep, and now a Ranger. 6 Years on and it's still working perfectly.
Anyways, it's a pretty involved requiring trim removal, drilling through the floor to install rivnuts, custom plumbing and wiring.
So if there is a better easier mount it might be work going with that. But installed it's super cool, easy access and looks super clean.

Clean install.

However, personally I would not install anything like a compressor inside the cab. The noise, vibrations and heat will build up.
( just from past experience with ARB. I mean their compressors are great, but the single dont have built-in fan like the twin)

Saying that... if you normally dont have passengers when you go wheeling, and watch for heat buildup (ie. open the rear seat for ventilation, during usage) then It would be great option.


My last 2 setups of onboard Air are both in the bed. ?

 

[Xwaz]

Clean install.

However, personally I would not install anything like a compressor inside the cab. The noise, vibrations and heat will build up.
( just from past experience with ARB. I mean their compressors are great, but the single dont have built-in fan like the twin)

Saying that... if you normally dont have passengers when you go wheeling, and watch for heat buildup (ie. open the rear seat for ventilation, during usage) then It would be great option.


My last 2 setups of onboard Air are both in the bed. ?

Yup, I like the place it installed and in my experience with these ARB compressors is that they don't mind heat all the much. Engine bay installs and airing up in the summer with the engine on and hood closed repeatedly without any issues. I have also installed about 75 of these in various locations without an issues related to heat. Dust yes, but heat now. My biggest concern will be watching the rear seat to see how hot the compressor gets and if it melts the plastic fabric behind the seat.

 

[KnightRanger]

Yup, I like the place it installed and in my experience with these ARB compressors is that they don't mind heat all the much. Engine bay installs and airing up in the summer with the engine on and hood closed repeatedly without any issues. I have also installed about 75 of these in various locations without an issues related to heat. Dust yes, but heat now. My biggest concern will be watching the rear seat to see how hot the compressor gets and if it melts the plastic fabric behind the seat.

No doubt...I myself have installed these as well in numerous Jeeps from Wk, Kk, Wj, JK, JLs etc..
Good Luck anyway, update us if any long term issues.

 

[Xwaz]

No doubt...I myself have installed these as well in numerous Jeeps from Wk, Kk, Wj, JK, JLs etc..
Good Luck anyway, update us if any long term issues.

Will Do!, I actual had a Zj and Wj prior to this Ranger and have my Tacoma along side it.

 

[tehschkott]

I put mine under the back corner of the bed next to the spare tire. It is exposed there but it hasn't failed yet. I do plan to fab a splash guard for it though in the near future. Also, mine is the smittybilt 5.56, not ARB. It's much larger than the ARB so under the hood wasn't an option.

What did you do to get that quick connect adapter put on? I keep running across articles with some elaborate venting thing which does not appeal to me at all, I just want the QC doodad you have, pictured. In fact, I aim to reproduce what you're doing here in it's entirety if it's within my means.

 

[Frenchy]

It's your call what you do but ARB has a nice kit to have it located right behind the rear seat if you have a crew cab

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