Train Horn Recommendations
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New User
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 18
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From: Statesboro, GA
Train Horn Recommendations
Anyone added an on board air compressor with train horn? Care to share your thoughts? I thought about adding one and wiring it to one of the upfitter switches. I want to leave the original horn for inspection/safety reasons.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2020
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From: Long Island, NY
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
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From: GA
Just wondering.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
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^^ The only other reason for a train horn 🤷♂️
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New User
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 18
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From: Statesboro, GA
Theres always that special occasion when I feel like the regular horn just isn't quite enough. I would like a special horn for the "I'm going to pull out in front of you from a dead stop while your doing 65 down a two lane non-divided highway, good luck" person.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2016
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Maybe to scare the heck out of those people that sit stationary at green lights because they are too busy texting.
https://youtu.be/jLfD1AFsb1I
^^ The only other reason for a train horn 🤷♂️
https://youtu.be/jLfD1AFsb1I
^^ The only other reason for a train horn 🤷♂️
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From: Frederick, CO
So, any time someone has a question about a mod, we're going to reply with a bunch of "why would you do that?" statements? Lift kits, 37" tires, loud stereos, offroad lights, custom decals, and so on? Sheesh.
The Kleinn kit above is the only bolt-on kit. Kleinn and Hornblasters are generally high quality, high cost horns. Nathan are real train horns and cost a small fortune. You can get about as cheap as you want, just search on Amazon. On-board air is obviously required. Viair makes several kits, but there are other brands, too. A good, high quality 100% duty cycle + 2-3 gallon tank will be in the $300 - $400 range. Stand-alone horns will be $100 - $400 ... maybe 3-4x that for Nathan. So, you'll be into it $500 - $800 for the air and horns.
Then, install. You'll need to figure out how to do this, if you don't pay the premium for the Kleinn kit. Some remove their spare tires and install up there. Some install along the frame rails. Either way, you'll probably be into it another $100 for various sheet metal and angle-iron to craft mounting brackets. You'll be into it another $50-$100 for connections, hose, and other installation gear.
I would love to have on-board air. Train horns are a nice to have ... there are times going up I-70 towing a trailer that having an air horn would be nice ... just like it's nice for the big rigs to have an air horn.
The Kleinn kit above is the only bolt-on kit. Kleinn and Hornblasters are generally high quality, high cost horns. Nathan are real train horns and cost a small fortune. You can get about as cheap as you want, just search on Amazon. On-board air is obviously required. Viair makes several kits, but there are other brands, too. A good, high quality 100% duty cycle + 2-3 gallon tank will be in the $300 - $400 range. Stand-alone horns will be $100 - $400 ... maybe 3-4x that for Nathan. So, you'll be into it $500 - $800 for the air and horns.
Then, install. You'll need to figure out how to do this, if you don't pay the premium for the Kleinn kit. Some remove their spare tires and install up there. Some install along the frame rails. Either way, you'll probably be into it another $100 for various sheet metal and angle-iron to craft mounting brackets. You'll be into it another $50-$100 for connections, hose, and other installation gear.
I would love to have on-board air. Train horns are a nice to have ... there are times going up I-70 towing a trailer that having an air horn would be nice ... just like it's nice for the big rigs to have an air horn.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: SoCal/Wyoming
Check your local laws (if you care) as train horns on vehicles are illegal in many places around the country. I had an air horn, not as loud as a train horn, on one of my vehicles back in the 80s. The novelty quickly wore off and after the first week, I doubt I ever used it again. While we can mount them on a vehicle here in CA, we can’t legally use them. Here is our vehicle code:
27000. (a) A motor vehicle, when operated upon a highway, shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no horn shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound.
EDIT - I looked up the regs for Georgia and they are the same as CA.
O.C.G.A. 40-8-70 (2010)
40-8-70. Horns and warning devices
(a) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when it is reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation, give audible warning with his or her horn but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.
27000. (a) A motor vehicle, when operated upon a highway, shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no horn shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound.
EDIT - I looked up the regs for Georgia and they are the same as CA.
O.C.G.A. 40-8-70 (2010)
40-8-70. Horns and warning devices
(a) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when it is reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation, give audible warning with his or her horn but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 134
Likes: 7
I can understand the desire to install a train horn. I haven't done it. I've considered it. I drive a 450, and people around here drive like absolute clowns around it. "Oh, theres a 9500lb truck in the fast line going way faster than I am, but I want to go 1 mph faster than this guy in front of me, better jump right in front of that big truck!"
