My 3 kids are wanting me to put train horns on my '17 F250. What's the general consensus of them on this forum? Are they considered an obnoxious fad or accepted as Ok?

 

i dont have an issue with them. i will say they can get really expensive if you want real train horns like the Nathan K5LA

 

I had an air horn on my previous truck.
Here's the thing that I think can make it go from obnoxious to awesome - wire it so you have a toggle somewhere. I had a relay powered by a dedicated switch, and the relay itself would fire with the horn button. Sounds like most here use an upfitter switch if they have them.
This way if someone has fallen asleep at a red light, or the horn chirps when you lock your doors, the entire world is subject to all that noise when its not necessary.

That said, at highway speeds, and especially for folks about to make a wonky move in front of you while you're towing, I almost think they are "necessary". You just cant hear dinky horns at 70mph. And its not always about punishing someone after the fact, but trying the get them to see they are about to cause a wreck.

But lastly, when its appropriate to be obnoxious...oh boy does it feel good. No gestures needed. "Thanks for cutting me off, that tinnitus will go away in a few hours."

About 3 years back I moved from Long Island (NY) to central ohio and the tone (no pun intended) of driving is vastly different. My horns are sitting on a workbench, and I dont think I am going to be putting them back unless I move to an area that resembles NY/NJ drivers.

 

I use them to mess with people more than anything else, if you have a spare $500 and an afternoon to throw at it then its a sure fire way to make some smiles. and itll make that ***** that just cut you off regret his decision

 

That should answer your question right there. I put one on my Bronco when I was in my early 20s but several decades later, I would not put one on if it was free. You will spend a week or two using the horn just to hear it but the novelty wears off quickly and then it’s not used much. I live in a heavy traffic area and I still use the horn maybe once or twice a year but I don’t need a train horn to get the attention of the vehicle in front of me sitting at a green light. As with anything, your money and your truck so put one on if you want it but just posting up the question shows you have reservations about doing it. Not that you care but also check your local laws, many areas have ordinances against their use.

 

I have always wanted one for the drivers that don't understand what YIELD means in a roundabout.

 

Just don't do this too much. Haha

 

I love mine!

 

I had a set of Grover (think fire apparatus) horns on my '02 for a while. I had them hooked up to a separate momentary switch on the dash next to the steering column so I had the stock horn for the security system and polite reminder type honks.
For the mindless and selfish morons playing on their phones or doing whatever else it was besides actually paying attention to their driving, like right before they hit you when weaving in and out of lanes etc., the big horns yielded a lot of satisfaction. They aren't legal in a lot of areas and many areas have laws against "unnecessary use of a horn" but we are each responsible for our actions, or should be anyway. My horns were under the truck and took a beating, with the diaphragms eventually rusting or falling apart, so they stopped working and I removed them rather than repairing them. Perhaps I'll fix them up one day and put them on the new truck, but I doubt it. It's a pretty big $ investment that really wasn't all that practical for me to repeat. Perhaps I'll just add an old electric "aaoooga" type horn on an extra relay as an alternative sound that's easy and inexpensive.
But hey, it's your truck, so make it what you want!

 

Obnoxious and I'll leave it at that.

 

I want one, but can't justify the cost.....and I know I would get myself in trouble.

A couple of months ago a buddy was dropping a few of us off at the Las Vegas airport. Some entitled ******* decided to stop in the main lane of the terminal and unload his bags while traffic backed up. Keep in mind, there are 2 lanes dedicated to unloading. My buddy had a legit train horn on his truck.....he laid on that thing for 5 seconds straight! I think the guy **** himself! I think people actually appreciated it.

 

In my opinion, air horns are fine and I wish I had a set at times. Train horns are just stupid for on road use.

 

yup watched the video, I would get in trouble, I would be the grey hared man on the 6 o'clock news.
that video was done in the East valley, East side of Phoenix.

 

Don’t have my truck yet, but have been debating this too. Ordered an F350 to eventually pull a 5th wheel, live in KS so have deer all over the place. Was thinking an air horn or train horn might be useful for getting deer to get out of the way. Will probably be in the mountains of CO too, elk are a little bigger and if a loud horn gets them out of the way, than definitely an option.

 

As much as it seems like fun......I'd vote negatory..