Under-Bed Air Tanks
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From: Phenix City, AL
Under-Bed Air Tanks
So, with the big lift and tires, the under-bed spare is pretty much useless right? RIGHT!
Well, here's the plan. I'm building a bed mounted spare when I get home and this leaves me with some room under the bed. So what I want to do is mount two 10 gal air tanks where the spare was. Run an air line from the ARB compressor to one of the tanks, a jumper to the other tank and run a quick disconnect hose to the rear bumper and have it exit where the little hole is in the bumper for the spare tire lift is.
Just trying to see if anyone has done anything similar and has any tips on this. I'm not installing an engine driven compressor, there's already enough crap in there.
Any insight?
Thanks
Well, here's the plan. I'm building a bed mounted spare when I get home and this leaves me with some room under the bed. So what I want to do is mount two 10 gal air tanks where the spare was. Run an air line from the ARB compressor to one of the tanks, a jumper to the other tank and run a quick disconnect hose to the rear bumper and have it exit where the little hole is in the bumper for the spare tire lift is.
Just trying to see if anyone has done anything similar and has any tips on this. I'm not installing an engine driven compressor, there's already enough crap in there.
Any insight?
Thanks
Last edited by BFR250SD; Sep 21, 2005 at 03:20 AM.
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From: Gilbert
Hey BFR,
For what it's worth, you can cram a 35" spare under there. That wouldn't be too far off from your 36's. I put one under mine and the exhaust ran REALLY close so I put in a small heat barrier between the two. As far as the air tanks go, that does sound like a great idea. Have you thought about mounting them maybe under the passenger side fram rail? There's a ton of room up there (I know it isn't a great place to have something there when wheeling). You might find more folks that have done a similar setup down in the off-road forum (ivan, monster, pro, etc). BTW - saw the 1000th post thread, nice work and great posts!
For what it's worth, you can cram a 35" spare under there. That wouldn't be too far off from your 36's. I put one under mine and the exhaust ran REALLY close so I put in a small heat barrier between the two. As far as the air tanks go, that does sound like a great idea. Have you thought about mounting them maybe under the passenger side fram rail? There's a ton of room up there (I know it isn't a great place to have something there when wheeling). You might find more folks that have done a similar setup down in the off-road forum (ivan, monster, pro, etc). BTW - saw the 1000th post thread, nice work and great posts!
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From: Phenix City, AL
The way my exhaust is right now, the spare barely fits and the TSL's are actually a little larger that 36. I think that may change too when I gtet home though. I think I may replace everything exhaust wise and go back to a single side exit.
I forgot how much space was on the passenger side. Then again I can't go look at the truck right now. Great! Thanks.......now you gave me more crap to float around in my head for things to do.
I forgot how much space was on the passenger side. Then again I can't go look at the truck right now. Great! Thanks.......now you gave me more crap to float around in my head for things to do.
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From: Gilbert
Not a great pic at all but at least you can get an idea of how much room is under there. I mounted my hi-lift under there and still have plenty of room to spare. It does catch a lot of junk comin' up off the tires so keep that in mind if you mount anything there. I have only had to use my jack a couple times and already had to buy a rebuild kit for it.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=82665&width=2
BTW- Keep safe out there!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=82665&width=2
BTW- Keep safe out there!
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From: Phenix City, AL
Thanks brother. That helps.
The only thing there is, yes more ideas, I want to build a set of removeable rock sliders that will attach to the frame rails. I have the W2W bars right now and want to make up a set up angle iron sliders that I can put on just below those, if I plan to wheel at all.
I reeeeeeeeally have too much time on my hands. Hopefully the wife buys me some more tools while I'm here. Hehehe!
The only thing there is, yes more ideas, I want to build a set of removeable rock sliders that will attach to the frame rails. I have the W2W bars right now and want to make up a set up angle iron sliders that I can put on just below those, if I plan to wheel at all.
I reeeeeeeeally have too much time on my hands. Hopefully the wife buys me some more tools while I'm here. Hehehe!
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From: Gilbert
I figured while you're in Afghanistan fighting for our country (thanks again) and I'm sitting at home bored watching hurricane rita updates on the weather channel, that I could take a few measurements so you can see what you have for openings. We have the same cab configuration but different box config's. Anyways, there's a huge opening in front of the passenger side rear tire on mine where you could easily fit an air tank (with a small cage for protection as well). That opening on mine has about 11" of clearance between the underside of the bed and bottom of the frame rail and is about 16" wide (outside of fram rail to inside of body). There's a total of about 8' (yes, FEET) of frame rail with nothing on it but a body mount (which only comes down a few inches on the frame), 12" wide (outside of frame to inside of the body), and roughly about 8" tall. Let me know if this is at all confusing, on top of my bad handwriting, I was writing on my crappy driveway. Hope this gives you a better idea of how much room you have.
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From: Phenix City, AL
Yeah it does actually. Now I'm getting the picture back from when I spent the 6 hours underneath it in a rainsuit, goggles, rubber gloves and boots pulling out crap from everywhere under there.
There is plenty of room to mount them there. Thanks man, I appreciate it. Ya didn't have to go crawling around in the driveway. Ahhh, I probably would have too jsut for something to do. Thanks.
There is plenty of room to mount them there. Thanks man, I appreciate it. Ya didn't have to go crawling around in the driveway. Ahhh, I probably would have too jsut for something to do. Thanks.
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From: Utopia
I was thinking of using the spare tire area for an auxillary fuel tank. Aero tanks makes a spare tire replacement tank that I believe holds 30 gallons.
I really like the frame mounted air system idea. I may copy it. It all depends on how big of a lift I can operate on the property and if that 35" spare will fit under my new truck.
I have the stock tire life to think about it.
Thanks for all your hard work BFR!
I really like the frame mounted air system idea. I may copy it. It all depends on how big of a lift I can operate on the property and if that 35" spare will fit under my new truck.
I have the stock tire life to think about it.
Thanks for all your hard work BFR!
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From: Near DC
Originally Posted by BFR250SD
I forgot how much space was on the passenger side. Then again I can't go look at the truck right now. Great! Thanks.......now you gave me more crap to float around in my head for things to do.
Liek has been said, plenty of room under there.
Oh yeah, maybe a couple of deep cycle golf cart batteries and an inverter!
(well, you were looking for ideas, eh?)
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Rocket boosters. . . ok, maybe not.
Can't remember if there is the same space on the other side or not, but a 6' long, 8" dia air tank on each side with a 1/2" steel skid plate welded on the lower half would make some nice "hidden" rocksliders.
Can't remember if there is the same space on the other side or not, but a 6' long, 8" dia air tank on each side with a 1/2" steel skid plate welded on the lower half would make some nice "hidden" rocksliders.
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From: Near DC
The other side has your fuel and brake lines and electrical on the inside of the rail. Emergency brake on the outside.
If ya put in some space, maybe an inch off the rail, you can fit plenty along the em brake area. Just watch the lines on the inside of the rail.
If ya put in some space, maybe an inch off the rail, you can fit plenty along the em brake area. Just watch the lines on the inside of the rail.
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From: Phenix City, AL
No, no, no. I need the hydralics over on that side so I can do the coolio low rider thing and do the 3 wheel motion around the turns. 
I need the rock sliders, so I won't hit the curbs or the speed bumps at the mall.
I need the rock sliders, so I won't hit the curbs or the speed bumps at the mall.
Last edited by BFR250SD; Sep 21, 2005 at 09:06 PM.
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From: Fort. Lauderdale FL,
I dont know strong your compressor is for your ARB's but i dont think it will pressurize the tanks to an SCFM that will actuly power any kinda of real tool. I was looking in to doin this with air horns.. Figured i can out in the air horns use an oersized tank with a larger pump but to run like lets say an impact wrench you need a strong compressor. If your going to use it to lets say take off your lug nuts (tourqed to 150lbs accoriding to the book) you need a good impact gun. A regular impact gun requires a min of around 5-6 SCFM to operate correctly. To get a compressor that was strong enough to make 5-6 SCFM was hundreds of dollars. Make sure you look at your numbers is all im saying. Im sure you would hate to go through all this work and go to use it and be upset...
ryan
ryan