Aftermarket Onboard Air Compressor Ideas

BuzzyBud

Oct 14, 2020

Like many potential Bronco owners, I plan to purchase the 2.7L engine. I expect the engine compartment to be tight based on the pictures I have seen. Ideally, I would be seeking an aftermarket ARB air compressor. Although many owners of other vehicles end up installing them in the engine compartment, I may be going the route of an under seat install and saving any engine compartment space for a potential axillary battery. A buddy installed his ARB using the TeraFlex mount kit on his Jeep. Over time I expect TeraFlex to develop a Bronco kit and video taking into consideration any special adaptions to accommodate the under-seat heat vent. See reference links below.

https://teraflex.com/shop_items/jk-arb-compressor-under-seat-mounting-kit

Shadowblade, Georgedroukas

Last edited by a moderator: Oct 14, 2020

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Oct 06, 2022

#20

Been thinking on this for a while. I bought one of the tailgate tables with the molle on the underside of the table. JCR has one. It is supposed to hold up to 25lbs. I am thinking of mounting on the molle on the underside of table.

22 Badlands 4 dr, sas, lux, mic, 2.7, cactus gray. Ordered 2/21/22 - Re Order 9/22/2022 for 23 model

Oct 19, 2022

#21

Bronco Compressor Mount This solution is already available and works great

Reserved 7/14/2020 - Ordered 1/20/2021- home on 9/18/21.
Outerbanks, A51, High package, Tow capability, (MIC top-REMOVED 8/12) , Aux

Oct 19, 2022

#22

To the OP: mounting under the seat? Do you have washout floor plugs? Do you plan on hosing out your truck's interior? My Lux package has heated, but not motorized, seats for that very reason.
Another thought: We're loading our trucks up with lights, rock rails, bash plates, all sorts of stuff. 20 pounds here, 35 pounds there, 10, 37, 45 pounds for this and that. All adds up. I'm inclined to get a boxed compressor set and just load it up when I go off-roading.

radar3d

Oct 19, 2022

#23

tommygraham
Been thinking on this for a while. I bought one of the tailgate tables with the molle on the underside of the table. JCR has one. It is supposed to hold up to 25lbs. I am thinking of mounting on the molle on the underside of table.

Got compressor in and I don't think the tailgate idea will work. The tailgate table molle panel is nice but I don't think it will hold up to the weight of compressor over time. I chose to go with the set up in links below. I am not a real fan of under the hood but I do like this vertical set up much better than flat mount instillations and I don't have to run near as much wire. The bracket is very heavy duty and a perfect spot for switch.

https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...road-arb-twin-compressor-mounting-bracket-kit

22 Badlands 4 dr, sas, lux, mic, 2.7, cactus gray. Ordered 2/21/22 - Re Order 9/22/2022 for 23 model

LoneRanger, Mal

Oct 19, 2022

#24

tommygraham
Got compressor in and I don't think the tailgate idea will work. The tailgate table molle panel is nice but I don't think it will hold up to the weight of compressor over time. I chose to go with the set up in links below. I am not a real fan of under the hood but I do like this vertical set up much better than flat mount instillations and I don't have to run near as much wire. The bracket is very heavy duty and a perfect spot for switch.

https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...road-arb-twin-compressor-mounting-bracket-kit

Yep, I like that vertical positioning too. Did you keep the ARB switch or did you go to an upfitter? Im thinking about plumbing the airline to an exterior airchuck in or around the bumper and going to an upfitter switch so I dont have to open the hood to air back up. Its a question of whether I want to be lazy now or later.😀

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

Oct 19, 2022

#25

Mal
Yep, I like that vertical positioning too. Did you keep the ARB switch or did you go to an upfitter? Im thinking about plumbing the airline to an exterior airchuck in or around the bumper and going to an upfitter switch so I dont have to open the hood to air back up. Its a question of whether I want to be lazy now or later.😀

I'm going to use ARB switch. The way the switch mounts on top of bracket will be real convenient sitting on top of bracket next to fender. Have not thought of your idea but that makes sense. I like it. I already have about 1K in compressor, bracket, and four tire inflation set up. What's a few more $$'s.

22 Badlands 4 dr, sas, lux, mic, 2.7, cactus gray. Ordered 2/21/22 - Re Order 9/22/2022 for 23 model

Mal

Oct 20, 2022

#26

Mal
Yep, I like that vertical positioning too. Did you keep the ARB switch or did you go to an upfitter? Im thinking about plumbing the airline to an exterior airchuck in or around the bumper and going to an upfitter switch so I dont have to open the hood to air back up. Its a question of whether I want to be lazy now or later.😀

You got me thinking about using one of the upfitter switches for my ARB twin compressor. I was looking at switch #1 being used for my 50" bar light over windshield. It looks like with the amp pull on the ARB that switch 1 would be to only switch I could use for the compressor. Switch 1 will carry 30amps, switch 2 15amps, and all the others 10amps. The ARB specs show that the compressor pulls 28.4 amps and 50.4 amps under load. I am thinking the compressor may be a little too much for upfitter even for switch 1. What are your thoughts?

22 Badlands 4 dr, sas, lux, mic, 2.7, cactus gray. Ordered 2/21/22 - Re Order 9/22/2022 for 23 model

Mal

Oct 20, 2022

#27

tommygraham
You got me thinking about using one of the upfitter switches for my ARB twin compressor. I was looking at switch #1 being used for my 50" bar light over windshield. It looks like with the amp pull on the ARB that switch 1 would be to only switch I could use for the compressor. Switch 1 will carry 30amps, switch 2 15amps, and all the others 10amps. The ARB specs show that the compressor pulls 28.4 amps and 50.4 amps under load. I am thinking the compressor may be a little too much for upfitter even for switch 1. What are your thoughts?

The Arb set up uses a relay, so that switch can be replaced. In this video, they cut the ARB harness and wire it direct to Upfitter 6. Futzing about with the wiring starts around 6:30 and they cut the harness around 8:20.

Save that heavy Amp switch for the light bar.

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

LoneRanger, tommygraham

Oct 20, 2022

#28

Padams7
My step dad installed a compressor from some plane in the trunk of his 65 Malibu and had a galvanized tube wrapped in Fiberglass as the tank.

I’m thinking of using an old fire extinguisher as an air tank for my ARB compressor which is installed under the hood.

Still looking for a good tank placement.

Why do you need a tank at all? You are just filling tires, not using an airbrush.

Oct 20, 2022

#29

Mal
The Arb set up uses a relay, so that switch can be replaced. In this video, they cut the ARB harness and wire it direct to Upfitter 6. Futzing about with the wiring starts around 6:30 and they cut the harness around 8:20.

Save that heavy Amp switch for the light bar.

Awesomeness!! Thanks so much. After I read your post I decided to use the upfitter option. This morning I started thinking about amp issue. This clears it up. Going to run it out to bumper as well. I found that braded air line is not too expensive after all (See link below). I will drill a hole on top flat of bumper and install
ARB Hose Coupling with rubber fitting cap from ARB.
https://www.grimmoffroad.com/Stainless-Steel-Braided-Air-Hose_p_23.html

22 Badlands 4 dr, sas, lux, mic, 2.7, cactus gray. Ordered 2/21/22 - Re Order 9/22/2022 for 23 model

Mal

Oct 20, 2022

#30

tommygraham
Awesomeness!! Thanks so much. After I read your post I decided to use the upfitter option. This morning I started thinking about amp issue. This clears it up. Going to run it out to bumper as well. I found that braded air line is not too expensive after all (See link below). I will drill a hole on top flat of bumper and install
ARB Hose Coupling with rubber fitting cap from ARB.
https://www.grimmoffroad.com/Stainless-Steel-Braided-Air-Hose_p_23.html

Excellent. Post some pics when you get it run!

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

Oct 20, 2022

#31

Mal
Excellent. Post some pics when you get it run!

I will. I still haven't gotten a VIN yet. Have a garage full of stuff just waiting. Not all bad because I have lot's of time to work all the different projects out.

22 Badlands 4 dr, sas, lux, mic, 2.7, cactus gray. Ordered 2/21/22 - Re Order 9/22/2022 for 23 model

Mal

Oct 20, 2022

#32

tommygraham
I will. I still haven't gotten a VIN yet. Have a garage full of stuff just waiting. Not all bad because I have lot's of time to work all the different projects out.

Im still waiting but have a 21 Nov build date so light at the end of the tunnel. Ive held off ordering the compressor set up, but will be shortly. I guess its a race to see who gets all this plumbed in first. 😀

2023 Wildtrak. "Sometimes you got to get lost, to get found" -J Bronco

tommygraham

Oct 20, 2022

#33

Village Idiot
I recently watched a Jeep video and they had the compressor in the rear tire mount and had the on/off switch and air port attached to the inner tailgate. Any issues with the setup? If not it would be nice to convert the vented plastic to a vented door and reses the on/off switch, gage and air port.

This is an interesting place for an air compressor. I like this idea.

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LoneRanger

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