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Alternate air compressor mounting

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by Sandbuster, Oct 10, 2021.

  1. Oct 10, 2021 at 6:19 PM
    #1
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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    To be honest, what follows is not really a "cost effective" idea but a concept I've been kicking around for some time and it turned out a little more intensive than I imagined, but like a lot of things, once started down the rabbit hole I was committed to finishing it.

    I already had a 10awg power wire in (place wrapped up under the rr fender well cover tray) but it turned out to be too light for the load so I replaced it with a 8awg wired fused near the battery - that worked well but if I had to do it over again I would likely use a 6awg wire.

    upload_2021-10-10_20-47-51.jpg
    upload_2021-10-10_20-48-37.jpg
    upload_2021-10-10_20-49-12.jpg
    upload_2021-10-10_20-50-0.jpg
    upload_2021-10-10_20-50-33.jpg
    upload_2021-10-10_20-51-17.jpg

    For the mounting I sourced materials I had on-hand. The compressor (Smittybilt 2781) sits on a 3/16ths horizontal steel plate which is horribly welded (by me) to a steel cover off of a sub-panel breaker box which is attached to the 3/4' plywood side of my cargo box. The horizontal portion of the mounting plate rests atop some very dense rubber pads that are attached to the little storage tray above the rr wheel well - I may have to beef that up just a little as it looks like it's leaning just a tad to the right.

    I replaced the funky non-standard air fittings that comes with the Smittybilt to what is standard for us in the US. The storage tank is a 2.5 gallon VIAIR. Power to the compressor is controlled by a master switch at the front of the box which then is fed through a 90-120 psi sensor then onto the compressor. The system has two manual air valves - one at the tank inlet and one for the tank drain.

    THIS IS NOT A COST EFFECTIVE INSTALL! I have $80+ just in all the brass fittings, then $80 for the tank and a buck eighty for the compressor. I just didn't want the compressor under the hood and exposed to all the elements. Where its currently mounted is a space that was going to waste anyway.

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/141SPq6n5SPpOua5RRRSTUI74I-3Be8bU/view?usp=sharing

    This should've been a one day project (20 years ago) for me but I spent about a week on it (between naps) at 77 and I swear I wouldn't do it again - I'd hire a hungry young person to do it while I supervised from a lawn chair. :rasta:
     
    thermorex, JerryC, SnakeDoc and 12 others like this.
  2. Oct 10, 2021 at 7:08 PM
    #2
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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    Thank you for your kind comments!
     
    Roland, Thatbassguy and 7385 like this.
  3. Oct 10, 2021 at 7:35 PM
    #3
    T4RGRL

    T4RGRL New Member

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    Way, way cool Dad! I'm so envious of your talent to create things from scratch, from just an idea! Especially with wiring, I wish I understood it all better. Love what you have been doing with the runner, you make me proud!
     
    2Toys, Big B, Thatbassguy and 5 others like this.
  4. Oct 10, 2021 at 7:57 PM
    #4
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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    Hey daughter - your words made all the hours & sweat worth it, such a nice thing to say to your “old” man. You just made my day!
     
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  5. Oct 11, 2021 at 6:13 AM
    #5
    T4RGRL

    T4RGRL New Member

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    You never cease to surprise me. Keep following your passions, age is just a number ;). Love you Dad!
     
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  6. Oct 11, 2021 at 7:35 AM
    #6
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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    :bananadance::kona::dancingbacon::dancingbroccoli: Ah daughter, is all that mud on your 4runner a badge of honor? Clean that puppy up! :rofl:
     
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  7. Oct 12, 2021 at 6:52 PM
    #7
    T4RGRL

    T4RGRL New Member

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    You know she's clean! :rofl:But, I like her just the same all muddy ;).

     
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  8. Oct 12, 2021 at 7:52 PM
    #8
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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  9. Oct 12, 2021 at 7:54 PM
    #9
    Roland

    Roland New Member

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    Wisdom is find in old age. Great job. :thumbsup:
     
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  10. Oct 12, 2021 at 8:39 PM
    #10
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    Slick! I like it! :thumbsup:
     
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  11. Oct 12, 2021 at 10:23 PM
    #11
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

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    Here's how I mounted my Viair-88P.

    Quick and easy. :)

    IMG_5783.jpg
     
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  12. Oct 13, 2021 at 5:48 AM
    #12
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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    That is definitely quick, easy, economical, and more practical than mine - but doesn't take into account an old man's folly.....
     
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  13. Oct 13, 2021 at 6:37 AM
    #13
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

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    You did a great job with the install and the thread, I was just being funny. :)
     
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  14. Oct 13, 2021 at 10:27 AM
    #14
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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  15. Oct 13, 2021 at 5:43 PM
    #15
    SnakeDoc

    SnakeDoc New Member

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    I have a nice comfortable gravity chair and a cooler full of beer if you want to supervise in California, I'm really good at following orders and instructions. :militarypress:yes sir!
     
  16. Oct 13, 2021 at 7:18 PM
    #16
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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    Well I am a California transplant....:hattip:
     
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  17. Oct 14, 2021 at 7:13 AM
    #17
    JerryC

    JerryC New Member

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  18. Oct 14, 2021 at 7:21 AM
    #18
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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    I like that Jerry. I don’t have any projects in the planning stage that would require that but think I’ll order one “for stock” just in case the need arises. I enjoy electrical projects as long as they don’t require me to be on my back looking at the underbelly of a dashboard..
     
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  19. Oct 14, 2021 at 7:35 AM
    #19
    JerryC

    JerryC New Member

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    Same here... I was just thinking that when you are bored :) you would want to clean up the connections at the battery. My old truck had something like six at the solenoid (Ford) when I got it so I had to do something.
     
  20. Oct 14, 2021 at 8:27 AM
    #20
    SnakeDoc

    SnakeDoc New Member

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    Wise man for leaving California. Wife and I dream of it someday.
     
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  21. Oct 14, 2021 at 8:34 AM
    #21
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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    I moved out of Northern California (the Sierras), it's beautiful there - nothing at all like the asphalt jungle of Southern California but circumstances at the time caused me to move to Florida but I shoulda picked mountains somewhere - anywhere...:annoyed:
     
  22. Oct 15, 2021 at 9:14 AM
    #22
    Big B

    Big B Out Exploring

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    Nice setup....Im going to try under the front passenger seat with mine.
    Whats the 40" lightbar for?
     
  23. Oct 15, 2021 at 9:51 AM
    #23
    Slopemaster

    Slopemaster Slope Survivalist

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    You may change your mind once you take a look under the seat with a flashlight.
     
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  24. Oct 15, 2021 at 11:07 AM
    #24
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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    11 year volunteer with local PD - I teach and do TTC (Temporary Traffic Control)..
     
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  25. Oct 15, 2021 at 11:29 AM
    #25
    thermorex

    thermorex New Member

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    Thank you for your service, 2x!
     
  26. Oct 15, 2021 at 11:32 AM
    #26
    thermorex

    thermorex New Member

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  27. Oct 15, 2021 at 12:51 PM
    #27
    Sandbuster

    Sandbuster [OP] Breaking Wind

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    I’ve seen those before on Amazon while searching out other electrical stuff - thats actually a manually resettable circuit breaker which would be a nice circuit protection device placed as close to your power source as possible.
     
  28. Oct 15, 2021 at 12:56 PM
    #28
    thermorex

    thermorex New Member

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    Exactly, I velcroed mine on the 300Amp lithium battery, as an extra safety measure, on the top of what is fused in the trailer. And agree, every fuse should be placed as closed as possible to the power source to avoid "unprotected" shorts.
     
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