Tank and compress. locations

[Inthuwind]

I am installing air ride on my '68 short step, with fuel tank relocated to the rear. Where is the best place to mount the air tank, compressors, and valves on the frame to clear EVERYTHING??? My exhaust will drop before the rear axle, if this matters. Pics would be appreciated, thanks everyone!!

[leftcoast66]

I've got mine under the frame on the outside of it. not sure with a stepside if you'l have room, but I've got the tank outside of the frame and then the compressor is mounted outside of the frame right underneath the drivers seat.

[68 short step]

i too have a shortstep with the exhaust exiting before the axle..... the only place i found to (possibly) mount it would be on the frame just under the door... it wont fit where the "normal" fleetsiders put them... the bedside interfers...

[Inthuwind]

Originally Posted by 68 short step

i too have a shortstep with the exhaust exiting before the axle..... the only place i found to (possibly) mount it would be on the frame just under the door... it wont fit where the "normal" fleetsiders put them... the bedside interfers...

Yours bagged and do you have pics?

[68 short step]

Originally Posted by Inthuwind

Yours bagged and do you have pics?

no its not bagged, and one reason was i could'nt find a good mounting location (at least for a descent size tank)

[see ten]

Someone on here a while back had some pics of a tank they had mounted behind the front bumper. It was in between the framerails on the xmember that's just behind the core support.

[67Fleet]

Originally Posted by 68 short step

i too have a shortstep with the exhaust exiting before the axle..... the only place i found to (possibly) mount it would be on the frame just under the door... it wont fit where the "normal" fleetsiders put them... the bedside interfers...

bad idea IMO to mount under the cab, IF they fit at all. They will definitely be the lowest point of the truck mounted there and will be the first thing to hit the ground. I've got my compressors mounted on the frame rail on the driver side and there's not a whole lot of extra space for anything bigger.

[abadsvt]

Here is what FNLOW69 did! Obviously he back halfed his truck but still and idea.

[Inthuwind]

Now that's FN AWESOME!!

[Inthuwind]

Anyone else???

[Rollie396]

here's what I'm doin,but I built the tanks myself and as you can see exhaust is gonna be tricky .Oh and I'm goin with an engine driven compressor.

[Inthuwind]

Anyone else with no mods to the frame. I know there has to be stepsides here that are bagged without z'ing the frame.

[smbrouss70]

I haven't done it, but I was thinking of mounting the tanks inside the rear fenders, behind the tire. I think you would have to make some kind of shield to keep the grime off of it, though.

[LuckyHG]

NOt on the same truck but i have the tank mounted behind the front bumper of my ram between the fraim rails. The valves are on the outside of the rails and the compressor is mounted behind the grill.
Heres an old pic of it being installed before it got cleaned up but you get the idea.

bad pic i know

[st1x10]

I need some help here too. I have a short step and need a place to mount the tanks. Anybody got an Idea or some pics?

[Inthuwind]

Ttt

[C10-Driver]

I have a slightly different problem... I have a leaf spring truck and the space on the frame rail behind the cab is blocked by the front leaf spring hangers.

My bodyman made a suggestion today and I think it might work. He suggested installing the tank in the empty space behind the door in the back corner of the cab. I am running a small 2-gallon tank and have my fuel tank relocated outside the cab. Larger air tanks obviously wouldn't fit but the 2-gallon tank fits perfectly.

Any thoughts on this idea???

[67Fleet]

a 2-gal tank? If you plan to run front & rear bags and just run a 2-gal tank, your not going to have enough air to get the truck up all at once. (unless you keep it at 200psi all the time. I don't see a problem mounting it behind the seat, but you're not going to want your compressor in the cab also. They're loud and annoying inside the cab.

[C10-Driver]

Originally Posted by 67Fleet

a 2-gal tank? If you plan to run front & rear bags and just run a 2-gal tank, your not going to have enough air to get the truck up all at once. (unless you keep it at 200psi all the time. I don't see a problem mounting it behind the seat, but you're not going to want your compressor in the cab also. They're loud and annoying inside the cab.

My plan was to mount the compressor on the frame rail outside the cab. They don't take up much room so finding a spot on the frame rails won't be near as tough as with the tank.

I realize my compressor will need to kick in to help get the truck back up to ride height. I don't plan on raising and lowering the vehicle a whole lot... The main reasons I went with air bags was for the adjustable ride height and ride quality. Having a large air tank on-board so that I can raise and lower his vehicle in a matter of seconds just isn't a priority. I have a friend with air bags on his truck and he is running a 1-gallon tank. His compressor has to kick in for a bit but for how he drives his vehicle (and how I drive mine), it works just fine.

Please don't take my reply the wrong way. I greatly appreciate your input. I have seen pictures of your truck on the board and think you have done an awesome job, I'm just heading in a bit different direction with mine.

[jimmydean]

They make long and skinny 5 gallon tanks. I would also say that 2 gallons won't get you very far.

[C10-Driver]

Originally Posted by jimmydean

They make long and skinny 5 gallon tanks. I would also say that 2 gallons won't get you very far.

I have thought of that style of tank. I just came up with this "brainstorm" yesterday so I haven't had a chance to spec out a larger volume tank to see what might fit in that space. The other thing I have thought about is the possibility of running 2 tanks, 1 in each corner but again I have to decide whether I really need to or not. As I said in my last reply, raising the vehicle in 10 seconds or less isn't much of a priority for me.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

[67Fleet]

No worries, it is your truck, so you should design it how YOU want it to be. I was just trying to give you my input so you are fully aware of the limits you will be up against with that tank size. Running your comp. on the outboard frame rail is fine. That's where I have mine. Just be sure to mount it closer to the bottom of the rail. I mounted mine a little too close to the floor board and didn't realize how much flex there would be and I've noticed rub marks on the underside of the floor. Not too bad, but I'm going to move it anyways.

[C10-Driver]

Thanks for the tip. I am thinking of building some sort of mounting plate for the compressor to help protect it from crap flying up from the road. I will be sure to leave lots of clearance room. Jimmydean mentioned the larger, slim-style tanks. I will be looking into those to see if I can find something bigger that fits.

It's interesting how some people will come up with an idea you never would have thought of. When I mentioned my delimma to my bodyman, he thought of the space in the back corner of the cab right away. Unless someone is installing speakers in the back corner of the cab, this space is completely unused. It made so much sense, I thought there had to be something wrong with his idea but the more I think about it, the more sense it makes to me. I will probably build some sort of sheet metal cover for the corner to hide the tank and everyone who looks at my truck will ask "Where did he install the air tank?" LOL...

[short step]

i used 2 fire ex bottles (WELDED FITTINGS ON THEM) that measured 5 1/2" in dia
and put 1 on each side under the cab and they are pretty even with the bottom of the rail.if i dont us a ED compressor i will mount the comp inside the frame in back of the cab.the tanks are rated for 200lbs and the guy said they are tested @400lbs .go to a place that refills fire ex and u might get them for free.they hold enough air @155 to fill 4 bags .i would guess they total 1 1/2 gals ea. if some one wants to post pics ill email them. this is on a 71 short stepside
bob

[abadsvt]

Here is what i did. I am not done yet though. I still have to mount the compressors some where but i thought i would share.