ARB Air Compressor, deflate solenoid, and wiring.... all hooked up in engine bay

[jharrell3623]

ARB compressors have been around for a long time. So I’d say they were not “designed”for this location. They are high quality, heavy duty for sure and mine gets very hot when in use installed inside the bronco. Exposer to heat, water, DUST and whatever u might run into is gona have a high impact on the unit. I feel this was an easy location for company’s to create a bracket for. It’s an easy install also being so close to the battery. Noise? Well off-roading isn’t clean or easy.

well you have years of people before broncos with 4 runners , jeeps and various other trucks using them under the hood and I've seen very little in the way of damage resulting from heat output. The bronco does have heat protection under the hood so while I'll say its not the best location , it is the cleanest and less noisy location. With what people including myself are spending on off road vehicles , if a 700 dollar compressor was my breaking point , then I think I have more to worry about than a 700 dollar compressor. If I have to replace it every 2 years , I'll be happy. I'll go on the beach maybe 10 to 20 times of the year. Doubt I'll do anything else that requires its use , so under my use and application , realistically , it should be fine. We shall see. Hopefully it gives years of service.

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[350vudu]

I am a bit curious why you decided on not using the ARB pressure control kit? Seems perfect for your use case. I plan to use it in my installation and run my lines to each wheel and use short whips for airing up and down, same as you.

Also, good idea on the APEX valves. Had no clue they existed but I've now placed an order for them lol.

 

[jharrell3623]

I am a bit curious why you decided on not using the ARB pressure control kit? Seems perfect for your use case. I plan to use it in my installation and run my lines to each wheel and use short whips for airing up and down, same as you.

Also, good idea on the APEX valves. Had no clue they existed but I've now placed an order for them lol.

Well , honestly I did not know it was an option but I can say this. Nothing is as fast to deflate as the APEX valves. So waiting for 4 tires to slowly release air , regardless of this system or the pressure control kit is extremely slow. The deflation side will rarely get used. The video they show is sped up time lapse. It does not actually deflate that fast. With APEX , I can walk around and have all 4 tires from 38 PSI to less than 10 PSI in about 20 seconds. Then I can cut the compressor on and inflate up to 15 in just a minute or two. Technically from 38 psi to 15 PSI in 3 minutes , and riding down the beach. As far as I know , nothing is as fast as that. I'll have a gauge under the front seat on a short leash that I can monitor the air pressure with and I can also feed to someone else and deflate or inflate them with a 50 foot hose connected to the other side of the gauge. If I had this kit it would do essentially the same thing , all be it , more wiring , and more mounting and then having to use a phone again for something else. If I'm out kayaking , or enjoying the outer banks , trust me , I've had times I wanted to throw my phone into the sound. I just really want less connection to my phone on my days off lol.

 

[350vudu]

Well , honestly I did not know it was an option but I can say this. Nothing is as fast to deflate as the APEX valves. So waiting for 4 tires to slowly release air , regardless of this system or the pressure control kit is extremely slow. The deflation side will rarely get used. The video they show is sped up time lapse. It does not actually deflate that fast. With APEX , I can walk around and have all 4 tires from 38 PSI to less than 10 PSI in about 20 seconds. Then I can cut the compressor on and inflate up to 15 in just a minute or two. Technically from 38 psi to 15 PSI in 3 minutes , and riding down the beach. As far as I know , nothing is as fast as that. I'll have a gauge under the front seat on a short leash that I can monitor the air pressure with and I can also feed to someone else and deflate or inflate them with a 50 foot hose connected to the other side of the gauge. If I had this kit it would do essentially the same thing , all be it , more wiring , and more mounting and then having to use a phone again for something else. If I'm out kayaking , or enjoying the outer banks , trust me , I've had times I wanted to throw my phone into the sound. I just really want less connection to my phone on my days off lol.

Ok, got it. I get what you are saying. I guess my reasoning is that I don't think I will be in a situation much where I just need to have that speed of deflation. I would like being able to just hook up, have the psi preset in my phone, hit go and walk away and do something else. It will alert me when done. Same for the inflation. Set psi for inflation and go do something else. I did buy the Apex valves just for backup if I absolutely have to air down immediately.

Looking forward to your video showing your routing and set up. I will have to make adjustments as I have a Raptor coming and can not mount in the engine bay. Will have to mount mine in the trunk.

 

[jharrell3623]

Yeah , setting the psi and go do other things is good just when I come off the road and i go to lower the psi. On the beach , nothing to really do until you get back going. Faster the better for me. I can stare at the gauge for a few minutes.....I can also integrate that as well later on but it's a bit redundant.

 

[Rkgzx9leftcoast]

I was waiting to see what the BFG auto Deflator/Inflator system look like but this my be good alternative chose if that one doesn't come out.

I was at Trail Hero in October and the BFG rep, Tim Cromer had this on his Jeep. We did Plan B trail that day and he was one of the spotters. He pulled up next to my Bronco hit a switch on the dash and was airing down sitting in the cab. I was like .... what.

He said they were testing it out on his Rig. Pretty cool, you can air up and down on the trail whenever you want. Has individual solenoids on the valve stems at each wheel and lines simaliar to a military Humvee, all attached to the compressor system. Of course I forgot to take pics....lol

 

[jharrell3623]

I was at Trail Hero in October and the BFG rep, Tim Cromer had this on his Jeep. We did Plan B trail that day and he was one of the spotters. He pulled up next to my Bronco hit a switch on the dash and was airing down sitting in the cab. I was like .... what.

He said they were testing it out on his Rig. Pretty cool, you can air up and down on the trail whenever you want. Has individual solenoids on the valve stems at each wheel and lines simaliar to a military Humvee, all attached to the compressor system. Of course I forgot to take pics....lol

That would be best but yeah even more cost.

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

I was at Trail Hero in October and the BFG rep, Tim Cromer had this on his Jeep. We did Plan B trail that day and he was one of the spotters. He pulled up next to my Bronco hit a switch on the dash and was airing down sitting in the cab. I was like .... what.

He said they were testing it out on his Rig. Pretty cool, you can air up and down on the trail whenever you want. Has individual solenoids on the valve stems at each wheel and lines simaliar to a military Humvee, all attached to the compressor system. Of course I forgot to take pics....lol

Any links/pointers to info on BFG's system? While I've always assumed I'd install an ARB dual with basic plumbing since I do not yet have a Bronco I've got nothing but time to read about possible options.

 

[jharrell3623]

Any links/pointers to info on BFG's system? While I've always assumed I'd install an ARB dual with basic plumbing since I do not yet have a Bronco I've got nothing but time to read about possible options.

I just watched a video on it but damn that's involved. Have to have a special wheel to mount the solenoids I assume. Then the control screen or maybe not. Air tanks are a option but likely desired. For extreme weekly off roading , I'm sure it's a very favorable system. However I got 1.4 k in mine , I would guess this system is going to be at least 3 k or more.

 

[Rkgzx9leftcoast]

I just watched a video on it but damn that's involved. Have to have a special wheel to mount the solenoids I assume. Then the control screen or maybe not. Air tanks are a option but likely desired. For extreme weekly off roading , I'm sure it's a very favorable system. However I got 1.4 k in mine , I would guess this system is going to be at least 3 k or more.

Yeah, my take on it is its for off road geared machines, rock crawling, ect. I figured it would be spendy. Was pretty trick though.

 

[Rkgzx9leftcoast]

Any links/pointers to info on BFG's system? While I've always assumed I'd install an ARB dual with basic plumbing since I do not yet have a Bronco I've got nothing but time to read about possible options.

Yeah, no, I havnt kept up with it. Tim is a cool guy, he is the West Coast rep. If you go to a show or event where BFG is involved the local rep may know. I will probably do Trail Hero in October again. Don't know if I'll see Tim before that.

 

[350vudu]

I was at Trail Hero in October and the BFG rep, Tim Cromer had this on his Jeep. We did Plan B trail that day and he was one of the spotters. He pulled up next to my Bronco hit a switch on the dash and was airing down sitting in the cab. I was like .... what.

He said they were testing it out on his Rig. Pretty cool, you can air up and down on the trail whenever you want. Has individual solenoids on the valve stems at each wheel and lines simaliar to a military Humvee, all attached to the compressor system. Of course I forgot to take pics....lol

Damn anymore info on this? Links? This is very ideal.

 

[MrGreen55]

Any links/pointers to info on BFG's system? While I've always assumed I'd install an ARB dual with basic plumbing since I do not yet have a Bronco I've got nothing but time to read about possible options.

Damn anymore info on this? Links? This is very ideal.

Not much info but here is the system in action.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

This is where we usually stick the AuxBeam panels Bet it was fun going "where the heck am I gonna stick this auxbeam panel now" right

It's such a small panel but awkward to find a home for it.

We're making a mounting kit for the panel soon. We were getting tired ourselves of modifying them to fit.

We usually mount them vertical in front of the battery but it makes it a bit awkward to get the cover on and off so.

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

Not much info but here is the system in action.

Thanks! Yeah, gonna file that one right next to the Continental GT and 911 GT3 Touring in my "Shiny stuff that's fun to look at that I'll never buy" folder. Undeniably very cool, though.

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