I’ve had air horns for about 4 years I guess. Started out with one of those ebay train horn kits which was a kleinn 502 (Which isnt bad for what it was) and a tiny 3L tank and attached compressor running at 120psi. Sure enough it eventually wasnt enough so I upgrade the tank and compressor to a viair 280c and 2.5 gallon tank. After that I started fidling with the air hose and replaced the included 1/4" hose with some 3/8" and bought a second 1/8" valve.
At one point I was running two 3/8" lines to two seperate valves on the horn. I also added some other random horns, mainly truck horns, just because after the initial cost of the tank/compressor it was pretty easy. Eventually the kleinn got replaced with a siege engineering kong which I kept for a year or so.
Anyway, so the 2.5gal/280c got traded up for a 380c and 5 gallon tank. The 380c isnt particularly fast so a 420c was added. I also upgraded the tank to a 200psi, 1/2" port tank. A friend wanted a compressor so I sold him my 380c and bought a 480c. I also went through the ordeal of using cheap air line, which tends to explode at 200psi, and barb fittings. Currently im using all compression fittings and DOT brake hose and havent had a single problem in over a year.
As it sits now im running a 420c on a 175/150 switch, and a 480c on a 200/165 switch with a 5 gallon tank, and water separator. The plumbing to my nathan is a 3/4" OD, 1/2" ID hose with a 1/2" valve attached to the horn. I can turn the compressors on auto or off independent via switches in the cab, and also have a switch to connect the nathan with my factory horn which lets me use my remote to sound the horn (panic button and lock beep).
As most of you know, this horn is insanely loud at 200psi but what suprises me the most is how it doesnt loose tone or volume as the pressure decreases, and boy does it love air.
Very interesting way you mounted the tank and air compressors. I like it. Very clean setup as well. I noticed you have a bed cover which is a good idea so nobody can see your toys. I always love seeing pictures of peoples horns and how they installed them. Very cool man nice job!
Thanks guys, its a 2004 silverado with more stuf done to it than I can list, all done by me. The waer seperator is only rated to 150psi but ive never had a problem with it at 200 going on a couple years now, it was around $40 I think.
Its really nice actually. We dont have inspections here, and I havent been harrassed by police because they dont notice the windshield because of the strip at the top.
That does look pretty good from the inside. I did a tint strip across the top on my car too to help block the sun. How is visibility at night? And I’m not talking about when you have those massive off road lights on. It looks like you’re still running the stock housings but did you change the bulbs to hid or anything like that?
The low beams are still the stock OEM headlights and bulbs (original bulbs after 6 years actually…hmmm). I have silverstar 9005s in the highs and fogs. I also have my highbeams wired so my lows, highs, and fogs are all on at the same time, plus I can turn on the big ones with them as well. I kept my low beams stock because my headlights are right at car eye-level and I dont like blinding people. I usually turn my headlights off at stoplights if there is a car in front of me.
The only time I have ANY trouble is on a backroad while its raining with no other source of light and cars coming the other direction not allowing me to use all my lights. With that said, this is as dark as I will ever go and wouldn’t recommend any darker for a vehicle being driven at night.
