Okay, here’s my blog post about setting up an air compressor in my pickup truck, written in a casual, first-person style:
So, I finally got around to installing an air compressor in my truck. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for ages, and I’m kicking myself for not doing it sooner! It’s already been super useful.
The Idea
I do a fair bit of off-roading, and airing down my tires is a must for better traction. But airing back up at the end of the trail? Pain in the butt. I used to rely on finding a gas station with a working air pump, which was always a gamble. Plus, I wanted to be able to use air tools in a pinch, or even just inflate a camping mattress without huffing and puffing.
Getting Started
First thing I did was research. Lots of it. I watched a bunch of videos, read a ton of forum posts, and basically tried to soak up as much info as I could. Figuring out what kind of compressor, tank size, and mounting location was the biggest headache. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the options!
My Main requirment:
- I need to fill up my truck tires, which are a decent size.
- The air needs to be strong enough to run some basic air tools.
- And I didn’t want a setup that took up my whole truck bed.
The Install
I decided to mount the compressor under the truck bed. It felt like the most logical place to keep it out of the way. I started by building a simple mounting bracket out of some scrap metal I had lying around. Bolting that to the frame was a bit of a contortion act, but I got it done.
Next up was the wiring. I ran some heavy-gauge wire from the battery, through a fuse (safety first!), and then to a pressure switch mounted near the compressor. I also wired in a relay, because those things draw a decent amount of power. Crimping all those connectors and making sure everything was secure took a good chunk of time.
The plumbing was relatively straightforward. I used some air line and fittings to connect the compressor to a small air tank I mounted nearby. I also added a quick-connect fitting at the rear bumper, so I can easily plug in an air hose.
Testing it Out
Once everything was hooked up, I flipped the switch, and… it worked! I was honestly a little surprised. The compressor kicked on, filled the tank, and shut off automatically when it reached the set pressure. I then used it to fill up all four of my tires in a few minutes. Way faster than any gas station pump I’ve ever used.
Final Thoughts
This project took a full weekend, some busted knuckles, and a few curse words, but it was totally worth it. Having onboard air is a game-changer. Now I’m looking for any excuse to inflate the tires. I’m already thinking about adding a few more air tools to my collection. I’ll definetly need to get better at that later.
