ViAir wins db drags

[N2TRUX]

Has anyone ever done a comparison of 12v compressors to determine what is the most efficient compressor that is not a contender for the db drags?

My ViAir 400 does a fine job of filling my tanks in a rather short period. I have no complaints about it's efficiency or reliability. I do have a huge complaint about how loud it is. Even though it is mounted at the very back of the truck right behind the rear bumper it is still very load inside the cab.

Does anyone know what 12v compressor is efficient "and" quiet.

BTW-Please don't tell me to run a York....

[jimmydean]

The first thing my wife said when she pulled up and my Thomas was running is "That thing is loud as hell!". I couldn't hear her because that thing is loud as hell

I have a Thomas 377 (plder version before the 337) and it is mounted metal to metal on the frame rail. It takes about 6 minutes to fill my 7 gallon tank. I was just looking at the dual 380 kit for speed.

I think once I mount it on some rubber bushings it will be a little better, but 6 minutes to fill is insane. I'm sure I won't be playing as much as I thought I would with that sort of response time.

[67Fleet]

I posted some interesting comparisons on Jimmydeans post about his truck between the 450 and the 380 Viairs. The biggest difference between the 2 for me is that the 380 is a true 200psi rated compressor as opposed to the 450 only being rated to 150. Can you run the 450 to 200? Probably so, but for the 380 being only 12 seconds slower from 110 to 145psi and being "rated" to 200 psi, I would choose that. The more psi you can get in your tanks the more play time/reserve time you have.
380C: 12-Volt
• Permanent Magnetic Motor
• Duty Cycle: 100% @ 100 PSI, 55% @ 200 PSI
• Max. Working Pressure: 200 PSI
• Amp Draw: 16 Amps

450C: 12-Volt
• Permanent Magnetic Motor
• Duty Cycle: 100% @ 100 PSI
• Max. Working Pressure: 150 PSI
• Amp Draw: 19 Amps

450's draw more amps as well, and if you're running 2 of them simultaneously then it can add up. More amps equals more draw on your battery/alt and also equals bigger gauge wire. I chose to run the 380's also because I could run (1) pressure switch/relay for both of them. It simplified my install.

[Grunion]

You guys should try the Air Zenith compressors if you want fast. They're just as loud but way faster.
http://grunionfabrication.com/

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Grunion

You guys should try the air zienith compressors if you want fast. There just as loud but way faster.
http://grunionfabrication.com/

I was going to comment that I heard the AZs were quieter, but I may be misinformed.

What have you got against ED?

[Shane]

Who's ED?

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Shane

Who's ED?

Engine Driven.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

I was going to comment that I heard the AZs were quieter, but I may be misinformed.

What have you got against ED?

Picture a York wedged between all that cleaned-up & smooth engine compartment....

[camaro__thunder]

The AZ's are great but they had lots of probs with the first batch. I would call and make sure they have been fixed. The viar 450 is the loudest mid size compressor I have heard. They are dsependable as hell though and can hit 200 no problem. Thomas' are too slow !

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Picture a York wedged between all that cleaned-up & smooth engine compartment....

Yeah, been a while since I saw the RamJet post. Forgot just how much painstaking work he went through smoothing it out.

On that same note- Some of the 4wd guys run them off the driveshaft. Best of both worlds?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Yeah, been a while since I saw the RamJet post. Forgot just how much painstaking work he went through smoothing it out.

On that same note- Some of the 4wd guys run them off the driveshaft. Best of both worlds?

Off a 9" possibly.
A 10 or 12-bolt GM rear would require a little more creativity.

[craig@ridetech.com]

I have to agree that the Viair pump is loud. I have 2 of the 400c's mounted to the inside framerail under the driver seat on my 97. They are mounted with the rubber feet and when they are both running can be pretty loud, but since the cab has a lot of insulation on the floorboard the sound is bearable and with the rubber feet it makes a big difference. The Thomas 327's that we sell are somewhat quieter but they do take longer to fill a tank. If you do a side by side comparison of the two brands just sitting on a bench the Viair will jump all over the place and run like hell whereas the Thomas just sits there and motors along. Its pretty amazing to see how much of a difference there is between the two. The biggest thing to remember when mounting the compressors is to take into consideration what is around it. I know a lot of guys who mount theirs under the bed somewhere and that's fine, but there is a lot of sheetmetal to catch those sound waves and reverberate making the noise even louder.

[Tony@AirRideTech]

The biggest noise makers I have heard when mounting compressors is when people take and mount them on or around another loose panel and the sit there and vibrate like crazy. Rubber mount the pumps for sure and make sure that what ever you are mounting them to is solid. If you are mounting on a sheet metal skin be sure to use some dynamatt or some kind of sound deadener ........

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by gringoloco;

....
What have you got against ED?

Yeah, Scoti got it right. Yorks are bad @ss when it comes to moving air, unfortunately they are uglier that a buck tooth hound dog.

My compressor is mounted at the rear of the truck on the last crossmember. It mounted on the rubber feet so it's not resonating through the frame, it's just freakin loud.

[Tony@AirRideTech]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

unfortunately they are uglier that a buck tooth hound dog.

"mah hillbilly grill yeah!"

[bodydropped]

az are goin thru some bad times right now theres a big recall on them but viair has a twin pack out the 380s are dang good but the 480s are loud thou but im goin to run an york i dont care if its ugly or not but nothin that sheet metal cant hide plus i got bolt on brackets for a 350 so im ahead of the game