How Much Air Do I Need?

[VA6489]

Great info. Thanks all. Accuair system sounds like the winner.

Installed one of their system in my 2021 JTRD. If you just run it on the street it is OK. Link arm bushings are too soft making for controlability issues in anything over a smooth street. I had an issue trying to make the truck level after install. Very limited adjustability with this system so the truck was low on the passenger side by 1 inch. Very visible. Load carrying is OK it will carry 700# in the back but the shock package dampening is way off. Too soft and makes the rear pogo over bumps empty or loaded.
Off road with an RTT it is a nighmare. Not predictable at all and down right scary to drive in off camber conditions.

The system needs:
Better dampening
Stronger sway bars
Stronger compressor or dual compressors
Better control arm bushings or "Johny Joint" like ends.
Sensors have dead spots.
With stock set up Sensors out out of range at full articulation.
Speed link to the CanBus create errors on gas rigs.

For my it was a $7500.00 wait of money on a novel concept. The final straw was the right front air bag failing. $7500.00....... I will never get back. I think the system "MIGHT" work better in a JLU or a JKU. My 08 F450 is still running strong on the control system some 12 years later.... The current offering need a re-engineering effort. Not worth the money for what you actually get.

PS,
Ran they cntrol systems for years on F350 adn 450 rig with a Kelderman Link and bag set ups. Never an issue. On the Gladiator Tech support was not helpful, and in the end insulting.

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[VA6489]

Interesting. I ordered yesterday, so we’ll see. Accuair doesn’t make the compressor though, it’s from Viair.

For air, look at a ARB Dual Compressor better money spent. Proven performance.

 

[Bennett]

Installed one of their system in my 2021 JTRD. If you just run it on the street it is OK. Link arm bushings are too soft making for controlability issues in anything over a smooth street. I had an issue trying to make the truck level after install. Very limited adjustability with this system so the truck was low on the passenger side by 1 inch. Very visible. Load carrying is OK it will carry 700# in the back but the shock package dampening is way off. Too soft and makes the rear pogo over bumps empty or loaded.
Off road with an RTT it is a nighmare. Not predictable at all and down right scary to drive in off camber conditions.

The system needs:
Better dampening
Stronger sway bars
Stronger compressor or dual compressors
Better control arm bushings or "Johny Joint" like ends.
Sensors have dead spots.
With stock set up Sensors out out of range at full articulation.
Speed link to the CanBus create errors on gas rigs.

For my it was a $7500.00 wait of money on a novel concept. The final straw was the right front air bag failing. $7500.00....... I will never get back. I think the system "MIGHT" work better in a JLU or a JKU. My 08 F450 is still running strong on the control system some 12 years later.... The current offering need a re-engineering effort. Not worth the money for what you actually get.

PS,
Ran they cntrol systems for years on F350 adn 450 rig with a Kelderman Link and bag set ups. Never an issue. On the Gladiator Tech support was not helpful, and in the end insulting.

I appreciate the insight. I’m not looking to run air suspension, just an onboard compressor.

 

[VA6489]

Recommend a dual compressor setup with 100% duty cycle. They have an option.

 

[Thunderspud]

Recommend a dual compressor setup with 100% duty cycle. They have an option.

The kits being discussed here contain ViAir 485C compressors....which are 100% duty cycle at 200psi.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

In 2 years, 66 thousand miles, thousands of them offroad, I can tell you how much air I've used.

0 PSI, 0 CFM.

But I have one of the twin cylinder NAPA/THOR/EBAY 213v compressors nonetheless. They smoke any ARB or Viair in volume.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Running air lockers on an existing air system can get a little more complicated. You have to run solenoids and pressure regulators for those items. For example, if you have 180psi in a tank and your air locker is designed to operate at 100 psi, you chance damaging the internal seals of the locker rendering them ineffective if needed. While it's not impossible to do, it requires more planning to ensure you plumb and wire the locker correctly.

I don’t get the draw towards air lockers anymore. As you said about pneumatic tools, battery electric is way easier and more reliable. I feel like e lockers have replaced the desire for air lockers entirely. Fewer variables. And if your Jeep battery has power, so do your lockers. No second system to maintain.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Installed one of their system in my 2021 JTRD. If you just run it on the street it is OK. Link arm bushings are too soft making for controlability issues in anything over a smooth street. I had an issue trying to make the truck level after install. Very limited adjustability with this system so the truck was low on the passenger side by 1 inch. Very visible. Load carrying is OK it will carry 700# in the back but the shock package dampening is way off. Too soft and makes the rear pogo over bumps empty or loaded.
Off road with an RTT it is a nighmare. Not predictable at all and down right scary to drive in off camber conditions.

The system needs:
Better dampening
Stronger sway bars
Stronger compressor or dual compressors
Better control arm bushings or "Johny Joint" like ends.
Sensors have dead spots.
With stock set up Sensors out out of range at full articulation.
Speed link to the CanBus create errors on gas rigs.

For my it was a $7500.00 wait of money on a novel concept. The final straw was the right front air bag failing. $7500.00....... I will never get back. I think the system "MIGHT" work better in a JLU or a JKU. My 08 F450 is still running strong on the control system some 12 years later.... The current offering need a re-engineering effort. Not worth the money for what you actually get.

PS,
Ran they cntrol systems for years on F350 adn 450 rig with a Kelderman Link and bag set ups. Never an issue. On the Gladiator Tech support was not helpful, and in the end insulting.

I’ve spoken to several people, actual people I know, that have said the same thing. Their systems are removed as well.

 

[49Gramps]

I went with the ARB twin with a Grimm compressor mount that puts it below the brake booster and behind the inner fender liner. Install took me a few hours, but works fine.

 

[slodsm]

I built my own air system. I used a Napa dual head compressor and a 3 gallon air tank. A 90-120 pressure switch that’s tied inline with my in cab switch and that fires a 200a relay. Main power is a 4g OFC from battery to relay and relay to compressor.

Using a 4 at a time air hose system, I can air up 4 40’s from 12psi to 32psi in 6 minutes flat.

It’s not going to run air tools, but I have battery powered impacts so no need.

 

[Steve@AccuAir]

Expirence.... Your system installed in my Gladiator falls short of the mark. Liek the idea of an air tank but the supplied compressor did not measure up. 53 minutes to air up 4 tires from 12 to 35 PSI. Compressor over temp'd twice.

If the system could not air up tires in a reasonable time I doubt there is enough useful pressure to run a air tool.

With all the issues with this system I have since remove it from my rig.

While I appreciate your opinion and experience, I think we need to introduce a little perspective here. You're running 39-1350-17 BFG KM3's which, due to their obvious size, require a significant volume of air to fill up. That being said, the compressor will run longer and get hotter, reducing it's performance during it's run time. Per Viair, the fill rate of a 5 gallon tank with a 485c from 0 to 200 psi is 10 min 40 seconds and I'm sure that 5 gallon was just about drained with each tire you filled so it's not surprising it took you that long. Most of the OBA kits from Viair that have single compressors list a 37" tire as the largest recommended tire for the system to be effective.

As for air tools, we all understand and agree that our system has the ability for short burst air tool use. It's not built, nor advertised, as a sustainable solution for air tool usage.

Our kit wasn't built with hardcore rock crawling in mind. It was meant for mild to moderate difficulty trails. It also gives people who have physical limitations the ability to have a lifted vehicle they can use to get out and see places that were otherwise unreachable to them. You've proven your point that it didn't work for your setup which also what the kit was not designed around. For example, a Dana 60 axle from East Coast Gear Supply would have different coil spring perches than factory which can issues with our air spring mounts, swapping in another manufacturer's control arms when ours have the height sensor tabs welded in a specific position for correct calibration, etc...

Ultimately sir, our products aren't for everyone and I think you've proven that point beyond the shadow of a doubt. But our products do work for people all over the country on a daily basis who are happy with the end result of their build.

 

[VA6489]

Interesting response. That is not the way you market you kit. No how you advertise with pictures of Jeep crawling the Crack at Moab...

Simple up an honest evolution of your Jeep air ride system is very limited in capability and even more so in performance.

The support or lack there of doesn't help either. Happy to sell this junk back to you at half of what I paid for it and go away.

But it is a free country right now and free speech is still allowed. An honest review is an honest review. I have built many a vehicle and too many performance suspensions to count. You kit and support is aimed at a "Johnny bolt on" more than an educated builder.

 

[Steve@AccuAir]

First thing... in no way was your 1st Amendment right challenged in my statement, merely a disclosure of relevant facts that pertain to your experience. You are most certainly entitled to your opinion, and, as with mine, can come under scrutiny in a public forum.

You're right. It is meant for "Johnny Bolt On". We're not having customers cut or weld to install our kits, but there are lots of brands that fall into this category such as Clayton, Metal Cloak, Skyjacker, and Rough Country to name a few. They offer bolt on kits for any weekend warrior to tackle installations in their garage and vary in their intended use by the vehicle owner. An Offroad Evolution double throw down kit is a completely different animal and caters to a different crowd.

In regards to our marketing, we want to show people what the kit can do. But crossing Golden Crack in Moab is a far cry from a difficult trail or obstacle. It's a cool way to show off the articulation of your vehicle and, in some cases, "wave" to the crowd (if you know, you know). For a novice wheeler it looks impressive and photographs well so why wouldn't we take advantage of a spot like that? I've been out there with every thing from a TJ with a spacer kit to a Sunray Engineering buggy on 40" BFG red labels so it can be enjoyed by vehicles of all capabilities. If we had set our marketing campaigns up at Coyote Canyon, Area BFE, Carnage Canyon in Buena Vista, CO, or Spooners out at the Hammers trails then that would be a different story (and yes, I've run all those so I'm speaking from experience).

 

[VA6489]

I rest my case. Great customer service ...... on line in a Jeep forum.

 

[Steve@AccuAir]

Well thank you! We do aim to please! We're actually branching out to forums to see where we can make an impact and looks like we've succeeded. And I do appreciate you complimenting our customer service in previous posts as well.

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