CO2 tank mounting ideas

[Ruger]

You're NOT going to use CO2 to pressure tires, are you?

 

[treypal]

You're NOT going to use CO2 to pressure tires, are you?

I do.

 

[KaiserM715]

with 35's down to 15psi/ up to 40spi, I can go out 5X offroading and fill up fully without issue. I have only done that 2X though. I prefer to go out 4X and than fill up.

Good info.

You're NOT going to use CO2 to pressure tires, are you?

That is the primary reason I got it, too. The capability to run air tools in a pinch is a bonus.

I am looking for ideas on mounting new tracks in the bed though. I want everything anchored down well.

You mention tracks in the bed. Are you talking about something like what I have installed?
http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/cargo-rail-install-12218/

 

[Ruger]

I wonder at using CO2 for tire inflation for two reasons:
- Compressed air is cheaper
- CO2 has acidic properties.

 

[KaiserM715]

I wonder at using CO2 for tire inflation for two reasons:
- Compressed air is cheaper
- CO2 has acidic properties.

It depends. An air system with the pressure and flow of a CO2 is somewhat expensive. The system I picked up was about $325 and will run an impact and fill one of our tires in ~30 seconds. A compressor in that price range cannot run an impact and will take at least twice that long to air a tire up. But, you pay for an air compressor once and you have to keep refilling a CO2 tank. So it is all a trade off.

As far as an acid, is this what you are talking about?
From Wikipedia Carbon dioxide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CO2 which dissolves in water forming carbonic acid,[4] which is a weak acid, because CO2 molecule ionization in water is incomplete. CO2 + H2O <-> H2CO3

I wouldn't think there is that much water inside of a tire. I did a little research only found one instance of of someone claiming this was an issue with his wheel (just one). For as much use as CO2 has had in this application, if it were a significant issue, you would think there would be more out there about it. CO2 has been used for this for over 10 years, based on my personal recollection.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

thnks for the info...

regardless of co2 or not, i thought it seemed nice to have a compressed tank to seat the tire then use a compressor to fill it to the right pressure. am i wrong? i dont know a lot about it, so im going based on what i have read and the very little experience i have with it

 

[DieselD]

CO2 is the only way to get when filling tires off road and you will find all kinds of practical uses for it in the garage too. I tend to break out the CO2 tank for those small quick jobs when I dont want to listen to my air compressor running for 10mins before I can use it

a 20# tank lasts alot longer then you might think and refill prices are not terrible, I get mine filled for about 15bucks.

I have had all types of portable air compressors ranging from the cig lighter plug in to engine mounted on board air pumps and by far the best bang for the buck has been the CO2 setup

 

[Ruger]

It seems peculiar to make the observation, but a CO2 tank can hold air at the same pressure, produce the same benefits in terms of airing up tire and running an impact driver, and do so without any of the drawbacks.

If there is an real benefit to CO2 over air I'd love to hear it.

 

[Fyermanbob]

It seems peculiar to make the observation, but a CO2 tank can hold air at the same pressure, produce the same benefits in terms of airing up tire and running an impact driver, and do so without any of the drawbacks.

If there is an real benefit to CO2 over air I'd love to hear it.

Here's the way I understand it, CO2 in the tank is a liquid @ about 800 PSI. As it is used it turns back to a gas at a significant increase in volume. So even if you had the ability to compress air to 800 PSI it still would be a gas and you wouldn't have the volume.

 

[BigJ]

As far as I understand (correct me if I'm wrong!) its a volume once expanded, thing. You can compress CO2 into a liquid that, when is released from its pressure will atomize into a larger volume of pressurized gas, than straight HPA (high pressure air) will.

Another benefit is that when it changes state from liquid to gas, it cools which in theory means a more reliable pressure reading when testing for road pressures. HPA that's hot, stays hot even when released from pressure, so you'd have to over inflate, or check again once cooled off.

And another thing... who's got an HPA system that goes much over 150psi? I'm not aware of anyone around me who can pump an HPA tank much harder than that. On the other hand, CO2 north of 850psi is easily done at the local welding supply. More PSI = more volume = more tires filled.

Bottom line is I think it comes down to a volume thing; you can cram lots more CO2 into the same sized bottle than HPA.