Today's powerful, miniaturized technology enables carrying a Jeep air compressor in your Wrangler that can fully inflate a 35 inch tire in just 2 minutes. These aerospace grade compressors often run on 12 volts, though heavy-duty examples (400C compressors with 12 ports and extruded aluminum air tanks) may need more power. These compressors provide ample air for tire inflation and all other applications that need pressurized air. Many are made to function with all Jeep generations (TJ, YJ, JK) but others are optimized for the JK Wrangler generation or earlier ones. Other useful onboard air items for your Jeep besides these Wrangler air compressors include air springs, which enable quick, symmetric or asymmetric suspension adjustments for heavy cargo or towing jobs up to 1,000 lbs. Air horns blast out 118 decibels of sound to make your Jeep impossible to ignore! 2007-2017 Wrangler - Onboard Air Kleinn TrailBlaster Dual Air Horn Kit - Black (07-17 Wrangler JK) ARB 12V Compact Air Compressor (87-17 Wrangler YJ, TJ, & JK)

Air Lift 1000 Leveling System (97-17 Wrangler TJ & JK) 1997-2006 Wrangler - Onboard Air 1987-1995 Wrangler - Onboard Air Tools & Gear('87-'95 Wrangler)Jeep Engine & Fuel SystemSince we first built our OBA system back around 2002 a lot has changed. Although the components we used worked at the time they have inevitably been rendered obsolete by time, technology and experience. With this updated write up of an OBA system we will streamline the process just a bit of installing an OBA system. For the purposes of this writeup we install OBA on a 1998 Jeep TJ Wrangler. Installation on other vehicles even other years of Jeep will vary and thus the way we install ours may not work if you have a different year or engine configuration. First of all lets discuss some of the common misconceptions about installing OBA which you may find on other writeups on the internet: First of all, all of these components are available through local parts and hardware stores or through many online retailers.

There is NOTHING special about them. Most online sites specializing in OBA setups for 4x4 vehicles tend to drastically overcharge for these items. When you decide what you need, shop around! In order to correctly set up your compressed air system you will need some basic and essential items to insure continued operation of the compressor and oil/water free air for your tools, air lockers and tires. Below is a list of the required components in the order they should be installed following the compressor.The mist lubricator is installed on the intake of the air compressor. Looking almost identical to the Coalescing filter pictured below the Mist Lubricator is vital to keeping your air compressor running.  The bubble on the top of the lubricator allows you to see the drips of oil as they enter the air stream.  There is an adjuster on the top that allows you to vary the amount of oil that is fed into the air entering the compressor.  Be sure to fill the bowl of the lubricator with compressor oil, available from many local hardware shops as well as Home Depot.

Coalescing (oil removal) filter. This is a filter that is specifically designed to remove oil from theIt should be the first thing down stream from the compressor to ensure that the rest of the air system stays oil free.  coalescing filters will have a gauge bubble on top that will indicate when the filter is saturated and in need of replacement.  stress enough how important this filter is to your air system, not tojeep wrangler ac blower mention your lockers, tires etc.!  york split ac unit catalogueYou can find these filters with either manual or automatic drain valves. rv ac unit trips breakerWith the automatic drain the filter will drain off the trapped oil when the catch bowl fills to about half full. Manual drain filters have a petcock at the bottom that must be opened periodically to drain off trapped oil. 

I have seen where some will run a return line from the bottom of the filter back to the intake of the compressor. I would advise against this because the coalescing filter will also remove moisture from the compressed air. I do not want to be putting watered down oil back into my compressor and I don't think you do either. check valve should be located after the coalescing filter and prior to the pressure switch.  This valve only allows air to flowThis is essential to keep air from your system from back flowing through the compressor and being lost. It also allows you to change out a bad compressor without loosing the air stored in the system. We have found and started using some neat little inline check valves made for the nylon air tubing we use. These valves require no tools and are installed simply by inserting the tubing into them and giving a quick tug to make sure they are seated. However other types of check valves are available and they all serve the same purpose.

Pressure Switch  The pressure switch senses the pressure of the system and shuts off or turns on the compressor at the preset pressures. Usually it turns on at around 90psi and turns off at 120psi.  These valves are pre-set and cannot be adjusted. There are many online sources for them but we would recommend not buying from a "jeep" related site as many of them tend to greatly overcharge for these items. Price should be somewhere between $10-$20 for one of these switches. Pressure safety (pop off)These valves come in varying pressure calibrations and open at the preset pressure to keep the system safe in the event that the pressure switch does not shut off the compressor.  have a 125psi system it is common to use a valve no higher than 150psi.  Most components in a standard system are safe to about 175-250psi, so a 150 psi valve will work just fine.  valve can be located anywhere in the system after the checkWe recommend that the valve be located in the engine compartment so it can be conveniently used to bleed the pressure off the system in case of maintenance.

It should also be in an area that is not susceptible to lots of mud or debris as dirt or sand in the valve seat can keep it open just enough to cause a system leak down.For storing air, the tank is important in that it helps to keep the duty cycle of theFor most short wheelbase Jeeps about the best you can hope for is about a 2.5gal tank.  Some people do use their rock slider bars or bumpers to store air, but be warned that the tank does collect condensed moisture from the air and therefore must have a way to be drained or your slider bars will rust from the inside out! Like the pressure valve, tanks listed on "jeep" sites or 4x4 OBA sites tend to be very expensive. There are many sites that sell tanks for air suspension and other uses that are much cheaper.  We have actually used old surplus stainless steel refillable fire extinguishers in the past for tanks but we usually just make our own. These are a particulate filter and regulator in one unit. We prefer these as they do 2 functions in one package and thus take up less room in your already crowded engine compartment.

Filter regulators usually include extra ports to allow the installation of an air gauge so that you can see what the regulated pressure is but typically do not come with the gauge, those are purchased separately. The Filter Regulator should be the last thing in the system right before the air distribution block. Regulated air should be set at around 90-95psi for ARB air lockers and air tools.  Be sure to use a filter with a metal catch bowl as the polycarbonate bowls will deteriorate in the under hood temperatures thatAs I have stated before, clean air is of theWhen possible try and find filters that are rated to the higher 175 degree ratings. Do not skimp on filters.   leaving your air tank at a high pressure will condense and carry a large amount of water with it.The distribution block is where you install air disconnects for your air hose and solenoids for air lockers and air horns if so equipped.  It is also a handy place to mount the filter/regulator. OBA Page (1) (2) (3)