what is the best size power tank???

[jcanderson33jp]

I am looking into getting a power tank for onboard air. I was wondering if any of you guys have experience with them. Are they a good way to go? What size would be the best? I am running 37 inch tires. What are the advantages and disadvantages of going this way.

 

[Pike2350]

For 37's I would go with a 20lb tank. It will last longer(obviously) A 10lb will probably do around 30 37" tires from 15psi-30psi. That ends up only lasting 8 runs. I would go big the first time...mainly for the tire size.

I have a 10lb and run 33's for now. I love having it readily available. It is quick at getting tires inflated. the main downfall is running out. I just ran out and haven't gotten it refilled yet.

 

[notajeep]

I love my 10 lb. but living in Logan, now in Moab, I have found it difficult to get it filled unless you live in a larger city.
But other wise it is great.

 

[jcanderson33jp]

What places can you get them filled at?

 

[timpanogos]

Both slc and provo/orem areas have paintball stores. They will have the source

 

[timpanogos]

I'm thinking about going this way also, with the biggest tank they have (39.5" irocs)

 

[Caleb]

I would personally go with the largest tank you can reasonably fit. The larger the tank you have the less you have to fill it.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I have a 10, 15 & 20 lb'er... I couldn't decide which one I liked I guess... it wouldn't hurt to have a couple, especially if your buying your own tanks (I've never paid more than $50 for a tank, however they are NOT Powertanks, et. all). Keep an eye out in the classifieds, etc. I got my 10lb aluminum tank from KSL, the guy used it to brew beer. And my 20lb was an old soda machine bottle... $30 I think

You can get them filled in SLC @ BEVCO, however they will not fill Coke, Pepsi, or Bagley bottles, so those you will have to find another source. Bagley will fill their bottles for ~$15 (thats my 20lb'er), or they will fill others for ~$1/lb.

For the longest time I was a huge fan of CO2, however I quickly learned the downfalls of CO2 on a recent trip. When the ambient outside temperature is COLD, the CO2 will freeze inside of the tank... Not a biggy for everyone but keep that in mind depending on your application. It took us an hour to fill 12 tires from ~15 back up to 40 psi as the bottle kept freezing up.

 

[timpanogos]

I have a 10, 15 & 20 lb'er... I couldn't decide which one I liked I guess... it wouldn't hurt to have a couple, especially if your buying your own tanks (I've never paid more than $50 for a tank, however they are NOT Powertanks, et. all). Keep an eye out in the classifieds, etc. I got my 10lb aluminum tank from KSL, the guy used it to brew beer. And my 20lb was an old soda machine bottle... $30 I think

You can get them filled in SLC @ BEVCO, however they will not fill Coke, Pepsi, or Bagley bottles, so those you will have to find another source. Bagley will fill their bottles for ~$15 (thats my 20lb'er), or they will fill others for ~$1/lb.

For the longest time I was a huge fan of CO2, however I quickly learned the downfalls of CO2 on a recent trip. When the ambient outside temperature is COLD, the CO2 will freeze inside of the tank... Not a biggy for everyone but keep that in mind depending on your application. It took us an hour to fill 12 tires from ~15 back up to 40 psi as the bottle kept freezing up.

What about regulators, do all the bottles mentioned here use the same regualtor? I've seen gaugeless ones, that might be an advantage (breakage)?

what is Bagley?

 

[richpblaze]

Onboard air

I think that is the best route. I'm in mine approx $300.00. I ran power tools all night and never ran out of air. Go with the York compressor or you will be wasting time. My.02

 

[ZUKEYPR]

Don't waste your money on a powertank, built it yourself. Universal cylinders sells used tanks that have been pressurred tested (required every 5 years) for as little as $37.00 filled with valve. See Mel he owns the place. Than go to Bevco in SLC where they sell adjustable rebuilt recgulators for as little as $40.00. See the owner, I can't remember his name off the top of my head. He guarantees all the rebuilt regulators. Then go to EVCO house of hose and geta quality air hose. After it's all said and done you'll spend roughly $110.00 for the whole set up and you'll be filling tires faster than anyone on the trail to include those with a kilby system. As for what size, I carry two 10lbs. that way I have one filling and still have one ready to go on a moments notice. Then again I don't have 37.5 tires either.

 

[scoutabout]

Don't waste your money on a powertank, built it yourself. Universal cylinders sells used tanks that have been pressurred tested (required every 5 years) for as little as $37.00 filled with valve. See Mel he owns the place. Than go to Bevco in SLC where they sell adjustable rebuilt recgulators for as little as $40.00. See the owner, I can't remember his name off the top of my head. He guarantees all the rebuilt regulators. Then go to EVCO house of hose and geta quality air hose. After it's all said and done you'll spend roughly $110.00 for the whole set up and you'll be filling tires faster than anyone on the trail to include those with a kilby system. As for what size, I carry two 10lbs. that way I have one filling and still have one ready to go on a moments notice. Then again I don't have 37.5 tires either.

I completely agree. Build it yourself, and save the money. I use a 20lb tank and can fill my 33's from 12psi to 30psi about 9 times.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

What about regulators, do all the bottles mentioned here use the same regualtor? I've seen gaugeless ones, that might be an advantage (breakage)?

CO2 cylinders use a standard regulator fitting, so theoretically they should fit all of them. I know my regulator fits my 3 bottles... As mentioned above, get a used reg. from Bevco (I've picked up a couple from them with good results).

what is Bagley?

Bagley Carbonic, they are a CO2 company... others (BEVCO for ex.) won't fill their bottles.

 

[timpanogos]

good info ... thanks all

 

[scoutabout]

Yeah, a standard valve is a CGA320, which is what we'd usually use for this application. Another reason I use a 20lb tank is that it is such a common size. Instead of taking my tank in and waiting (sometimes a few days) for a refill, I just instantly exchange it for a full tank.

 

[mesha]

10 lb is 640 gallons of air at constant reg. pressure. so 20 lb is double that. don't buy a 5 lb I have never needed more than a 10 and I run 38 inch tires. You can save money if you build it yourself, but not a ton. It can be nice to get the bracket hose tank and reg all at the same time. Other companies besides powertank are out there and they are more affordable. I have had both powertank and the source and they work the same. My .02

 

[timpanogos]

I've got 39.5x13.5, they are going to take some air .. but since I'm going to be an OHV trailer baby ... not sure I will ever want to air them up anyway?

If I jack stand it between runs ... those bias tires are not going to care are they? Will it trailer bad with low air?

 

[mesha]

if you trailer it then you only need the air to reseat beads and run tools and stuff. 10 should be fine. if you are airing up and down alot then you need a 20. If you need that much air get two ten lb tanks. your tires won't care. I have bias ply and my air gauge won't even register how much air is in my tire. your tires will have dead spots until they warm up though.

 

[STPPINZ]

I completely agree. Build it yourself, and save the money. I use a 20lb tank and can fill my 33's from 12psi to 30psi about 9 times.

x3

Waste of money for the Powertank name. I was given a tank and bought a set regulator ($30), handle ($40) and mounting bracket ($40) for a little over $100 online. I still don't understand why you need guages on the regulator? With CO2 its all or none. It's not going to tell you when you are out of gas....the only way you can tell if you are out is weight. The set up has been good to go so far.