Calling all mobile guru's....York compressor idea

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Anyone familliar with York style air compressors? I'm getting ready to build a flatbed for a Cummins Dodge of mine and can't decide what to do for a compressor to run the plasma, air arc and all to usual air tools. Will be running a Trailblazer 302 also. I've been doing the rock crawler thing for a while and realize alot of people plumb these compressors (run off the rigs drive belt) to smaller air tanks for airing up tires. I personally use co2 for air up on my rigs so I really don't know much about these York's. Anyway I'm wondering what kind of results I could expect (I'd build the biggest tank I could fit under the flatbed) if I decided to give it a try. I guess the biggest problem I see is the fact the truck needs to be running when needed but could be one hell of a space saver on the truck. Tell me what you think or is it just a waste of time. Thanks
Reply:as far as I know, those york pumps are good just for trail use, I don't think they crank out enough cfm for air arc cutting. for a welding rig I think a engine driven compressor (the kind you see on a rig or mobile mechanics truck) would better suit your needs"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal"   -Henry Ford
Reply:In my equipment mags they sell under hood compressors that will run air jackhammers so i would think this would be enough for a plasma. I don't know brands but i would think that would get you rollingMillermatic DVIMillermatic 251Older buzz box Cheap 120 welder
Reply:http://www.onboardair.com/kits.htm
Reply:IMO, the York doesn't have adequate cooling or valves for sustained air operation.How 'bout a true air compressor, as used with a 6-B in a truck or bus with air brakes?Good LuckLast edited by denrep; 02-05-2010 at 07:27 AM.
Reply:Not too sure. The York EF210R that they spec out in the kit for the small block Chevy, which I'm going to assume is pretty typical, is only rated for 4 cfm @ 90 psi. Is says it is "capable" of 8 cfm, but I am absolutely sure that won't be at anywhere near 90 psi. Just looking at the requirements for my tiny little Miller plasma 375, it requires 4.5 cfm @90 psi as a minimum.I don't think you'd be well served by that rig. Looks kinda expensive, too, considering you can get a 5 HP engine driven that will give you in the neighborhood of 10 cfm @ 90 psi for under $1000.
Reply:I agree with neat-o.  You'll need at least 10 CFM @ 90 PSI to run a plasma cutter or arc-gouging torch.  You'll be better off with most air tools also.  Nailers are the only common air tools that'll run on 3-4 CFM @ 90 PSI.There are some service truck compressors that'll run off of a PTO.  They'll make lots of air at high pressure.  But they're really expensive.Another consideration.  Do you really want to run the engine on your truck, just to make compressed air?  The fuel costs for idling a large vehicle engine, let alone the wear and tear, will cost you a small fortune.  I've seen people talk about under-the-hood welders, but the problem is the same.  You're running an enormous engine that produces way more power, and uses way more fuel, than you need for the task at hand.  These are fine for emergency, short term use.  But I wouldn't want to run my truck's engine 8-10 hours at idle unless it was absolutely necessary.  I think running a smaller, gas powered air compressor, with a 5-10 HP engine, will be much more cost effective in the long run.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:This is the one I have seen in my equipment magazines. http://www.vmac.ca/Personally, I would go with a 30gal 13hp gas driven. Like others have said, it's alot of wear and tear and fuel to run the truck engine."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:I've used one of the small truck mounted rotary screw machines to run a jackhammer. Usually they are quite expensive new. I forget what one costs new when I looked at it as an option on my new truck, but $3k+ sticks in my mind for some reason. The truck it was mounted on was an old gas company truck from the city. They used it to open up sidewalks and so on so they do not need to tow a full sized screw machine behind the truck in the city, and can tow a small machine instead if required. They make gobs of air, but do have a fair amount of maintenece issues as they use special (expensive) oil to help compress the gas. That means they make lots of oily wet air thats really not suitable for a plasma..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks for the replies. One thing I should have stated is that I also have a large enclosed trailer (portable fab shop with a large IR compressor and everything else in it) that tags along with me to the bigger jobs. Sometimes the trailer is overkill and I need to set this truck up to be a mobile rig. I'm sure the York idea is a bad one but I figured I'd throw it out there. Do any of you use a service bed instead of a flatbed (I've had flatbeds but never a service bed) for your rig? I'm toying with that idea for this particular truck (I tend to carry too much equipment with me) but not much room for a compressor. So in reality, I've had this trailer set-up for a few years but have never had a deticated truck for the job. I'm just hoping to set this truck up right the first time.
Reply:Most of the heavy equipment guys around here have utility bodies for equipment maintenance. Usually the Bobcat sits on top of the drivers side boxes and the compressor rides on a frame spaning the boxes behind the cab. TOn top of the passenger side boxes is usually mounted the crane if the trucks a F450-550 or larger and the O/A tanks ride in the tall gas bottle box front pass side. The rest of the boxes are dedicated to wrenches and so on. This leaves the back open for materials and so on..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:17 cfm on tank round seam air arc at 350 amps, thank you.
Reply:Trailblazer 302 Airpack....Pretty sure it's new.  You are already running the welder, it just as well be making air too.My name's not Jim....
Reply:have u thought bout looking in to the trailblazer 302 airpack set up its miller new machine has the air compresser built right in
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmTrailblazer 302 Airpack....Pretty sure it's new.  You are already running the welder, it just as well be making air too.
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manWith a price tag of just under $10k, I would buy them separate.
Reply:I definately thought about an air pack (even put money down on one at the local stealership) but decided I was'nt willing to pay five grand for air. So I think I really need to decide if I'm going to build a flatbed or look for a service bed (definately hard to find up here) then I'll work out the compressor.