CO2 Tank or 12v Compressor?

[Uncle Ben]

Even though I do have a CO2 setup in my 80 I am not a fan. I have a problem carrying a gas that is 6 times heavier than air has no odor and a small 10# bottle can displace all the O2 in my wagon twice over! If I had room under the hood for a belt driven compressor it would be there already. Electric compressors are slow. Even a "fast" one is far from quick! CO2 is very convenient, I have to admit! If I didn't have brain damage from shop teachers and welding instructors warning me and showing those spooky videos about how dangerous compressed gases are, I wouldn't have any problem having co2 in every vehicle I own. I use the heck out of mine and Johns 4x4 in Boulder will fill it while I wait for $20.

 

[Crash]

I just bought a CO2 setup from Steve (Crash), I got two 10 lb bottles which was a great deal, thanks again Steve.
<snip>
I will travel to Moab with 2 10 lb bottles of CO2 AND my 12v compressor just in case.

You won't mind if I bum a fill or two from you, will you Tom?

 

[nakman]

Additionally the CO2 tank has proven valuable around the house to run my finishing nailer.....

That is true, I have used CO2 to run remote trim nailers, which is super handy. Just remember to regulate the pressure down a bit! In fact, this is what I probably miss the most about not having CO2 anymore...

 

[RockRunner]

You won't mind if I bum a fill or two from you, will you Tom?

I guess not...........

 

[MountainGoat]

Well after reviewing all the input and assessing the pros and cons I have struck a deal with Marco for his 20lb co2 setup. I guess that 20lb bottle will fill the 235 75 15s on my 40 about a kajillion times! Thanks for your help guys.

 

[Red_Chili]

I used to use CO2 but found the bottle to be unnecessary weight and in my way when sleeping in the back of the truck. Running out always happened at the worst time. It was made worse by folks bumming air - hate to say no, but then I ran out when I needed it again. A small aluminum bottle (5lb.) along with compressors would not be too bad I guess.

Now I run twin MV50 compressors that cost me all of $50 for the PAIR. They have proven durable once I eliminated the internal relays. Not all that fast... but fast enough. Slow enough that the folks bumming air usually go ask the CO2 guys for a fill!!

 

[Tch2fly]

Just wait till the Eco-nazis find out how much C02 you guys are releasing back into the atmosphere when you air down.

I figure they are about a year away from being banned

 

[Red_Chili]

You think you are kidding but... the ATV/offroad motorcycle industries right now are wrestling with new requirements for lead content that would effectively ban sales.

Gotta protect the kiddies from gnawing on those clutch cable ends!!

 

[Tch2fly]

You think you are kidding but...

The only thing I'm kidding about is the date, I fully expect to see a ban or restriction as soon as they start crunching numbers and come up with some crazy contribution to "global warming"

Remember the Moab group bitching about the pollution from other states being released when people air down ... C02 "emissions" would be the next "logical" step

 

[Red_Chili]

Remember the Moab group bitching about the pollution from other states being released when people air down ...

Hmmm, I seem to have missed that one... Imagine their dismay when I eat Mexican food.

Just a note though, be aware of where you buy ice cream in Moab. The Moab Diner has some great stuff and you are buying ice cream. The other place in the middle of town has some great stuff and you are funding radicals.

Not to take this thread off course or anything....

 

[Uncle Ben]

Just wait till the Eco-nazis find out how much C02 you guys are releasing back into the atmosphere when you air down.

I figure they are about a year away from being banned

If that gets passed then the obvious next step will be to ban breathing of all mammals! Then what will they (who will be breathing illegally BTW) do when the plants die because the CO2 supply is reduced? To bring this thread back in order think about if CO2 was banned so everyone used electric compressors......by standing around BSing and laughing while you wait 30 minutes a tire to fill, the CO2 emissions from the operators and guests will be far greater than the original emissions of then stale CO2 being released......

 

[Red_Chili]

Ah, but I see a logical error in your assumption set.
"Politics is founded upon rational and realistic thought".

 

[Tch2fly]

Hmmm, I seem to have missed that one...

Here is the text from 4Wheel Drive & Sports Utility Magazine from last fall. (yes I know it sounds more like it came out of "The Onion")

“It is a little known but horrible fact that out of state vehicles are poluting Moab’s clean air at an alarming rate. No, we don’t mean from their exhaust, even though that is also a problem that does cause concern. It is a much less obvious and far insidious than that.
“The real pollution comes from tires. Yes, tires. It seems the off-road enthusiasts that visit our area to do what they call “four-wheeling” are letting the air out of their tires. Now these tires have been filled with air that has many impurities in it besides oxygen. Yes, the stuff that makes up ‘smog’. Can you imagine what kind of toxins fill the tires of vehicles from areas like Southern California, which have very polluted air? Over the period of one month, with Easter Week falling in the middle, there were over 5,000 vehicles from out of state in the Moab area. We have no doubts that each one of these vehicles did what we understand is called ‘airing down’, to provide better traction. If you consider that each tire contains about 2 cubic feet of air, and multiply that times 4 tires, it’s 8 cubic feet of air per vehicle. That doesn’t seem so bad, until you realize that 5,000 vehicles are releasing 8 cubic feet each. That works out to be an astonishing 40,000 cubic feet of ‘air’ (actual air mixed with nitrogen oxides, tropospheric ozone, volatile organic compounds and peroxyacyl nitrates) that is put into Moab’s environment! Now not only are these out-of-towners polluting Moab’s clean air at an alarming rate, they are ‘airing up’ (refilling) their tires before they head home. Where does this new air come from? Yes, you got it, good clean Moab air – because, by the time they leave, the noxious fumes that they released when they got there have probably largely dissipated. Just when our air is about to return to normal, they steal it!
“We purpose a country wide ordinance that all ‘airing down’ or ‘airing up’ be done at home. Every off-road vehicle, when it crosses into Grand County, must be inspected. If the tires are not at 15 psi or less, the drivers must reduce their air pressure at a Certified Air Station to be known as a CAS. Each CAS will have a collection tank for the air that comes out of the tire and it will be stored until it’s ready to be used again for ‘airing up’. This way they can take back their dirty air and the air quality in Moab will not be compromised. Here will be a charge of $1.00 per tire for each operation. There will be an attendant on hand to collect the money and to make sure no foul air escapes. They will be given a certification of compliance when they leave the CAS. They will be subject to ‘spot checks’ at any time during their stay, to ensure that they have not released any further pollutants into the environment.
“This may seem extreme to some, and admittedly will cause our visitors some inconvenience, but we, the residents of Moab, deserve pure air. Our plans will not only reduce pollution, it will generate income for the country as well, which can be used for a worthy cause. Please join us at the next Grand County meeting to help us get this important measure voted on as soon as possible.

 

[Hulk]

Just a note though, be aware of where you buy ice cream in Moab. The Moab Diner has some great stuff and you are buying ice cream. The other place in the middle of town has some great stuff and you are funding radicals.

Not at Milt's Stop & Eat. They are friends.

 

[corsair23]

Here is the text from 4Wheel Drive & Sports Utility Magazine from last fall. (yes I know it sounds more like it came out of "The Onion")

OMG that is a riot ....That it is true according to you though is just

There are so many holes in that it is unbelievable...

 

[Rzeppa]

That HAD to be from the Onion. That was too funny!

 

[RockRunner]

Slow enough that the folks bumming air usually go ask the CO2 guys for a fill!!

Except for me I will have to pay you back with some Co2

 

[farnhamstj]

If I read that right. For $4.00 some dude will air down my tires. Store it, and for another $4.00 he will fill my tires back with the same air for me to drive home with. Because the air is touching my tires on the inside and not on the outside?

I like my 12v compressor. Not fast by any means. I have been known to bum some air off my friend with a co2 tank. But when his tank is empty, he bums air off my 12v.
Congrats on the new co2.

 

[Rzeppa]

If I read that right. For $4.00 some dude will air down my tires. Store it, and for another $4.00 he will fill my tires back with the same air for me to drive home with.

How about cap and trade?

 

[Red_Chili]

We're going to need a NEPA EA to air down...