ARB single compressor and American Adventure Lab Tailgate mount.

[Ninjak]

Evening my fellow Bronco enthusiast. I have looked but not found a lot of information on the American Adventure Lab tailgate mount for a single ARB air compressor.
I had thought that I really did not need a compressor as I do not air up or down as much, but as of late, I been thinking hmm...it would not hurt to have one.

I know most have the dual air, but I do not want to try to mount underhood, also, I have my whole Injen set up to try to get around. I do know of the Grim mount that may help, but honestly, I did not want to spend a ton of money on the setup.

So my question is: Do or have anyone experience using this mount and the setup? Is it hard to wire in? Not a lot of information on the setup. I appreciate any information on this. Thanks

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[Beach_Bum]

A thread on the setup/install is here.

... And here.

 

[Ninjak]

A thread on the setup/install is here.

... And here.

Thanks @Beach_Bum
Also pointing out the fact I suck at forum searches.

 

[murphtron]

Thanks @Beach_Bum
Also pointing out the fact I suck at forum searches.

I love mine. Used it yesterday after snow wheeling! Details in the linked thread above.

 

[Ninjak]

Yeah the more I look at this, the more it makes sense to me. I am not worried about filling 4 tires in 4 minutes, I like the fact it's in the rear, and you can just open the tailgate to do your thing.

I have a Milwaukee M18 portable that has done the job, but more and more I am thinking I need a on air solution. Guess I will wait to for another good sale to pop up.

 

[Beach_Bum]

Yeah the more I look at this, the more it makes sense to me. I am not worried about filling 4 tires in 4 minutes, I like the fact it's in the rear, and you can just open the tailgate to do your thing.

I have a Milwaukee M18 portable that has done the job, but more and more I am thinking I need a on air solution. Guess I will wait to for another good sale to pop up.

AAL doesn't offer too many sales. Black Friday is about it. But if you are a veteran, they do extend a discount that about matches their best Black Friday discount.

 

[Ninjak]

AAL doesn't offer too many sales. Black Friday is about it. But if you are a veteran, they do extend a discount that about matches their best Black Friday discount.

That is good to know, and yes, I am a Veteran. Thanks for the info.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

Evening my fellow Bronco enthusiast. I have looked but not found a lot of information on the American Adventure Lab tailgate mount for a single ARB air compressor.
I had thought that I really did not need a compressor as I do not air up or down as much, but as of late, I been thinking hmm...it would not hurt to have one.

I know most have the dual air, but I do not want to try to mount underhood, also, I have my whole Injen set up to try to get around. I do know of the Grim mount that may help, but honestly, I did not want to spend a ton of money on the setup.

So my question is: Do or have anyone experience using this mount and the setup? Is it hard to wire in? Not a lot of information on the setup. I appreciate any information on this. Thanks

I installed one of these for a customer. I was not a fan of it. We only agreed to install it because he was an existing customer and he trusted us. The instructions were terrible and support took forever to respond to emails (weeks in fact). My customer was missing a bracket and to this date im not sure if he ever got the bracket. The missing bracket was one of the side mounts but we were able to rivnut his bracket on so he could get the install done.

We had to figure out the wiring ourselves. TIP for ya... they give you a wagu electrical splice and this is designed so that you cut the rear cig wire's power line and use this as your trigger for the relay. It was very confusing in the instructions what wire to use but that's what you want to use.

Also, they don't wrap their wires so you'll want to take the time to wrap your wire harness in a sheathing to protect it.

The kit did work after installed but it was not an elegant installation method. It DID fit but man was it tricky to get it installed.

I would not want to install one again for someone.

If you want a rear mount solution I'd go with the AGS one, it installs behind the spare tire and gives you a few options as to how you want things setup. It only uses a twin compressor though not a single

https://www.4x4truckleds.com/ags-tire-carrier-air-compressor-kit-for-2021-ford-bronco/

 

[Dugout]

@4x4TruckLEDs.com What was the total install, and did you use any of these threads’ helpful hints by the community to cut that said install time down?

In regard to the air system you linked, two questions:
What results have you seen from elements decreasing the longevity of the compressor being on the outside vs the compressor being in the tailgate?

Second, will this setup work if I already have a tailgate reinforcement installed?

I appreciate your feedback as I am very interested in a tailgate air solution.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

@4x4TruckLEDs.com What was the total install, and did you use any of these threads’ helpful hints by the community to cut that said install time down?

In regard to the air system you linked, two questions:
What results have you seen from elements decreasing the longevity of the compressor being on the outside vs the compressor being in the tailgate?

Second, will this setup work if I already have a tailgate reinforcement installed?

I appreciate your feedback as I am very interested in a tailgate air solution.

I think it took us maybe 4 or 5 hours. I could do it in 3 I think now adays knowing what I know. But we also installed the pressure control kit so that took about another 30-40 minutes as well. AND I spent time wrapping their wiring harness for my customer so that the harness was protected better. That took another 30 minutes as well.

I didn't get to sit straight and do it as I had a family emergency at home I had to take care of so that delayed me about 45 minutes and messed with my flow. AND don't forget I spent about 30 minutes going back/forth trying to find info from AAL on how to install it and figure out missing parts.

So yeah... i'd say a first timer, 5-6 hours or so. If you've done this a few times 3 hours maybe. I work on ARB compressors all the time so I REALLY know them in and out AND i can rip apart a bronco in seconds. So a first timer will take a few extra hours.

I did try and find anything I could to do the install but nobody had a video or a guide or anything at the time. So I had to rely on their instructions (which I had to download as the ones included were actually cut-off when they printed them)

Honestly the ARB compressors are built to take abuse. They were designed in Australia so those guys know how to abuse a compressor. Over time i've seen them look grimy but i've never seen one fail yet. They do look nasty if exposed to the elements after a few years compared to one inside the engine bay or inside the cabin.

The AAL works with a tailgate reinforcement as it's installed in the cubby panel inside.

The AGS MAY work, as it just sits behind the factory spare tire mount, which you STILL use with any aftermarket tailgate reinforcement. Sooo my guess is it would work fine. As long as the tailgate reinforcement's bolts have some extra thread you'd be good.

Happy to offer some tips/advice for anybody trying to install this as I know I racked my brain installing it as well.

 

[Dugout]

I think it took us maybe 4 or 5 hours. I could do it in 3 I think now adays knowing what I know. But we also installed the pressure control kit so that took about another 30-40 minutes as well. AND I spent time wrapping their wiring harness for my customer so that the harness was protected better. That took another 30 minutes as well.

I didn't get to sit straight and do it as I had a family emergency at home I had to take care of so that delayed me about 45 minutes and messed with my flow. AND don't forget I spent about 30 minutes going back/forth trying to find info from AAL on how to install it and figure out missing parts.

So yeah... i'd say a first timer, 5-6 hours or so. If you've done this a few times 3 hours maybe. I work on ARB compressors all the time so I REALLY know them in and out AND i can rip apart a bronco in seconds. So a first timer will take a few extra hours.

I did try and find anything I could to do the install but nobody had a video or a guide or anything at the time. So I had to rely on their instructions (which I had to download as the ones included were actually cut-off when they printed them)

Honestly the ARB compressors are built to take abuse. They were designed in Australia so those guys know how to abuse a compressor. Over time i've seen them look grimy but i've never seen one fail yet. They do look nasty if exposed to the elements after a few years compared to one inside the engine bay or inside the cabin.

The AAL works with a tailgate reinforcement as it's installed in the cubby panel inside.

The AGS MAY work, as it just sits behind the factory spare tire mount, which you STILL use with any aftermarket tailgate reinforcement. Sooo my guess is it would work fine. As long as the tailgate reinforcement's bolts have some extra thread you'd be good.

Happy to offer some tips/advice for anybody trying to install this as I know I racked my brain installing it as well.

Thank you and I appreciate the quick response.

 

[Chrome_Pony]

Only thing keeping me from installing this is the sad state of my right rear plastics after years of subwoofer wrangling... and AALs insane shipping costs.

 

[Ninjak]

Well, here we are again. I am really stuck.I received the missing parts from my kit Saturday. Oh joy! So I can get this done tomorrow! Lol was I wrong.

I ran all of the wiring on Saturday which was really not that bad. Just tedious. So today after hooking up hoses and running the wires to the switch, which was actually easier than I thought thanks to the new wire loom, I said well bloody O. This is a wrap. Nope.

I have spent...literally from 2PM to now, trying to get the mounting pieces to line up with the brackets. Man, they make it look so smooth and easy.....well it's not. I tried so many ways, I am not even sure how many times I tried to get that piece into that cubby. What it seems is that the edge of the compressor is hitting the middle mounting point of the Bronco. So I am not sure, I guess I need to cut it down a bit? Bending it will not help, because then the mounting point will be useless.

Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone else who has done this installation had this type of issue? It's deflating. I guess the one bright spot is that the compressor works. So I took it off and there it sits in the back of my Bronco. I'll give it another go tomorrow.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

Well, here we are again. I am really stuck.I received the missing parts from my kit Saturday. Oh joy! So I can get this done tomorrow! Lol was I wrong.

I ran all of the wiring on Saturday which was really not that bad. Just tedious. So today after hooking up hoses and running the wires to the switch, which was actually easier than I thought thanks to the new wire loom, I said well bloody O. This is a wrap. Nope.

I have spent...literally from 2PM to now, trying to get the mounting pieces to line up with the brackets. Man, they make it look so smooth and easy.....well it's not. I tried so many ways, I am not even sure how many times I tried to get that piece into that cubby. What it seems is that the edge of the compressor is hitting the middle mounting point of the Bronco. So I am not sure, I guess I need to cut it down a bit? Bending it will not help, because then the mounting point will be useless.

Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone else who has done this installation had this type of issue? It's deflating. I guess the one bright spot is that the compressor works. So I took it off and there it sits in the back of my Bronco. I'll give it another go tomorrow.

This is why I’m not a fan

I like the idea but there’s just not enough room to store that big of a compressor in there without making it difficult and tedious

 

[paperboy]

Well, here we are again. I am really stuck.I received the missing parts from my kit Saturday. Oh joy! So I can get this done tomorrow! Lol was I wrong.

I ran all of the wiring on Saturday which was really not that bad. Just tedious. So today after hooking up hoses and running the wires to the switch, which was actually easier than I thought thanks to the new wire loom, I said well bloody O. This is a wrap. Nope.

I have spent...literally from 2PM to now, trying to get the mounting pieces to line up with the brackets. Man, they make it look so smooth and easy.....well it's not. I tried so many ways, I am not even sure how many times I tried to get that piece into that cubby. What it seems is that the edge of the compressor is hitting the middle mounting point of the Bronco. So I am not sure, I guess I need to cut it down a bit? Bending it will not help, because then the mounting point will be useless.

Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone else who has done this installation had this type of issue? It's deflating. I guess the one bright spot is that the compressor works. So I took it off and there it sits in the back of my Bronco. I'll give it another go tomorrow.

Hang in there! A good sleep and a fresh start tomorrow will get you over the finish line!

It was some time ago so I am struggling to remember exactly what I did. Hopefully the following will help:

- the assembly was a tight fit but not impossible. A few of us here have done it with no cutting.

- make make sure your wiring in the cavity is well tucked away.

- practice putting the unit (AAL plate and compressor) in the cavity without the wiring or brackets attached. This was an important step for me because it assured me that the unit would go in as designed.

- "pre-screw" all the screws into both brackets on the bench (I recall the bracket holes being too tight and a tiny bit misaligned - putting the screws in and out helped make the the final assembly easier. One screw ended up going in on an angle because of the misalignment.

One statement in the instructions helped:

• With the nut plate loosely installed on the right side, lift the assembly up and lead it into place starting with the left side. Once flat against the tailgate start but do not tighten the first two screws on the left and then the right, making sure to align the nut plate and verify that it is behind the lip on the gate. Once this is verified, remove the tape and tighten the screws.

However, I recall the key was to also keep the LHS bracket loose. I only had one screw (loose) holding it onto the tailgate. I pressed the unit in and got one "long" screw started on the LHS. Then I started to align and start all the screws. I believe I worked the LHS into place before finishing with the RHS. But this is where I forget the detail!

What I do remember is that pre-fitting the unit and leaving the LHS bracket loose were the tricks for me.

Hope this helps in some way.

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