Has anyone seen a flat airtank? What are your thoughts on making my own?

I'd like something 4-5" H x 2'W x 1' D

weld the seams good so it dosen't leak, max pressure is going to be what? 120-150, shouldn't be a problem.

yea if you are a descent welder you should be able to make one fairly easy.. people make bumper air tanks all the time..

Flat airtank? Sure. While you're at it, make two of them out of 3/16" or 1/4" so they're beefy, make them 2" by 4" and however long they need to be.

Then mount them under your rocker panels. ;)

Very hard to MIG or stick weld air-tight IMHO
(Though I am only an amature welder).

TIG seems to be the ticket.

Phil

The reason most airtanks are cylinders is so that the metal is loaded in tension. If you make a square airtank then the metal will be loaded in bending and will have to be much thicker or else it will inflate like a balloon when you put pressure in it. If you only go to 120 psi you might get away with using a few pieces of 4 x4 x.120 wall tubing placed sided by side. If you just built a box to the dimensions you suggested I think it would need to be thicker than 1/4 inch to withstand 120 psi although I haven't done any calculations.

I think gordon has the right idea here, the 4x4 side by side will be much stronger than a larger surface. I have 4x4x1/4 rocker panel air tanks on my EB, and have landed hard enough on them to rip a body mount through the floor, but no leaks ever at 120 PSI

The tubing is a great idea. Glad I thought of it :idea: :D

Yeah Yeah :idea: :idea: its all very clear what I need to do now. Thanks Gordon.

I'm actually filling a spot in the bed of my bronco where the back seats used to be. I was considering making a tool box there, but it wouldn't be very accessible. I hate to waste space and an air tank is the perfect thing. I could probably use 3 or 4 pieces of that tubing. They can be 4' long. Should be plenty of air. Perfect!

well if expansion is a problem why don't you drill threw the tank in the middle and place reedy rod threw it bolt it and weld it up

I have both of my bumpers welded shut. MIG.

So far no leaks.. And I was in a headon with another TJ and his roller fairleads smacked right into my front bumper. Yep it dented the shit out of it. But still no leaks.

Mine are 3/16 steel. Powder coated for good looks and rust inhibitor. Compressed air causes water.

Have a petcock for a drain.

Originally posted by Gordon
The reason most airtanks are cylinders is so that the metal is loaded in tension. If you make a square airtank then the metal will be loaded in bending and will have to be much thicker or else it will inflate like a balloon when you put pressure in it. If you only go to 120 psi you might get away with using a few pieces of 4 x4 x.120 wall tubing placed sided by side. If you just built a box to the dimensions you suggested I think it would need to be thicker than 1/4 inch to withstand 120 psi although I haven't done any calculations.
I put 140psi in mine all the time. they are 4x4 3/16 wall. I stick welded 1/4 plate on the ends. Took a few grind downs to get it ait tight. the will hold air for months. I used a 3/8 bolt with the nut welded to the tanks as a drain. Yeah I'd like to hear some safe figures on what they can hadle air wise. Really the flat part of the sides is more like 3.25 inches with the radius of the corner.
They are my rock sliders and I have come down on them so hard that people have come running figuring a truck just got layed over.
Some pictures on my site. link in my sig.

Originally posted by 1TONTJ
Very hard to MIG or stick weld air-tight IMHO
(Though I am only an amature welder).

TIG seems to be the ticket.

Phil
ROOKIE :flipoff2:

Originally posted by BellyUp


Have a petcock for a drain.

My girlfriend said she was looking for a pet cock, but she doesn't have an air tank:confused:

I used 2"x4" 120 wall tubing for my tankes, it works well. I placed the two length's of ubing side by side after drilling 1/2 inch holes at each end on the 2 inch side of the tubing and then matched the holes up to each other and welded them together. Works great. Wilseya

Originally posted by broncorob


My girlfriend said she was looking for a pet cock, but she doesn't have an air tank:confused:

chuckle :D