Posted by Dylan Robinson on Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 12:06PM :
I decided to install the onboard air system that I had asked the questions about on one of the last forums, and I actually got to use it yesterday. I went fourwheeling with one of the local fourwheel-drive clubs in the Blue Mountains near Clarkston Washington.
I have a stock 48' ffpw with 9.00/16 Power Kings. I had in the past always run full pressure in the tires, because I've never had a way to put air back into them at the end of the trail. Yesterday I started out with fifty psi in the tires (makes it steer easier), and the first hill gave me a little trouble but I made it. At the top I aired down to 25psi. I did okay, but there wasn't much for obstacles until after lunch. Next we pulled up to an old fire trail that ran up the side of this clear-cut. I was pretty sure that I was gonna have trouble because the fully locked Ford Bronco that was ahead of me had to make a couple runs at the real steep section right at the top. However I was actually able to idle up almost to the top, before I spun out. I made a couple of attempts at it backing down four or five feet and letting the clutch out nice and easy, but with that slick clay it was prettty obvious I wasn't gonna make it. The guy ahead of me asked if I wanted the strap, and I said "I'd like to air down a little more just to see if it will go". So while I held the brake he aired my tires down to right around 12psi. I shifted it into low range just for curiousity, and let out the clutch in second gear, and I was astonished I ascended the last 50 feet like it had tracks bolted to it, it didn't even slip at all!!!
Anyways we got back to camp and I got out and engaged the clutch on the compressor, and with the pto throttle stop on the first notch it took about a minute or less to fill the little air tank I had mounted on the frame rail, then it took approximately three minutes per tire to bring them from 12psi to 50psi.
Wish I had discovered this kind of fun awhile back!!!!
Dylan
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