Valves off the tank-Pros/Cons??

Im just curious to what the advantages/disadvantages to running your valves right off the tank are?

Other than simply mounting location!

Is there really a difference with airflow?


Thanks!


Dev

You will loose about 1/10 of a second reaction time in the front.

You run your valves off the tank I have noticed, why not anywhere else?

Whats the benefit?



Dev

make sure your lines are the same length too, or you'll get 1/10th of a second's difference in air flow to each bag too.
you pretty much nailed it, its simpler (uglier IMO) to mount them straight off the tank. unless you'll never see the tank i don't like it. i think the valves are ugly i guess... i hide them

Well on my truck I ran the rear valves off the tank, and the front is attatched to the frame. On the Mazda I did the lift valves off the tank, and the dumps close to the bag, because it came with dual ports. It was just the easiest thing to do, and it still is fast as fuck and hops like an inch at 120 PSI. There really isnt any benefit other than ease of mounting, and the only downfall is a hardly noticeable different in reaction time. I agree that valves are ugly, but I think the setup on the Mazda actually looks good with only one valve on the tank. My truck has two valves on each port for the rear, and I think it looks ghey. But with the bed on, you'll never see it.

It makes sense to me to do it for the rear, since its so close. It saves money on fittings. I don't see a reason to run a 10" line to the frame to mount the valve there, and then a 20" line to the bag, when I can just runn a 16" line straight to the bag. I guess its just preference, and the situation or how the rear setup was built.

Running them off the tank has a few benifits like you don't need as much fittings so leaks are minimized if you have to work on them they are easy to reach and for us snow bound guys it is great as you can remove the whole unit and store it away when winter comes amd do your winter maintence. The only down side is that they are ugly as hell.

It only saves 1 fitting per corner, unless you separate your fill/dump valves lol.... The main advantage to having them on the tank is they're easier to get to for maintenance/repairs as opposed to having them hidden on the frame under the truck somewhere.

On my Nissan the valves aren't on the tank, but they aren't hidden either, and I don't think they're that ugly.
Don't mind the shop air compressor air lines, I bought it with those on, and I haven't had the time or money to replace it all with new fittings and lines yet.

The way I look at it is that you are using only 2 push connect fittings per bag not 4 per bag but every one does it different and is that a 317 thomas compressor.

i was thinking about mounting mine directly on the bag. wouldn't that keep you from running the compressors as much seeing as how you won't lose as much air when dumping it? if you run a line from the tank to the valve then to the bag, when you dump it you lose all the air in the line and the bag, right? so when you go to air it back up, you have to not only air up the bag but also the line, therefore working the compressors longer. not by much, but still longer. if you mount them on the bag you only lose the air out of the bag. i don't know how well that will work for the front though.

maztang you've definately got the right idea. the amount of air in an airline is so miniscule though... unless your running 3/4" lines or some big ones, it won't ever make much of a difference, but you are right.