Trying to figure out where to mount my Viair stuff

I do not have the Viar tank, but one of comparable size (I think). Initially I did not like the way the tank sat under the Jeep, so I moved the locker pumps inside the cab. This allowed me to move the front part of the tank above the skid. The tank is out of sight and out of mind. Somehow I have managed to avoid pulling off the cheap drain you can see in the picture:


I do think the tailgate idea is an interesting one. If you do not need the storage space in the back hanging the tank off the tailgate would be pretty slick. They are generally light weight and would provide you with a good drain route. I speculate that if you burned a long piece of flat stock along the top edge of the tailgate (end to end) you would have enough material strength to hang the tank. Maybe you could integrate it into the hinge and latch mechanisms.

I made a small air tank for my Viair system. I used a 3 inch stainless nipple 12 or 14 inches long, drilled and tapped several holes in pipe caps for both ends and looped stainless straps to hold it to the outside of the frame rail under the driver's door. It is flush against the bottom of the floor board and doesn't extend below the frame rail. It is a small tank, but lets the compressor keep running while I move from one tire to the next. I could not get the caps tight enough to seal, so I welded a bead around them to take care of air leaks. One problem was the 83 dollar bill I got from the plumbing shop for the pipe nipple. Of course I have spent more than that on nipples before. :lildevil: I haven't knocked it off its mount yet and it serves the purpose well. I get to air up the other Jeeps after the trail ride. If you have a body lift, you might be able to use a 4 inch nipple, that would almost double the air volume.
I know, :worthless:

Work in progress...

After messing around some more with the tank on the tailgate, I'm convinced this is a good solution.

Sheet metal screws with threadlocker is an interesting idea. I'm torn between having a non-removable (but indestructible) install vs. an install with screws/bolts. I still think I want to weld two mounting plates to the tailgate, but maybe I should drill/tap to mount the right-angle brackets to the tailgate plates.

Made my supplies run into Kerrville this morning (it's an all morning affair since it's 25 miles away). Bought some .030" wire for my MIG, some 1/4" air hose (and associated fittings) to make the jump from the compressor to the tank, the steel, primer, paint, wire and odds and ends.

Did some prototyping with the tank against the tailgate and made some measurements. Figured out the brackets I needed to weld up and started chopping steel. Discovered my little MIG welder is almost out of .024 wire and the .030 wire I just bought won't fit the tip . Okay, let's tack the brackets and I can use the stick welder to fill in. Then I discovered I am still a horrible welder (with the buzz box at least) in spite of formal training and the weld is absolutely horrible (the bead isn't that horrible, it's just not in the correct location.)

Write that steel off and cut some more. I need a .030 tip and some more .024 wire so I can use the MIG and let the buzz box continue to gather dust. Dear Wife would like to go out to dinner (me too), so we combine a fun restaurant trip with another run to Tractor Supply to buy some .030 tips and some .024 wire.

The picture of the misplaced weld is a MIG weld - I am way too embarrassed to post a picture of the stick weld.

More tomorrow.