Above Deck Air Compressor Options
Depending on where you plan to have your air compressors installed on your truck will alter the type of drive style. For compressors mounted above deck, you can purchase either rotary screw or reciprocating mounted compressors.
A rotary screw compressor is a gas compressor that uses two rotors to compress the gas and operate. These compressors can give you large volumes of high pressure air and are ideal for any company that used smaller compressors. They usually have two rotors that work to compress the air internally. There are no valves found on these units and they are essentially oil sealed.
A reciprocating mounted compressor is what is called a positive-displacement compressor that is driven by the crankshaft of your vehicle to give you high pressure air. At 100 PSI, these units provide 4 CFM per horsepower. The hydraulic flow of some of these models range from 13.5 to 22.5 GPM and typically run at 100 PSI.
Below Deck Air Compressor Options
Then there are compressors that you can have mounted below deck that will give you everything you need to function on the job. For those air compressors that are mounted below deck, you will find that they are driven by either rotary screws, multi-drive, generators, PTO, or hydraulics.
The rotary screw driven compressors for under the deck will work much the same as those mounted above deck. These models will typically have less CFM, pressure, flow and power than above deck models. Typical below deck models will have as much as 60 CFM.
Multi-Drive and PTO
Where you will see some change is when you look at multi-drive units, or PTO. These units have changed the way workers get power from their trucks forever.
Multi-drive compressors are the ultimate tool for workers driving trucks with mounted air compressors. Multi-drive systems usually consist of a powerful air compressor and a specific AC generator that are combined into a single unit. These systems rid you and your truck the need to have separate units for air compressors, generators, power inverters, or hydraulic pumps. These units give you the same productivity of all those different tools by giving you air, hydraulics, and AC power through a single PTO opening, and give the space in your truck back to you.
PTO stands for power take off. A shaft is usually the connection between the PTO and whatever objects are being powered and with these tools all being contained in a single unit, you can be assured that you are getting the best return on investment you could ask for.
We found this resource to be a helpful guide for comparing different air compressors.
The truck mounted air compressor business is something that is growing rapidly each day. These compressors can be the greatest investment you can make for your company and provide comfort and convenience by being installed under your hood or under your truck.