80 series ARB Dual Air Compressor Mounting Locations

Update: I have a permanent and affordable mounting solution! We had a custom engine bay dual battery tray and ARB ckmta12 mount built and installed for $279. Pictures are on the way!

 

After years of pining away, looking at pictures online, and of dreaming of all the updates and changes that we could make to our LC 80 series, I finally am in the thick of it! So thanks to happenstance or karma I now have myself a dual ARB CKMTA12 air compressor at the great ole price of the single ckma12!!! Let me say that this air compressors sole purpose is to air up tires and not run tools or air lockers. Sadly I am no closer to mounting it and this is just a quick trip down the rabbit hole of possibilities along the path to finding the permanent mounting location. I have a few good leads and ideas that I will share!

Where can I mount it?

So began the endless searching and wondering of where to mount the dang thing. There are three obvious locations to mount the compressor starting with the engine bay, the rear passenger side quarter panel, to the space under the vehicle where the spare tire is mounted. I will share the pros and cons of each mounting location. For what it is worth I have also seen the air compressors mounted under the front passenger seat but that isn’t a topic I will cover here.

Updated preliminary pictures!

Engine Bay

The engine bay is probably the first idea that pops into everyone’s mind because it is the shortest distance to the battery terminals, safe and dry, it is the easiest and shortest route for mounting the switch inside the cabin area, and it allows for air circulation. The owner’s manual specifically states to keep it away from moisture!

However when it comes to the 80 series no one makes a prefabbed mounting bracket for the ckmta12. Today I visited two different local auto shops specializing in land cruisers. I learned a few helpful things but the most educational lesson learned is that there is a hot side to the engine bay and that anything mounted on that side of the engine needs to be at least 1ft away from the exhausting heat. Which after understanding this caveat I better understand why the passenger side of the engine bay seems pretty barren compared to the driver side of the engine bay.

I was told by the first shop owner “yeah I can make you a mount for the engine bay upper rear passenger side.” Of which I outlined the mounting location in blue in the picture above. Then I went to the second shop and I was told “you will need to change out the clean air intake to a smaller system to allow for a mounting area, or you can mount it inside the vehicle in the rear quarter panel.” I was quoted $300-$400 to mount the air compressor in the engine bay if I can free up some space by downsizing the clean air intake.

If you are lucky to not have the ABS in the way then there is a great engine mount location up near the firewall on the driver side!

Rear Quarter Panel

The inside passenger rear quarter panel seems to be a popular mounting location for the CKMTA12. This option however is going to cost more money for a professional to install and it isn’t an ideal location for maximum air circulation. The guys over at Slee discourage mounting the CKMTA12 in this area if it is going to be in continuous use for air lockers or tools. Stating that the compressor has been known to leak oil under continuous use and it doesn’t get enough circulating airflow in this area. However the owner’s manual does say that an additional air intake extension hose is available for purchase. I was told that in my case of infrequent intermittent use of the compressor for airing up tires this area is an acceptable location.

It is important to note that the CKMTA12 uses 40- 50amps of power which will need to be run from the battery to the rear of the vehicle. The owner’s manual states a draw of 40amps vs ARB website product information which lists a max draw of 50amps. So looking at a voltage drop chart I can see that an 8awg will be needed to span the 25ft to the rear of the vehicle in order to power the compressor. It was suggested to me to run the electrical under the body of the vehicle to the rear.

I was quoted $500-$600 by the second auto shop owner for installing the air compressor into this rear quarter panel area and I can’t be sure if this price would include a mounting bracket or not. If I wanted to go DIY I can source a pre-fabricated mounting bracket from Absolute Wit’s End for $265.00+ S&H+tax and the power cable from powerwerx or genuinedealz for around $50.00-$60.00, not including any additional electrical components and using the provided electrical wiring harness.

You could probably find a local metal fabricator willing to make you a mounting bracket such as…

The underbody

Absolute Wit’s End makes another mount for the CKMTA12 that is designed to bolt on where the spare tire goes on the underbody. This is problematic for me because that is exactly where I carry the spare tire with no plans of moving it any time soon. If I were going to finally get a rear swing out bumper tire carrier it would be so that I could add on a spare gas tank or water tank in that under body location. Lastly this low to the ground location is highly susceptible to moisture from snow and caked on mud. So for me living in areas that are prone to flash floods, high snow, and muddy areas this isn’t an ideal mounting location for keeping it free of moisture. Maybe I am being overly cautious and this could actually be a great mounting location but it just doesn’t seem to be the right fit for me.