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Mario Cornejo

DESERT CHAMPION
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Posts posted by Mario Cornejo

  1. Hi @Dan S - the original idea is available in YouTube, search for "The Wifey Air System", the basic set up is a compressor feeding 4 lines through a manifold, a valve, a pressure gauge etc.  While researching the parts I decided to add the tank and the remaining parts to safely operate it.

    The 2nd compressor is optional, I added it because fuses were being blown frequently in my first compressor installation, but later I found out that the installation was done incorrectly the garage (they even used wires of wrong capacity, I was lucky I did not get a fire as it was a big mess).

    As to the parts: I had one compressor and got a used one that was later refurbished, the remaining parts were sourced through Amazon (AE and US).  The Viaair tank is available locally and through Amazon (AE).  If time permits I will try to put a list and share it.

    In terms of getting the job done: I was lucky to find a small "boutique" garage that had started operations, they had time and a good electrician that did the cleanest installation I've seen so far. Unfortunately I cannot recommend you anymore than research for garages that focus on projects for overlanding and for you to design the system to your specs, discuss it with the garage and scrutinize every step, and then test the system thoroughly until you are satisfied.

    Hope this helps! 

     

    • WOW (+2) 1
    • Well Done (+2) 1
  2. Hi @Dan S you need the tank to create the pressure. I have a Viaair 20L tank under the car, fed by two twin compressors. You need to install check valves (to prevent the high pressure back into the compressors) and a safety valve set a pressure lower than the tank maximum pressure rating.

    Another alternative, depending on your air filter setup, get 2 dry-filters and exchange them, one for off road and one for city.  Look for cotton based elements, which you can carefully wash and dry.

    • Like (+1) 2
  3. 3 hours ago, Gaurav said:

    Front airbag is safety requirement, and one should NOT disable it, as it can save your life in case of nasty accident or frontal roll-over. Even on higher level drives, one should not disable front airbag, please.

    This is interesting and good to know @Gaurav as I remember I started disconnecting air bags based on a recommendation I got in an IM drive long time ago. :) 

    • Totally Agree (+2) 1
  4. 3 minutes ago, DP1011 said:

    Thanks @Frederic, I see @Mario Cornejo with same model 2021, but he says Kill switch yes? Is it bcos its SWB? or am reading it incorrectly - Thanks for this.

    Hi @DP1011 - my understanding is that a Kill Switch is not stock for most cars, and therefore must be installed. What you need to make sure is that you select a place (garage, shop, etc) with someone with good knowledge, or be present as they do it and ask the right questions.  It is easy to mess this up or have a low quality installation that might pose a hazard, this is valid for all cars.

    • Like (+1) 1
    • Totally Agree (+2) 1
  5. Hello @DP1011

     

    Car model: Nissan Patrol Y61 

    kill Switch Button  ( if yes, where to locate) - Yes, panel next to gear shift

    Airbags turn off  button (if yes where to locate)  : No, I remove the air-bag fuse.

    Other comments  : I also disconnect the traction control, which Nissan calls VDC, which you need to repeat if (a) car engine is switched off, or you have shifted from 4L to 4H.  The air-bag fuse is disconnected as the system might be triggered by a sudden fall or bumping into “sand-step” with force.

    • Thanks (+1) 1
  6. Hi @Alphin Aloor - 

    I have done the compressor + tank set up in two flavors which I can explain later.  But in short:

    1. Compressor installed under passenger seat or, if a SWB Y61 then at a space in the left side at the back (this space is not available if it is a LWB Y61)

    2. Tank installed under the car if a SWB Y61 or under the driver’s seat if a LWB Y61 (space is not available under the car in LWB because of the fuel sub-tank)

    3. Air outlet located outside of the car - in wheel bays or rear bumper

    What this set up allows you is, as Zed mentioned, running air-tools, and you can also switch-on the compressor while you are driving towards the exit.  The compressor will shut off automatically once the air in the tank reaches 150 psi approximately (all ARB compressors have a small manifold and an cut-off switch rated at 150 psi, the cut-off switch can be replaced if damaged or by another at a different pressure rating), and the air outlet outside of the car will allow you to keep doors closed and bugs away :). When all tires are inflated back to your desired pressure, you turn off the compressor and can use the air in tank to blow off sand.

    The setup I have in my car, a Y61 SWB, more or less allows me to inflate four ~33” tires, from 10psi to 35psi, in almost 5 minutes and also allows me to run air tools, it consists of two ARB dual compressors and a 20l air tank.

    Hope this information helps.

    • Like (+1) 4
  7. Yalla! Don’t think much, just get a Y61 VTC and khalas! You will be happy in the desert and on road with it, chances are you get to be unhappy sometimes when you think about what you spent in mods, but most of the time you will be happy I can assure you that :) 

    My two cents on Y61:

    1. Less electronics - less points of failure.

    2. Parts - you can find them plenty: new, used, scrap yard, grocery in the corner, you name it.

    3. Power - I managed to drive in terrains considered challenging (Qua, Bu Tais, Liwa)before installing any mods such as headers or cold air filter, the car did well, and had enough power for self-recoveries and to help recover other cars.

    4. Protection - this applies to any car: skid plates (front and rear), roll cage (after installing headers/CAI :P )

    5. Suspension - this is key, good springs, shocks, sway bar/links, to help you control rebound and not lose traction.

    6. Temperature - manageable, just ensure you check your car coolant before drives.

    7. Wheels / Tires - choose well, lighter is better, but be mindful of tire wall wear; wheel offset close to 0 is best.

    Hope to see you soon in sand!

    • Thanks (+1) 1
    • Totally Agree (+2) 5
  8. Hi everyone, wow! what a morning!  a solid convoy and an interesting area that tested our skills, from dealing with technical areas, soft sand, climbs, switches and more.

    A big shout out to @GauravSoni for hosting the drive, it is always a pleasure to attend the drives you organize.  Everyone drove amazingly well:  @Gertjan, @Jaro Tuzinsky, @Waqas Parvez, @DP1011, @ASAD., @Benjamin, @Chris Wing and @Zed

    Unfortunately @Vaibhav had to leave early, I am sure I echo everyone in hoping you get the issues resolved with your Jeep. If the issues persist, then remember there must be a VTC with your name somewhere in the UAE 😎💪!

    Wish you all a great rest of the week!

    5 hours ago, Gertjan said:

    @Mario Cornejo 's big smile captures the sprit of the trip!

    @Gertjan thank you very much for the pictures and documenting the drive! Superstar!  😁

    • Like (+1) 5
    • Thanks (+1) 1
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  9. Hey guys - first of all we are all grateful that @Gerrit Bus was not harmed, I hope we see him back on the sand soon.

    It was a fluid drive up and everyone was driving beautifully before the unfortunate events, and it cannot remain without acknowledging the efforts that everyone gave to recover Gerrit’s car and then to help me with the tire issue.

    Thank you everyone, I truly appreciate it!

    Until we see each other again, I want to wish you all a great week ahead.

    • Like (+1) 3
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  10. 3 hours ago, Mark B said:

    Thank you for your feedback, good to know. Do you even have balancing issues as I’ve heard they are known for having vibration? 

    Difficult to tell with all the rattle and shaking in my in my car :) 

    Jokes apart - I have not experienced this scenario, what can happen though is like with any other wheel you can bend parts of it, in a beadlock wheel notably the outer rim is usually prone to it.  

    Other issues I’ve heard about are finding a jammed bolt, but this is something you can mitigate through proper maintenance, for example when assembling the wheels the first time, and every time you service them, request to apply anti seize lubricant to the bolts, Coppaslip or Loctite copper grease are examples …I carry my own in case the garage has run out of it :D and I also make sure they use a torque wrench, at the recommended torque setting for the wheel, instead of using a power tool.

     

     

    • Like (+1) 3
  11. I think they are worth it 😇 … peace of mind during my solo drives.  

    Maintenance is not as hard, I check and tighten the beadlocks from time to time on my own with a torque wrench, and no issues when renewing the registration.

    Just my experience so far :) 

    Cheers!

     

    • Like (+1) 4
  12. 1 hour ago, munkybizness said:

    @Mario Cornejo - were you able to fit the 285/75/R17s without any changes or cutting to the wheel-well? Have you had any rubbing issues that you needed to account for?

    I ask because I considered it, but it's a significantly bigger tyre (~33.8") than the stock 275/65/R17 (~31.1"). But if it's fitting well then it's a great tyre to extract almost 1.4" of lift out of. 

    Oh! An edit to my post:  the size I went for is 285/70R17. In both cars (LWB and SWB) I had to remove the mud flaps and in the SWB I had to cut the inner corner where the front mud flaps are attached. 

    Regarding tire rubbing, this leads into another interesting conversation :) : suspension etc.  In my case I have a 2.5” lift in the SWB and what I’ve done is add longer bumpstops and tested the shocks setting to prevent the tire from rubbing while driving in the desert.  On a normal road, I can keep the shocks in the softest setting and won’t experience any rubbing.   The LWB has a 2” lift and Yokohama LT285/70R17 on stock wheels, and no issues at all with regards to rubbing.

    • Like (+1) 2
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  13. There is another brand you should consider - BF Goodrich Trail Terrain, which is what I have in my Y61 SWB too, not too heavy of a tire.  The size I went for is 285/75R17.

    Prior to these I had Cooper, were heavy, and then Geolandar A/T G015, walls starting showing signs of cracking very soon.

    Now, if your car is manual, then you can possibly dismiss the fact of getting heavy or wider tires, because the end gear ratio of a Y61 with MT is 4.375 vs AT 3.545, therefore it will handle those tires better, you could even think of getting Wrangler Duratrac :) 

    • Like (+1) 2
  14. Hi Gary - I've done this before, all parts were ordered through Amazon (.ae or .com depending on availability).  Here is a rough list of parts:

    - Flexzilla hose 1/4" Inches, 25 foot long - 3 of them, of which you use 2 as main lines and the 3rd hose you will use to built two short whips of about 5 foot long.
    - 4 Closed air chucks
    - 1/4" Brass ball valve
    - Air splitter 1/4" NPT 3-Way air manifold
    - Barbed T-couplers (you can get these in Speedex)
    - Loctite 542 Thread sealant 50ml
    - Metal brass pipe fittings and couplers 1/4" or Color Connex coupler & Plug Kit 

    I reused an analog gauge from a unused inflator, I prefer analog as I don't have to deal with batteries, my recommendation on this is to choose a 1/4 NPT lower mount gauge with a range of 0 to 60 psi, and 2.5' to 4' face. If you go for a digital one, then it is best to go to amazon .com and choose one, I like the one that Measureman sells for $12.97.

    For my system I used an ARB dual piston compressor and a 4 liter ARB air tank with an air outlet located outside of the car and covered with a dust cap.

    But perhaps one of the most important parts is, when installing the compressor, ask the guys in the garage to explain how will they run the electrical lines and air pipes (if any) and show you images of previous works they've done.  I've had bad experiences of garages doing extremely bad and unsafe electric installations, but there is one where I just had my recent air system installed and they did, in my opinion, a very neat job.

     

    • Like (+1) 7
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