How strong is my trucks air compresor?

You should go to the air compressor mfg's web-site for the technical data: attached, is a common model compressor for freightliner/Webco System Saver...but yours could very well be different: http://www.meritorwabco.com/MeritorWABCO_document/SP0740.pdf

 

I would put a quick connect fitting and pull off a tank instead of using the glad hand. As long as you are not using big impact tools you will be fine. 1/2" air ratchets and impacts will work good till you get into bigger jobs. Then you will have to take breaks and let psi build back up and the same with rotary and cutoff tools that use lots of air

 

That is exactly what I did and used a 1/2" air line for more volume instead of 3/8ths. There should be a plug on the end of your air tanks. Take one off and install a quick connect. You can also get a rubber boot to fit over it at Home Depot. I spray mine with oil after use and before putting rubber boot back on.

 

It is more to do with the capacity of the air tank themselves. The compressor is just for building up that air. The air compressor itself is never meant to actually drive the air tool. What you could try is to run the gun on a few nuts and see how much air is used, or fast it depletes. You may have to run the truck to build up the air, run the gun on a couple of nuts, and then let the compressor recharge the air again. Just use this cycle. You probably won't be able to continuously run the gun on all 10 nuts without having to wait for the air to build back up.

 

The trucks air system is not large enough to run an 800 lb air gun, the air system in the truck is devided and at best you will have the volumn of two tanks and you will be lucky to get off two nuts, then wait for two minutes, with the truck running at 1200 RPM. I have a 5 HP compressor and a 100 gallon reserve and still have to wait to get all the nuts off and I have the choice of a 1 inch, a 3/4, a 600 lb 1/2 inch or a 400 lb 1/2 inch. Having an air line on the truck is great for filling tires. or blowing out the dust from the cab, not a lot more. Using the emergency trailor air line you will not get enough preasure/volumn to use an air gun, you will be lucky to get 70 lbs running preasure.
Just a thought!

 

Do what Skate-Board said. Install a quick connect for a 1/2 inch hose and it will work. I have been using my truck air for around 5 years. I better wait a minute or two to recharge my air tanks instead of 30 minutes of driving to a nearest tire shop.

 

I've seen a guy use a auxiliary tank hooked to his glad hand line .. I've never done it with a truck but years back when I was in construction we used a extra tank which gave us more air supply it worked great

 

Find a old air/comp. air tank off a junk comp. keep it at home close enough to run air line off truck then run line off of big tank to work air tools, fix all leaks and it will hold air like the truck will for weeks at a time.