[tturkstra]

OK, I've had it with clowns cutting me off and oblivious kids on bikes with their ipods. The stock horn on my JK couldn't get anyone's attention. Problem solved. Still trying to figure out posting pictures but here's my best shot.

Initially, I bought a Stebel 300 Hz truck horn. It was about 4 times as loud as stock, but I wanted a little more.

So I got the kit with horns, compressor, tank, hose, and fittings from Air Horns of Texas - Great customer support. Now the thing is extremely loud, much louder than stock and it does sound like a diesel locomotive. (Small solace for the diesel not being available here in North America...)

The 46115 kit has the 3 horns on a bracket, but they're easily removed. They're big at 13, 15, and 19", with 7" bells, but I got them behind the rad with a bit of fiddling. If anyone else can figure a better location for horns of this size, let me know...




So for the compressor and tank... Couldn't fit them where I wanted inside the bumper because the tank had fittings sticking out so it went behind (in front of) the subwoofer. I hooked up the line through a Milton quick-connect so I can easily pull the tank if I need more room and also I can plug in the air line for inflating tires or running accessories.


Through the firewall where the rear wiper fluid hose comes through.
Tag: Jeep Air Horn Truck Diesel Train Horn

Ignore all the extra wiring - The dealership did that for factory fogs that Jeep forgot to wire in Toledo, but that's another story...

[tturkstra]

The red 12 V power wire runs back to the compressor, which is grounded off a subwoofer mount. The black 3/8" air line ran under the rear seat and floor mat, inside the shifter console and behind the dash to the port. The orange wire is off the factory horn circuit.

Initially, I had the air switch right next to the horns, wired to my stock horn wire, but it was too loud for all but the most seriously oblivious drivers, so I moved the air switch to under the Passenger seat, and put in 2 T's to have a secondary path through an air blower switch that I hooked in so I could modulate the amount of air. It also allows me to make a more train-like sound by modulating the air to the horn. With practice, I can make it sound distant...

(It's all hidden under the floor mat and seat.)


(This is an early picture before I ran the black air line out of site.)

[Warlord2]

must be from a different state then me, horns arnt even allowed unless making blind turns and you can get a nice fine for shooting it off at people. But nice setup if thats what your into.

[tturkstra]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those clowns who blows it to scare people. But a horn that doesn't get people's attention is no help at all. I know the upgraded horn on my motorcycle has saved me from an accident at least once, probably twice. I'm thinking I may use it, however, with a recent addition in our town, people across the intersection who floor it turning left in front of you as the light goes green, figuring that you won't drive into them even though you have the right of way.

The only negative was that it was hard to find small air leaks in the system. After I added the T's, I had a slow leak (24-48 hours) so the compressor ran more frequently. I had to pull everything behind the switch (about 15 min) and dunk everything in the sink to find the slow leak; it was too slow to find by spraying with sudsy water.

[chadsmeltzer]

I really like the idea of different amounts of airflow, I might do that. I thought about doing to different air solenoids and to buttons, but I found a horn cheap with a built in solenoid.

[webhannet]

When you honk the factory horn and notice heads turn their SLIGHTLY as if to ask, "What was that noise?" - it's time for something more.

I went a different route, and as small as the equipment is - it was a challenge to find space for it. Hadley Big Bully horns. The compressor just fit in front of the battery - the air tank "snapped" into the back of the front bumper (a little silicone added to be sure it doesn't jump out) - the two horns mounted behind the grill, in front of the radiator. It has nowhere near the air storage of the poster's system, but a few long blasts can be made before the compressor kicks in - and that's more than I imagine I need. The one drawback is the stiff Jeep horn button makes giving a short "toot" difficult - there are times I don't use the horns because they can be irritating to others . I have the wiring to choose the factory horn and, or the air horns, but I haven't installed the switch because I hate making holes that show.

[wbower]

This is in my future for sure.

I honestly dont even honk anymore because A) its so embarrassing and B) yelling is more effective and not to mention louder.

[tturkstra]

Originally Posted by webhannet

When you honk the factory horn and notice heads turn their SLIGHTLY as if to ask, "What was that noise?" - it's time for something more.

<Snip>. I have the wiring to choose the factory horn and, or the air horns, but I haven't installed the switch because I hate making holes that show.

I found an easy way to go through the firewall without making a lot of visible new holes. Straighten a coathanger and push it through the rubber grommet that the rear washer hose goes through (AFTER you've removed it) and then wiggle it through the hole and down and lateral. If you remove the small side panel on the dash (pops right out), the coat hanger comes out and you can attach a wire to it and pull it back through. Reinstall the rubber washer in the firewall and you're golden.

I guess you still need to find a way to mount the switch in a way to "leave no trace" though.

Good point about the yelling being louder. I noticed that I was yelling instead of using the horn for the same reason when the top was down...

[rustywrangler]

I like the idea and the kit, but man, that is a fairly sloppy install IMHO.

[tturkstra]

Originally Posted by rustywrangler

I like the idea and the kit, but man, that is a fairly sloppy install IMHO.

No problem. It works great for me. I searched forums and the web before I did it, hoping to just copy someone else, with no success, so this was my DIY job.

It's a start for others to improve on.

[Swagger]

And to think most would use that compressor to air up after a trail ride.

In the early 80's I had the Dixie air horns in a GTO I had ( my version of the General Lee) and I got the bright idea of knocking it off at a COP when he drove by....I thought it would be funny.......WRONG! He spent 30 minutes writing me a ticket and expaining why it was a BAD idea. Baytown Cops just do not have a good sence of humor

Maybe he just didn't like the Duke's Of Hazzard..

[tturkstra]

How could he not like a show that portrayed southern police officers in such a good light?

Yes, once the compressor was in, it was easy to T in a female Milton quick-connect for re-inflating tires and running accessories.