BigDaveZJ
12-06-2005, 02:01 PM
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/productreviews/formattfabco2/banner.gif
We've all heard of PowerTank. We've all read the debates of CO2 vs OBA. With the cost of a PowerTank, it gave a lot of advantage to an OBA setup. However, there is a company out there that is selling CO2 tanks at a much lower price than PowerTank. This changes up the debate quite a bit because now CO2 is MUCH more affordable!
Formatt Fabrications started out when a few friends with engineering and architecture backgrounds got together and became frustrated at the lack of high quality custom parts for their XJ's. Being a ZJ owner, I know the feeling!
Formatt makes some very nice custom, handbuilt products for XJ's like rocker panel replacements, LED taillights, tube doors, and also is a dealer Rubicon Express, SkyJacker, and several others.
Now onto the good stuff. I will be testing their 20lb CO2 tank with adjustable regulator and mounting bracket. I will do several tests with the CO2 tank against my 33 gallon 120v Craftsman air compressor. I will time how long it takes to fill a 33x12.50 from 12psi to 35psi, as well as a 245/75R16. I will compare these numbers to my shop compressor to see how fast this tank can fill up your tires. I will also use air tools on the tank to get a feel for those. I basically plan on emptying the tank as fast as I can and then telling you what I was able to accomplish before the tank got emptied.
These are the specs on the tanks:
- 0-150 psi adjustable regulator w/ guages for tires and air tools
- built-in valve guard/handle
- high strength aluminum alloy
- all cylinders are new and certified
- 10lb tank dimensions - height: 21" diameter: 6.875"
- 20lb tank dimensions - height: 28" diameter: 8"
- CO2 tanks are sold empty
Here is what their tank and mounting brackets look like:
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/productreviews/formattfabco2/tank.jpghttp://www.mallcrawlin.com/productreviews/formattfabco2/bracket.jpg
More information about Formatt Fabrications can be found at their website: www.formattfab.com (http://www.formattfab.com)
And now, on to the test results!!!
I wanted to put the tank through a good test that real life use could be compared to. Since most of us are familiar with using compressors in the shop, I decided to start off by timing the two in a race. The tire I used is a 33x12.50R15 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain K/M mounted on a 15x8 wheel.
The CO2 tank:
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/productreviews/formattfabco2/formattfabco2%20002.jpg
And the Competition! A Craftsman 33 gallon compressor with a 2 HP motor:
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/productreviews/formattfabco2/formattfabco2%20003.jpg
I've had the compressor for 2 or 3 years now, so I'm quite familiar with it and have been happy with its performance.
So I aired down a tire to 10 psi and then aired the tire up using the CO2, aired it back down, and then used the compressor. I was quite surprised and impressed at the times.
Formatt Fab CO2 tank: 1:15
Craftsman Compressor: 1:20
So the CO2 tank actually beat the compressor! I had set the adjustable regulators on both units to approximately 100 psi so that should have had no effect on the results. Granted 5 seconds is quite negligible in most situations, but comparing to most of the gas station compressors I've used in the past . . . yeah, I'm stoked.
I also timed my deflators to compare how long it would take to air down vs air up. I've got the little $12.99 jobbers that you screw on the valve stem. Nothing fancy, but they work. And apparently quite SLOW!! They came in at 5:49 from 35 psi to 10 psi! When I air down on the trail I usually do one side at a time, so I'm spending over 10 minutes to air down, and I would air up in half that time!
Now onto the torture test portion of this. I wanted to see what all I could get done with one fill of the tank. Many reviews have just measured how many tires they could air up. Well, I will not be using my CO2 for just airing up, as I have a tendency to break things on the trail as well, so I wanted to measure what I could with air tools as well.
I decided my test would be to not only air up as many tires as I could, but to mount and dismount the wheels from my vehicle. Typical 5x4.5 bolt pattern axle 8.8, so 5 lug nuts per wheel.
I was able to take the wheel off and put it back on 8 times AS WELL as air up the tire from 10 to 35 psi 8 times with my 20lb tank.
Now there is STILL a good amount of CO2 left over in the tank, but the gauge has frozen so that no more CO2 is getting through. This is the nature of the beast with CO2, and seeing as how I used a lot of it really fast, I believe the gauge has frozen. I don't have time to let it thaw today and see how much more I can get out of it, but I will try tomorrow.
My interpretation of these results is that I can air up my Jeep, Pam's Jeep, a couple other Jeeps, AND do some minor trail repairs without using up all of the tank. Since the tank only costs a little over $10 to fill up at a local fire exitnguisher shop, I consider this to be quite a satisfactory performance of the unit and a valued asset on the trail.
Many of us are looking for some sort of solution for a way to have air tools and be able to air up tires on the trail. There are complicated On Board Air systems available, and several MUCH higher priced CO2 units available on the market right now. The Formatt Fab 20lb CO2 tank is a simple design, and works very well. I did not feel any difference in strength in my impact gun over my compressor, and it airs up the tires a hair faster than my compressor does. If you have the room for a 20lb tank, I would recommend going with the 20lb unit. Most of this recommendation comes from my background, as an Eagle Scout I have always believed in Be Prepared, and if it can fit and there's a chance in hell I'll need it, it goes. If you don't have room for a 20lb tank, the 10lb tank would be an excellent alternative!
12/24/05 Update
We used the Formatt Fabrications CO2 tank again today to try and get the Aussie Locker installed, still PLENTY of CO2 left in there. Unfortunately all we were able to do was take the diff cover off and put it back on, but there was still as much power as it when it was first filled!
We've all heard of PowerTank. We've all read the debates of CO2 vs OBA. With the cost of a PowerTank, it gave a lot of advantage to an OBA setup. However, there is a company out there that is selling CO2 tanks at a much lower price than PowerTank. This changes up the debate quite a bit because now CO2 is MUCH more affordable!
Formatt Fabrications started out when a few friends with engineering and architecture backgrounds got together and became frustrated at the lack of high quality custom parts for their XJ's. Being a ZJ owner, I know the feeling!
Formatt makes some very nice custom, handbuilt products for XJ's like rocker panel replacements, LED taillights, tube doors, and also is a dealer Rubicon Express, SkyJacker, and several others.
Now onto the good stuff. I will be testing their 20lb CO2 tank with adjustable regulator and mounting bracket. I will do several tests with the CO2 tank against my 33 gallon 120v Craftsman air compressor. I will time how long it takes to fill a 33x12.50 from 12psi to 35psi, as well as a 245/75R16. I will compare these numbers to my shop compressor to see how fast this tank can fill up your tires. I will also use air tools on the tank to get a feel for those. I basically plan on emptying the tank as fast as I can and then telling you what I was able to accomplish before the tank got emptied.
These are the specs on the tanks:
- 0-150 psi adjustable regulator w/ guages for tires and air tools
- built-in valve guard/handle
- high strength aluminum alloy
- all cylinders are new and certified
- 10lb tank dimensions - height: 21" diameter: 6.875"
- 20lb tank dimensions - height: 28" diameter: 8"
- CO2 tanks are sold empty
Here is what their tank and mounting brackets look like:
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/productreviews/formattfabco2/tank.jpghttp://www.mallcrawlin.com/productreviews/formattfabco2/bracket.jpg
More information about Formatt Fabrications can be found at their website: www.formattfab.com (http://www.formattfab.com)
And now, on to the test results!!!
I wanted to put the tank through a good test that real life use could be compared to. Since most of us are familiar with using compressors in the shop, I decided to start off by timing the two in a race. The tire I used is a 33x12.50R15 BFGoodrich Mud Terrain K/M mounted on a 15x8 wheel.
The CO2 tank:
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/productreviews/formattfabco2/formattfabco2%20002.jpg
And the Competition! A Craftsman 33 gallon compressor with a 2 HP motor:
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/productreviews/formattfabco2/formattfabco2%20003.jpg
I've had the compressor for 2 or 3 years now, so I'm quite familiar with it and have been happy with its performance.
So I aired down a tire to 10 psi and then aired the tire up using the CO2, aired it back down, and then used the compressor. I was quite surprised and impressed at the times.
Formatt Fab CO2 tank: 1:15
Craftsman Compressor: 1:20
So the CO2 tank actually beat the compressor! I had set the adjustable regulators on both units to approximately 100 psi so that should have had no effect on the results. Granted 5 seconds is quite negligible in most situations, but comparing to most of the gas station compressors I've used in the past . . . yeah, I'm stoked.
I also timed my deflators to compare how long it would take to air down vs air up. I've got the little $12.99 jobbers that you screw on the valve stem. Nothing fancy, but they work. And apparently quite SLOW!! They came in at 5:49 from 35 psi to 10 psi! When I air down on the trail I usually do one side at a time, so I'm spending over 10 minutes to air down, and I would air up in half that time!
Now onto the torture test portion of this. I wanted to see what all I could get done with one fill of the tank. Many reviews have just measured how many tires they could air up. Well, I will not be using my CO2 for just airing up, as I have a tendency to break things on the trail as well, so I wanted to measure what I could with air tools as well.
I decided my test would be to not only air up as many tires as I could, but to mount and dismount the wheels from my vehicle. Typical 5x4.5 bolt pattern axle 8.8, so 5 lug nuts per wheel.
I was able to take the wheel off and put it back on 8 times AS WELL as air up the tire from 10 to 35 psi 8 times with my 20lb tank.
Now there is STILL a good amount of CO2 left over in the tank, but the gauge has frozen so that no more CO2 is getting through. This is the nature of the beast with CO2, and seeing as how I used a lot of it really fast, I believe the gauge has frozen. I don't have time to let it thaw today and see how much more I can get out of it, but I will try tomorrow.
My interpretation of these results is that I can air up my Jeep, Pam's Jeep, a couple other Jeeps, AND do some minor trail repairs without using up all of the tank. Since the tank only costs a little over $10 to fill up at a local fire exitnguisher shop, I consider this to be quite a satisfactory performance of the unit and a valued asset on the trail.
Many of us are looking for some sort of solution for a way to have air tools and be able to air up tires on the trail. There are complicated On Board Air systems available, and several MUCH higher priced CO2 units available on the market right now. The Formatt Fab 20lb CO2 tank is a simple design, and works very well. I did not feel any difference in strength in my impact gun over my compressor, and it airs up the tires a hair faster than my compressor does. If you have the room for a 20lb tank, I would recommend going with the 20lb unit. Most of this recommendation comes from my background, as an Eagle Scout I have always believed in Be Prepared, and if it can fit and there's a chance in hell I'll need it, it goes. If you don't have room for a 20lb tank, the 10lb tank would be an excellent alternative!
12/24/05 Update
We used the Formatt Fabrications CO2 tank again today to try and get the Aussie Locker installed, still PLENTY of CO2 left in there. Unfortunately all we were able to do was take the diff cover off and put it back on, but there was still as much power as it when it was first filled!