I just got a train horn on ebay and took it in to get installed and they wanted twice as much as the train horn cost to install it ($400). I decided that I would do it myself. Anyone ever install on themselves and want to give me some tips?
Installing train horn on 2008 Z71
- Thread starter Millsp
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Hammer450R
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You have to side face them or rear face them, the rain will rott the horns fast if not. So ive heard
Hammer450R
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Its not a hard install, just time consuming. Have to mount the compressor and the horns is all. Thats the hardest part.
I fabbed up a bracket and mounted the compressor, tank, and electrics on the auxillary battery tray. Mounted the horns sideways to the front frame rail cross member behind the plastic bumper, out of sight, out of harm's way.
Be careful where you get power. There are two fused studs on the underhood fuse box.
I used one of those for main power and to power the relays. Put a switch and button in the plastic cover under the steering wheel.
Be careful where you get power. There are two fused studs on the underhood fuse box.
I used one of those for main power and to power the relays. Put a switch and button in the plastic cover under the steering wheel.
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Thanks for your help Whit. Im planning on mouning the horns in the same place as you (2: 17 and 15 inch) but I need to further look on where to put my compresser and tank, which arent that big.
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OnE_bAd_HoE
Senior Member
Interested in seeing pics of the install, I'm planning on getting some put in to hook them up to the alarm.
OnE_bAd_HoE
Senior Member
Here you go this video shows where this dude installed them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5HPK5dNAH0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5HPK5dNAH0
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Autbond
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They are a ton of fun! I had one on my lifted 4Runner and it was mounted where the spare tire was. That is where I am putting it on my Tahoe too.
ezdaar
Chat Troll
I do not condone using train horns on the streets, its dangerous and will cause you or someone else to get hurt.
anyways heres how to wire a horn up in the simplest of terms..
use a dbl throw dbl pole toggle switch , discretly mounted under dash. if you want you can get some really nice, and SMALL lighted switchs to let you know your system is armed.
Like this or the best
It's multi colored to visually tell you how your system is armed.
Along with a single pole momentary push button.
Sorry cant seem to find any round double throw illuminated (multi colored)rockers, right now..
Wire the solinoids trigger relay into that switch, so that in middle position the system is DISARMED, Forward and it operates with your standard horn.
Rear posistion it operates from the momentary push button.
Aswell as if you have aftermarket alarm with its own siren. link it to the train horn via the primary solinoid trigger wire. be sure to wire in a diode to keep the train horn trigger from setting off aftermarket alarm siren, everytime you blast it..
DONOT allow the compressor to run when your key is OFF, or you will find yourself with a dead battery.
If you get creative, you can run a duel batt isolation switch and a ATV battery to run the compressor when Key is off so that the horn will continue to run untill the comp kills the ATV batt..
Allowing you to satill start vehical.
anyways heres how to wire a horn up in the simplest of terms..
use a dbl throw dbl pole toggle switch , discretly mounted under dash. if you want you can get some really nice, and SMALL lighted switchs to let you know your system is armed.
Like this or the best
It's multi colored to visually tell you how your system is armed.
Along with a single pole momentary push button.
Sorry cant seem to find any round double throw illuminated (multi colored)rockers, right now..
Wire the solinoids trigger relay into that switch, so that in middle position the system is DISARMED, Forward and it operates with your standard horn.
Rear posistion it operates from the momentary push button.
Aswell as if you have aftermarket alarm with its own siren. link it to the train horn via the primary solinoid trigger wire. be sure to wire in a diode to keep the train horn trigger from setting off aftermarket alarm siren, everytime you blast it..
DONOT allow the compressor to run when your key is OFF, or you will find yourself with a dead battery.
If you get creative, you can run a duel batt isolation switch and a ATV battery to run the compressor when Key is off so that the horn will continue to run untill the comp kills the ATV batt..
Allowing you to satill start vehical.
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07ChevyHoe
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I for one have a train horn and love it. Mine is a actual train horn not a knock off...(paid 600+ for it) anyways theres a million different ways to do it. If you have any questions shoot me a pm. Mine actually has an air valve mounted under my dash so you can have different tones, maybe 50% air or 100%. Which ever you choose. My air tank is in the back, and my horn is mounted with 2 "u" bolts up under the front bumper, facing to the passenger side. Let me know if you need any more answers!
Mr Ghostrider
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Since this thread is lacking actual tips for being on page whatever....
I used to have a Hummer that I installed an on-board air system into. (When I was 22 years old..if that makes a difference.
) While I didn't have a train horn, I installed a fire truck horn..a Grover 1510 stuttertone. I found it to be just as loud or louder because of the stuttertone and since its only a single chime, its easy to find a place to install it and its cheaper..got mine new for $99. I also used it responsibly and never was arrested or shot in 5 years of use.
I put the compressor under the hood by the battery for easy wiring and the air tank in the cabin. While you can put the air supply outside along a frame rail or something, when charged..there is a large amount of energy stored in that tank and if you can avoid it rusting and getting hit with rocks...its just smarter.
Definitely put in an "arming" switch to turn the air compressor on and off. You won't want it charged all the time.
Place the "HONK!!!!!" button in a hidden location only in reach for the driver..and dont make the button red. Every single passenger will not be able to resist and you'll find yourself in big trouble for somebody honking at a really wrong time.
A big thing I did was to add a 2nd solenoid and button in the cabin as a dump valve. That way if you are going to store it for a long time or if its a hot day, you can drain the tank and avoid temp increased air pressure..without having to use the orn. I made this button red and put it in the cabin...it helped passengers with the urge to push a button..but this one only went "PFFFFFFFFFF"
Viair makes an air gauge for the dashboard which is very nice so you can know exactly how much air is in the tank. Pressure sensors fail and if it goes unnoticed, it will keep filling until you max out the compressor and it blows. I've had lines blow out while 4-wheeling and a couple gallons at 140psi makes a loud pop! I also caught a bad sensor when the tank was at 180psi.
If your horns are exposed to the elements, check out Outerwears pre-filters. Normally for engines, they make a pre-filter for velocity stacks (part 20-2458 velocity stack ******) that fits perfect around the bell of the horn and will keep dirt and road crud from getting to the diaphragm.
The bigger the air line to your horns, the better they will sound. Extra pressure will also help to keep them from squeaking. Keep in mind that train horns are designed to be run at 150psi so its going to sound "squeakier" than they do on an actual train and not nearly as loud because you wont find a small compressor that will safely go up to 150psi. The firetruck horns run great around 90psi and will go down to about 60psi before it starts struggling.
For about the price of a pizza, put a quick connect adapter somewhere in the line and keep an air hose and a tire filler in your trunk. You'll find need to fill tires and run air tools more than you think!
As a personal commentary, the fire truck horn was my favorite feature of all time. People forget when they see these big horns that the original horns are still intact... you dont have to honk the big horn every time. I really only used mine in parades or at car shows. Both police and firemen have given me the international honk sign and a thumbs up in parades. My favorite use though was driving by tailgating college students with "You Honk, We Drink." signs...be careful what you ask for.
On the highway, at speed, it is VERY hard to hear an OEM horn unless you are right up next to it...in most cars at highway speed, you can only hear an OEM horn about 1 car away...really only good for honking at the car as its about to hit you (assuming they dont have their radio on, too!) A 150 decibel air horn though is about 5 car lengths away or loud enough to hear 1 car length away with the radio on.
Anyway..long post but bottom line is they are fun and a crowd favorite...use it responsibly and you wont have a problem.
I used to have a Hummer that I installed an on-board air system into. (When I was 22 years old..if that makes a difference.
) While I didn't have a train horn, I installed a fire truck horn..a Grover 1510 stuttertone. I found it to be just as loud or louder because of the stuttertone and since its only a single chime, its easy to find a place to install it and its cheaper..got mine new for $99. I also used it responsibly and never was arrested or shot in 5 years of use.I put the compressor under the hood by the battery for easy wiring and the air tank in the cabin. While you can put the air supply outside along a frame rail or something, when charged..there is a large amount of energy stored in that tank and if you can avoid it rusting and getting hit with rocks...its just smarter.
Definitely put in an "arming" switch to turn the air compressor on and off. You won't want it charged all the time.
Place the "HONK!!!!!" button in a hidden location only in reach for the driver..and dont make the button red. Every single passenger will not be able to resist and you'll find yourself in big trouble for somebody honking at a really wrong time.
A big thing I did was to add a 2nd solenoid and button in the cabin as a dump valve. That way if you are going to store it for a long time or if its a hot day, you can drain the tank and avoid temp increased air pressure..without having to use the orn. I made this button red and put it in the cabin...it helped passengers with the urge to push a button..but this one only went "PFFFFFFFFFF"
Viair makes an air gauge for the dashboard which is very nice so you can know exactly how much air is in the tank. Pressure sensors fail and if it goes unnoticed, it will keep filling until you max out the compressor and it blows. I've had lines blow out while 4-wheeling and a couple gallons at 140psi makes a loud pop! I also caught a bad sensor when the tank was at 180psi.
If your horns are exposed to the elements, check out Outerwears pre-filters. Normally for engines, they make a pre-filter for velocity stacks (part 20-2458 velocity stack ******) that fits perfect around the bell of the horn and will keep dirt and road crud from getting to the diaphragm.
The bigger the air line to your horns, the better they will sound. Extra pressure will also help to keep them from squeaking. Keep in mind that train horns are designed to be run at 150psi so its going to sound "squeakier" than they do on an actual train and not nearly as loud because you wont find a small compressor that will safely go up to 150psi. The firetruck horns run great around 90psi and will go down to about 60psi before it starts struggling.
For about the price of a pizza, put a quick connect adapter somewhere in the line and keep an air hose and a tire filler in your trunk. You'll find need to fill tires and run air tools more than you think!
As a personal commentary, the fire truck horn was my favorite feature of all time. People forget when they see these big horns that the original horns are still intact... you dont have to honk the big horn every time. I really only used mine in parades or at car shows. Both police and firemen have given me the international honk sign and a thumbs up in parades. My favorite use though was driving by tailgating college students with "You Honk, We Drink." signs...be careful what you ask for.
On the highway, at speed, it is VERY hard to hear an OEM horn unless you are right up next to it...in most cars at highway speed, you can only hear an OEM horn about 1 car away...really only good for honking at the car as its about to hit you (assuming they dont have their radio on, too!) A 150 decibel air horn though is about 5 car lengths away or loud enough to hear 1 car length away with the radio on.
Anyway..long post but bottom line is they are fun and a crowd favorite...use it responsibly and you wont have a problem.
GeneralNoobzor
Full Access Member
Installing a train horn is easy! I will shot you some instructions.
Self Explanatory.
Self Explanatory.
Kman
Full Access Member
The shop my buddy works at installed a Horn Blasters kit into a customers Esky. The shop took the whole front end off and mounted the horns in front of the radiator, but inside the grill. Super clean install. They plumbed the air lines into the compressor for the air bag suspension.
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29079
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29079
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