Another on air horns....type and installation

[John316]

I didn't want to hijack any of the other threads on air horns, so I though I would start another one.

We are looking at adding more airhorns on our bus. Right now we have the electric sissy horn (sorry guys). We also have dual trumpets mounted in front of the drive wheel (in the little compartment up there). The air horns can sure be heard, but as usual I want bigger and better .

We are probably going to mount at least four trumpets on the roof (actually thinking about eight, lol). I know people do it all day long, but how do you keep bugs out of the trumpets? Seems like they would get full, especially down south in love bug season. Do we have to put covers on them?

I am also thinking that we might mount another tank down next to our other accessory tank, to make sure that we have plenty of air for those horns.  What size line should we use? I have seen 1/8" a lot of places, but I am thinking more along the lines of 3/8" (maybe 1/4").

I am looking at this set http://www.buellairhorns.com/buell-locomotive-air-horn-kit-c-4-p-1-pr-16148.html. However, I like the looks of some of the five stacks.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

John

[DebDav]

I know nothing about covers but think they might be needed. 

I drive an ambulance and we had air horns on the roof.  Activation was very loud in the cab.  We moved them to the bumper.

[Bill B /bus]

You need covers or have cash to replace horn(s) within a year. Covers run about $8 each.  1/4" air line is sufficient to provide proper sound on two horns.

Bill

[TomC]

I have 1.2 million miles on my big rig truck with no covers on its' twin horns on the roof.  I have 2-twins on the roof of my bus with no covers-no problems.  I used those exact 4 horn Buells on my truck except they were mounted under my driver's door on top of a storage box aimed out to the left right behind the front tire.  Worked great for waking up driver's that passed me.  On my bus, the 4 horn Buells are mounted in front of my right front door in a small space between the door and front of the bus facing down to the pavement.  Works really well-but a bit loud inside-but not ear shattering.  I highly recommend the 4 horn Buells-the 5 stack isn't worth the extra money-although they do sound great! Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

What does everyone need such loud horns for?  I didn't even realize I had an air horn until a year or more into my bus ownership.  A group of us were working in the bus one day and someone accidentally put a foot on the air horn switch on the floor.

I personally have never used the air or electric horn in my bus.  I don't recall that any other driver has either except for honking the air horn at 2 in the morning in an empty tunnel in the middle of nowhere.  (One guy sleeping in the back though we were about to crash.)  The last time I used a horn on any vehicle was 7 or 8 years ago when someone was going to back into my vehicle in a parking lot.

[John316]

Thanks for the replies, folks.

We will probably get covers, just for the fun of it.

That does bring up a good point, though. We will have to figure out the best place to mount it. We have thought of all sorts of places. I guess we will have to keep stumping on that....If they go on the roof, I wonder how effective that would be. That is so far up, that I wonder if we would lose some effectiveness. I want to be able to "jump" a little car back into their lane, and make sure a truck hears us (they do now, but I just want to make sure). I do not want to be like the cars that honk. Side note, I wonder if most cars realize that a truck can never hear their mosquito horn? I remember one gal was mad at us, and we knew she was honking. How did we know? Her arm was locked out onto her horn button . We didn't hear anything until she was right next to the driver window (I forget what she was mad about).

Tom, how did the ABS hold up? We were thinking about going with a different kind of material, because we don't know how the ABS will hold up. Do you think they will last of the roof, if we decide to put them up there?

Brian, maybe it is just us, but we average 30 to 40K miles per year (not much for most, but more than a lot on the board). And when we are out, we are usually pushing for six weeks or so, then be back home. We have had trucks drift over, as we pass. Four wheelers that decide to do stupid things. Aka, LA five lane exit dive, to stop in front of us. That kind of thing. FWIW

Thanks for the thoughts, folks. Anything else, please let me know.

John

[DMoedave]

ours are really loud and mounted under the driver slightly angled out and down. sometimes they "freeze" cars which is not a good thing. I have learned to just do a quick tap but usually use the regular horn for most communication with other vehicles. the silversides are mounted on the roof and are more deep toned and dont seem to scare people as much

[buswarrior]

Brian, you aren't alone, I rarely bother with the horn.

It's purpose is for warning, however, rarely these days, does it get used without some sort of emotion involved.

If the horn will make a difference, using all that reaction time, of mine and then of the offending driver, initially using the brakes instead of the horn, will have solved the problem already.

That being said, those who want horns, will get them, and more power to them.

With an appropriate lottery win, even I might look into a set of those Nathan K5LA train horns... recordings available for all their products...

http://www.airhornsoftexas.com/train-air-horns/nathan-k5la.html

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[desi arnaz]

i was at an Indian run motel in new jersey and had a problem with my shifter [it broke off in my hand] i was not able to go out the back and the rear was blocked by a car. i went to the front desk to ask them to have the guest move his car, they refused so i went back out to the bus and sat on my air horn for a full minute. i had 5 Indian guys out there pissed off at me to beat the band. they finally woke the guy up and i was able to leave.  on a side note i have a 2 1/2 y/o son that loves to honk the horn when we stop so i had to install a key lock on the horn to De activate it when i leave him with momma in the bus while i am in a store.

[desi arnaz]

i could be wrong but i think my horns point to the rear of the bus, so no bug problems....

[Just Dallas]

Well, this is a tad bit off topic but,

The most fun you can have while in the drivers seat, while driving and doing other almost legal stuff is:

Pull up to a stop light about 03:30 on a 4 lane road.
Notice there is a drunk in the lane next to you.

While the light is red, quietly slip the bus into reverse and creep very slowly backward.

At the same time, toot the air horn and motion at the drunk.

I won't tell you what can happen, but I am sure glad that brake pedals are built reallt heavy!

[TomC]

The difference between using the big train horn or not-it the difference between living in the city or not-in my case L.A.  I was sure glad to have the train horn when a big rig started to drift into my lane when the driver wasn't looking where he was going.  Don't wait till you have a situation where you wished you had a train horn-get one!  Most cars and most of the new trucks are so quiet inside, you need a very loud horn for them to here it.  I've had to many situations where I was thankful for having my train horn.  Good Luck, TomC

[JackConrad]

    We have 2 pair of air horns installed in the compartment under the drivers seat (1 pair are long trumpets .with a very low tone, the other pair are shorter trumpets and higher toned). Each pair is controlled by a separate switch. We also have the pair of OEM electric horns controlled by their own switch. The 2 horn buttons in the steering wheel are labeled EMERGENCY ONLY. These switches activate all of the horns (air & electric). I have only used the steering wheel switches a few times when a vehicle started to drift into my lane. If I really need to get their attention, I can hit the steering wheel switch with my right thumb (while holding the wheel with my right hand) and lift the ball valve lever with my left hand to activate the train whistle (have only done that when parked and showing someone the bus).  Jack

[bobofthenorth]

A good horn is like an insurance policy - you hope to spend your whole life never using it but if you ever really need to use it then you'll be glad it was a good one.

[artvonne]

I won't tell you what can happen

  Oh, come on. The suspense is staggering.