I'm thinking about getting an air horn for my truck. Other than air horns being used on true semi's and trains I know next to nothing. Who is using what?

The reason I'm thinking about adding an air horn are the following reasons.

(1) Over the years towing my previous trailer I've seen people due the stupidest things. The biggest problem is when I'm in the slow lane with an on ramp. Traffic prevents me from pulling into a faster lane when people are entering the freeway. The number of people I have seen who see the truck, but some how fail to see the 30' travel trailer behind me. I have watched in horror as probably a half dozen or so idiots almost end up bouncing off a barrier attempting to slow down once they realize they can't slide in behind my truck. My horn dozen seem to clue them in, it's like they don't hear it.

(2) Now I'm towing a 13,000lb 5th wheel. I was able to avoid a few accidents because previously I could slow down enough. My truck and old trailer probably didn't way more than my current 5th wheel does sitting on the curb. I have no pretension that my new combination will be able to stop quicker and need to let folks know I'm there.

(3) I also have to admit that maybe I just want an air horn to hopefully scare the stupid drivers who are talking on the phone when they should be driving.

 

I have them.....~130db

Stupid people STILL ignore them.

But it IS comical to watch some of them jump about a foot outta their seat when they take a nap at a light and I tap the horn.

 

Which do you use and were have you mounted them?

 

It's fun on the bicyclist too.

 

Want something different? Go to a fire truck parts and get the real fire truck long horns, completely different and loud sound.

 

Got mine mounted up on the cab like they should be. I have them so people will hear them over their phone or radio.

 

If your looking for something loud and easy to install check this out http://www.galls.com/style.html?asso...SK123&cat=2662
I have one in my jeep and the air horn is loud. Mine is alittle different and has what is called phaser which I use when it dosen't seem like there getting the hint the phaser gets there attention. I don't have the siren part hooked up.

 

That's sure the truth. I did over 400 miles today pulling an A train (40' + 20' pup) loaded with crushed cars and I had at least 4 people pull down right bonehead moves cutting in front of me. Two of them cut right across from the far left lane to take an exit on my right. Then there was the gal who cut so close in front of me I couldn't see part of her car. I laid on the horn and all she did was wave nicely, move up a few rigs and do the same thing to a car. The car didn't weigh over 90,000 lbs like I did though. That was a light load. We're legal for 105,500. Ya s'pose she might have thought about that???


I don't think that's true. I spent nearly 27 years as a paid Firefighter and the ones on the rigs I was assigned looked and sounded exactly like a semi horn. Not all of them sounded the same though. Years ago we had a reserve rig at the house I was at and I liked it better than what was on the first line rig. I swapped them and it made no difference in the sound of either one. I was totally mystified over it. Never did figure that out.

Do you have source for fire horns like you are talking about? Just because I don't know anything about 'em doesn't mean it isn't so. Portland liked to be cheap sometimes.

 

Ok, I get mine from Quality Fire Truck Mfg in Talladega Alabama, but get into a Grover catalogue and look them up. See DOT controlls how loud they can be for a vehicle but not for trains and emergency vehicles. The horns on the Quality trucks have a mid tone but very loud and raspy. In many cases it is the trumpet that makes them loud, I had that experience. Had a two horn railroad set (switch engines) and they were terribly loud. Switched the trumpets for some pretty chrome trumpets from a truck set and they were then the same volume as the truck set.

 

Forgive me from straying from original thread.

I believe in loud horns for warning other motor vehicles.

But be careful on using them on cyclists, especially obvious amateurs/recreationists.

It can make them jump right into your path instead of out of it. As a life long cyclist I have trained myself to not look and steer away from the sound of a horn. But with most folks they tend to look/jerk head towards the sound and that in turn causes them to pull their bicycles into the path of the vehicle. Please slow down and go around them when possible to avoid a potentially fatal "event".

 

I have a set of three "train" horns on the roof of my Freightliner. They tend to get attention (or at least more than a traditional horn).

Having been a law enforcement officer, I have been behind people with lights blazing and siren blaring and had them pay no attention (even the sober ones...)
Years ago I drove a school bus briefly, and I would straddle the center line, headlights on, red lights going, hand on the horn and people would drive right by me and not even glance up.

There is a lot if distraction and inattention out there, and when you add in poor driving habits and a complete lack of understanding when it comes to distance, speed and how vehicles towing trailers operate...well, you all get the picture. I drive very close to the speed limit, use directional signals and am always conscious of getting up to merge speed on the interstate and allowing ample distance (fore and aft) between myself and other vehicles. Years of investigating MV accidents can have that effect on you.

Back when I lived in NE, I loved winter when I could hang my plow on the front of my truck - now here in South Florida, I say the heck with the train horn, I want a COW CATCHER or a V-PLOW so I can just "persuade and educate" those who interfere with my forward progress. No ramming...just a gentle "encouraging" nudge in the right direction.....kind of a take on "here's your sign".....

 

I can attest to that. I was even passed a couple times over the years while on a code 3 run.


That's interesting. I'll have to check that out. I know train horns seem very loud. The horn on the Pete I drive is not near as loud as I would like.

 

I have them and love them. The original compresser and tak were to small. I bought a RV style tank and mounted it on the frame rail with the compressor. Now I can use them for about 30 seconds constant.
I have the trumpets mounted under the bed, right in the center, just in front of the spare tire. Two face forward and one backwards.
On a side note a buddy stopped by the other day to help me with removing the pitman arm on my truck. He had not seen or heard the new horns, so I thought I amy as well let him hear them while he was under the truck. lol
I almost wet myself when he came flying out from under the truck......
Of course I appoligized while laughing my rear off.

 

I actually go out of my way to give clarence to bikers who are trying to do the right thing. The ones that really **** me off however are the groups of bikers who take up an entire lane on the back country roads. Here in Colorado we have a law that prohibits bikers from riding more than two abreast. Most the time when I see them I'm on my Ducati which has the best horn on the planet. The bike is fairly quiet when tooling along at about 4,000 RPM. I'll ride up to the back of the group, drop down a gear or two, and crack the throttle wide open. The sound of a Ducati at 9,000RPM is music to my ears, but then again I'm in front of the pipes.

 

Doesn't that muffle some of the sound?
I did something like that to one of my kids years ago. He was 14 or so and we had to go to the store for something. He went ahead and jump in my Ford Excursion while I was in the house grabbing my jacket or something. I came to the front door and saw him sitting in the front seat with the passenger door open. I hit the remote alarm button on my key. That kid flew a good ten feet out of the truck before he touched down. Just typing this is bringing back memories of the event and I'm laughing still to this day. Of course, now my son is 22 and a Sergeant in the Army. Someday he'll probably get his revenge and I'll probably have a heart attack.