Onboard air and auxiliary battery setups -- your preferences?

[AmericanAdventureLab]

We’re in the middle of R&D on our new MASS+ platform for the 6th-gen 4Runner, and one of the areas we’re focusing on is accessory trays. These trays will give you the option to mount gear like:

• Onboard air: Brushed or brushless ARB Twin Compressors
• Aux power: Dual 30Ah battery setup paired with a REDarc BCDC1240D (CAD rendering below)

I’ll also likely be building a “connection kit” bracket that allows you to mount the compressor switch and the air line coupler inside the factory jack storage compartment—keeping everything clean, tucked away, and easy to access. See photo below of the area I'm talking about.


All of these will be available as add-on options when the MASS+ platform goes live on Americanadventurelab.com.


I’d love to hear from the community:

• What do you prioritize in an onboard air setup (speed, reliability, duty cycle, compactness, etc.)?
• For auxiliary batteries, what matters most—capacity, charging speed, brand compatibility, modularity, or something else?
• Are there any features or mounting solutions you wish existed but haven’t seen done well yet?

Your feedback directly helps guide how we refine these add-ons before launch. Photos of the accessory trays with the ARB compressor and the dual battery CAD rendering are attached for reference.

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Also, if you're interested, here is the thread about our MASS Platform for the 6th Gen.

—James
Chief Design Strategist, American Adventure Lab

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[Scarlett]

We’re in the middle of R&D on our new MASS+ platform for the 6th-gen 4Runner, and one of the areas we’re focusing on is accessory trays. These trays will give you the option to mount gear like:

• Onboard air: Brushed or brushless ARB Twin Compressors
• Aux power: Dual 30Ah battery setup paired with a REDarc BCDC1240D (CAD rendering below)

I’ll also likely be building a “connection kit” bracket that allows you to mount the compressor switch and the air line coupler inside the factory jack storage compartment—keeping everything clean, tucked away, and easy to access. See photo below of the area I'm talking about.


All of these will be available as add-on options when the MASS+ platform goes live on Adventurelab.com.


I’d love to hear from the community:

• What do you prioritize in an onboard air setup (speed, reliability, duty cycle, compactness, etc.)?
• For auxiliary batteries, what matters most—capacity, charging speed, brand compatibility, modularity, or something else?
• Are there any features or mounting solutions you wish existed but haven’t seen done well yet?

Your feedback directly helps guide how we refine these add-ons before launch. Photos of the accessory trays with the ARB compressor and the dual battery CAD rendering are attached for reference.

Looking forward to your thoughts!

—James
Chief Design Strategist, American Adventure Lab

I haven't used auxiliary batteries yet, but having convenient air is always a priority for me. I like what you have so far... it's convenient, out of the way, not too much of a hassle to run power with it being located in the back. Speed and space saving are priorities for me. So this might hit both.

Other than that, I'm a big fan of the decked system in my Gladiator. I always wanted something with that k8nd of convenience for the 4runner. Just a place to put everything in a way that is intelligent, adaptable, and configurable for different situations... and also light weight would be good.

 

[timelapse]

Looks awesome.

So, that's a 12v power connection point next to the jack there from the factory or something you added?

 

[AmericanAdventureLab]

I haven't used auxiliary batteries yet, but having convenient air is always a priority for me. I like what you have so far... it's convenient, out of the way, not too much of a hassle to run power with it being located in the back. Speed and space saving are priorities for me. So this might hit both.

Other than that, I'm a big fan of the decked system in my Gladiator. I always wanted something with that k8nd of convenience for the 4runner. Just a place to put everything in a way that is intelligent, adaptable, and configurable for different situations... and also light weight would be good.

Thanks! We always seem to add power as soon as we can with all of our adventure rigs. The compressor will be run to the main cranking battery, but most other accessories will go the AUX battery, especially the fridge.

I love the Decked systems, but the only thing that has kept me from getting one is that there is quite a bit of wasted space, and we always try and optimize as much space as possible.

Thank you for the kind words and input! I can't wait to get this all wired in and operational so I can go do some testing!

 

[AmericanAdventureLab]

Looks awesome.

So, that's a 12v power connection point next to the jack there from the factory or something you added?

That is all factory. The boxed area is simply showing where the connection kit bracket will live. I will likely grab the power for the switch from the AUX battery setup, but the compressor motors will be wired directly to the main cranking battery.

 

[timelapse]

That is all factory. The boxed area is simply showing where the connection kit bracket will live. I will likely grab the power for the switch from the AUX battery setup, but the compressor motors will be wired directly to the main cranking battery.

I see. So that unused connector next to the bottle jack is unknown in terms of what it's there for?

 

[TurnerXC]

I really like this concept but my major concern with these platform systems is the space it takes up considering I use my 6G TRD Pro as a daily driver and a part time adventure rig. I have an existing High Output Single compressor that I pulled out of my old rig that I would love to have a mount for. Ideally in the engine bay. My plan was to originally wire it to my factory Aux 1 switch. Love your products and this concept

 

[AmericanAdventureLab]

I see. So that unused connector next to the bottle jack is unknown in terms of what it's there for?

Correct. I'll look into it when I wire all of this system in, as I'm curious about it as well.

 

[AmericanAdventureLab]

I really like this concept but my major concern with these platform systems is the space it takes up considering I use my 6G TRD Pro as a daily driver and a part time adventure rig. I have an existing High Output Single compressor that I pulled out of my old rig that I would love to have a mount for. Ideally in the engine bay. My plan was to originally wire it to my factory Aux 1 switch. Love your products and this concept

Do you mean how it takes up space in the storage are below the floor?
The platform itself doesn't take up any more space than the factory floor piece did, as its on pretty much the same plane as the factory floor.

I know there is going to be a lot of under hood compressor mounts for these, but I always try and keep compressors out of radiant heat and dust exposure. I've had some compressors go bad under the hood. I also know plenty of folks that have had them under the hood for years with no issues, so maybe it just comes down to personal preference.

Thank you for your input! I love these conversations.

 

[TurnerXC]

Do you mean how it takes up space in the storage are below the floor?
The platform itself doesn't take up any more space than the factory floor piece did, as its on pretty much the same plane as the factory floor.

I know there is going to be a lot of under hood compressor mounts for these, but I always try and keep compressors out of radiant heat and dust exposure. I've had some compressors go bad under the hood. I also know plenty of folks that have had them under the hood for years with no issues, so maybe it just comes down to personal preference.

Thank you for your input! I love these conversations.

Ohhh. Now I get it. I didn’t understand that your platform is recessed into the original layout of the stock tray. I really dig that. Does that interfere with the Hybrid battery location at all? Thanks for the response and info.

 

[AmericanAdventureLab]

Ohhh. Now I get it. I didn’t understand that your platform is recessed into the original layout of the stock tray. I really dig that. Does that interfere with the Hybrid battery location at all? Thanks for the response and info.

Yes, this is the non-hybrid version because that's what I chose when I order our 4Runner.

Once this is released, I'll be on the hunt for a donor Hybrid so I can build the Hybrid version of this.

 

[Roach011]

I like the idea of hidden dual battery setup but i'm a no go on air in the cabin. So loud. That compressor belongs under the hood.

Hybrids benefit less from a built in dual battery setup though, considering we have a 2400 watt inverter that can charge a power station super fast.

 

[AmericanAdventureLab]

I like the idea of hidden dual battery setup but i'm a no go on air in the cabin. So loud. That compressor belongs under the hood.

Hybrids benefit less from a built in dual battery setup though, considering we have a 2400 watt inverter that can charge a power station super fast.

Fair enough! To each their own for sure. That's what I like talking about it.

I'm outside of the vehicle with the hatch open airing up 99% of the time, so the noise hasn't ever been an issue, especially when there are drawers of gear over the top of it. I have just never noticed it being that bad.

I definitely love the 2400w inverter in the hybrid. I didn't want the hybrid when I ordered ours, so I obviously don't have that luxury.

 

[Roach011]

Fair enough! To each their own for sure. That's what I like talking about it.

I'm outside of the vehicle with the hatch open airing up 99% of the time, so the noise hasn't ever been an issue, especially when there are drawers of gear over the top of it. I have just never noticed it being that bad.

I definitely love the 2400w inverter in the hybrid. I didn't want the hybrid when I ordered ours, so I obviously don't have that luxury.

Yea I’m outside the rig too, but the kids aren’t

 

[AmericanAdventureLab]

Yea I’m outside the rig too, but the kids aren’t

Yea, I had that thought thinking about it all on the drive home from work. Fair point for sure.

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