MPC B1 Train Horn Kit Review

These horns are very good for mounting in tight places. I put mine behind the front bumper in my 2004 Sierra no problem. I used the air valve with my factory horn harness and left my factory horns hooked up. This means they barely chirp when I hit my regular horn, but when the car alarm goes off, it’s deafening – try stealing my truck with these babies blaring in your ears. These things are goddamn LOUD and they have a really nice bass to them too. The only bad thing is the air line they provided. It is not up to snuff and it broke within a few hours. But you can replace it with 1/4 brake air line. The tank fills fast, under sixty seconds to a full tank. The tank only lasts 3-5 seconds when holding the horns on full but you can get 5-8 blasts out of a full tank if you pace yourself. The best part about this kit is that all the components are metal. No plastic anywhere! So it’s going to last a very long time. The air valve is also very fast acting. When you hit the button there is virtually no delay. I would recommend this kit to anyone who wants a high-quality horn. Take the word of a mechanic and certified gear head. These horns will NOT disappoint you in either build quality or volume.

Overall I have to say that the horn and compressor are excellent. I’d give them five stars on their own if I could. The horn is extremely loud, which is just what I wanted. Mostly I use it to alert people who are waking the boats at the marina, and even a good way out they can get the message. I would give the full set a five-star rating but the solenoid they provide is really sub-par. The first time I used the horn, it blew and got stuck wide open. I had to disassemble the entire setup and return it, only to blow out the second solenoid as well! Fortunately, the manufacturer stands behind their products and they send me a third solenoid, this time a more heavy-duty one, and apologized profusely for the defective ones. That did the trick, and really it takes the whole thing to a new level of power! I can highly recommend just contacting Viking Horns and getting a bigger solenoid right from the get-go, it’s just a better experience. You’ll need to get some adapter fittings but you can get those at any hardware store and a lot of auto parts stores, as well as direct from Viking themselves. You should also put liquid Teflon tape on all of the fittings. They’re just going to be loose otherwise and the more you leak the more your compressor runs and the more it runs the more you’ve got problems. The tank is very good and holds compression for a long time, my system held 120 PSI for over a week with the compressor off when I went on vacation.

I spent a lot of time researching before buying this product. I contacted the manufacturer and they were very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions. They even got specific, let me know that the horn sounds more like an Amtrak or light rail train than a cross-country freight. I like it like that, and it’s still more than loud enough. The installation is relatively easy so long as you have a good working knowledge of 12V wiring. The instructions are clear and you’ll want to plan ahead and figure out where everything will go in the truck. Measure twice, install once. If you have a toolbox you aren’t using, that would be ideal. Otherwise, the reservoir and compressor do fit under most seats and into any half-cab. Don’t put them outside, they are NOT weather resistant! Only the horns themselves should be out in the weather and you should put them either inside the engine bay, under the metal sheeting or face-down in the bed to prevent water buildup. The bracket isn’t perfect but it gets the job done. The whole kit can be powered by my trailer plug from the rear of the truck, and I can install a splitter if I need to use both my horn and haul a trailer. It links to all three components real easy. Battery, accessory, and solenoid with just one fuse! I use a switch on the dashboard and even managed to eliminate some wire running by using existing lines. The compressor is quiet and doesn’t disturb conversations when charging. You may want to put a rain shield over the horns if they are somewhat exposed, water keeps getting in there. They are waterproof but why take risks?

This is a cool horn system but the mounting bracket is garbage. The horns are super loud and thin, great for traffic or use in rural areas. But the bracket broke within the first week and totaled the horns. I would have highly recommended this product otherwise. If you do get it, throw out the stupid bracket and get your own.