The Best Train Horns
While a traditional car horn is useful for alerting traffic or pedestrians to your presence, it may come up short in larger vehicles. If you need to clear the road from a great distance to avert catastrophe, few automotive upgrades announce your presence like a train horn. Initially used on rail lines or the open sea, these horns are a massive augmentation to your commercial, emergency, or recreational vehicle that can't be ignored. Using an air compressor and your existing electronic setup, train horns can be installed on most vehicles without professional help and boast a remarkable lifespan. Whether you are interested in turning up the volume for fun or professional purposes, our top train horns will literally blow away the competition and help keep everyone on the road more alert to danger. Our favorite is the Gampro Air Horn, which is easy to install and suitable for a wide range of vehicles. If you're looking for something even louder, we also love the Coocheer Air Horn Kit, which combines four trumpets that work in unison to produce a deep, vibrant alert. Read on to discover more of our favorite train horns and to find one that's loud enough for your rig.
Gampro Air Horn
Announce your arrival
If you’re sick of weaker devices sputtering out after moderate use, clear the way for Gampro’s air horn. In general, train horns should have durable components that can stand up to weather and frequent use. With a rust-proof trumpet and pure copper wiring, Gampro checks all the boxes and will easily outlive your factory horn setup. In addition, at just under a foot and a half, this horn boasts a sleek design that doesn’t take up too much space. Whether you’re installing under the hood or on the exterior frame, Gampro will make its presence felt immediately.
Pros:
- All mounting hardware and a fuse holder are included, so you can get to installing right away.
- We appreciate the durable dust cover, which is sure to increase longevity.
Cons:
- The wiring may not be long enough for larger vehicle installation.
Coocheer Air Horn Kit
Clear the road
Drivers that want to command the roadway without unsettling tones or high pitches should look no further than the Coocheer air horn kit. This traditional train horn has four trumpets that work in unison to produce a deep, vibrant alert. Coocheer uses chrome plating to weatherproof the aforementioned instruments and secure anchors to keep the compressor free of damaging vibrations. In addition, this instrument is small enough to fit in tight quarters despite the larger size, making it a great choice even if you don’t have a tractor-trailer in your driveway.
Pros:
- We appreciate that it includes a drainage system that prevents corrosion due to moisture, making it ideal for wet climates.
- Unlike other models, the actual pump isn’t noisy when repressurizing.
Cons:
- The high-capacity compressor makes this pick expensive but well worth it.
Wolo Air Horn
Amuse and alert
If you want to show off your vehicles in a truly unique way, Wolo’s air horn is hard to beat. Available in eight distinct melodies, this train horn is a great gift for gearheads that don’t take themselves too seriously. Each purchase comes with four horns of different lengths for robust tones that aren’t harsh on the ears. While the Dixieland tone popular in The Dukes of Hazard is a top seller, Wolo offers more festive tracks such as La Cucaracha and La Bamba, as well as an array of military bugle calls.
Pros:
- The compressor is small yet powerful.
- It outputs a maximum of 120 decibels for 12-volt car battery systems.
- And electric relay and mounting brackets are included, making installation painless.
Cons:
- The horn’s activation is a bit slow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much louder is a train horn than a conventional car horn?
On average, train air horns can be anywhere from 30 to 60 decibels higher than a standard car horn. This difference in noise is mostly because train horns have a larger trumpet and cylinder than their conventional counterparts. By comparison, built-in car horns are closer to the noise level of a food processor or table saw, while train horns can produce sound levels similar to professional fireworks or thunderclaps.
Are train horns legal?
Train horns are deafening and immediately get the attention of anyone in your vicinity. However, this attribute can be an issue on some vehicles in some states. In general, most local authorities limit the decibel level of a car horn to 110 dB. While most train horns are well above that threshold, that does not make them completely illegal for use outside of regular traffic warnings. For example, if you can prove that the air horn is part of an alarm system or that it works with your air brakes in a commercial setting, you may be able to use it on the road without receiving a citation for noise pollution.
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