Looking to keep your fleet as safe as possible? The best semi-truck horn will give your drivers the opportunity they need to alert others on the road as they require.
Semi-truck horns can play a crucial role in the safety of your fleet, especially with the amount of distracted driving that goes on on the roads today. Another reason for the right semi truck horn is inclement weather because when you can’t be seen, being heard can be a great advantage.
Learn about a few key features of air horns and find the right horn for your truck or fleet today.
Quicklook: Best Semi Truck Horns
- Best For Durability: Zento Deals Single Trumpet Air Horn
- Best For Complete Kit Inclusion: Vixen Horns Train Horn Kit
- Best For Long Lifespan: GAMPRO 12V 150db Air Horn
- Best For Loudness Kleinn Air Horns Dual Air Horn
- Best For Quick Installation: Marco Tornado Compact Electro-Pneumatic Horn
5 Best Semi Truck Horn Options
See what the best semi truck horn has to offer and notify people when you need to without hassle.
Zento Deals Single Trumpet Air Horn
With its high-quality metal construction, this air horn is built to withstand weather all year long. The compact size of both the horn and the compressor make it easy to install. Plus, it fits well inside of nearly every vehicle. This air horn is also ideal if you’re looking for a more portable horn solution.
Best For: Durability
Air Horn Specifications:
- 12 Volts
- 150 dB
- Length: 4.5 inches
- Width: 4.9 inches
- Height: 16.9 inches
Special Features:
- Durable
- Can withstand varying weather elements
- Compact, flexible and portable
- Easy to fit and install
Benefits:
- Basic mounting kit, hoses and compressor included
- Affordable price point
Disadvantages:
- Power source not included
- Wiring not included
Pricing: $22.49
Vixen Horns Train Horn Kit
When you’re looking for the horn kit that comes ready to assemble and has all of the accessories you need, this is the one. The size may be an issue for some vehicles, but with a semi truck, you should have no room for concerns.
Best For: Complete Kit Inclusion
Air Horn Specifications:
- 12 Volts
- 149 dB
- Length: 12.25 inches
- Width: 3.75 inches
- Height: 4.50 inches
Special Features:
- Comes with everything you need to install
- 200-PSI air compressor
- 3-gallon, 12-liter steel air tank with black powder coating
Benefits:
- Four size options for various tones
- Automatic reset thermal overload protector
Disadvantages:
- Initially more expensive
- Takes several minutes to refill compressor tank
Pricing: $345.78
GAMPRO 12V 150db Air Horn
This air horn will not disappoint if loud is what you’re going for. Although short connection wires are a common complaint, longer wires can be purchased to help alleviate any connectivity issues that you’re experiencing. Additionally, the durability of the horns and the compressor hold up well.
Best For: Long Lifespan
Air Horn Specifications:
- 12 Volts
- 150 dB
- 17.72 inches
Special Features:
- Newly upgraded all-copper coil
- Vacuum chrome plating compressor
- Fast response ability
- Non-rusting, high-quality, chrome-plated zinc trumpets
Benefits:
- Easy to install
- Prevent debris build-up
- Extends air pump life
Disadvantages:
- Short connection wire
- Hard-to-follow instructions
Pricing: $29.50
Kleinn Air Horns Dual Air Horn
The compact size of these dual horns may be deceiving as the sound they deliver is still very impressive. There’s no doubt that you will be heard when you have the Kleinn Dual Air Horn on board as your semi truck horn. Installing this air horn is a breeze, having you heard by others in no time.
Best For: Loudness
Air Horn Specifications:
- 12 Volts
- 153.6 dB
- Dual air horns:
- 16.75 inches
- 14.50 inches
Special Features:
- Dual air horns
- Corrosion-resistant coating
Benefits:
- Deep, loud sound
- Compact
Disadvantages:
- Only comes with mounting hardware
- Requires onboard air system up to 150 PSI, which is not included
Pricing: $72.95
Marco Tornado Compact Twin Tone Electro Pneumatic Horn
The ease of installation is hard to beat with this semi truck horn. This horn requires fewer accessories when it comes to the installation process, and the horn keeps things simple while still boasting the loudness you require.
Best For: Quick Installation
Air Horn Specifications:
- 12 Volts
- 110 dB
- Length: 4.13 inches
- Width: 2.95 inches
- Height: 6.50 inches
Special Features:
- Quick installation with a single fixing point
- Twin-tone electro-pneumatic horn
- Integrated compressor
Benefits:
- Compact
- No air hoses required
- Electromagnetic compatibility
Disadvantages:
- High-pitched tone
- Recommended to buy inside mount
Pricing: $24.76
Tips To Select the Best Semi Truck Horn
Who knew there were so many different types of semi truck horns? With quite the selection to choose from, knowing what factors to consider most can be very beneficial as this information can help you expedite the process. Here are some details to pay attention to when looking for semi truck horns.
Decibels
Noise level is one of the main factors to consider when looking for the best semi truck horn. While the highest number decibel, or dB, may not always be necessary, ensuring you have a horn loud enough is crucial for your safety as well as the safety of those around you while on the road.
Compressor
Generally, a compressor will be required for a proper semi truck horn. There are compressors that can be installed either inside or outside of the truck.
Whether you want to install your compressor inside or outside, that decision will affect the kind of compressor that you will need. The size of the compressor is also often significant as you’ll need to have enough room to properly install the entire horn kit.
Number of Horns
Distinction is the main reason that drivers look at semi truck horns with a varying number of horns. Generally, most semi truck horns that have multiple horns will have a distinct tone for each individual horn. While a single horn can do the job, some drivers prefer to have multiple just in case.
Legality
It is required for semi trucks to be equipped with a properly functioning horn. Without one, you are likely to fail an FMCSA audit.
While excessive noise levels can be illegal in certain states or various parts of the country, it is a safety measure to ensure that you have a semi truck horn loud enough to be heard from a good distance. Checking your local laws and regulations is key when choosing the right horn for your semi truck.
Ease of Installation
Keeping the installation process simple is ideal. You are likely going to want to install your new semi truck horn right away.
Instructions that are hard to follow or kits that are incomplete, too large, hard to navigate and complicated are things to consider when looking into a new horn. While not all kits are completed for you upon purchase, you will usually be able to learn this ahead of time so that you can order the required parts to ensure you have them all when you’re ready to complete the installation.
Semi Truck Horn vs Regular Horn
Electric horns are the most common type of horn used in everyday vehicles. The average decibels output for a car is 95dB. While it may sound like a lot, this is actually nothing compared to the average 150dB that many semi truck horns will produce.
The main reason for this major difference is that semi truck horns are typically air horns. In general, air horns make use of a compressor that can produce a much louder sound than the average electric car horn.
Be Safe and Be Heard
Getting other drivers’ attention on the road can be a hard task. But when it comes to your safety, communication with fellow drivers is not something you should leave up to chance.
Air horns have long been used for semi trucks as they can easily produce a much louder noise than the average car horn, which helps to ensure the safety of drivers all over the country. The right semi truck horn will help you alert other drivers when necessary.
To make sure you can always be heard on the road, especially in desperate times of need, look into semi truck horns that suit you and your vehicle.
FAQ
Yes, semi truck horns are air horns. They require pressurized air from a compressor in order to produce a much louder blare than the traditional electric car horn.
In general, 18-wheelers will often have an air horn that can produce a blare between 110 and 150 decibels (dB).
The loudest air horn for a semi truck is typically around 150dB. Some horns may have multiple horns or compressors that will further increase the volume produced.
