Car Horns and Truck Horns

Types of Truck Horns and Car Horns

Truck horns and car horns fall into five main types, and your choice depends on volume, mounting space and power. WOLO offers each of these types, so it's an easy place to start comparing. Here's how the types break down:

• Electric horns are compact 12-volt units with no air tank, including disc-style OE replacement horns.
• Air horn kits pair a horn with a compressor, like the WOLO Air Horn and Compressor Kit.
• Train horns bring a train-style sound to your truck, like the WOLO Train Horn rated at 105 dB.
• Roof-mount air horns sit up top, like the WOLO Giant Roof Mount Air Horn Low Tone rated at 130 dB.
• Novelty horns include the "OOOGA" Sound Horn, a 9-volt E-Z Horn and a 50-tune Electronic Horn and P.A. System.

For a loud car horn without reworking your engine bay, a 120 dB air horn like the WOLO Air Max is a simple upgrade. If you want a train horn for your truck, plan the mounting space and wiring before you buy. Shop all horns and power accessories to compare horns, buttons and add-ons.

Electric Air Horns vs. Air Horn Kits With Compressors

Choose an electric air horn if you want more volume than a stock horn without mounting an air tank. Choose an air horn kit with a compressor if you want a bigger truck sound and have room for the extra hardware. The difference comes down to install time, space and budget.

Electric horns run straight off your 12-volt system. The WOLO Cannon Ball Express Truck Horn uses a 12-volt electric solenoid, so there's no tank to find room for. It lists at $236.99, and it keeps the install close to a standard horn swap.

Air horn kits add parts, so they take more planning. The WOLO Bad Boy Air Horn Kit comes with a button, which lets you mount the control where you want it. The WOLO Air Horn and Compressor Kit lists at $325.97 and suits truck owners who want a compressor-fed setup.

Compressors draw significant current, so check your charging system and fuse the circuit before you order. Browse our ignition, electrical and tuning parts for the supporting components your horn circuit needs.

Replacement Car Horns and OE-Style Horn Assemblies

If your factory horn has quit or you're restoring a classic, a replacement car horn or OE-style horn assembly is the direct fix. Start by checking whether your vehicle uses a single horn or a high/low pair. Then match the mounting style and connector before you order.

For daily drivers, WOLO sells O.E. Replacement Horns in low-tone and high-tone versions, plus a low-tone O.E. Replacement Disc Horn. If you want a matched set, the WOLO Hi/Low Tone "Full Blast" Replacement Horn Kit includes a button. Dorman Products adds the 49322 Horn Universal, the 49325 Universal Low-Tone Blaster Horn Kit and the 49324 Universal High-Tone Blaster Horn Kit.

Restorers chasing a factory look should start with OE-style assemblies. OER offers OE-style horn assemblies for 1967-1971 B-body applications. It also sells an OE-style high/low horn pair for the 1969 Impala.

Horn Relays, Wiring and Installation

Most aftermarket horns should be wired through a dedicated horn relay. The relay carries the horn's current, so your horn button only switches a small signal. The WOLO Horn Relay is a 12-volt, 30-amp unit built for this job.

Before you wire a 12-volt horn or compressor, follow these install steps:

• Fuse the power feed close to the battery, since compressors draw significant current.
• Point horn trumpets down so water drains out instead of collecting inside.
• Wire the horn to your steering wheel button or a separate push button.
• Check the horn contact in the steering column if the horn works intermittently.

For the steering wheel side, the Flaming River Horn Contact Kit and the Dorman Products steering wheel horn contact restore the connection. For relays, connectors and switches, browse wiring, relays and switches. If you're wiring a full custom build, our 21-circuit wiring harness diagram guide shows where the horn circuit fits.

Horn Brands at JEGS

Five brands lead the first page of this category, and each one fills a different role. WOLO covers the widest range, from electric solenoid truck horns to novelty horns. Dorman Products and OER focus on replacement and OE-style parts, while Flaming River and ididit cover the steering column side.

If you want a complete car horn kit, WOLO offers three with a button. Choose from the Bad Boy Air Horn Kit, the "OOOGA" Horn Kit and the Hi/Low Tone "Full Blast" Replacement Horn Kit. Dorman Products offers its Universal Low-Tone and High-Tone Blaster Horn Kits. These kits give you a quicker install than piecing parts together.

For custom steering wheels, ididit sells a horn kit without a button and a new-style horn cam. Flaming River's Horn Contact Kit restores the horn connection at the wheel. OER's OE-style assemblies suit 1967-1971 B-body and 1969 Impala restorations.