Viking Horns V101C-5/310 4-Trumpet Train Horn Kit Review (2026)

Methodology

This review aggregates publicly available information from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings, and verified user reviews. We do not perform hands-on testing. Last reviewed: September 5, 2026. Viking Horns’ own storefront at viking-horns.com no longer serves the brand’s catalog as of this date, so the official spec sheet comes from Wayback Machine snapshots of the V101C-5/310 product page (September 2023 and January 2025), Viking’s archived warranty policy, and the archived pages for the horn, compressor and tank that make up the kit. We cross-checked against the Amazon listing, a third-party Viking kit review, and HornBlasters’ published decibel guidance. Every external source appears in the Sources section at the end.

Quick verdict

The V101C-5/310 is Viking’s chrome four-trumpet kit built on the brand’s 3-gallon tank and 150 PSI compressor, and we rate it 3.2/5. The hardware list is complete and the all-metal chrome trumpets are the same V310 set Viking sells with its bigger 200 PSI kit, so the sound character is genuinely low-pitched and train-like by owner accounts. Two things hold it back. The “162 dB” headline has no test distance and sits above what a calibrated meter can show for any consumer air horn, and at Viking’s last list price of $392.51 it cost almost exactly the same as the V103C-5/310 that pairs the same trumpets with a 200 PSI compressor. Add the fact that the brand’s website and Amazon listing were both unavailable when we checked, and this is a kit to buy only if you find it discounted.

What it is

The V101C-5/310 is a complete aftermarket train-horn kit for 12-volt vehicles: four chrome-plated metal trumpets, a 3-gallon steel air tank, a 12V 150 PSI compressor, a 120/150 PSI pressure switch, a 0-240 PSI gauge, an electric solenoid valve, brass fittings, air hose and mounting hardware. Viking’s archived product page pitches it for trucks, RVs, SUVs, boats and pickups, either as a replacement for the stock horn or as an auxiliary horn on its own button. The Amazon listing adds that a horn button is included.

Viking’s model codes read like part numbers because they are. In Viking’s catalog, “V101C” is the brand’s 150 PSI compressor, “5” denotes the 3-gallon tank, and “/310” is the V310 four-trumpet chrome horn. That decoding matters because Viking sells several kits that look identical in photos:

• V101C-5/310 (this review): V310 chrome four-trumpet horn, 3-gallon tank, 150 PSI compressor, 120/150 PSI switch. Advertised 162 dB.
• V103C-5/310: the same V310 horn and 3-gallon tank, but with Viking’s 200 PSI compressor and a 170/200 PSI switch. Advertised 162 dB. See our V103C-5/310 review.
• V101C-5/4008: the same 150 PSI compressor and 3-gallon tank, but with Viking’s V4008 chrome four-trumpet horn. Advertised 149 dB and listed at $285.40 on the archived Viking site.
• V101C-3/4008B: the entry-level black four-trumpet kit on a 1.5-gallon tank. See our V101C review.

Amazon’s listing muddies this further. Its product-information table gives the manufacturer part number as V101C-5/310 but the “model number” as V103C-5/310, and the kit has also circulated under the fulfillment code FBA101C-5/310. If you are comparing listings, the compressor rating and the pressure-switch numbers are the reliable tell: 150 PSI and 120/150 mean you are looking at the V101C version.

Specifications

Spec	Value
Advertised sound level	162 dB, “loud low pitch,” test distance not disclosed
Trumpets	4, chrome-plated metal (Viking horn model V310)
Horn assembly size	15-1/2” L x 11-1/2” W x 12-1/2” H
Chord frequencies	Not disclosed
Compressor	12V, 150 PSI max, “heavy-duty maintenance-free,” 50% duty cycle (Viking model V101C)
Compressor size	9-1/2” L x 4” W x 6-3/4” H
Air tank	3 gallon (12 liter), 6 ports, heavy-gauge steel
Tank size	21” L x 7-1/2” H, 6-1/2” diameter (kit page); 23-1/2” long with brackets on Viking’s standalone tank page
Pressure switch	120 PSI on / 150 PSI off
Gauge	0-240 PSI
Valve	12V electric air valve (solenoid)
Fittings	Brass
Item weight	36 lb (Amazon)
Power source	Air tank, 12V compressor
Warranty	1 year limited to original purchaser; 30-day satisfaction guarantee
Last official price	$392.51 (viking-horns.com, January 2025 snapshot)
Amazon status	Currently unavailable (ASIN B0733RK3M7, 4.1/5 from 7 ratings)

The tank dimensions deserve a note. Viking’s kit page lists the tank at 21 inches long, while the brand’s standalone page for the same 3-gallon, 6-port tank lists 23-1/2 inches with brackets. Plan your mounting location around the longer figure.

What’s in the box

Per Viking’s archived product page and the Amazon listing, the kit ships with:

• Four chrome-plated metal trumpets (V310 horn)
• 3-gallon, 6-port steel air tank with mounting brackets
• 12V 150 PSI maintenance-free compressor with braided leader hose
• 120/150 PSI pressure switch
• 0-240 PSI air pressure gauge
• 12V electric air valve (solenoid)
• Brass fittings and air hose
• Horn button, mounting hardware and installation instructions

What you supply: a relay, fuse holder and wire gauge appropriate for the compressor, plus thread sealant. A user quoted in a third-party Viking review needed extra plumber’s tape to get the brass fittings to seal, which is typical of budget kits.

Pros

• Complete kit with all-metal chrome trumpets, not ABS, at a budget-brand price
• Same V310 horn set as Viking’s higher-pressure V103C-5/310, so the tone is the brand’s best four-note chord
• 3-gallon, 6-port tank is generous for the class and leaves ports for onboard-air accessories
• Full dimensional disclosure for horn, compressor and tank, which Viking does not offer on every kit
• 1-year warranty and 30-day satisfaction guarantee are better than the 90-day terms some commentary attributes to the brand

Cons

• ”162 dB” is published with no test distance and exceeds the 149.4 dB that HornBlasters cites as the measured ceiling for a Nathan K5LA
• Third-party commentary puts real-world output of Viking’s lower-end kits at roughly 110-125 dB, far below the marketing figure
• 150 PSI compressor at 50% duty cycle is the weakest link; Viking’s own 200 PSI kit with the same horns listed for nearly the same money
• Availability is poor: Amazon lists it as currently unavailable and the brand’s site no longer serves its catalog
• No chord frequencies, amp draw, fill time or noise-at-distance data are published
• Owner reports on sibling Viking kits flag the pressure switch and compressor as early failure points

Advertised vs. real loudness

This is the part of the listing that needs the most translation. Viking prints “162 dB” on the kit, on the standalone V310 horn, and on the V103C-5/310 sibling, with no distance, pressure or meter specification anywhere. HornBlasters, which tests at 3 feet and 100 feet, states that the loudest horn it has measured is the Nathan AirChime K5LA locomotive horn at 149.4 dB, and characterizes claims of 160 dB and above as “either fraudulent testing methods or complete fiction.” The same page notes that a horn reading 149 dB at 3 feet drops to roughly 133 dB at 30 feet, which is why numbers without a distance are meaningless. Our advertised vs. real dB guide and the decibel distance tool walk through the math.

For Viking specifically, a May 2026 brand roundup on Granite Grok puts the typical output of the brand’s lower-end kits at 110 to 125 dB, “noticeably louder than a factory horn but well below the 140+ dB of the premium brands.” That article does not describe its test method, so treat it as informed commentary rather than a measurement. Our editorial read: the V101C-5/310 will be dramatically louder than a stock horn, and the four-trumpet chord will sound like a train, but nobody should buy it expecting 162 dB on a meter. Owner videos, including a walkaround of Viking horns on a Ford F-250 and an unboxing review, give a better sense of the character than the number does.

Alternatives

• Viking Horns V103C-5/310: identical trumpets and tank with a 200 PSI compressor and 170/200 PSI switch; at Viking’s list prices it cost roughly the same, which makes it the better buy. Our review.
• Vevor 4-Trumpet kit: the direct budget competitor, with a smaller tank but a lower price. Our review.
• HornBlasters Shocker XL: the premium four-trumpet benchmark with a disclosed test distance, a lifetime horn warranty and US support, at a considerably higher price. Our review.

For a broader look at the budget tier, see our Vevor vs. Vixen vs. Viking guide.

Install and compatibility notes

This is a 12-volt onboard-air system, so installation has a plumbing side and an electrical side. Viking states plainly in its archived FAQ that it does not offer installation and expects the buyer to be familiar with tool safety and “torque feel” on brass fittings.

1. Mount the tank first. Budget 24 inches of straight frame rail or bed floor for the 3-gallon tank including brackets, and keep the drain port accessible. Our air tank size guide explains why 3 gallons is a sensible middle ground for a four-trumpet horn.
2. Mount the compressor high and dry. Viking’s compressor page says it is designed for tanks up to 5 gallons and uses a two-wire hookup. It is rated for 50% duty cycle, so it needs airflow and a cooldown between long fills; see our duty cycle guide.
3. Wire through a relay. Viking does not publish amp draw for this compressor. A third-party review of the brand’s smaller 150 PSI kit reports about 16 amps and roughly 2 minutes to refill a 1.5-gallon tank, so expect longer fills on 3 gallons. Use a relay, an inline fuse and wire sized per our amp draw and wire gauge guide.
4. Plumb the pressure switch and gauge on the tank, then run the air line to the solenoid at the horn. The 120/150 PSI switch means the compressor restarts at 120 PSI and shuts off at 150 PSI, which is the ceiling for this kit. Our pressure switch guide covers the details.
5. Seal every brass fitting with thread sealant, fill the tank, and soap-test before mounting the trumpets; our bench-test guide has the checklist.

Vehicle notes: the horn assembly is 15-1/2 by 11-1/2 by 12-1/2 inches, which fits under most full-size pickup and SUV bumpers or behind a grille, but is tight on midsize trucks. Viking lists boats among its target vehicles, but the brand’s own tank is black steel, so a marine install should follow our waterproofing guide. If you are wiring into a late-model truck, check the CAN bus and BCM guide before tapping the factory horn circuit. For pressure-related loudness questions, the PSI and loudness tool shows why the 150 PSI ceiling on this kit matters compared with the 200 PSI sibling.

Warranty, support and availability

Viking’s archived warranty policy covers the original purchaser for one year against defects in workmanship and materials, with repair or replacement at Viking’s option. Read the fine print: the policy says the item must be returned within three months of purchase with proof of purchase, the buyer pays return shipping, and physical damage voids coverage. The FAQ adds a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, a 15% restocking fee on returns, and a Florida-based tech support line. The same FAQ refers to a sister storefront, superiorhorns.com, which did not resolve when we checked.

The bigger caveat is that the brand’s storefront at viking-horns.com no longer serves its catalog and the Amazon listing was marked currently unavailable on our review date. Kits still circulate through marketplace sellers, but a buyer today should assume no direct factory support and treat the warranty as best-effort. The good news is that every component in this kit, from the 120/150 PSI switch to the 12V solenoid, is a generic air-system part that can be replaced from any train-horn supplier.

Sources

• Viking Horns — V101C-5/310 product page (Wayback Machine, January 2025) — 162 dB claim, kit contents, 150 PSI compressor, 3-gallon tank, 120/150 PSI switch, 0-240 PSI gauge, horn/compressor/tank dimensions, $392.51 price, SKU
• Viking Horns — V101C-5/310 product page (Wayback Machine, September 2023) — earlier snapshot with the same specs and $392.51 price
• Viking Horns — V310 chrome four-trumpet horn (Wayback Machine) — horn-only listing, 162 dB claim, triple chrome plating, requires onboard air, $199.61
• Viking Horns — V101C 150 PSI air compressor (Wayback Machine) — compressor rating, maintenance-free, up to 5-gallon tanks, two-wire hookup, $145.16
• Viking Horns — 3 gallon 225 PSI air tank V1005AT (Wayback Machine) — 6-port layout, heavy-gauge steel, 23-1/2” length with brackets, $114.68
• Viking Horns — V101C-5/4008 149 dB chrome kit (Wayback Machine) — sibling kit with the same air system, 50% duty cycle compressor, $285.40
• Viking Horns — V103C-5/310 200 PSI kit product page (Wayback Machine, February 2025) — sibling kit listed under SKU V103C-5/310-FBM, 162 dB claim, $396.14 price
• Viking Horns — Warranty policy (Wayback Machine) — 1-year limited warranty terms, 30-day guarantee, return conditions
• Viking Horns — FAQ (Wayback Machine) — no installation service, restocking fee, tech support line, superiorhorns.com reference
• Amazon — Viking Horns V101C-5/310 listing — 162 dB “low pitch” claim, 6-port tank, 50% duty cycle, included horn button, 36 lb weight, part/model number discrepancy, 4.1/5 rating from 7 reviews, currently unavailable status
• Pinterest — Viking Horns FBA101C-5/310 train air horn kit listing — the kit circulating under the FBA101C-5/310 code
• HornBlasters — Train horn decibels explained: why fake ratings mislead buyers — 149.4 dB K5LA ceiling at 3 ft, 3 ft to 30 ft drop-off, position on 160+ dB claims
• HornBlasters — Train horn decibel guide — DJD Labs 2014 figures for K5LA, Bullet horn and electric horns
• Granite Grok — Best train horn brands reviewed (May 2026) — 110-125 dB typical output for Viking’s lower-end kits, budget positioning
• TrainHorns.us — Viking Horns 101C-3 review — 16-amp draw and 2-minute refill on the 1.5-gallon sibling, pressure switch and compressor failure reports, plumber’s tape note
• YouTube — viking train horns ford f250 (Jesse11803) — owner demo of Viking horns on a Ford F-250
• YouTube — Viking train horn quick review after unboxing (roger pitchford) — owner unboxing and first impressions

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