- +$129.99 entry price for a HornBlasters-branded three-trumpet horn
- +Compact 11.5 x 11.875 x 9.5 in footprint and 7.10 lb weight fit tight mounting spots
- +Electric air valve comes pre-installed; single 1/2 in tube inlet
- +Detailed published kit data: PSI, amperage, duty cycle and timed fill rates
- +228H kit quotes 6-7 seconds of honk time from a 2-gallon, 150 PSI system
- −No manufacturer dB rating, test distance or chord frequencies; 141.1 dB is a retailer figure without distance
- −Composite/plastic trumpets rather than HornBlasters' cast-metal bells
- −Both kit variants tagged Not Weather Resistant; compressor must be mounted upright and enclosed
- −Only a 1-year defect warranty; returns may carry a 15% restocking fee
- −Minor spec mismatches between listings (11.375 vs 11.5 in length, valve voltage)
Methodology
Last reviewed: 10/06/2026. This review aggregates publicly available information from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings, and verified user reviews. We do not perform hands-on testing. For the Bandit we relied primarily on HornBlasters’ own listings for the stand-alone horn (part number AH-BB) and the two complete Bandit kits (HK-BA-127H and HK-BA-228H), cross-checked against a Raney’s Truck Parts retail listing. Every number below traces to a source in the Sources section at the end of the page. Where two sources disagree, we say so rather than picking the more flattering figure.
Quick verdict
The Bandit is HornBlasters’ budget entry point: a compact three-trumpet black composite horn that sells for $129.99 on its own, or $349.99–$379.99 as a complete kit with an air system. HornBlasters documents the physical specs, box contents and air-system fill rates in detail, but it publishes no decibel rating, no test distance and no chord frequencies for the horn itself; the only dB figure we found (141.1 dB) comes from a retailer and has no test distance. In our editorial opinion it’s a sensible first air horn for a mid-size truck or SUV with limited mounting space, but it isn’t a true locomotive-tone horn. We rate it 3.8/5.
What it is
The Bandit is a three-chime air horn: three black flared trumpets of different lengths on a shared bracket, with an electric air valve pre-installed on the manifold. HornBlasters pitches it as a “compact powerhouse”, and the AH-BB listing describes “lightweight composite construction”. The 228H kit copy calls the finish “robust FRP black”. The Raney’s Truck Parts listing simply calls it black plastic, so don’t expect the cast-metal bells you get on HornBlasters’ Outlaw or Conductor’s Special lines.
You can buy it two ways:
- Stand-alone horn (AH-BB), $129.99. Horn, valve, air line and hardware only. HornBlasters states plainly that it “requires an air system for completion”.
- Bandit Air Horn Kit, $349.99–$379.99. The same horn paired with a HornAir 127H (light-duty, 4–5 seconds of honk time) or HornAir 228H (medium-duty, 6–7 seconds) air source unit, plus wiring, a relay and a pressure switch.
Both kit variants are tagged by HornBlasters as “Not Weather Resistant”, and the store lists the Bandit for full-size pickups, mid-size pickups and SUVs. For a broader look at how this fits the brand’s range, see our HornBlasters brand hub.
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Part number (horn only) | AH-BB |
| Kit part numbers | HK-BA-127H (light-duty), HK-BA-228H (medium-duty) |
| Trumpets | 3 (three-chime) |
| Sound output | 141.1 dB, retailer-listed (test distance and PSI not disclosed); HornBlasters publishes no dB figure |
| Chord frequencies | Not disclosed |
| Horn length | 11.375 in (AH-BB listing) / 11.5 in (kit listings and retailer) |
| Horn width | 11.875 in |
| Horn height | 9.5 in |
| Horn weight | 7.10 lb (3.22 kg) |
| Material / finish | Black composite (HornBlasters); FRP black finish (228H kit copy) |
| Horn fitting / inlet | 1/2 in tube |
| Valve (horn only) | 12–24 V electric air valve |
| Valve (kits) | HornBlasters 3/8 in chrome electric air valve |
| Power source | Air tank (compressor-fed) |
| Kit operating pressure | 120 PSI (127H) / 150 PSI (228H) |
| Kit restart pressure | 90 PSI (127H) / 110 PSI (228H) |
| Kit tank | 1.5 gal / 6.6 L (127H); 2.0 gal / 8.8 L (228H) |
| Kit compressor | 2L compressor, 18 A max, 25% duty @ 100 PSI (127H); HB-2, 19 A max, 30% duty @ 100 PSI (228H) |
| Kit fill rate (13.8 V supply) | 127H: 0–120 PSI in 2 min 10 s, 90–120 PSI in 35 s; 228H: 0–145 PSI in 3 min 40 s, 110–145 PSI in 1 min 15 s |
| Price | $129.99 (horn); $349.99 (127H kit, listed regular $434.99); $379.99 (228H kit, listed regular $465.99) |
| Warranty | 1-year manufacturer’s defect warranty |
Two small inconsistencies are worth flagging. The stand-alone AH-BB listing gives the horn length as 11.375 in, while both kit listings (and the retailer) say 11.5 in. The AH-BB listing also specifies a 12–24 V valve, while the kits ship with a separate 3/8 in chrome valve and run on a 12 V system. The retailer listing simply says “12V electric valve”. None of this changes how the horn installs, but if every eighth of an inch matters in your mounting spot, measure the horn when it arrives.
- Trumpets
- 3, black composite
- Footprint
- 11.5 × 11.875 × 9.5 in
- Weight
- 7.10 lb
- Price
- $129.99 horn / from $349.99 kit
What’s in the box
Stand-alone horn (AH-BB), per HornBlasters:
- Bandit air horn
- 12–24 V electric air valve
- 10 ft of 1/2 in air line
- Mounting hardware
Complete kit (127H or 228H), per HornBlasters:
- Bandit black air horn
- HornAir 127H or 228H air source unit (tank and compressor pre-assembled)
- Pressure switch with leads: 90/120 PSI (127H) or 110/145 PSI (228H)
- 17 ft of 1/2 in D.O.T. air line
- 22 ft each of 10-gauge red, 18-gauge blue and 18-gauge grey wire
- Wiring kit with fuse holder and fuses, plus a 40 A relay
- 3/8 in chrome electric air valve
- Mounting hardware, air line cutter, earplugs and instructions
Pros
- Low entry price: $129.99 for the horn, which makes it one of the cheapest ways into a HornBlasters-branded multi-trumpet horn
- Compact footprint (11.5 × 11.875 × 9.5 in) and 7.10 lb weight suit tight frame-rail or under-bed spots
- Electric valve comes pre-installed on the horn, so plumbing is a single 1/2 in line from the tank
- Detailed published kit data: operating/restart pressures, amperage, duty cycle and timed fill rates for both air systems
- The 228H kit’s 150 PSI system and HB-2 compressor deliver a quoted 6–7 seconds of honk time
- The product’s structured data shows a 5.0/5 average across 5 owner reviews at review time (a small sample)
Cons
- HornBlasters publishes no dB rating, test distance or chord frequencies; the 141.1 dB figure is a retailer number with no distance
- Composite/plastic trumpets: lighter and cheaper, but not the cast bells of HornBlasters’ metal horns
- Both kit variants are tagged “Not Weather Resistant”, and tank-mounted compressors must be mounted upright in an enclosed space or the warranty is void
- Detaching the compressor from the tank voids the kit warranty
- Only a 1-year defect warranty, and returns can carry a 15% restocking fee
- Minor spec mismatches between listings (11.375 vs 11.5 in length; valve voltage)
Alternatives
- HornBlasters Mini Outlaw ($369.99–$399.99 kit). A shrunken three-bell metal horn in a complete kit, and the natural step up if you want HornBlasters’ metal construction at near-Bandit kit money. See our Mini Outlaw review.
- HornBlasters Outlaw 127H ($579.99–$599.99 kit). The full-size Outlaw with a 1.5-gallon system; a bigger, pricier horn for buyers who have the room. See our Outlaw 127H review.
- Kleinn Model 220 Mini Beast ($142.95, horn only). Dual black ABS horns that Kleinn rates at 151.8 dB. It’s the closest price rival to the stand-alone Bandit. See our Model 220 review.
Install / compatibility notes
The stand-alone Bandit is a horn, not a system. You need an onboard air source: a tank, a compressor, a pressure switch, a relay and a fused power feed. If you already run onboard air, the 1/2 in tube fitting and the valve already mounted on the horn keep plumbing simple. If you’re starting from scratch, the kits are usually the cleaner path, since HornBlasters pre-assembles the air source unit and includes every wire run and fitting.
- Pick the air system. The 127H kit (1.5 gal, 120 PSI) is quoted at 4–5 seconds of honk time; the 228H kit (2 gal, 150 PSI) at 6–7 seconds. Our air tank size guide explains the trade-off.
- Mount the tank/compressor upright and protected. HornBlasters says tank-mounted compressors aren’t fully sealed and must be mounted upright in an enclosed space away from moisture and debris, or the warranty is void.
- Mount the horn. At 7.10 lb and roughly 11.5 in long, it fits behind a bumper, on a frame rail or under a bed. See where to mount a train horn.
- Wire through a relay. The kits include a 40 A relay and fuse kit, and the compressors pull 18–19 A. Our relay wiring guide covers the layout.
The 127H compressor’s 25% duty cycle at 100 PSI (30% for the 228H’s HB-2) means these are burst systems. Plan on short honks and recovery time, not continuous use. HornBlasters notes the 120 PSI system can also air up tires and run small air tools. Before you mount any air horn, check your state’s rules in our train horn legality guide. Most states restrict horn use on public roads.
Sources
- HornBlasters — Bandit Air Horn (AH-BB) product page — stand-alone horn description (composite construction, pre-installed valve, “requires an air system”), dimensions (11.375 × 11.875 × 9.5 in), 7.10 lb weight, 12/24 V valve, box contents, $129.99 price, 1-year defect warranty, 15% restocking fee, 5.0/5 from 5 reviews in structured data, and all four product photos
- HornBlasters — Bandit Air Horn Kit product page — 127H and 228H kit specs (operating/restart PSI, tank volume, compressor amperage, duty cycle, fill rates, air source dimensions), honk-time claims, three-chime/FRP description, kit contents, “Not Weather Resistant” tag, mounting and compressor-detach warranty conditions, prices ($349.99 / $379.99; regular $434.99 / $465.99)
- Raney’s Truck Parts — HornBlasters Bandit Train Horn — retailer-listed 141.1 dB figure (no test distance), “black plastic” description, 12 V valve, 11.5 in length and 1/2 in tube fitting cross-check
- HornBlasters — Why fake decibel ratings mislead buyers — the brand’s stated position on not publishing inflated dB numbers
- HornBlasters — Mini Outlaw Train Horn Kit — Mini Outlaw kit prices ($369.99–$399.99) used in Alternatives
- HornBlasters — Outlaw Train Horn Kit — Outlaw 127H kit prices ($579.99–$599.99) used in Alternatives
- Kleinn — Model 220 “Mini Beast” Dual Black ABS Train Horns — $142.95 price and 151.8 dB rating used in Alternatives
Train Horn Hub aggregates publicly available data. We do not test products in-house. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
The Bandit is a sensible budget pick for mid-size truck and SUV owners who want a compact three-trumpet HornBlasters horn and already have onboard air, or who want an affordable complete kit. Buyers chasing authentic locomotive tone or documented loudness should step up to a metal-bell horn.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions people ask most about this topic.
- How loud is the HornBlasters Bandit?
- HornBlasters does not publish a decibel rating for the Bandit. A Raney's Truck Parts listing gives 141.1 dB, but it doesn't state the test distance or air pressure, so treat it as a retailer claim and not a comparable measurement.
- Does the Bandit come with a compressor and tank?
- Not the stand-alone AH-BB horn ($129.99). It includes the horn, a 12–24 V electric valve, 10 ft of 1/2 in air line and mounting hardware, and HornBlasters says it requires an air system. The Bandit Air Horn Kit ($349.99–$379.99) adds a HornAir 127H or 228H air source unit plus wiring, relay and pressure switch.
- What is the difference between the Bandit 127H and 228H kits?
- The 127H kit uses a 1.5-gallon tank at 120 PSI (restart 90 PSI) with a quoted 4–5 seconds of honk time. The 228H kit uses a 2-gallon tank at 150 PSI (restart 110 PSI) with an HB-2 compressor and a quoted 6–7 seconds. The 228H kit costs $30 more.
- Is the Bandit metal or plastic?
- HornBlasters describes lightweight composite construction with an FRP black finish, and retailer Raney's Truck Parts lists it as black plastic. It is not one of HornBlasters' cast-metal horns.
- Can I mount the Bandit kit under my truck?
- Both Bandit kit variants are tagged Not Weather Resistant. HornBlasters says the tank-mounted compressor must be mounted upright in an enclosed space away from moisture and debris, or the warranty is void.
