- +All-metal, triple chrome-plated trumpets rather than ABS plastic
- +Honest horn-only format at a low ~$76 price from the brand's own store
- +Manufacturer publishes full trumpet lengths and overall dimensions
- +Standard 1/4" OD hose and 12V solenoid make it easy to wire into any air system
- +Big visual presence with the longest trumpet at 15" and a 3" bell mouth
- −The 149 dB figure comes from retailer listings with no test distance or PSI stated
- −No chord frequencies (Hz), operating PSI, or formal warranty published
- −Horn-only — you must buy a compressor, tank and switch separately
- −Long trumpets need real mounting room many cars and small SUVs don't have
- −Chrome plating over base metal is more of a finish than the solid brass on premium horns
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 June 16, 2026. For the VXH3118 we pulled specifications directly from Vixen Horns’ own product listing (dimensions, hose size, solenoid, included parts and the $75.97 list price), cross-checked the 149 dB sound claim and physical specs against the Amazon, Walmart and eBay listings for the same SKU, and compared it against the other budget triple-trumpet horns we’ve already reviewed. Where the manufacturer is silent on a number — test distance, PSI, chord frequencies — we say so rather than guess.
Quick verdict
The Vixen Horns VXH3118 is a no-frills, all-metal triple-trumpet train horn that earns a 3.6/5 from us. It does the important things right for the money: real chrome-plated metal trumpets instead of ABS plastic, a published set of dimensions, and a sane horn-only price that sits under $100 on the brand’s own store. Where it loses points is acoustic honesty — the headline 149 dB number lives on retailer listings with no test distance and no operating PSI attached, and Vixen doesn’t publish chord frequencies or a clear warranty. If you already own a compressor and tank and want a loud, good-looking horn for cheap, it’s an easy recommendation. If you want plug-and-play or verified specs, keep reading.
What it is
The VXH3118 is a horn-only triple-trumpet air horn — the chrome cluster of three trumpets plus a 12V solenoid air valve, a length of hose and mounting hardware. It is not a complete kit. There’s no compressor and no air tank in the box, so the horn assumes you already have, or will build, an onboard air system that can feed it compressed air. That’s a key distinction that trips up first-time buyers: the price is low precisely because you’re buying just the loud part.
It’s aimed at truck, Jeep, RV, SUV and semi owners who run a 12V electrical system and want a genuine train-horn bark without the price of a branded all-in-one kit. Vixen sells the same horn in a black finish (VXH3118B) and in larger and smaller trumpet variants; this chrome VXH3118 is the mid-large size, with the longest trumpet measuring a full 15 inches. The lineup tells you who Vixen is targeting: DIY builders assembling their own air setup who want to pick the exact trumpet size and finish rather than accept whatever ships in a sealed kit.
The trade-off in that build-it-yourself approach is that you carry the integration risk. A branded kit matches the compressor, tank, switch and horn so they work together out of the box; with a horn-only purchase like the VXH3118, sizing the air system correctly is on you. Get it right and the result is identical to — often cheaper than — a kit. Get it wrong (too small a tank, too weak a compressor) and the horn will sound flat no matter what the box says.
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Triple-trumpet air horn (horn-only) |
| Sound output | 149 dB (retailer claim; test distance not disclosed) |
| Trumpets | 3, chrome-plated metal |
| Trumpet lengths | 15”, 13-1/4”, 12” |
| Bell diameter | 3” |
| Overall dimensions | 15-1/4” L x 11” W x 4-1/4” H |
| Weight | ~6.5 lb (2,948 g) |
| Valve | 12V electric air valve (solenoid) with compression fitting |
| Hose | 1/4” OD nylon, 6 ft |
| Material / finish | All-metal, chrome-plated |
| Operating PSI | Not disclosed |
| Chord frequencies | Not disclosed |
| Power source | Requires onboard air system (12V) |
| List price | $75.97 (Vixen Horns store) |
| Warranty | Not clearly stated on product page |
A word on that 149 dB figure: it’s the number Walmart and other retailers print, but nowhere in Vixen’s own materials is a measurement distance or the PSI it was taken at disclosed. Decibel claims are only meaningful with both. The same physical horn measured at 3 feet versus at the 100-foot standard used for some ratings can differ by well over 20 dB on paper, so a bare “149 dB” should be read as a loudness category — very loud — rather than a guaranteed reading. Our decibels explained guide covers why the distance matters so much. What we can say confidently from the construction is that three metal trumpets fed by a properly pressurized tank will be genuinely, painfully loud at close range.
What’s in the box
- Triple-trumpet chrome-plated horn assembly
- 12V electric air valve (solenoid) with compression fitting
- 1/4” OD nylon plastic hose, 6 feet
- Mounting hardware
Notably absent — and by design — are a compressor, an air tank, a pressure switch, a relay and the wiring loom. Vixen states plainly that “an on-board air system is required for operation.” Budget accordingly: a basic compressor-and-tank setup adds meaningfully to the real out-the-door cost.
Pros
- Real metal, not plastic. The trumpets are chrome-plated metal, which holds up to weather and road grime far better than the ABS trumpets common on the cheapest horns.
- Low entry price. At about $76 from Vixen’s own store, it’s one of the cheaper ways into an all-metal triple-trumpet sound — provided you already have air.
- Disclosed dimensions. Vixen publishes the full trumpet lengths and the overall footprint, which makes it possible to plan a mount before buying. Plenty of budget brands hide this.
- Standard plumbing. The 1/4” OD hose and 12V solenoid are industry-standard, so wiring it into an existing kit or a homemade tank build is straightforward.
- Strong visual presence. A 15” lead trumpet and 3” bell mouths give it the staggered, locomotive-style look many buyers are after.
Cons
- Unverified loudness. The 149 dB rating appears on retailer listings without a measurement distance or the PSI it was measured at — treat it as marketing, not a lab figure.
- Thin spec sheet on acoustics. No chord frequencies, no operating or max PSI, and no formal warranty are published for the horn.
- Horn-only. The headline price excludes the compressor, tank, switch and relay you actually need to make a sound.
- Footprint. A 15-1/4” by 11” assembly needs real estate; tight engine bays and small SUVs may struggle to fit all three trumpets cleanly.
- Plating, not solid brass. Chrome over base metal looks great but isn’t the solid-brass construction you get on premium horns at several times the price.
Alternatives
- Vixen Horns VXH3318B — the same brand’s black triple-trumpet horn, a touch more compact and a useful comparison if you prefer a blacked-out look over chrome. Similar horn-only format and spec-disclosure caveats.
- Viking Horns V101C-3/307B — another budget triple-trumpet contender we found light on disclosed acoustics; worth a look if you’re cross-shopping on price.
- Vevor 4-Trumpet — steps up to four trumpets and is often sold as a more complete budget package, though build quality is a notch below all-metal.
For context on how any of these stack up on real-world loudness, see our guide to the loudest train horns and our best train horn under $200 roundup.
Install / compatibility notes
The VXH3118 needs three things you supply yourself: compressed air, a 12V power feed, and somewhere to bolt it.
- Air system. Pair it with an onboard air kit — a 12V compressor, an air tank (1.5–5 gallon is typical), a pressure switch and a drain. The horn’s solenoid opens to release that stored air through the trumpets, so your tank pressure largely determines how hard it hits.
- Electrical. The 12V solenoid draws relatively little current to actuate, but the compressor that fills the tank does not — wire the compressor through a relay and an appropriately fused circuit, never straight off a horn button.
- Mounting. Plan for the 15-1/4” x 11” footprint. Under-bed, behind a bumper, or along a frame rail are common spots on trucks; angle the trumpet mouths down and rearward so they don’t scoop road spray and water.
Because it’s all metal, it tolerates weather well, but the usual air-system maintenance still applies: drain the tank to keep moisture out and protect the solenoid. Our installation guide and where-to-mount article walk through both steps in detail. If you’re weighing whether to run a compressor at all, our air vs battery comparison is a good primer.
Sources
- Vixen Horns — VXH3118 Triple Trumpet Train Air Horn (Chrome Plated) product page — official dimensions, trumpet lengths, hose size, solenoid, included parts, weight and $75.97 list price
- Amazon — Vixen Horns VXH3118 Chrome 3-Trumpet Train Horn (B015QBVB9Q) — retailer listing cross-check on trumpet sizes, 12V solenoid and onboard-air requirement
- Walmart — Vixen Horns Loud 149 dB Triple Trumpet Train Air Horn (VXH3118) — source of the 149 dB sound claim
- eBay — Vixen Horns 3-Trumpet chrome/black air horn listings — secondary price cross-check
A loud, all-metal triple-trumpet horn that makes sense for budget builders who already own an air system and value chrome looks over disclosed acoustic data; bargain hunters who want plug-and-play should look at a full kit instead.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions people ask most about this topic.
- How loud is the Vixen VXH3118 really?
- Retailer listings advertise 149 dB, but neither Vixen nor those listings state the test distance or the PSI it was measured at, so treat it as a marketing figure rather than a verified lab number. In practice its loudness depends heavily on the air pressure your tank delivers.
- Does the VXH3118 come with a compressor and tank?
- No. It is a horn-only product — you get the chrome trumpet assembly, a 12V solenoid valve, 6 feet of 1/4" hose and mounting hardware. Vixen states an onboard air system (compressor, tank, switch) is required and must be bought separately.
- What size air line and fitting does it use?
- Vixen includes a 6-foot length of 1/4" OD nylon hose and a compression fitting on the 12V solenoid, which are industry-standard sizes that connect easily to most aftermarket air kits.
- Will the VXH3118 fit on a car or small SUV?
- The assembly is 15-1/4" long by 11" wide by 4-1/4" tall, with the longest trumpet at 15 inches, so it needs real mounting space. Trucks, Jeeps and RVs usually have room under the bed or behind a bumper; tight engine bays on small cars and SUVs may not.
- Is the VXH3118 a good value?
- At about $76 for an all-metal, chrome-plated triple-trumpet horn it's a strong value if you already own an air system. Just remember the true cost includes the compressor, tank and wiring you'll need to add.
