I need to get a portable Air Compressor and I really like this ARB one because it hooks directly to the batter.... so it must be powerful.... the only problem with it is that its $300 bucks... anyone know of something just as good or have this one and is there any issues with it?

This is the ARB one:

Yes thats high..and seems like Ive read some bad things about it... I was on a thread yesterday..that the guy paid 50$ for one.. Ill find it for ya

There are a lot of guys on CX running OBA systems. I don't know much about the subject but if you search On Board Air you could probably come up with some cool stuff :)

http://www.clubxterra.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14662

There are a lot of guys on CX running OBA systems. I don't know much about the subject but if you search On Board Air you could probably come up with some cool stuff :)

i cant install it since I need it for two my X and my b/f silverado for when we go to the desert.... can those oba be used as portable ones??

I'm sure you could buy a similar setup and just put it in a box like the ARB one.

http://www.clubxterra.org/forums/showthread.php?t=14662

that one is cool and cheap... I wonder how it hooks up and if it can be used as a portable one...

The cheap walmart ones take FOREVER!

The cheap walmart ones take FOREVER!

thats what i dont want lol

that one is cool and cheap... I wonder how it hooks up and if it can be used as a portable one...

I bought this one....and LOVE it. The only way to hook it up is connecting the alligator clamps to your battery. They make one for $20 less that hooks up to your 12v but I think its less powerful. When I go wheeling, I usually deflate to 18 psi and re-inflate to 33 psi on all four tires in about 6 mins. The little red hexagonal piece on the back is actually an air filter which is a nice feature too. If you go onto amazon or google and search Q Industries, you will find the whole line of products. They are top rated which is why I picked one up.

You also might want to check into ViAir compressors. They make portable kits that you can take with you, as well as OBA systems for off-road and on-road use. I carry them through my business and they are a good compressor/company.

I bought this compressor (http://www.amazon.com/Master-Flow-MF-1050-Portable-Compressor/dp/B000L9AD2U) at Pep Boys for a little over $50. It works fine. Takes about 5 minutes a tire, but I don't mind a little break before I leave a trail for the highway, so it's not anything I worry about. Word on the street is this little compressor will last a good while and it's maintenance free.

that one is cool and cheap... I wonder how it hooks up and if it can be used as a portable one...

It IS a little portable one...it was just MOUNTED by the user to have as a built in (It COMES as a portable unit).

If you can find a PUMA air compressor, they are a good bargain, IIRC 100% duty cycle, and reasonably fast.

The little ones take 5-10 minutes per TIRE, depending on what sized tire, and, your starting/stopping PSI, etc.

I used an Interdynamics Truck Compressor (Cig Lighter model...) for many years, even when jeeping before X-ing.

It was about the same speed as the Tsunami/1050 model seen in both above posts, cost ~ $40, and could run for hours, which was good, because it seemed like hrs.

:D

@ ~ 5-10 min a tire, that's 20 - 40 minutes to air up after off roading..not fun if its nasty out/you don't like crouching next to your truck for long periods of time.

I did it for a LOT of years though, and lived to tell about it.

:D

I went with an ExtremeAir 4 CFM, 150 PSI, 100% Duty Cycle OBA mount...with a 4 gal tank...instead though, after having about had it with 20 - 40 minutes to air up each time.

The first tire takes ~ 45 seconds to air up, and then the rest are maybe 1.5 minutes each for a 33 x 13.5/16 going from ~ 14 - 40 psi.

Thats Closer to 5 minutes TOTAL to air up all 4 tires....waaay better.

Of course, that's built in...but, it comes as a battery cable/box portable version a well.

Warn has some too which are very fast for tires.

(You don't need high PSI like 150 psi for tires unless you are charging a tank)

A pump can fill a tire faster if it can make fewer large strokes, at lower pressure, than many small strokes to get higher pressures.

:wink-big:

I bought this compressor (http://www.amazon.com/Master-Flow-MF-1050-Portable-Compressor/dp/B000L9AD2U) at Pep Boys for a little over $50. It works fine. Takes about 5 minutes a tire, but I don't mind a little break before I leave a trail for the highway, so it's not anything I worry about. Word on the street is this little compressor will last a good while and it's maintenance free.

Agreed I have the same compressor. It very very popular with the offroad enthusiast crowd. Searching for MV-50 will net you lots of hits on why people seem to like the compressor so much. For the price to output ratio its hard to beat. There are a few write ups on different sites that show you how to port the head for greater CFM. Comes with a nice cloth storage bag.
http://www.amazon.com/Maximum-Portable-Compressor-Coil-Hose/dp/B000BM8RT8/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1276231889&sr=1-1

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/silverdude/P1020593.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/silverdude/DSC09941.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/silverdude/DSC09938.jpg

I carry it with me at all times.

how long does it take you to fill a tire???

After reading all you guys have wrote I find this one very appealing:

Does anyone have this one???

its about 200 so its 100 less than the other.. I just like the time it says:

40043 Standard Features

* Permanent Magnetic Motor
* Duty Cycle: 33% @ 100 PSI
* Max. Working Pressure: 150 PSI
* Max. Amp Draw: 26 Amps

40043 Tire Fill Rates 0 - 30 PSI 15 - 30 PSI
31" x 10.5" Tire 2 Min., 28 Sec. 1 Min., 25 Sec.
33" x 12.5" Tire
4 Min., 00 Sec. 2 Min., 00 Sec.
35" x 12.5" Tire
4 Min., 50 Sec. 2 Min., 20 Sec.

The only bad thing I can see about that ViAir model is the 33% duty cycle. If you are only adding some pressure back into each tire, you should be good to hopefully get them all done within 3 minutes of it running. But if not, then you are going to be there 10 minutes or more, due to having to let it cool down. Best compressors are those that you can find that are 100% duty cycle. ViAir has a few other models that are 100% duty cycle, but usually run a bit more. ViAir is one of the best compressors out though. Air Zenith and ViAir are the majority that I sell to people running air ride on their vehicles. AZ as of yet, does not have a pre-made kit for portable demands though, where ViAir does. Hope this helps.

how long does it take you to fill a tire???

2-3 minutes a tire 32" 15psi to 40psi.
You could maybe buy two of them mount them into a plastic tool box and air up much faster.

Your fastest fill option is a CO2 tank, but it obviously has the negative that it has to be refilled. You can get many many air ups out of a tank though because the air in the tank is under extreme pressure. Also air tool ready. CO2 fill up places are available in most towns thanks to paintball guns.

yea i have CO2 for my paint ball guns :) but that doesn't sound like something I want to deal with, with the tires... I think one of those small compressors are going to be the best...

why do they have to make so many different types lol... should just be simple.

I've got the MF-1050 from Pep Boys for like $50, IIRC. It's a great little compressor for inflating tires after a trail run. It's not super speedy, but most days, I'm not in a hurry to leave the trail.

The only issues with the MF-1050, is that it gets hot - really hot - so be careful where you put it in your vehicle when you are done using it. You don't want to "Chachi" your X (Happy Days reference to when Chachi burned down Arnold's by throwing his apron on the hot grill).

That same company (Q Industries) makes a bigger compressor for 18-wheelers, but I've only seen it online an not in the stores. Maybe they'd have it at a truck stop.

I bought one of these from Harbor Freight : http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-150-psi-high-volume-air-compressor-66399.html

I paid $50 when it was on sale and am very happy with it after a couple uses. It's not nearly as sexy as the big boys nor is its duty cycle much more than refilling 4 tires (hot) however it doesn't break the bank and it does what it says, topped up my stock tires from 20psi to 40psi in around 3 min / tire.

Obviously, you get what you pay for so I wouldn't use this as my only way to air up cause you just never know when it might give up the ghost but for the price you can buy two! lol.

A lot of our guys are running this compressor:

http://www.titanwinches.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=24

So a HF 12volt 250 psi portable air compressor is good?

I bought one of these from Harbor Freight : http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-150-psi-high-volume-air-compressor-66399.html

I paid $50 when it was on sale and am very happy with it after a couple uses. It's not nearly as sexy as the big boys nor is its duty cycle much more than refilling 4 tires (hot) however it doesn't break the bank and it does what it says, topped up my stock tires from 20psi to 40psi in around 3 min / tire.

Obviously, you get what you pay for so I wouldn't use this as my only way to air up cause you just never know when it might give up the ghost but for the price you can buy two! lol.

I ran that same one for several years, and it finally burned up late last year, it worked well for what it was.

I picked up this one a short while ago(did not pay this much for it)http://www.autobarn.net/mv90.html but it does a much better job than the old one ever did. I still do have a seperate ARB compressor mounted to do only the lockers but I want to keep that one for the lockers only.

how long does it take you to fill a tire???

After reading all you guys have wrote I find this one very appealing:

Does anyone have this one???

its about 200 so its 100 less than the other.. I just like the time it says:

40043 Standard Features

* Permanent Magnetic Motor
* Duty Cycle: 33% @ 100 PSI
* Max. Working Pressure: 150 PSI
* Max. Amp Draw: 26 Amps

40043 Tire Fill Rates 0 - 30 PSI 15 - 30 PSI
31" x 10.5" Tire 2 Min., 28 Sec. 1 Min., 25 Sec.
33" x 12.5" Tire
4 Min., 00 Sec. 2 Min., 00 Sec.
35" x 12.5" Tire
4 Min., 50 Sec. 2 Min., 20 Sec.

I have to look at the model number but I have a Viair and it has been golden for alot of use. I have the 100% duty cycle 150psi model, I never want to do the "how far away is the nearest air hose and how much pressure should I go down?" thing... I usually go down to 12-15psi and I can dune even in the soft stuff and air up all 4 tires to 40psi in ~10min. But yea, it was like $300.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/bighugmug/photoviair4.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/bighugmug/photoviair3.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/bighugmug/photoviair2.jpg

I have one of the MV what evers... great pump.. All I know is never buy the Cig pumps... No power

I've got an MV-50 and an MV-90. The 90 kicks butt! The 50 works too, but it is much slower. I bring them both along in case one fails, I have a spare. Invariably someone ends up forgetting their compressor/not having one, so I let them use my spare (the MV-50).

Good info here:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/resources/air-compressor-series.html

We spent the day having an in depth discussion on everything from, why it’s a good idea to air down, to what duty cycle really is. We cover the conversation in this eleven part video series.

after airing down for the first time I am looking into this subject also. I had no idea about airing down I actually aired up at the gas station before getting there I have narrowed it down to these, I have the 9.99 one from autozone for an emergency but I would like to mount it in the rear cargo area.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-150-psi-high-volume-air-compressor-66399.html

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Masterflow-12v-High-Volume-Air-Compressor-Inflator/12321236

http://www.amazon.com/Goodyear-i7000-12-Volt-Heavy-Duty-Inflator/dp/B001D5HP40/ref=sr_1_17?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1307996841&sr=1-17

I bought this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036E9VB6

On the unit, it says "Run time: 20 mins @ 30 PSI".
I used to reair from about 15PSI to 30PSI on my stock tires (29" - 265/70/16). It took about 1.5 minutes per tire. The whole thing (disconnected, reconnecting, etc) took under 15 minutes. Pretty painless and a good price.

I ended up with the viair 350 for my OBA setup. I grabbed a 5 gallon air tank from an 18 wheeler air brake system for $50, and plumbed it with a pressure guage and a quick connect. Now I can even run air tools on the trail.

Bottom line with a compressor, IMO, duty cycle is the most important number. 100% is more important than a couple cfm difference if the other one is 33% duty cycle.

I am thinking this should work, will this be hard to rig up? I would like to mount the compressor in the rear cargo area and the 5 gallon air tank where the spare tire was, would it be proteced under there or would that be a bad spot?


http://www.amazon.com/Industries-MV50-SuperFlow-Hi--Compressor/dp/B000BM8RT8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307995207&sr=8-1

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-gallon-portable-air-tank-65594.html?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase&hft_adv=40010&mr:trackingCode=626D0F9E-782A-E011-B31E-001B2163195C&mr:referralID=NA

HAs anyone had the MV50 mounted for a period of time? I would like to know how it holds up to the weather, or should I mount it in the cargo area to keep it dry.