I need to get a compressor. What savings to be had a camping shows?

[Titfish]

As the title suggests I need to get a compressor and was wondering what sort of savings I can expect to get by buying at a camping show, namely the caravan and camping show on at Maitland next weekend.

Also, although it has been probably done to death on other posts what compressor to get. I have looked at the TJM for about $220 and wonder if it compares favourably with the ARB at $349?

Any information would be great.

Thanks
Ken

[toeball]

I bought a TJM at a show for $200 with a repair kit thrown in, I also haggled a free pressure gauge out of them too !!

[Titfish]

Thanks Toeball. How do you find the TJM?

Ken

[GeeTee]

The ARB out-grunts the TJM unit, and the ARB twin-engine unit out-grunts the normal ARB unit.

Your purchase decision will depend on if you want to tell your mates you got a good deal, or if you want to tell them you bought a good compressor.

[Watty2975]

I have had a blue tongue compressor for well over 12 years, moved it into 3 different cars. It has been a great pump, with continuos ability and good output. I'm sure some of the newer pumps might have higher output now. The blue tongue has been great quality on never let me down.
Mine was $330 when I bought it.

[Jenko67]

4wd action mag did a comparison... Look here to read: http://www.4wdaction.com.au/articles/2011/issue-169-air-compressor-comparo-corrections

I just bagged 4wd action on another post, but I thought this was a good comparison, IMO..

[muzza01]

Your purchase decision will depend on if you want to tell your mates you got a good deal, or if you want to tell them you bought a good compressor.

And that is very well said and good advice.

[kylarama]

Make sure you check the duty cycle too, not just the free air delivery.  A good duty cycle is what you want when you have to air up your tug and camper at once.  IMO you can't go wrong with any of the big names, just comes down to your budget and personal preference.

I've got a Bushranger Max Air, now 7ish years old.  Most shops at the time were selling them for between $350 - $400.  Picked mine up at a 4wd show for $290 with a tyre repair kit and gauge thrown in, plus they have a 5 year warranty.  At the time it was probably close to the best portable compressor on the market.  These days the options are huge.

[Bird]

...a good comparison, IMO..

no such thing in a magazine...

[Foo]

If you want the best price at these shows, turn up on the last day, with only about an hour of the show left and you will be able to beat them around the head for the best price.

Foo

[toeball]

Thanks Toeball. How do you find the TJM?

Ken

No problems, I'm sure there is better out there but I can't afford to get the best of everything, I look for tough/reliable/good value products, kind of like what I am 

[britts]

You should be able to get an ARB for around $300 that's what they were at rosehill

[xcvator]

Tigerz11 has theirs on special atm for about $120-00 

[achjimmy]

Anybody have the twin ARB? I know it's heavy and looks expensive, presuming over $500? But I was pretty impressed when I watched them running air tools of it on coast to coast.  I really hate standing in the cold or wet airing up.

[fireguard]

Anybody have the twin ARB? I know it's heavy and looks expensive, presuming over $500? But I was pretty impressed when I watched them running air tools of it on coast to coast.  I really hate standing in the cold or wet airing up.

I've got the twin hard wired under the passengers seat of my Patrol, I don't have an air tank, but I can pump a 285/75R16 BGF AT from 15psi to 45ish in as good as 2minutes. I'm pretty happy with it, I went through and killed quite a few of the cheaper versions before I finally decided to outlay the cash and haven't looked back.

[Fathom]

I have the old ARB compressor hard mounted, the new twin one certainly outguns it in regard to flow rate. But if I was to go through the exercise again I would go with one of those hard mounted endless air systems and a small tank.. If you compared it to buying the new twin ARB compressor and $$ to fit.. They are not that far away from each other. And the endless air will be substantially faster and no worries about overheating if you are doing multiple vehicles.

[GeeTee]

Anybody have the twin ARB? I know it's heavy and looks expensive, presuming over $500? But I was pretty impressed when I watched them running air tools of it on coast to coast.  I really hate standing in the cold or wet airing up.

I don't own one (I have a conventional single motor ARB unit) but I had one for evaluation last year. It is very quick to pump up tyres etc... you can almost paint with it and it will run a air ratchet etc so is great for remote area service/maintenance work 

[GXL4X4]

 I have the ARB twin compressor I wanted to put behind the back seat and cargo barrier but it wasn't going to fit so because I was the first 80 series they were fitting one to they had to try different spots but ended up putting it under drivers seat but didn't get the tank still have work out where we are going to put that but it dose need the a tank.


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[GeeTee]

I have the ARB twin compressor I wanted to put behind the back seat and cargo barrier but it wasn't going to fit so because I was the first 80 series they were fitting one to they had to try different spots but ended up putting it under drivers seat but didn't get the tank still have work out where we are going to put that but it dose need the a tank.


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Why not simply leave it in its carry case?

[GXL4X4]

I wanted mounted and I have 2 hose points the one on the compressor and the other out the where my draws are


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[GeeTee]

no such thing in a magazine...

It's a little OT, but Lost: I know you are a cynic (and with good justification based on how some magazines have *ahem* structured their business in recent time) but there are some journos and some magazines that still retain professional standards.

You may not always agree with the opinion of the writer/journo, or the outcome of a test - as I sometimes don't - but at least in a test or comparo, you can glean comparative information about performance and ability from blokes with decades of motoring/travel/product experience. (The trouble is, how is the reader to know one bloke dressed in a khaki shirt and slouch hat from another?)

But I reckon any magazine comparo, even if it is 'rigged', is worth more than the blabberings of some bright-eyed new owner writing :"We absolutely love our new Nissyota! It's the best vehicle we've ever had and has been 100 percent reliable and taken us everywhere we've wanted to go!!" after owning it for one week... which, I'm sure you will agree, is a large part of the content of the Net   

[KingBilly]

But I reckon any magazine comparo, even if it is 'rigged', is worth more than the blabberings of some bright-eyed new owner writing :"We absolutely love our new Nissyota! It's the best vehicle we've ever had and has been 100 percent reliable and taken us everywhere we've wanted to go!!" after owning it for one week... which, I'm sure you will agree, is a large part of the content of the Net

Spot on GeeTee    The net is a wonderful place but not for the naive.

KB

[Bird]

You may not always agree with the opinion of the writer/journo, or the outcome of a test - as I sometimes don't - but at least in a test or comparo, you can glean comparative information about performance and ability from blokes with decades of motoring/travel/product experience. (The trouble is, how is the reader to know one bloke dressed in a khaki shirt and slouch hat from another?)

Couple of years ago there were 2 magazines that did spotlight "Indepth tests" - 1 month apart... They came out totally the opposite..How could they come to this result so far apart?
Impartial? Money rules.
But .. MIRACLE BY MIRACLE, both tests were followed by pages of advertising by the winners.. AND.... "Subscribe to win a set of XYZ LIGHTS VALUED AT $50,000"...

I reckon if you paid enough there'd be a magazine out there somewhere where a companies trailers could come out 1st in every price catagory in Camper of the year - even if they didnt have a trailer over $10k. Thats just how I see it. 

But I reckon any magazine comparo, even if it is 'rigged', is worth more than the blabberings of some bright-eyed new owner writing :"We absolutely love our new Nissyota! It's the best vehicle we've ever had and has been 100 percent reliable and taken us everywhere we've wanted to go!!" after owning it for one week... which, I'm sure you will agree, is a large part of the content of the Net   

agree with the short term batting off some people do...
"... these are by far the best tires I've ever had.. I've got 12klms on them now and they are still black!" kinda ****.

[Barry G]

4wd action mag did a comparison... Look here to read: http://www.4wdaction.com.au/articles/2011/issue-169-air-compressor-comparo-corrections

I just bagged 4wd action on another post, but I thought this was a good comparison, IMO..

I agree it was a good article.
I have the Projector twin compressor. First onestolen with the old camper, second purchased as a replacement.
Purchased the first on special from REPCO, second on special from Anaconda! 
Timing is everything, just have to be patient and you will get stuff cheaper than at the shows! 

[LC]

I've got a bushranger which has performed very well, pumps up all 6 tyres in an acceptable time period and does it without overheating / cutting out. Granted the last tyre takes longer than the first tyre but not excessively.

If you buy a compressor at a show just make sure the discount it greater than the entry fee or else you might as well not have bothered (unless of course you bought a heap of other stuff as well).

My local ARB shop has said in the past they will match whatever deal I can negotiate at a show, just so that they get my business instead of their competitors.