Portable Air Compressors - Which One - dozens to choose from??

[McTavish]

I've searched and can't find any recent threads.   So decided to ask the question - which portable 12v compressor?

Not into 4x4 in a big way but keen to get something 'decent' and prepared to go up to say $200 - is there such a thing.

ARB just shy of $400 - Really?   Are they 'that good'?   And yes the twin unit is amazing but I could put that money into plenty of other things first.
TJM seem to like their own little yellow one or the Bushranger Blackmax around that price.
Then of course our Supercentre friends selling the Thumper for about the $75 mark - and I can't seem to find any bad reviews of them.   

So - What have you got and why do you like it?

Ps - Bird - I hope this topic takes your interest as I note your quote from a thread years ago that you love a good air compressor thread!!

[RebsWA]

Check out this one - DR AIR PRO FLOW AC495 150L/MIN. Get them now for $230 delivered from Ebay.
Got one for the son in law when they first came out about 5 years ago as they spend a lot of time on the beach. In that time it has had a good work out and he reckons its just great. It works, its fast, its never stopped and can get all 4 from 18 to 40psi in half the time it takes for the other blokes around to do just 2 wheels he says.
Five year warranty and rated by 4WD Action Magazine Best Air Compressor Overall when they tested a bunch of them.

[Hookie]

You don't have to look too closely to notice that 3/4 of the compressors priced from $50 to $300 are the thumper with various paint jobs. I got mine in red, paid about $160 "on sale" back when I was new to 4WDing and newly returned to Oz, and still yet to learn how things work around here.

It's a decent compressor IMO, I do a lot of beach work so mine has seen some action. I'm not sure if it's a genuine 160L/min as it does take a while to inflate my patrol tyres. The hose and fittings that come with it are garbage, I replaced both a long time ago. On a good hot day it will shut down several times while doing all of my tyres from 18 back to 36 and I have to wait a few minutes here and there.

The biggest thing for me if I was buying a compressor again would be to get one with a pressure switch, to save running back and forth to turn it on and off (or making the kids do it). Might not be a big deal for others, but I think the extra investment is worthwhile. A lot of them are coming with remotes now, which I spose eliminates that need, if you want to carry and use a remote (I don't).

My old man has a mean mother compressor, not sure the details off the top of my head, but I think it's about 110L/min. It has a pressure switch, it's quiet, and I reckon it's at least as fast as my thumper, so I reckon there is some value to the higher priced models.

[lloydus67]

I have a  projector typhoon twin head compressor from one of the car spares shops about 6-7 years ago. It pumps 33” tyres up from 14 to above 30 in under 2 mins per tyre. It’s the last 10 psi to 40 that is slow. It hasn’t missed a beat with plenty of beach work and regular trips to Fraser Island. I have taken all my tyres to 40 psi when I have no option and it has never over heated, but mostly I just want to air up enough to get to a high volume compressor at a servo


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[speewa158]

l have an ARB mounted in the Pajero  dose the job nicely  . The work truck has a on special $99 single head unit  , also dose the job well . Anything is going to work but there will always be something better . 

[Pete79]

I have a Repco red version of the single piston units that everyone sells, paid just under $200 about 3 years ago.

Also have a little Bushranger RV Air and it’s an absolute ripper.
Paid $100 for it about 6 years ago and it cops a flogging.

The repco thing is massive and works no better then the compact little RV Air.
I bought the Repco monster thinking I needed it to do the 33s on the Jeep, how wrong I was.
The little Bushranger actually does the 33s from 14 to 35psi just as fast as all those monster units out there.

The repco unit hasn’t moved off the shelf in 2.5 years, and while the RV Air is still doing such and awesome job I can’t see the big POS being used for many more years to come. Maybe I should put it up on the Swaggers give away page...

[edz]

Had an $80 unit from Big W  for 20 years that worked well .. Replaced it with a DR Air Pro  $230. So much more solid  / heavier and faster unit ..
Only criticism of it is the Airline quick connector gets Extremely hot [ You need gloves to disconnect the air line ] the rubber insulator on the connector  turns to a marsh mellow .

[Rumpig]

Had my Bushranger Maxair 2 compressor for 10 years now....in that time on multiple occasions it has pumped up 2 X 4wd's and 2 X caravans one after the other from beach pressures to road pressures without cutting out due to overheating...basically can't kill the thing.

[Craig Tomkinson]

x2 for bushranger RV bought mine around 6 year a ago off Arb sunny coast, been up to Pennefather 5 times still in original box, dos 6,  265 x 16 on the 80 and boat trailer loaded to nearly max, well ,  Craig

[tryagain]

https://www.4x4australia.com.au/gear/electronics-gadgets/1603/12-volt-air-compressor-comparison probably worth a look

[Fizzie]

Anybody had a go at the Ryobi one

https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-one-18v-cordless-air-inflator-and-deflator_p6210400

Don't think it would handle heavy-duty work, but OK for Justin

[marvellous_matt]

I don’t generally buy arb stuff, however I got one of their compressors second hand, as you can get plenty of parts to rebuild them if something goes wrong. I needed a part for one, (cant remember the part) and ARB wanted about $80 plus freight, the Guy was trying to up sell me to a new compressor as they were 100 or more off fo a special. So would not pay full price, would consider one on sale or second hand. That said the box they come in has a bit of wasted space, I am considering making one out of ply that folds out.

[Hookie]

Had an $80 unit from Big W  for 20 years that worked well .. Replaced it with a DR Air Pro  $230. So much more solid  / heavier and faster unit ..
Only criticism of it is the Airline quick connector gets Extremely hot [ You need gloves to disconnect the air line ] the rubber insulator on the connector  turns to a marsh mellow .

Hate to break it to you edz, but that's the same thumper that everyone else sells.

[Hookie]

Anybody had a go at the Ryobi one

https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-one-18v-cordless-air-inflator-and-deflator_p6210400

Don't think it would handle heavy-duty work, but OK for Justin

I'd be very reluctant to rely on that, it's a general PITA to stop and pump up tyres as it is, if you had to sit and wait for a battery to charge in the middle as well that would really suck.

[marvellous_matt]

Hate to break it to you edz, but that's the same thumper that everyone else sells.

https://www.toughtoys.com.au/media/commerce_products/14/4WD169-036-054-FEATURE-air_2.pdf
This review is from a few years ago, but most interesting to me was when they stripped 3 compressors that looked the same and found a range of cylinder heads and pistons. So not necessarily everything that looks the same is the same.

[doc evil]

Had my Bushranger Maxair 2 compressor for 10 years now....in that time on multiple occasions it has pumped up 2 X 4wd's and 2 X caravans one after the other from beach pressures to road pressures without cutting out due to overheating...basically can't kill the thing.

Another vote for the Maxair.

Had the original maxair but busted the switch (had to use a fork  ) Have had the maxair II since it came out. Never had an issue.

Once I kill this one (I've tried quite hard but to no avail........yet  ) I'll replace it with the Maxair III

[GBC]

Another vote for the Maxair.

Had the original maxair but busted the switch (had to use a fork  ) Have had the maxair II since it came out. Never had an issue.

Once I kill this one (I've tried quite hard but to no avail........yet  ) I'll replace it with the Maxair III

I'm still running the original maxair from somewhere around 2002 I think I got it. That was about the last time I had air lockers too and it embarrassed the ARB under bonnet unit back then when we were reinflating 35" Baja Claws - the good old days.

The rubber feet have perished so the base plate fell off. The air filter cover got bashed off somewhere. The rotten old thing still cranks like nobody's business - love it.

I had the Ryobi one for pumping up bicycle tyres to 110 psi - it didn't last long. It will definitely let you down if you think it is going to pump up 4 4wd tyres.

[Mangrovematt]

I recently brought the Thumper from the 4x4  supacentre ,was talked out of the double thumper by a staff member because they said more than a few  are coming back with overheating issues, $74 pick up , that will do me, 1 year warranty, so if it lasts 2 years it's cost me about 10c a day.
10 years is awesome Rumpig , more to spend on black tins lol

[db]

Well, I'll go against the tide and say I'm very happy with my ARB one in a box. It works reliably, the pressure operated switch and gauge at the tyre end make it easy to use. Its never once cut out from overheating. With an Anderson plug on the end I just plug it in to the back of the Pajero and can reach all tyres including the trailer without having to move anything. The box ensures that the hose, inflator and other nozzles are easy to store and pack away. Having an easy to access, reliable set up means that I'm happy to air up and down when I should instead of pushing on and risking tyres and/or damaging track or getting bogged. For me the ease of use, storage and setup make it a worthwhile investment.

[westvic]

Well, I'll go against the tide and say I'm very happy with my ARB one in a box. It works reliably, the pressure operated switch and gauge at the tyre end make it easy to use. Its never once cut out from overheating. With an Anderson plug on the end I just plug it in to the back of the Pajero and can reach all tyres including the trailer without having to move anything. The box ensures that the hose, inflator and other nozzles are easy to store and pack away. Having an easy to access, reliable set up means that I'm happy to air up and down when I should instead of pushing on and risking tyres and/or damaging track or getting bogged. For me the ease of use, storage and setup make it a worthwhile investment.

Yep same here. Bought mine around 2008 and still running fine despite being bashed around in the back of the vehicle (protected by box).

[weeds]

Had a bushranger max air II install on my last rig, it ran the lockers and inflated many a tyre and balls and inflatables. It’s now in a mates truck still working fine.

I now have a single ARB and a Twin ARB permantly installed.....both working fine.

I do have a 4WD super centre unit in the garage that was donated to me, brand new never used.


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[weeds]

Which part of Brisbane are you in.....if anywhere near bracken ridge feel free to drop of and give the the Single ARB and 4WD Super Centre a run......the ARB Twin as well.


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[rossm]

I have had an early model of this for over a decade.

http://www.sidewinder.com.au/page254.html

Works ok and the black hose is a zillion times easier to coil up than  the semi-rigid orange snake that comes from ARB. My Prado came with an ARB on board.     

and the combined pressure gauge and deflator he sells is also simpler to use than some others I have seen. 

[scott13april]

I’ve got arb under bonnet, came with car... very good small unit, does all 4 tyres without cutting out, previously had an ALDI version of thumper, it could only do 3 tyres then needed a rest and had a 100amp blade fuse !!!!! Mate of mine just got the medium dr air that comes in metal amo box, that seemed to work well.


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[Hookie]

https://www.toughtoys.com.au/media/commerce_products/14/4WD169-036-054-FEATURE-air_2.pdf
This review is from a few years ago, but most interesting to me was when they stripped 3 compressors that looked the same and found a range of cylinder heads and pistons. So not necessarily everything that looks the same is the same.

Interesting point. But I have to wonder if they all still came out of the same factory at different times. I'm sure they'll buy however many pistons and heads from whoever's cheapest and then use them till they run out and go shopping again.
I used to have an 86 skyline (possibly the best car I've ever owned) and if you needed anything electrical you had to know the month, because they contracted out so many units and then put it out for bidding again.