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Air Compressors

Submitted: Monday, Mar 11, 2002 at 00:00

Mark

I am looking to purchase a 12 volt air compressor and was wondering if anybody has any experiences good or bad that may assist me in finding a suitable unit. I am looking for a unit that can handle 2 4WD's taking the pressures up from 15 to 35psi after beach driving. I have considered the Big Red and ARB units but there are a few conflicting reports on which is the most capable unit of the two.

Cheers
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ThreadID: 837 Replies: 14
Views: 1271 FollowUps: 21
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AnswerID: 2348   Submitted: Monday, Mar 11, 2002 at 00:00

Keith replied:

Check out the compressor comparison in the June 2001 Australian 4x4 monthly.
Reply 1 of 14
AnswerID: 2353   Submitted: Monday, Mar 11, 2002 at 00:00

Tim replied:

I have a Big Red and can tell you that I have had no problems with it, its quick, and would recomend it without hesitation.... connect to battery terminals with proper clips..

Tim
Reply 2 of 14
AnswerID: 2357   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 12, 2002 at 00:00

DennisN replied:

I have a Blue Tongue from Opposite Lock. It works well, as I am sure they all do. I dont think there is much between them in the long run. I am told the Blue tongue is the best for continuous use - how true that is I dont know. I guess it will come down to your individual choice and needs

enjoy the bush!!!
Reply 3 of 14
AnswerID: 2358   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 12, 2002 at 00:00

Bob replied:

Thats a lot of air and will take quite a while using the standard units you mention. If you are doing this regularly I'd look at either a twin unit (Twin tongue?)or a unit for each vehicle. I have an ARB and no trouble with it. It gets pretty hot after doing four tyres though!
Reply 4 of 14
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AnswerID: 2374   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002 at 00:00

All Terrain 4WD Adventures replied:

I have a excel spreadsheet which details all my research on compressors, if you would like it let me know and I will send to you.

Stuart
Reply 5 of 14
FollowupID: 849   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002 at 00:00

Mark posted:

Stuart,

That would be great thanks. Please send to wortho@optushome.com.au
Cheers
Mark

FollowUp 1 of 15
FollowupID: 850   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002 at 00:00

Geoff posted:

Hi Stuart,
I too would love to have a look at your research as I'm in the same boat.

Geoff
FollowUp 2 of 15
FollowupID: 851   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002 at 00:00

Geoff posted:

My e-mail is thewayes@iprimus.com.au
FollowUp 3 of 15
FollowupID: 852   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002 at 00:00

Joe posted:

Stuart,

I would also love to benefit from your research.

Could you mail a copy of the spreadsheet to Joe@JoeMcDermott.com

Thanks

Joe
FollowUp 4 of 15
FollowupID: 853   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002 at 00:00

Charl posted:

ooops. makssi@bigpond.com thanks stuart
FollowUp 5 of 15
FollowupID: 854   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002 at 00:00

Don posted:

Stuart, I am also looking for a 12v air compressor and would appreciate a copy of your comparison spreadsheet. My address is thomasdw@bigpond.com.au
Thanks for your help. Don.
FollowUp 6 of 15
FollowupID: 855   Submitted: Thursday, Mar 14, 2002 at 00:00

Mark posted:

Stuart,

Thanks for the spreadsheet it really helped in making a final decision and I ended up going with the ARB RDCP deluxe. I picked one up at the Syndey 4x4 show tonight for $320 without the gauge as I have one. Thanks also to all the others who responded to my question. Looks like your spreadsheet has become quite popular !!
Cheers
Mark
FollowUp 7 of 15
FollowupID: 858   Submitted: Friday, Mar 15, 2002 at 00:00

Donald Dasher posted:

Stuart
Anything to help to make an informed Descision
donalddasher@yahoo.com
cheers
FollowUp 8 of 15
FollowupID: 865   Submitted: Saturday, Mar 16, 2002 at 00:00

Drew Arthur posted:

Stuart
Could you forward me your Spreadsheet also....thanks
FollowUp 9 of 15
FollowupID: 866   Submitted: Saturday, Mar 16, 2002 at 00:00

Drew Arthur posted:

oops...drew@micronet.com.au
FollowUp 10 of 15
FollowupID: 868   Submitted: Sunday, Mar 17, 2002 at 00:00

Mark posted:

Me Too! cullenmarkd@hotmail.com
FollowUp 11 of 15
FollowupID: 874   Submitted: Sunday, Mar 17, 2002 at 00:00

Michael Sheehan posted:

Hi Stuart,I am in the market for a 4WD compressor and am totally babboozled. I intended to purchase one at the Caravan and Campervan Show. Can I please have a copy of your spreadsheet.
FollowUp 12 of 15
FollowupID: 879   Submitted: Sunday, Mar 17, 2002 at 00:00

Andrew posted:

man, this has got some milage, I would also appreciate a spreadsheet, as I wan't to buy one b4 going to the cape this june. Regards.
FollowUp 13 of 15
FollowupID: 887   Submitted: Monday, Mar 18, 2002 at 00:00

Kel West posted:

I would love a copy of the excel spreadsheet too if you still have a copy. Cheers
Kel

krbwest@yahoo.com
FollowUp 14 of 15
FollowupID: 1311   Submitted: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 at 00:00

Ray Kearney posted:

Hi,

Could I have a copy of your compressor research.

Many Thanks
FollowUp 15 of 15
AnswerID: 2375   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002 at 00:00

charl replied:

we got something going here. makssi@bigpond.com thanks stuart.
Reply 6 of 14
FollowupID: 945   Submitted: Thursday, Mar 28, 2002 at 00:00

Gavin Hall posted:

Me to thanks Mine is about to shi? it self
Thanks
Fish
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 2377   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002 at 00:00

Ken replied:

I recently purchesed a Hurricane 3 as a unit to put in a second 4wd and at $135 was pleasantly surprised by the performance.The tyre inflateing performance is equall to my Blue Tounge 3!I cant comment on the longevity of the unit but with a 12 month guarantee it has to be good value. Regards Ken.
Reply 7 of 14
FollowupID: 886   Submitted: Monday, Mar 18, 2002 at 00:00

Nico posted:

ken

i am looking at purchaseing a compressor for around that amount as i dont go offroad heaps
do you know who sells the hurricane in melb

thanks

nico
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 902   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 20, 2002 at 00:00

Ken posted:

Nico.I think the hurricane3 should be available from most accesory shops. Since purchasing mine I have seen the same compressor sold under different names.eg WTD. from Auto One shops Regards Ken.
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 2384   Submitted: Thursday, Mar 14, 2002 at 00:00

All Terrain 4WD Adventures replied:

Mark,

I am glad I could assist in making your decision clearer, its funny that when you place this info side by side it is very easy to see what may be the best way to go for your own setup. On another note I heard the 4x4 Show wasn't much chop, is this correct have we seen better shows in years gone past.

Stuart.
Reply 8 of 14
FollowupID: 860   Submitted: Friday, Mar 15, 2002 at 00:00

Mark posted:

Stuart,
The show was ok but probably geared more towards the fisherman. Never the less we managed to spend 3 hours rushing around and felt that we had not seen it all. It was good to go on the first night being a weekday as it was not too busy and lots of oportunity to speak to the vendors on matters of interest. The Rosehill show is probably a better show for the 4x4 enthusiast. I've only been to one National 4X4 show before but I prefer the new location at Darling Harbour as theres plenty to do afterwards (hic!)
Cheers
Mark

FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 2386   Submitted: Friday, Mar 15, 2002 at 00:00

Weddy replied:

Mark, I have ahad a Big Red air compressor for six years, and although I haven't really tested it in severe conditions (four or more tyres in 40c+ heat) it has done the job without faltering.
However, in a price to performance ratio I consider this unit, and its peers, to be pathetic. While the units do a reasonable job, they are grossly overpriced for the performance they deliver.
By comparison with budget type inflators, the Big Red is four times as good, but twenty times the price.
Reply 9 of 14
FollowupID: 856   Submitted: Friday, Mar 15, 2002 at 00:00

Dennisn posted:

Weddy, I agree with you 100%. As I said earlier in this thread I am more than happy with my Blue Tongue, and I see others are happy with similar brands as well. It's just the price. It is not pathetic, it is BLOODY PATHETIC. I hope some of the 4WD suppliers read these posts [TJM,ARB, Opposite Lock etc.] We, the 4WD public who keep you in business, are sick of your greed. Give the 4WD public better prices and you might actually sell MORE products.
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 861   Submitted: Friday, Mar 15, 2002 at 00:00

Mark posted:

Weddy,
Yeah there not cheap, but what is these days I paid close to the amount I payed for the ARB unit for a pair of runners the other day. I guess its like anything else if theres a big market then the price with drop with demand, but how many of your friends etc are in the market for a trye compressor !!
Don't get me wrong I wish they were giving them away, but when you compare with other items that we seem to pay exorbitant amounts for they don't seem that overpriced at all. Have you priced up the replacement cost for a starter motor or alternator these days!
I suppose what hurts is its one of those items that you seldom use but is nice to have and ocaasionally you don't want to be without!!
Cheers
Mark
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 2417   Submitted: Sunday, Mar 17, 2002 at 00:00

All Terrain 4WD Adventures replied:

To All,

I can see people are not so impressed to what is offered on the 4WD market in the way of compressors and I agree. I have been searching the globe for alternatives and have recently located a US company who has a good offering with faster fill rates than whats is offered in Oz at the moment. I am waiting on surface mail at the moment with price lists etc. I will let you all know of the outcome.

Also bear in mind the reason allot of these units have limited life is that they are oil less.

Stuart.
Reply 10 of 14
AnswerID: 2449   Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 20, 2002 at 00:00

Rod replied:

I'd also be most grateful if you could forward me your spreadsheet of comparisons. I've had difficulty accepting the $$$$ high cost for hardly flattering performance- so am inclined to consider something a little less expensive provided it will reliably do the job, all beit a little slower!

email to rkharper@webone.com.au.

thanks in advance

Rod
Reply 11 of 14
AnswerID: 2577   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 02, 2002 at 00:00

Goran replied:

Good luck with your air compressors boys, i had enough of waiting for the bloody things to pump my tyres.I am currently running 3.5kg liquid CO2 bottle that is capable of pumping 26 265-75-r16's before refilling.Time for inflation per tyre (0-30psi)is 10 seconds
there
eat my shorts.....:-)
Reply 12 of 14
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AnswerID: 2580   Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 02, 2002 at 00:00

derek replied:

Hi,

I would also appreciate if you could send me a copy of the spreadsheet jenkins_derek@hotmail.com. Thanks
Reply 13 of 14
AnswerID: 2819   Submitted: Sunday, Apr 14, 2002 at 00:00

The MALS replied:

We too are in the market for a compressor-can we please have a copy of the spread sheet?
christhornton_2002@hotmail.com
Reply 14 of 14

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