What type of air compressor?

Hi Boo,

I have a Bushranger Pro-Air which is the mid range model in the Bushranger line up. The Max-Air is the big one and does 72l/m but mine does around half that.

Having said that, I was on a trip with about 8 other cars at Robe and when we stopped to air up after the sand work I was first finished and assisted the one bloke that was compressor less. So I think a 35l/m model will be heaps. Many people are happy with your $100 repco cheapie type ones.

RRP on this the Pro-Air is $250 but I got mine at Ray's outdoors when they had one of the regular 20% off sales. Got it for $199.95. Happy with that. The Max-Air is about $350 but unless you are doing air work every day I could not justify the cost.

Cheers
Muddy

I've got the ARB mounted in the engine bay with a reservoir tank under the bullbar - its always been very good to me - used to maintain the car and camper tyres, plus blow down bits n pieces with a nozzle and do odd jobs in the shed - even painted the previous camper with it. I'd buy another one if I needed it. The cutout at 100PSI is a winner, and there is no maintenance required on the unit....the filter is very easy to clean but rarely needs it in my setup. You may have noticed that there is a portable version of the ARB unit too - in a case.

G'day,
I've had a Max Air for over 2&1/2 years now. It is permanently plumbed in and gets used every day of the year to top up my dual air tanks (used mainly for large air horns on roof rack), and also operates ARB air locker. I have outlets front and back as well as one in the driver's compartment (recently added so I can blow-out the dust from the dash board).
It has never given me a moment's trouble and pumps 72lpm (claimed).
Recommended.
Cya
Roachie

Great test but unfortunatly they only trialed most of the popular lower end models. There are several top quality units around pumping up to 3 cfm for under $500 I would have liked to have seen included in the comparison.
Cheers Craig..........

is that the big model or the smaller one? I've had the smaller one for a couple of years and it's been ok. spose the bigger one'd have a bit more grunt.

Sorry guys ..i was refering to the MAX AIR model.

I still have some of these on sale for $275 if you like

geez Eric..i thought it was a cheapy!

$275 for the large max air is cheap lol . better than the $390 ARB price

Eric,
Can you email me some details on the units you have on sale and whats included with them.
at:
jamieson@teknet.net.au

Hi Eric,

I'm interested in the comps you have for sale:
1. Are they brand new?
2. What is included?
3.What warranty?
4.How much postage to 2026 NSW
Please email me: itsales@bigpond.net.au
regards,
Wayne

Yes they are new , from bushranger , the large 72l per min model with the carry bag and all accesories , the full 5 year warranty starts when purchased.

wholesalecars@optusnet.com.au

Eric,

Can you do the under bonnet model at that price?

Underbonnet model ? All max air compressors come with hard mounting kit . I wouldnt be fitting one under the bonnet

Hi Norm,

Make sure you keep your receipt! I bought one of these to use as my compressor across the Simpson, and it worked for probably ten to 15 tyre fillups, then started 'missing'. It seems to pump fine, then skip a few beats and the air blows back out of the tyre so it gets slower to pump.

I'd lost the receipt otherwise would have taken it back for refund, so pulled it apart to find it all appeared okay, but with a bit of oil around the valve in the head. My quickfix didn't last and it still misses and f.rts around. Might be a bearing going and releasing oil which clogs a valve inside.

So do I spend up big on a Max Air, or Endless Air, or try another just in case it was a one off problem? I found exactly the same model on regular price in Big W for $89, bought it and have kept the receipt this time. If it lets me down 'out there' I'll be getting my money back and going for an endless air if it will fit. I've got a slow Truck Air as a back up which will do fine, but is just slow.

I trust yours works reliably.

Tim

Hi guys,
I had a Super Cheap compressor originally, as a stop-gap measure actually. I got about 6 inflations out of it... (That's 4 X 33" muds from 18 to 40psi each "set")

Then it disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke!

I had kept the receipt and got my money back no questions asked!

I then put that towards my TJM Ox, I have only had it a short time, and so far so good.... Of course I bought it prior to seeing the compressor comparo in 4X4 monthly recently and may well have bought the Max-Air if I had waited... who knows? :-) I can say that the Ox is a good unit!

Get an A/C comp from wreckers
Air tank from truck wreckers
Switch from ARB
Some hoses and make a bracket
Under $200
Very cheap, but very very good.

Graeme's on the money.......IF YOU CAN ORGANISE YOUR AVAILABLE UNDER-BONNET SPACE.
I'd love to have an endless air (or one made up of an old a/c compressor of course), but there simply isn't anywhere I could fit it on the Patrol.

Thought of doing it that way too, but have to mod the compressor (seals and grease) to make it last. And it pays to have a workshop - AND the will to do it, which I no longer have.

Need a minimum of a three port receiver (tank) - one in one out and a drain (most important). Best to to use a manifold under the bonnet - high temp hose from the comp to the tank (hose gets bloody hot out of the compressor), and a normal hose from the tank to the manifold. At the manifold need an overpressure valve (mandatory - comp can do 200 psi), pressure gauge, adjustable pressure switch and female coupling. You will need switching to the compressor and wiring. I have a dash on/off switch connected via the ignition switch to the compressor (well it is not in yet - still getting the bits in...)

/viz

Oops, forgot to mention relief valve
An ARB pressure switch is what I meant to say, $30 and it's right if you want to run dif locks.
Any old switch in the dash will do and a relay
Hydrulic hose from comp to tank.
I just give it a squirt of oil after a couple of uses , then drain the tank now and again.
Still cheaper than most elec compressors and runs a rattle gun easily.
I love it.

Gotta consider the effort involved with the compressor setup. I got an old air con compressor for zip...... but the amount of brackett manufacture involved made it a headache I could do without! So I abandoned the idea and bought a TJM Ox, $400 in a bag with the hose, they rated rasonably well in the Austalian 4X4 test recently. Personally I have used it 1/2 a dozen times to pump the 33" muddies from 18 to 40psi and it gets 'em all there in about 20 minutes, but more importantly it gets 'em there fairly effortlessly, it's not overly hot at the end of it. Am thinking of mounting it in the rear of the GQ and plumbing it to a truck tank mounted under... should be great then!