Aircompressors

Can only report that my ARB job has been very good - mounted in the engine bay - 5L tank plumbed for a bit of extra blow - I snap on a hose for tyres on the car and camper -has been thoroughly reliable for us on all trips (and we use it a fair bit, when in and out of sand country).

I recently bought a "Grunter" (or it might have been a "MegaGrunter" or other such silly name). It's basically a rip off of a BushRanger compressor at about half the price. I paid about $180 for it a month or two ago, then saw it at the 4WD show in Perth for $140 the other week (oh well).

It pumps up my tyres from 18 psi to 35 psi in about 2-3 minutes (can't remember the size of tyre at all, big 'uns though). My brother in law has the same tyres and reckons that's faster than his much more expensive Blue Tongue compressor.

This one may not be the best (not much to compare it to), but it certainly does the job for me.

I have an ARB compressor under the seat in one of my GQ's and it's been great. It's about 5 years old and has never missed a beat. I have, however, replaced the piston ring by getting a kit from ARB about 6 months ago.

My second GQ has a portable Bushranger MaxAir. I know that there are cheap copies around - but I appreciate the quality of the unit as it is - and the warranty period is vary good. My wife also works for a camping store so we got it at wholesale (cost) - which is a lot less than the retail of $390 or thereabouts. Damn quick unit - and is just barely warm after airing up 4 x 33's from 12 to 38psi after our last run. Interestingly, we compared the temperature of the unit to a cheapie copy that another attendee was using and there was a marked difference. His was far warmer to the touch. Both are much faster that the ARB though :)

MaxAir... It pumps up 8 tyres from 12 to 38psi whilst the ARB jobbies are going on to their 4th....
They are *******FAST*******

Have a Big Red under the bonnet and just brought a copy of the Max Air from Ebay for $57, plus postage. I think all up it was just over $90, a real bargain. Tried the M.A. last night and it seems ok, good air flow, how long it lasts is the question but it's only for a back up and to help speed up pumping up 6 tyres after dropping them in sand. Have them both plumbed to a rear tank under the tray. I'd go for one of the copies again if I could get it at a similar price. Even it if only lasts a few years I'm way ahead. I'm not sure but think the Max Air's are over $500.

Depends what your after I spose, I went down the cheap road twice and they just kept packing it in, they couldn't handle the hot summer days here, they just melted inside.

I ended up doing a lot of research and even thow the Bluetonge is not the cheapest, not the most expensice, not the fastest, not the sloest, not the biggest or smallest, but it is rock solid, made my Thomas USA (like the big red) and is the only unit that I could find that is fan cooled and has a continuous duty cycle.

Mine is mounted under the red hot bonnet of the Surf, has an air tank hooked up to it at the back of the vehicle and runs every single day to pump up the tank up to 115psi for air horns etc. It reguarly pumps up 8 tyres in a row and I have done up to 16 tyres in a row without once turning it off, it just keeps on trucking even on the hosttest days with the hardest workouts. Sure, some one could rock up with the Bushranger, unpack it, pop the bonnet, connect it up, pump up their tyres, wait for it to cool down, pack it all away and maybe be done a couple of minutes faster than me, but I get out, plug the air hose to the front grill, hope back in the air con and watch the pressure guage on the dash till it's done, then change tyres, and so on. Beats hanging out with the flies in the heat.... And I know it's gonna go everytime, which to me is more important that just relying on the fact that "it's got a good warranty". I've been stuck in the middle of nowhere before with 16psi all round and a cheap POS that had died. Not fun.
!MPG:13!

I have a 4 year old Bushranger Max air and it is much quicker than ARB and much cheaper. I purchased same time as a friend purchased an ARB and he has had hassles.

I bought a TJM Ox, pumps my 33" X 12.5 Muddies from 18 - 40 in 5mins exactly.

A very good unit!

Once upon a time there was a air compressor who, boasting how he could inflate tyres faster than anyone else, was forever teasing little arb compressor for its slowness. Then one day, the irate arb compressor answered back: "Who do you think you are? There's no denying you're swift, but even you can be beaten!" The max air squealed with laughter.

"Beaten in a race? By whom? Not you, surely! I bet there's nobody in the world that can win against me, I'm so speedy. Now, why don't you try?"

Annoyed by such bragging, the arb compressor accepted the challenge. A course was planned, and the next day at fraser island they stood at the starting line. The max air yawned sleepily as the meek arb compressor trudged slowly off. When the max air saw how painfully slow his rival was, he decided, half asleep on his feet, to have a quick nap. "Take your time!" he said. "I'll have forty winks and catch up with you in a minute."

Greg, the Big Thumper puts out 3 to 4 cfm, is fan cooled for continuous use and at around $400 is competitively priced. It is fairly big so you need a bit of under bonnat space to fit it in. Not many other electric compressors will pump up a tyre as fast.
Thomas are a quality unit with a middle of the range output & continuously rated. Twin tounge in particular are excellent but dear.
Bushranger Maxair is probably the best portable unit, pretty quick, 5 year warrenty which is rarely needed but not the one I'd choose for reinflating multiple cars. Avoid the cheap copy unless you only need it once or twice a year.

What are your needs anyway?? Diff locks? Regular multiple tyre inflation or once a year use? Reseat tubeless tyres? Air tools? Blower? Cheap price or Long life & reliable? What size tyres do you have? ie: (An ARB compressor would be useless on a 35" Swamper but accepable on a wheel barrow;-)

Cheers Craig...............

I have a Blue Tongue 3 and it has given faithfull service for 4 years now.

I don't count the minutes it takes to pump up the tyres as I am not in a hurry.

It cost around the $500 mark when I bought it.

These days there are cheaper ones around. It is just a matter of choice.

There are a number of 72'L per min electric compressors avail (SuperCheap comes to mind at $149). ARB compressors (yes I have one) are great for their intended purpose - air for diff locks.

HOWEVER few electric compressors will come close to an engine drive compressor for capacity, duty cycle amd reliabaility, and no where near for price.

Dave