Air compressor

buy Chinese, buy twice.

"You get what you pay for" Not always. Sometimes you pay good money and get ripped off.
I have had excellent service from the "Big Red" brand. Not the cheapest, and perhaps not the best, but that's my experience. Cost me around $300 after I had an experience identical to yours.

Although I own a "Big Red" that comes in its own case and have no problems with it, I wouldn't just "push" this brand, although it was the portability that sold me on this unit.

If you don't mind a fixed unit, ARB have just released a new On-board Air Compressor that looks pretty good, based on the writeup in their 4x4 Action Mag.
Has a flow rate (61.6 litres per minute) which is twice the capacity of their previous model and at a quoted price of $290, may well be worth a good look.

I currently have a Chinese brand compressor, the first one I used once and it blew up, I had it replaced.

The replacement one that really struggles to pump up four tyres after being on the beach. Agree with the sentiments....Stay away from the Chinese ones.

I have had a Chinese one for two years and it gets a lot of use... I carry a foot pedal pump for when it eventually breaks...

I have replaced the base after the plastic feet broke off (when it wasn't being used) - I replaced it with a thick piece of rubber and bolted it down more substantially.

Other than that it has been fine...

As someone else implied, most of the less expensive ones even with big name brands on them, are made in China...

Whilst not cheap, the max air is a good compressor - 72 litres / minute & has a 5 year warranty. My switch packed up & it was repaired without any problems.
The older ARB compressor is really slow, I just use it for the diff locks & as a back up.
I also have a Thomas - not user if it is a blue tongue or not but it is also on the slow side but still working after close to 15 years of not hard use. The air hose did blow near the compressor outlet once because it got too hot!

One of the most popular compressors for casual use is the Bushranger Maxair. Reasonable inflation rate, comes in a kit with hose & assesories & has a 5 year warrenty (not that many need to use it).
Take no notice of the "dont buy a chinese compressor" brigade as many are excellent, the problem is telling which ones are good & which are not. I have a Chinese Big Thumper compressor from ATS that puts out nearly 4 cfm, often pumps up 12 tyres in the same time as an ARB unit & after 2 years of heavy use is still going strong. Only $420 but fittings are extra.
Cheers Craig.................

Thanks for all your help I go shopping next week
JR

Not sure of the brand but I picked one up at Anaconda 2 yrs ago (approx. $200) and sofar it hasn't missed a beat except for one of the wires inside being pinched between parts of the casing and blowing a fuse, after repairing that it quite regularly does the job of getting my 4 tyres back up to road pressure after an excursion on the bush tracks.
Brian T