Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

I'm sure the ARB one is better but it's ~$390 with the gauge and inflator. They also stock the Bushranger Black Max but they are cheaper on eBay, these come with a 5 year warranty:-

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BUSHRANGER-BLACK ... 4aa98d037a

If you push them on price you can get them a lot cheaper. I picked up my compressor and hose with the standard air chuck (no gauge) about two and half years back) for around $280 from memory. I would personally look at a seperate air gauge as opposed to inline since they can also be used at a servo to give an acurate pressure reading.

[VXWesty Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close VXWesty]

Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

The other benefit of the ARB compressor is that if you fit it under the bonnet then you will always have it with you for those unforeseen instances. I keep the hose and chuck in the jack compartment in the rear so that I'm always ready to go.

This makes it worth the extra cost.

VXWesty

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

The other benefit of the ARB compressor is that if you fit it under the bonnet then you will always have it with you for those unforeseen instances.

The one I priced was the portable unit, I'm not sure of pricing on the on-board models. Can't you on-board most compressors by bolting through the base plate? It's not a prime consideration for me, I kind of like the idea of a portable unit as you can easily move it between vehicles.

[VXWesty Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close VXWesty]

Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

The other benefit of the ARB compressor is that if you fit it under the bonnet then you will always have it with you for those unforeseen instances.

The one I priced was the portable unit, I'm not sure of pricing on the on-board models. Can't you on-board most compressors by bolting through the base plate? It's not a prime consideration for me, I kind of like the idea of a portable unit as you can easily move it between vehicles.

Yes you can but some portable units may not cope with the heat under the bonnet, or in the case of the ARB compressor the portable unit doesn't have the small manifold for running extra stuff like diff lockers.

Each have their benefits.

VXWesty

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

I have an older ARB unit and now also have a black max.... courtesy of it being a freebee with my last set of tyres.
The black max is a very good bit of gear. I would buy one in a snap if needed.
The ARB unit that I have has served me well for about 8 years, although it isn't as good as the newer black max, and cost me about $400.00 from memory. I have heard very good things about the newer ARB units.
IMO it is a waste of time spending good money on rubish. You say it is hard to justify the price of the ARB. I guess you must be a young fella, and haven't learnt yet that buying cheapies, twice or more, is much harder than buying well the first time. Dobn't get me wrong.... we have all done it too, but offerthe hard earned advice in your best interests.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

I guess you must be a young fella

Wrong on both counts :lol:

..and haven't learnt yet that buying cheapies, twice or more, is much harder than buying well the first time.

No I realise you get what you pay for; it's just the amount of use it will get that makes it hard to justify the ARB or it's peers.

Is this the Black Max you have?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BUSHRANGER-BLACK ... 4aa98d037a

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

Is this the Black Max you have?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BUSHRANGER-BLACK ... 4aa98d037a

That's the one. The only thing that I don't like about is the coiled hose. I don't like coiled hoses full stop.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

Can't you just replace the hose or is it fixed? I bought a straight one for my air brush compressor via eBay fairly cheap, came with screw thread fittings either end but there were other types available.

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

Can't you just replace the hose or is it fixed?

The hose is fixed, and yes I have already replaced it. I was just commenting that I don't like the coiled hoses, which is what the Black Max comes with out of the box.

[Leethal Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Leethal]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

at the blatant brand name rip-off. Still pretty pricey for a generic unit.

Actually it stands for "Affordable Batteries & Radiators"

I have a "genuine" :roll: ARB one myself and it works well.

That said, I have one of ABR's fridges and it is excellent. I would not be put off by the similar name as all reports I have seen have been positive about the ABR gear. The owner Derek Bester is also very good to deal with. As you have said it is a case of balancing cost against expected use, hard to justify the most expensive units for at best occassional use. Personally if I was buying one of the "more affordable" compressors I would buy local so if you have issues much easier to discuss warranty face to face rather than via email to a unknown faceless identity.

Have fun

Lee

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

at the blatant brand name rip-off. Still pretty pricey for a generic unit.

Actually it stands for "Affordable Batteries & Radiators"

Fair enough, not a name I'd associate with air compressors but there you go.

The owner Derek Bester is also very good to deal with.

Good to know for future reference!

As you have said it is a case of balancing cost against expected use, hard to justify the most expensive units for at best occassional use.

Herein lies my dilemna, I'd like to do more off-road but with work realistically I'd be lucky to get away once a month.

Personally if I was buying one of the "more affordable" compressors I would buy local so if you have issues much easier to discuss warranty face to face rather than via email to a unknown faceless identity.

That's logical. So far I've narrowed it down to these few:-

Outbac 150L/Min @ $89 from Sydney supplier (via eBay).
Ironman Flomax @160 from a Vic county based supplier (via eBay). Ironman themselves have a office not too far away from me but are more expensive @169 (yes only $9 I realise but why?).
Bushranger Black Max @229 from Melbourne suburban supplier via eBay (office is a bit further away than Ironman).

Looking at ARBs pricing some of their on-board units are close in pricing to the Bushranger but presumably hoses to use them with tyres are extra.

Have fun

Lee[/quote]

[baby_troupe Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baby_troupe]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

Looking at ARBs pricing some of their on-board units are close in pricing to the Bushranger but presumably hoses to use them with tyres are extra.

Hose is extra.

However, contrary to what ARB tells you, you can get other standard hose fittings to attach to the compressor and buy your air hose from elsewhere or make one up as I have done in my old vehicle. (compressor came without hose and my nearest ARB distributor was closed on the weekends back in those days)
From memory I bought the hose and fittings from repco, about 7 metres which was long enough to reach trailer tyres without stuffing around.

I just bought one of the newer in car units as I know how reliable they are and I plan on fitting a rear locker down the track (maybe a front too).
There are discounts available for 4WD club members, so is worth a mention as it can save around $40 to $50 on total purchase of compressor, hose and fittings.

[Leethal Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Leethal]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

as Baby_Troupe has said the hose is extra but you can source fittings and hose from other suppliers.
One thing to be aware of if sourcing elsewhere is hose diameter. I have a normal 1/2" size airline which I used for my air tools in a previous lifetime (when working on the tools ) When I fit that up to the ARB compressor I get faster inflation than with the standard size ARB hose (3/8" I think).
Due no doubt to the larger id of the hose, on the flipside my brother's airline that came with his compressor ( Big Red I think ?) is smaller, probably 1/4" and his inflation is slow in comparision, although the comp itself runs fine.
So if making up a "custom" air line check sizes and fitting internal sizes to ensure best performance and most likely less "stress" on the comp

Lee

[jjgsxr1000 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jjgsxr1000]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

I thought i'd give this one a try off evilbay.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/12V-150L-MIN-POR ... 588b500ea2

Comes with a 12 month Warranty
-I received it & tried it on a few wheels i had in the shed. Was fine for the first 2 then when it got hot it kept popping the fuse when i tried to restart it on a tyre above 30psi
-Contacted the seller off eBay & returned it. Had a new one within 2 days.
-Was very happy with his willingness to stand by his warranty.
-Hooked the new one compressor up to a fresh battery for a bit of a torture test to see if it was gonna play up too.
Deflated 6 tyres in the shed & pumped them all up 1 after the other without giving the thing a rest. It got bloody hot, but didn't falter at all.
-Have used it a few times since & am impressed with how fast it is.
- So overall, i'm now a very happy camper.
-A mate has an ARB unit & this one is noticeably quicker than it.
I know it's only a cheapie, i'm under no illusions to that, but at a $300.00 saving over the ARB unit, so far i'm glad i was
willing to take a punt on it.

Regards, Jay.

[jjgsxr1000 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jjgsxr1000]

Re: Selecting an air compressor - What to look for?

I thought i'd give this one a try off evilbay.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/12V-150L-MIN-POR ... 588b500ea2

Comes with a 6 month Warranty
-I received it & tried it on a few wheels i had in the shed. Was fine for the first 2 then when it got hot it kept popping the fuse when i tried to restart it on a tyre above 30psi
-Contacted the seller off eBay & returned it. Had a new one within 2 days.
-Was very happy with his willingness to stand by his warranty.
-Hooked the new one compressor up to a fresh battery for a bit of a torture test to see if it was gonna play up too.
Deflated 6 tyres in the shed & pumped them all up 1 after the other without giving the thing a rest. It got bloody hot, but didn't falter at all.
-Have used it a few times since & am impressed with how fast it is.
- So overall, i'm now a very happy camper.
-A mate has an ARB unit & this one is noticeably quicker than it.
I know it's only a cheapie, i'm under no illusions to that, but at a $300.00 saving over the ARB unit, so far i'm glad i was
willing to take a punt on it.

Regards, Jay.