air compressor, portable or car mounted

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

Hello All
Have now decided on a ARB air compressor.
Next question, portable or under bonnet mount? Opinions appreciated.
Those that have under bonnet mount units, did you mount yourself, was it easy, did it come with everything you required, and where is the hose stored?
cheers

[Seththecursed Member Find all posts View Profile Close Seththecursed]

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

I don't use mine that often so I'm keeping it portable. If you plan on getting air lockers in the future under bonnet is the go.

Try viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2671

Search is your friend

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

I guess as with a lot of things "it depends"
I used to have mine in a toolbox in the back, but got tired of digging it out and having to attach leads to the battery, which then invariably fell off. Also the thing would vibrate all over the place, fall over etc. I also found that I needed the compressor more often to pump up other people's tyres in a non-offroad situation, and those were always the times I didn't have it.
So now it's mounted under the bonnet. I keep the hose in an old computer bag in the back. I put one of those pressure guage and push valve units at the tyre end. Except I changed the bit where it pushes on the tyre valve with a screw on one. ( not the fastest compressor, so it's a bit bit boring holding it on to the tyre )
It is one of the older ARB ones with a small air tank and a pressure switch.
So it is an on-demand system - just like pumping up tyres at the servo. Turn on the main switch, the compressor will pump till it reaches 80 psi then stop. I can walk round the car, screw the hose on the tyre, press the lever, and the compressor will turn on automatically. I did a small mod ( called a loose cable tie ) so I can lock the lever down and leave it till it reaches the right pressure.
Not unusual - plenty on here will have similar set ups but works well.

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

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

I went portable so I can take it over to the camper, using it's 12V system - not dependent on having the car close. Also under bonnet can be pretty hot/dusty - I prefer the nice sealed ARB box thanks!

Cam

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

Hi Topspark
Good choice on the ARB compressor.
I have mine mounted under bonnet and hard wired.
Inflation kit is stored in rear left cargo hatch in an camcorder bag.
Option for Airlocker in the future.
Cheers Troy

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

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

I have an ARB compressor and mounted mine behind the back seat. I have black widow drawers and mounted it to the front end of drawer carcass so it sits in behind the back seats out of the way. I have the hose permanently attached, coiled up and hanging off the cargo barrier so I can grab it and use it whenever I like, not matter how packed up the vehicle is. I think I may have had to extend the power cables by about a metre to reach the battery from this location but otherwise the harness is long enough to mount the switch on the dash.

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

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

Thank you all for the feedback.
Decided on the portable. And if needed will permanently mount at a later date.
cheers

[IRON-PAWW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close IRON-PAWW]

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

I had portable units for years. But I'm with the guys who've said they got tired of digging it out and messing with the leads etc etc and then packing it all away again, which usually involves some sort of tube-twisting mastery to get it all fitting in it's so called 'convenient' carry case. The pure 'no fuss' and 'no bollocksing around' with having it mounted under the bonnet (or wherever) is the way to go. Saves my sanity and has my tyres pumped within minutes. All I do now is clip on the air hose, flick the switch on the dash, and get pumping. Also I got tired of having the portables rolling around inside the car or messing up my footwell spaces. Packed under the bonnet I can forget about it and so can my passengers. Plus, I always now have it. It simply isn't possible for me to forget it because I put in the missus car for our little weekend bike trip etc etc. Let me count the times people have come to me at work saying.... "are you the guy with the air compressor. My tyre sort of went down..."

Permanently mounted gets my vote!

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

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

Mines also mounted in the engine bay, its not effected at all but dust & mud & the wiring is done properly & protected by one of those black cable tubes. I changed the end tyre connector to one that can close off, this allows the small tank to fill to 80psi between tyres, cutting down a bit of inflation time.

The only other way i would go is if I could store the compressor say under the passenger or driver seat for easy access.....Some I have seen are permanently mounted here.

Access is the main thing, you don't want it buried!

Cheers

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

air compressor, portable or car mounted

I went portable so I can take it over to the camper, using it's 12V system - not dependent on having the car close. Also under bonnet can be pretty hot/dusty - I prefer the nice sealed ARB box thanks!

Cam

X2.

I also like the fact that the portable stays clean and dry all the time.

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

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

i've recently mounted my Projecta Typhoon compressor in the side wing of the black widow box. i had the chance to use it in anger on the weekend.. fan-bloody-tastic.

opened the wong, flicked the switch.. pumped up 7 tyres, put the air hose back - the end.

so easy.

i figure i'll only use it when i'm with the truck - so it goes where the truck goes.

Dan

[Hawk Thor Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hawk Thor]

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

Hard wired or belt driven gets my vote. I have an AC pump that has been converted to an air-compressor, it fills an 11 liter frame-mounted tank to 150 PSI. There are air couplings in the front and rear bumpers for hoses and I have ports available for future accessories like airbags or air-horns. The hose is coiled under the drivers seat next to the tire chuck and air-nozzle gun (which is fantastic for blowing dust off camping gear and seats.).

I would hate to have to dig in the rear in bad weather or with a trunk full of gear to find my compressor. I will also never forget to bring it with me.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

I have purchased 3 ARB compressors in my lifetime yet I only have 1 available for use. You can guess that 1 was portable and 2 were fixed 8)

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

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

I have purchased 3 ARB compressors in my lifetime yet I only have 1 available for use. You can guess that 1 was portable and 2 were fixed 8)

why would you reach for the portable ones and not the fixed ones though?

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: air compressor, portable or car mounted

I have purchased 3 ARB compressors in my lifetime yet I only have 1 available for use. You can guess that 1 was portable and 2 were fixed 8)

why would you reach for the portable ones and not the fixed ones though?

Because the fixed ones are still in the vehicles I sold long ago