ARB Twin Compressor air tools; which do you use?

[Okki]

With the airchuck easily accessible in the rear of the truck, I've started looking into some air tools to go into my tool bag. I do have the manifold installed with the compressor, but don't have a tank installed yet. (Per Jangoforhire, it looks like only a 1 gallon tank can be squeezed behind the front bumper on the driver side.)

ARB ON-BOARD HIGH PERFORMANCE 12 VOLT TWIN AIR COMPRESSOR (CKMTA12)

According to the ARB website, the specs on the twin compressor are as follows for air tools:

• Air tools rated up to 85LPM [3CFM] @ 6Bar [90PSI] continuous supply.
• Air tools rated higher than 85LPM [3CFM] @ 6Bar [90PSI] using an optional air tank suitable to the run time requirements.

So far I just picked up a Kobalt Inflator Gauge at Lowes for $20.

Is anyone rocking an impact driver or air ratchet? if so, which one do you have and how is it working out for you? I've read something about not using an air impact driver on lug nuts. Not sure if this is true, because service departments all over the place seem to use them. Thoughts?

Okki

 

[Hellamatic]

Yep, an impact is not ideal for lug nuts - it heats and stretches the stud. When you're putting lug nuts on with an impact, there's no telling how much torque you've applied to the nut. Using a torque wrench to do the final torquing only confirms that it's AS tight or more tight than your torque wrench setting. Use of impacts to tighten lug nuts is why the shop will always tell you to come back and retorque after 100km (or 60 mi, in your case....)

The best and safest way to tighten lug nuts is good old fashioned elbow grease using a swing handle and torque wrench.