Educate me about air compressors

[Jeremy556]

I don't know of anywhere else you can get the performance for anywhere near the price or convenience. 6 CFM at 0 psi with 100% duty cycle in a compact package. I'm kind of skeptical of the duty cycle as it relies on a fan for cooling, but still even at a 33% or 50% duty cycle, I would rather have it over my dual Viair setup which runs 5 CFM at a 33% duty cycle.

 

[Canazes9]

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I have an older model of that compressor -largest that will run on 115v 20 amp outlet, and is semi portable. I put in a filter and a long U shape piece of iron pipe with a drain at the bottom to catch some of the moisture.

The MV-50 compressors are OK, at best. If you get one that works out of the box, it won't last long with often use. I went through several of them. They look like a Viair on the outside, but the materials and tolerances are completely different.

Curious to hear a little more elaboration on the MV-50. Certainly it's a low quality compressor compared to my Viair 450P, but I thought it was a pretty decent little unit for the price. I have used my MV-50 to fill the tires on about a dozen vehicles since I got it and I have been impressed with it so far.

I understand for someone like yourself that doesn't represent much use - certainly I need a more capable unit, which is why I bought the Viair 450P. For many, a couple dozen air ups might be more than they need for years and as such I always though the MV-50 was a solid rec for occasional light duty use. How much use did your MV-50's take before they died?

I had to post in on this too, I have an MV-50 of which I spent about an extra $50 modding it out, had I known what a piece of shit the head was I would have thrown that $110 towards a better compressor. I read a ton of things about how great this thing is, while it is a pretty good little compressor for the price, the cast aluminum head is garbage.

Anyway I dug this thread up looking for portable 12v compressor opinions, I was hoping to see more of specific Viair Constant Duty and ARB's twin compressor as those happen to be the models on my radar. If anyone has either I would love to hear about your experiences mounting/using/ect.

I have been very happy with the performance of my Viair 450P, had it for about a year and a half. It's rated 100% duty cycle! though not as fast as the 400P. I have aired up three vehicles back to back in the middle of summer with no problems. The air gun require regular lubrication or it tends to get sticky. I have no experience w/ the ARB, so can't compare.

David

 

[Jeremy556]

Curious to hear a little more elaboration on the MV-50. Certainly it's a low quality compressor compared to my Viair 450P, but I thought it was a pretty decent little unit for the price. I have used my MV-50 to fill the tires on about a dozen vehicles since I got it and I have been impressed with it so far.

I understand for someone like yourself that doesn't represent much use - certainly I need a more capable unit, which is why I bought the Viair 450P. For many, a couple dozen air ups might be more than they need for years and as such I always though the MV-50 was a solid rec for occasional light duty use. How much use did your MV-50's take before they died?

I had a Harbor Freight branded version for a year or so that I used a few times without issue. It stopped working at some point, forget what was wrong with it.

Got another one from Amazon, DOA. The replacement worked when I tested it out by airing up one tire. A week or so later when I needed to use it to air up, it wouldn't make more pressure than the 18 psi already in the tires. I then ordered a Viair 400P after a very long, slow drive back to a gas station.

I converted my 400P into a permanent mount in the engine bay, and had been using it at least once a week to air up for about a year. I had switched to 285 tires and it was taking longer to air up than I liked, so I decided to add another compressor.

I took out the mothballed MV50 and fixed it by tightening the loose bolts attaching the cylinder, and mounted it in the engine bay. After getting everything hooked up, I found the MV50 would only run for a few seconds then quit. It couldn't produce enough pressure to keep the check valve open against the output of the Viair compressor.

Ordered a 400C to replace the MV50. When it arrived, I took apart both the MV50 and the 400C to see the differences between them. They look similar on the outside, the MV being an obvious copy, but the materials and tolerances of them are night and day different.

ETA: Some great pictures and teardown of the MV50 here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/131953-bfads-superflow-mv-50-air-compressor-build.html

 

[jrandom]

I just don't trust that MV-50 wholeheartedly, if I did I wouldn't be considering a more permanent solution, might keep it as a backup.

I have been very happy with the performance of my Viair 450P, had it for about a year and a half. It's rated 100% duty cycle! though not as fast as the 400P. I have aired up three vehicles back to back in the middle of summer with no problems. The air gun require regular lubrication or it tends to get sticky. I have no experience w/ the ARB, so can't compare.

David

Thanks! Its why I decided to ask, it is a tough decision to make. Do you have it mounted or in a bag? Tank or no tank?


Anyone know if the ARB has NPT threading?

 

[Canazes9]

I just don't trust that MV-50 wholeheartedly, if I did I wouldn't be considering a more permanent solution, might keep it as a backup.


Thanks! Its why I decided to ask, it is a tough decision to make. Do you have it mounted or in a bag? Tank or no tank?


Anyone know if the ARB has NPT threading?

Bag, no tank.


David

 

[gshadow325]

going to chime in here. since i have 20lbs of crap in a 5lb bag under the hood of my 4th gen.

First what gen are we talking about?

I have on board air, train horns, warn 10,000lb winch, and front 2" reciever on my 4th gen.

i just installed a budbuilt hidden winch mount on a 5th gen two days ago and can tell you where to go if you are looking for on board air.

here are my installed pics of my train horns and on board air.



here is a picture of the tank in the back and my underhood light mod


better shot of the tank, pump, old horn location and air fitting

 

[jrandom]

[MENTION=93434]gshadow325[/MENTION] thanks! 5th gen, looks pretty similar layout as a 4th (airbox anyway), I actually saw that someone had mounted what looked like a 2.5 gallon tank up front. I am going to drop a winch in eventually just not sure if I want a hidden or full winch bumper yet. Although not sure I like the damage multiplier value of having that tank between the bumper and radiator.

 

[gshadow325]

[MENTION=93434]gshadow325[/MENTION] thanks! 5th gen, looks pretty similar layout as a 4th (airbox anyway), I actually saw that someone had mounted what looked like a 2.5 gallon tank up front. I am going to drop a winch in eventually just not sure if I want a hidden or full winch bumper yet. Although not sure I like the damage multiplier value of having that tank between the bumper and radiator.

well, since i just did a 5th gen a few days ago.

I can tell you its very similar to my 4th gen v8. So similar, i put a 5th gen budbuilt hidden winch plate in my 4th gen my accident. Story here----->http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...hidden-winch-install-kinda-lots-pictures.html

When i installed the bud built winch plate in the 5th gen. saw that there was still plenty of room to hide two small 1 gallon tanks, one on each side behind the fog lamps or a small 1 gallon under the hood like mine. behind the foglights under the headlamp area you can still mount two of the train horn trumpents there. two on each side. tank on passenger side firewall area and the compressor behind the pass side headlamp.

my 4th gen thread here--->http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...4runner-hornblasters-install-look-inside.html

My thread will explain it all, subsequently since that install i got a Curt front hitch reciever, BudBuilt Hidden winch, Warn VR10000 winch, and added in a nipple for airing up and air down of tires when i go off the road LoL

5th gen should be very very similar. feel free to PM or ask questions here about it.

 

[jrandom]

Nice thanks for the links. Those horns are pretty damn loud! LOL

Haha Sentra floor mats good for the shop floor

Yeah if I can fit a tank or two on each side below the headlamps, much better location for sure.

Nice 4th gen BTW best looking of the 4th gen years IMO got that v8 too :thumb:

 

[gshadow325]

Nice thanks for the links. Those horns are pretty damn loud! LOL

Haha Sentra floor mats good for the shop floor

Yeah if I can fit a tank or two on each side below the headlamps, much better location for sure.

Nice 4th gen BTW best looking of the 4th gen years IMO :thumb:

thanks, sharing is caring LoL

i in-fleeted about 25 new 2013 sentras for zipcar, they all came with the optional trunk floor mat and allweather mat. took out a few since they make awesome mats to crawl under a vehicle with!!

use the part number i listed in the thread, 1 gallon tanks are cheap. buy one and try to fit it in there once the bumper is off. if it does, i can tell you how to mount it and link them together.

 

[jrandom]

I will hit you up for sure, I am stoked to get it setup!

Whole compressor/OBA setup is still pre-tax-return prep work. Got sliders on order, waiting on light stage-1 suspension, going to be a busy March.