Help me decide: compressor for OBA

[wcjeep]

On my Dodge Diesel I have an Air Zenith that runs my exhaust brake. I ran air chucks fwd/aft to air up tires. I'm only using a 1 gallon tank. If I used a bigger tank it could run air tools.

Big 12v compressor does require power. Using numbers off the top of my head:

80amp relay
70amp fuse
60amp surge when turned on
50amp continuous draw



It's designed to run low rider air bags. Air Zenith claims they can operate under water (Hurricane Katrina) as long as the air intake filter is above water. I have ran the heck out of that compressor for years. I never think about it. It just works.

I have seen people take portable 12v impact and use wires, clips and epoxy for vehicle battery use.



Air Zenith from Amazon

 

[jdtaylor42]

Another vote for the Viair 450P. I bought mine a few months back and although I don't plan to permanently mount it on the truck it works great and fills the tires pretty quickly. And it was a great price

 

[nevada]

this is what I have.
I highly recommend it. a pair of these would be amazing! and still only $300.

http://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-27...id=1451933997&sr=1-1&keywords=smittybilt+2781


it puts out a LOT of air. its rated at 5.65 max, id guess that is what other companies are calling the free flow rating.
it airs up my tires FAST, I know that.

my buddy has the ARB, and it recently seized up. we took it apart to see what was up. the rod slid off the crank and jammed up. we lubed the bearing and put it back together. it was very dry and rusty looking.

when it jammed up, it bent the piston. it still pumps, but not as good, and has a slight leak now.

also, we had to put a jumper in place on the negative side of the brush cap. not sure what the component is called, but it must have burned up when the piston seized.
I don't know if there is a piece missing or not, but there is nothing to hold the piston rod onto the crank. its just sort of there.

its a relatively cheap part to replace. but the pump is expensive, and puts out a LOT less air than my smittybilt. though, in its favor, its much smaller, easier to mount underhood.

 

[v_man]

I've never understood the desire to run air tools on the trail. As others have pointed out, there are MANY cordless impact options on the market if removing lugs is your goal with OBA.

How often do you anticipate a) getting a flat tire b) wishing you had an OBA setup to change said flat tire.

Air tools on the trail definitely have the "cool" factor, but I just don't see the practicality for the overlanding type.... just my .02

 

[MyHigh]

I went with the viair 300p and although it is great, I wish I spent just a little more and got the rv400p with the automatic function. Just because I'm lazy...

With that said I had no intention of using a impact with it, mainly just filling up after an air down, or flat fix. I went with the dewalt 20v impact and love the thing for working on my rig but it's true it struggles beyond 100 ft/..... but they do have a larger model for 300ft I believe

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I've never understood the desire to run air tools on the trail. As others have pointed out, there are MANY cordless impact options on the market if removing lugs is your goal with OBA.

How often do you anticipate a) getting a flat tire b) wishing you had an OBA setup to change said flat tire.

Air tools on the trail definitely have the "cool" factor, but I just don't see the practicality for the overlanding type.... just my .02

It's less for on the trail as much as it is being able to bring the truck to you're buddy's house for the weekend to work on their car. I don't need a full shop truck, but it would be nice to have the ability to use an impact and air ratchet to install mods and other things. Or tweak/fix something at the campsite, ect.

After having to spend 3+ hours to gut an FJ40 rear differential after it blew up halfway up 5-Fingers in Hollister with it sitting perpendicular to the incline at about 20~25 degrees slanted; I REALLY wish we had at least an air ratchet to get that thing apart in less than all that time under the sweltering summer sun.

 

[Xrider237]

I went with the viair 300p and although it is great, I wish I spent just a little more and got the rv400p with the automatic function. Just because I'm lazy.

can you explain the differences between the 300 and 400?? i have an MV50 (working good so far) but looking for an additional and more powerful unit...i was considering the MV90 as well- not much discussion with that model- are they worth the $$ or at that price point get a Viair or something similar??

edit:is the MV90 of a higher build quality than the 50?? i know the wiring and connections arent the best on the 50...im hoping maybe the 90 has a better air line and connectors closer to that of a viair

 

[HerT4R]

theres a group buy about to happen for the ARB compressors.

**OFFICIAL ARB Compressor/Locker GROUP BUY!!!- SIGN UP ENDS 01/31/16**

they are tested and true and stand behind their product. Also you can get a 100% duty cycle compressor and air up your entire crew after offroading. i would rather have a 100% duty cycle for a little more money any day than a 50% duty cycle. better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

and i trust ARB, more than i trust viair... If its tough enough for the outback its tough enough for me.