Air Compressor Help

thgdfathr

Jul 10, 2022

I have been using the Harbor Freight cheapo compressor for a few years now. It does fine, but is loud, gets pretty hot and takes forever. I’m looking at these three below options and want some honest feedback. I know a lot of people love the ARB and it’s known to be the best, but I will only be using this to air up tires after being off road, so no need for air locking capabilities. Please chime in with any real world experience or what you all think the best option would be. Other options also more than welcome, just want something that’s relatively quick filling up and not deafening.

ARB Single Compressor w/ engine mount:
ARB CKMA12 On-Board Air Compressor High Performance 12 Volt for Air Locker Differentials and Tire Inflation https://a.co/d/27za3rA

VIAIR 400P:
VIAIR 400P - 40043 Portable Compressor Kit. Tire Pump, Truck/SUV Tire Inflator, For Up to 35 Inch Tires https://a.co/d/hCQjb7z

Smittybuilt 2781:
Smittybilt 2781 5.65 CFM Universal Air Compressor , Black https://a.co/d/cvGTuu4

2022 Big Bend, 4 door, Cactus Grey, on 285/70/17 KO2s

Last edited by a moderator: Jul 10, 2022

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Jul 10, 2022

This is my setup. Theres a y__tube video for assebly. It's a

Dual arb mounted in case. I use a modified jumper cable for power. Im currently installing an exterior jump point with cutoff switch so I dont need to open the hood. It'll give me a power point when I add my winch also.

2021 4 door Badlands Sasquatch, Rapid red. 2.7, high package. Reserved on 07-19-2020, ordered 01-20-2021, delivered 12-05-2021

Deano Bronc, thgdfathr

Jul 10, 2022

Slownstddy
This is my setup. Theres a y__tube video for assebly. It's a View attachment 39418Dual arb mounted in case. I use a modified jumper cable for power. Im currently installing an exterior jump point with cutoff switch so I dont need to open the hood. It'll give me a power point when I add my winch also.

Do you think the ARB is worth it for just filling up tires, or is it overkill? Just trying to weigh the cost/ benefit ratio.

2022 Big Bend, 4 door, Cactus Grey, on 285/70/17 KO2s

Jul 10, 2022

With the 37's on my pickup I wanted a quicker fill time. Also, with the dual, if one side fails, i can still air up, im not left driving on low tires. Those were important points for me. Compressors and winches use alot of amps and can overheat batteris and alternators. So shorter runtime less wear.

2021 4 door Badlands Sasquatch, Rapid red. 2.7, high package. Reserved on 07-19-2020, ordered 01-20-2021, delivered 12-05-2021

thgdfathr, Sven

Jul 10, 2022

I have the single ARB and it is worth the price for me. Works well. Fills all four 35's from 12 to 35 psi in under 10 minutes.

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277739885_115528907765839_8629492704699097572_n.jpg 2048 x 1536 · 423 KB

21 Badlands, 2 dr, four banger, slushbox, SAS. PERFECT!

thgdfathr, Slownstddy

Jul 10, 2022

I got the ARB twin system and I only use it for airing up the tires. It’s worth the money in my opinion. Takes less time, creates a bit less heat exposure, compact, and I use it from the flip of a switch in the cabin.

naptown, Micahman

Jul 10, 2022

Bonnie6G
I got the ARB twin system and I only use it for airing up the tires. It’s worth the money in my opinion. Takes less time, creates a bit less heat exposure, compact, and I use it from the flip of a switch in the cabin.
View attachment 39420 View attachment 39421

That’s a cool way of mounting the hose connect! Are the ARB compressors a pretty simple install if you’re not using it for air lockers? I’m referring mostly to the wiring.

2022 Big Bend, 4 door, Cactus Grey, on 285/70/17 KO2s

Jul 10, 2022

thgdfathr
That’s a cool way of mounting the hose connect! Are the ARB compressors a pretty simple install if you’re not using it for air lockers? I’m referring mostly to the wiring.

Yeah, wasn’t bad at all. I got the mounting bracket from here. It’s just a matter of removing a few screws and loosening one bolt on top of the shock mount. Took a bit of finesse, but not bad at all. The wiring is a piece of cake as the ARB twin comes with a harness ready to go. Just snap the harness to the compressor and then run the wire over and connect to battery and ground. There’s a separate leg to the harness if you want to connect an on/off switch that stays in the engine bay, but I connected that wire to one of my aux upfitter switches instead.

AuBronco, jmesa09

Jul 10, 2022

I like the way you mounted yours @Bonnie6G. Very creative.

2021 4 door Badlands Sasquatch, Rapid red. 2.7, high package. Reserved on 07-19-2020, ordered 01-20-2021, delivered 12-05-2021

thgdfathr, Sven

Jul 10, 2022

Slownstddy
I like the way you mounted yours @Bonnie6G. Very creative.

Thanks. I had to work myself up to drilling a hole in that plastic trim, but worth it in the end for convenience. If I were to do it again, I’d drill the hole about a 1/4” closer to the windshield as the hose elbow below catches on the front lip of that trim piece, forcing the quick connect to sit at a slight angle.

Slownstddy

Jul 10, 2022

#10

4x4 truck leds has the mounting bracket and single or dual and regularly has a sale for 10-15% off.

I went with the dual because it has a 100% duty cycle (can run continuously without a cool down period). Great if you need to air up a buddy, or a large air mattress. Haven’t tried pneumatic impact, grinder on it yet…

Install and wiring with upfitters is simple. Was going to run hose to rear, but like the @Bonnie6G solution!

2021 badlands, 2.3, MT, rapid red, soft top

thgdfathr

Jul 10, 2022

#11

I have the ARB twin and wired it to uplifted 6. I rotated the air chuck after this photo was taken.

2021 Badlands, 4 door, 2.7L, Auto, LUX, SAS, Tow Package, MIC, Velocity Blue.

Slownstddy, Sven

Jul 10, 2022

#12

The dual seemed to solve all my needs. Im going to find a place to mount a 3-4 gallon tank at some point for running air tools but for now i just charge up the batteries for electric tools using my 400w inverter. I installed a 12v plug on it so it is portable. I'm getting a theme going here i guess. Since i use my pickup and my bronco, I save money by keeping some things portable to swap over. Plus, it comes in handy if someone up a trail needs something and you cant drive up to them. I love all the different ideas people have, ingenuity at work....

2021 4 door Badlands Sasquatch, Rapid red. 2.7, high package. Reserved on 07-19-2020, ordered 01-20-2021, delivered 12-05-2021

naptown, Deano Bronc

Jul 10, 2022

#13

Do you all think the single ARB would be sufficient for just airing my own tires?

2022 Big Bend, 4 door, Cactus Grey, on 285/70/17 KO2s

Sven, Slownstddy

Jul 10, 2022

#14

Single will work for that just fine. Any offroad compressor should be fine. You want as many cfm's as you can get.

2021 4 door Badlands Sasquatch, Rapid red. 2.7, high package. Reserved on 07-19-2020, ordered 01-20-2021, delivered 12-05-2021

thgdfathr

Jul 10, 2022

#15

thgdfathr
Do you all think the single ARB would be sufficient for just airing my own tires?

Yes. Single ARB is more than sufficient for 37” tires and under.

Once you get to 39” tires, the dual ARB compressor starts to look more appealing. A lot of people also don’t like sitting around waiting for their tires to air up, or they have hoses that fill two (or sometimes even four) tires at once. Or maybe they just want the best available compressor. There are even people who buy the dual ARB just because it looks cool.

For me personally, I don’t mind sitting around for 15-20 minutes while I air my tires back up for on-road use.

2022 4dr Badlands, 2.3L Manual, Mid pkg
YouTube: youtube.com/@ragnarkon
Instagram: @ragnar.kon

Deano Bronc, Sven

Jul 10, 2022

#16

Build your own 4 tire inflator.

2021 Badlands, 4 door, 2.7L, Auto, LUX, SAS, Tow Package, MIC, Velocity Blue.

Deano Bronc, Slownstddy

Jul 12, 2022

#17

I have the twin ARB fender mounted I my 2021 Jeep rubiconxr with the switch and air quick connect under the hood in a bracket along the fender line. It will take all 4 35” tires from 15 psi to 37 psi in less than 10 minutes. I use a morrflate 4 tire setup that lets me tie them all into the compressor at once. I’ve already bookmarked the under hood mounts and switch bracket for the bronco so I can move it all to the bronco when I get it. Spend the extra now for the dual unit and be done with it. You can add a tank to the system down the road even and support air tools on your rig if you so choose.

Sven, thgdfathr

Jul 12, 2022

#18

guzie
I have the twin ARB fender mounted I my 2021 Jeep rubiconxr with the switch and air quick connect under the hood in a bracket along the fender line. It will take all 4 35” tires from 15 psi to 37 psi in less than 10 minutes. I use a morrflate 4 tire setup that lets me tie them all into the compressor at once. I’ve already bookmarked the under hood mounts and switch bracket for the bronco so I can move it all to the bronco when I get it. Spend the extra now for the dual unit and be done with it. You can add a tank to the system down the road even and support air tools on your rig if you so choose.

Sounds like a nice setup. Everyone raves about the ARB compressor, I just have zero experience with it and was worried it’d cost more than it’s worth for what I’d use it for. Definitely considering just going with the single at minimum if not the dual like you suggest.

2022 Big Bend, 4 door, Cactus Grey, on 285/70/17 KO2s

Jul 12, 2022

#19

Its all about your needs. Look at cfm's and only purchase what you need.

2021 4 door Badlands Sasquatch, Rapid red. 2.7, high package. Reserved on 07-19-2020, ordered 01-20-2021, delivered 12-05-2021

thgdfathr, SlashRacer

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