The Getaway...Crom's build and adventures

Nice. I have a portable Viar that I like. At least the compressor. The hose/chuck sucked ass. Tossed it right away after garage testing. Swapped in Flexzilla hose and a

$49 Milton 503 Heavy-duty Analog Tire Inflator with Pressure Gauge, 3' Hose Single Ball Clip-on Inflator Gage, Made In USA (OSHA Compliant) 10-60 PSI

Milton 503 HD inflator with locking chuck and gauge. The Flexzilla is sooo much better. However, the Milton, despite how HD and stout it is, I find the chuck awkward to use, and the gauge simply does not seem to register accurate air pressure when compared to my separate digital gauge By about 10 psi.

So I've been staring at ARBs and wondering if they are more accurate on pressure reads. A portable is time consuming enough. To be dicking around with pressure measurements is unacceptable.

How have you found the ARB gauge performs?

 

I'm with you 100% First order of any air gauge business, is it has to be accurate in the desired range. I can't vouch for anybody else, but my ARB air gauge is spot on. To be fair though, I've only ever used it to 40 PSI , so can't comment beyond that. I like the dial gauge as well, easy to read.

Too bad about the Milton. I really like their brass fittings. I think it was @DoorDing who got me to look into those, and the flexzilla air hose which I like, very easy to coil and store, yet very strong and durable.

Overall the ARB is good, I'd still recommend it in it's stock form. Easy to store away too.

My only issues were I wanted a stronger stouter lock on chuck, and more length. My mods more than doubled the cost of the chuck. That's okay though, because I now have exactly what I want, and no compromises.

 

This looks like a nice upgrade. I need links......

 

@scocar

Another option for air chuck would be the one Ken is using @DVexile over here Supposedly very good from reviews.

 

Good to know. Yeah, Door Ding turned me onto the Milton, too. It was a real disappointment. I just need the damn thing to be accurate up to about 32 LOL or maybe a bit more for full loads when towing at higher speed. I already dicked around with multiple NPT fittings to rig the flexzilla and Milton to the Viar, and I have no issues doing it again for the intended result. Just found a pic of mine.


The Milton is also bulky and heavy, so the more compact ARB form factor would be a bonus for fitting the entire kit into the Plano shooter's box I'm going to use. I have two: one for towing/hitch gear, and the other for OBA. The portable Viar on its skid plate fits perfectly inside. I'll just need to use a hole saw or Dremel to cut a hole out of the lower of the two stacking trays tray to accommodate the top of the Viar cylinder.

This is the same box in my 2001, just to give you a sense of scale. The two horizontal black bands are the two stacking trays.

 

That appears to be worth looking into, also. Thanks.

 

For reference, coming from the engineer that designed the Compressor/Cascade Storage system for breathing air in the scuba shop that i worked for, Dial gauges are most accurate right in the middle of their range, so you want to match the gauge so that the range you normally use is right in the middle of the gauges range.

 

In case you need it in the future, I got an adapter for 1/8" BSP to 1/4" NPT at Marshall's in Mira Mesa. Thanks for the link to the barb! I might go that route, too. So annoying to have that different threading to deal with.

 

dam so clean! Thats a brute force right?
When we gunna wheel man?

 

sexy bed cage!!!!!

 

That Powertank goes from 0-60, and I'll hang out in the 15-40 range.

I like the checkerboard register marks in1 psi increments. And it appears to get largely good reviews.

 

Nick is there somewhere local that carried the flexzilla custom length and fittings or how did you source that?

 

Welcome.

Good to know! Thanks.

Marshall's Industrial Hardware - “Marshall's Industrial Hardware has EVERY type of speciality nut, bolt, washer, screw, or what you thought was only a custom made fastener.” ​

Very good! Thanks, did not now about them, I'll remember that if I'm in a bind and need something fast.

I ordered two fittings for the mod, the second one worked: Google search: 8mm OD Hose Barb 9.5mm 1/8BSP Brass Coupler

It's a metric fitting and should work with any 1/4" airline. I used a size 4 stainless hose clamp to bind it together.

I didn't have any 1/4" air hose in stock, so I ordered 25' new, then cut to desired length for air chuck, then repaired the longer section of hose by adding 1/4" MNPT to 1/4" hose barb.

Yes. Thanks.

Wish I had time.

First shift, Work
Second shift, Family
Third Shift, Sleep / truck work

It's only getting more difficult for me with my kids schedules, both of them are now enrolled in Fall Saturday activities.

 

The nice thing about Flexzilla is it is totally customizable and field repairable with common hand tools, FTMFW.

 

Soooooo.

I just had an idea.

I know I know, don't everyone freak out.

How about a California regional hardware and supply thread. List our favorite local stores for hard-to-find or other bits and pieces awesomeness not offered by the big boxes. Not only for general garage use, but for those of us who find ourselves way out of our neck of the woods and needing a solution to save a trip.

Google and Yelp are sorta OK, but not much better than box stores, and they won't really provide some of that nitty gritty Tacoma wonkiness that we all need and thrive on...

 

Just realized that there are two separate regional forums for California, North and South. I guess we could do one in each. But then who gets Bishop and Mammoth? Hmmm.

 

This would help me out if it was easy to find. I'm in AZ, but spend a good amount of time roaming around CA.

 

So Cal Bolt and Supply in Upland has literally every fastener you could possibly need.

 

I use DMP. They're in Chattsworth and specialize in automotive and race applications. Lots of odds and ends too for other truck related projects (wiring, heating/cooling, hydraulic fluid transfer, brakes etc...)

http://www.dmpfasteners.com/index.php?id=1

 

I like the sound of these stores! lol