Air Compressors: Pumping up the tires after Off-Roading

Looking for a good air compressor for my truck to pump my tires back up after airing down for a little bit of off-roading.

Does anyone have experience with the Air Armor M240 portable 12-V Tactical Air Compressor?
Looks decent for around $200?


How does it compare to the ARB Protable Compresor-CKMP12?
A little more pricey at around $300.


What are your thoughts concerning on-board compressors vs portable tool box style compressors?
Do you have a compressor that you would recommend over the two stated above?

 

Very happy with my VIAIR 400P (RV kit).

 

I run that same ARB compressor except for mounted under hood rather than in a toolbox. The hard mounted version has a larger manifold to accommodate additional taps for lockers but is otherwise the same. My current one is also my second one since I sold the previous one with the truck it was mounted on. It's not the fastest thing in the world (compared to the dual compressor or shop compressor) but if I'm airing down and up I'm really not in a hurry anyway. Heat management and durability are the biggest concerns for me when choosing a compressor, compared to some of the others I've seen friends use the ARB stays relatively cool (relatively cool will still burn the shit out of your hand after airing four tires), I assume due to the rather sizeable heat sink mount. As for durability, ARBs reputation is second to none and of all the stuff I've had with their name on it over the years I haven't had a single failure. I'm happy with it.

 

Viair seems to be a much better value than ARB. Not knocking ARB or anything, but you can get the same performance for alot less with Viair. I have the full Viair constant duty setup with a 2.5gal tank on my truck and paid about $330 for it. They make a portable version too...think it's the 400p and less than half of what the ARB in a box cost.

 

Same for me. I've got the 400p auto.

Had the ARB twin from my old Jeep and sold it. Couldn't find a good place to mount it without losing to much space.

This viair isn't that bad. I'm pretty impressed how quick it fills. Really not much slower than the twin was on similar size tyres

 

X2 on the 400P.

Hard mounted to my bed, in cab controls & PSI gauge, mounted air chucks to front and rear bumper along with a 12' hose. Has never let me down.

 

The 100%duty cycle viair is incredibly slow compared to the twin 100% duty ARB.

But the 400p with a duty cycle of 15-20 min which is enough to air up all 4 is close to the ARB.

If you're looking for 100% duty and high flow ARB is the way to go. But for just airing up the viair is great

 

Got any detail on the hard wire etc?

 

Buy once cry once is my policy. Are you running stock tires? If you're running over sized tires good luck with the cheaper products. The

$338 ARB CKMA12 On-Board Air Compressor High Performance 12 Volt for Air Locker Differentials and Tire Inflation

ARB CKMA12 will put out more air at 30PSI than the other products recommended so far will at 0-psi. In case you didn't know, maximum output is at 0psi and it drops from there. The duty cycle on the ARB is also better, but unless you're airing up multiple vehicles or have 40s or some other huge tire I doubt duty cycle will be an issue with any of these compressors. I am to a certain point an ARB fan boy, but honestly I just like good quality products and they deliver on that. IF you can save up for a bit longer and get the

$611 CKMTA12 '12V' On-Board Twin High Performance Air Compressor, Ideal for Air Lockers Locking Differentials, Tire Inflator, Air Horn, Air Tools and Pneumatic Tools.

CKMTA12. I was fortunate enough to get one at a decent price in a group buy a while back and this thing rocks. I have aired up tires faster than people at one of those gas station pumps. At the minimum I would personally get the CKMA12 especially if you plan or are running bigger tires. I spent several years being the guy without a compressor. So I had the pleasure of using different compressors like a harbor freight one, MV50, MV90, one made by vlair, and another made by slime. I recall the slime and HF one being the worst, even though they worked. I dont know which model the vlair one was. The MV50 inherently had some issues by design so the guy had done some modifications to it to make it run better. The mv90 was nice too but I think those are pricey and compete with vlair and arb products. Air compressors can be slow but reliable so don't think you have to spend several bills on one. If you do get a slowish air compressor I would recommend that you'd atleast make sure it has a screw on air chuck so you're not kneeling down for 12-15 mins airing up your tires.

 

Why dismiss viair in lieu of ARB? Aired up my 35s tons of times with my viair and has never let me down. It's also covered in mud and exposed to the elements so I'm sure if someone did a 'proper' installation of it, it would be bomb proof.

 

What do you want to know?

 

how you hardwired it

 

This may not be your goal, but for an inexpensive option I ran the

$91 viair 88p portable compressor kit (12V, 120 psi, forup to 33" tires)

viair 88p. Cost about $60 and works great. I was able to air up all four of my 285/76r16s from 15psi to 33 psi in about 10 minutes. Something to think about if you're not wanting to spend hundreds of dollars.

 

I don't know whats funnier in your sig...the dog meme thing
or @0210 post...

 

I used the MV50 for a while and no issues with it... worked fast. But since then, I got a couple of the craftsman cordless air compressors and the Lion battery pack along with the cordless impact wrench and havent looked back since. No need to hook up any wires, popping hoods, scooting around with a cable and air line. Literally just plug in to each tire (I bought 2 of them to air up 2 at a time), and let it automatically get you to the preset pressure. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-c3-19.2-volt-cordless-inflator/p-00911586000P?redirectType=SKIP_LEVEL. Tire pressures are about 2 psi consistently lower than the preset pressure.

 

I don't doubt they make good compressors, but I personally don't have a whole lot of experience with them so I'm not going to recommend one. I am not even sure which one I used the couple of times that I did when I went on wheeling trips with other people. The owner did seem happy with it though. Looking at the specs and prices I guess the 400 doesn't really compete with the

$338 ckma12 on-board air compressor high performance 12 volt for air locker differentials and tire inflation

ckma12. It's 100 dollar less, so no wonder the ckma12 out performs it. Looks like the viair 440p is the competitor for the ckma12. They have nearly identical output. The only other thing I can add based on my experiences is that ARB warranty is very easy and smooth. You call, someone picks up the phone, no menus or anything and they just mail you what you need. Although I've only needed small items like switches.

 

I had the twin in my jeep and now have the 400p for the tacoma.

Works great. sold the twin because I couldn't fit it in the taco anywhere.
But I do agree with you the warranty is great.

A friend has the single ARB and runs air lockers with it and then airs up. he finishes like 30seconds faster airing up than I do with the Viair.


Viair is huge in the VW scene for air ride...or any air ride systems for that matter.

 

I keep hearing rumours that it ruins your tires though?