I have a 1998 Cherokee that has had an air locker of some sort since about 2000. For many years I had a Quick Air II compressor which served me well but not perfectly. I had several issues with it over the years. It finally quit completely about 6 years ago. After that I installed an on-board air compressor driven by the engine. This too turned out to have issues and I abandoned it. After that I returned to an electric compressor and bought a small Harbor Freight compressor just to run the lockers (all of my other setups were used for airing up and the lockers.)
The Harbor Freight compressor turned out to be nothing but problems. Obviously you get what you pay for. The first one broke the pin on the crankshaft. I modified the compressor to use a bolt in the crankshaft and that fixed the problem. Then I had problems with it over heating. Finally one of the reed valves on the piston broke.
I mention all of this to highlight all of the problems I've had over the years with something that is dead simple.
I finally decided to quit messing around with junk and go with a compressor made by a company who specializes in air lockers and also has years of experience and a great reputation.
Looking at the price of this tiny little guy I though it was very pricey for what I was getting. At the end of the day though, I've spent much more on unreliable and frustrating solutions.
One major benefit, in addition to quality and reliability, is the fact that it is already set up to accommodate two solenoids and a pressure switch. I also believe you can get an air up kit for it if you'd like. I decided not to run an air gauge as I didn't feel I need one but I believe it will also accommodate one if you would like. In addition it includes wiring harnesses to connect everything. I cannot comment on whether they worked or not because everything was already wired by me from my past setups so there was no need to read invent the wheel.
One thing I'd like to say is I don't think I would recommend the air up kit for this compressor. Not to use for airing up tires any way. If you were to use it for airing up balls and small items, maybe, otherwise get a larger portable compressor for airing up. Harbor Freight does make a larger portable compressor that looks suspiciously like a Viair and works quite well.
All of this said, this is a great little compressor for running your air lockers. It airs up quickly and has plenty of capacity for this job. It is very compact which makes finding a place to mount it that much easier.
After years of messing around with my air source on every wheeling trip it was nice to have a system that just plain worked and needed zero intervention! The price for this little guy may seem a bit high but in reality it is worth every penny.
| Brand | ARB |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 12 Volts (DC) |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Car Air Compressor |
| Power Source | Electric |
| Special Feature | Lightweight |
| Included Components | Air Compressor Systems |
| Item Weight | 4.6 Pounds |
| Capacity | 60 Gallons |
| Color | Factory |
| Product Dimensions | 5.6"L x 6.1"W x 8.5"H |
| Style | stationary |
| Model Name | ARB CKSA12 |
| Manufacturer | ARB |
| Part Number | CKSA12 |
| Item Weight | 4.6 pounds |
| Item model number | CKSA12 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Special Features | Lightweight |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | Manufacturer warranty |
