I switched mine all over to standard NPT air fittings, using Merlin stuff from Harbor Freight, Viair braded hoses, and other misc stuff from Amazom. It all works fine and is cheap. And I can hook any of my shop tools up to the Lexus.
GX460 & GXOR B.S. thread (14 Viewers)
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Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
I thought i had used cheap stuff before with no problems. I haven't used pneumatic tools regularly since 2011.
I have the ARB kit and it frustrates the ^%$# out of me.
I never aired down in Iowa as it wasn't usually that rough and the sections were so short. I had no idea my setup sucked that bad. Fine at the compressor just comes apart at the tool. I ordered a different solution for attaching to the valve and am supposed to be getting the arb digital inflator to replace my analog one.
long term I will probably get a double compressor and plumb a system to each wheel.
I just use the stuff linked below. They are cheap - $30 and you are set. The inflator is the same one I use on my shop. The coiled air hose gets stored in the back of my rig. Wen it's time to air up, I stop, pop the hood, attach the hose to the QC coupler, turn in the compressor, then walk to each tire and air it up. I can get them all from 18 to 32 psi in just under 5 minutes with the ARB twin. I personally don't see much of a benefit for a more complex and expensive 4-tire inflator with a manifold. I think it would take the same amount of time, if not longer due to having to mess with 4 hoses, so the only real benefit seems to be not having to crouch next to the tire when airing up.
In general it seems unnecessary to buy off-road specific stuff or airing up, other than the compressor itself. Off the shelf stuff works fine.
www.harborfreight.com
www.harborfreight.com
In general it seems unnecessary to buy off-road specific stuff or airing up, other than the compressor itself. Off the shelf stuff works fine.
1/4 in. x 25 ft. Professional Polyurethane Coil Hose
Amazing deals on this 25Ft Pro Polyurethane Coil Hose at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
Dual-Head Air Chuck Inflator with Dial Gauge
Amazing deals on this Dual-Chuck Inflator W/ Dial Gauge at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
Yeah, I am over the coiled hose and all of that non sense. I am going to buy a proper hose and use a bigger hose, just so it's easier to deal with, replicating set-ups I have used for work.
Also going to use it as an opportunity to show my cousin's son how to use Teflon tape.
Also going to use it as an opportunity to show my cousin's son how to use Teflon tape.
Dunno about the ARB. I decided against them after the deflator I bought gave me horribly erroneous results (amazon...sent it back). My early Christmas gift to myself was the Viair 400P EF+ (? on the +...came with the 7-pin adapter which is super handy for me with the camper).
The day after I received it I decided to test it on a HUMVEE that had been sitting on (37") flats for two years. Took about 20 minutes to get all aired up and the pump really never got hot. Super quiet too.
Sorry...I got carried away.
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
Are Metabo grinders still good value?
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
I like their compressors, just not their cheaper accesory packs for their more quality items.Dunno about the ARB. I decided against them after the deflator I bought gave me horribly erroneous results (amazon...sent it back). My early Christmas gift to myself was the Viair 400P EF+ (? on the +...came with the 7-pin adapter which is super handy for me with the camper).
The day after I received it I decided to test it on a HUMVEE that had been sitting on (37") flats for two years. Took about 20 minutes to get all aired up and the pump really never got hot. Super quiet too.
Sorry...I got carried away.
I am going to start putting together a kit to air up everything at once.
Did find a really awesome shirt little trail yesterday.
68J north of Gross Reservoir. Was the most technical trail I have ever done. Video will be up in a few days.
The ARB twin is worth every penny. I had a cheap Smittybilt for some time and ended up replacing it after it crapped out. So I had to buy 2 compressors and fabricate two mounts. Should have just bought the ARB first, which is Australian-made compressor and is very heavy/well-built. Although, it is certainly depressing that it costs about the same $$$ as a 60-gallon, 240V shop compressor.
One of my buddies has a M18 inflator. When we go wheeling, he'll get through maybe 2-3 of his tires in the time that I can air up all four of mine and 1-2 of his.
Honestly I don't really care much for other ARB stuff. I've mangled their skids, don't really like the look of their bumpers, and will be foregoing their air lockers in lieu of Harrop e-lockers. But, the compressor is a great product.
One of my buddies has a M18 inflator. When we go wheeling, he'll get through maybe 2-3 of his tires in the time that I can air up all four of mine and 1-2 of his.
Honestly I don't really care much for other ARB stuff. I've mangled their skids, don't really like the look of their bumpers, and will be foregoing their air lockers in lieu of Harrop e-lockers. But, the compressor is a great product.
I’ve had a 50 quart ARB refrigerator/freezer that has basically had continuous use since I picked up new in 2017. Outside the rig it runs as a small beer fridge for the garage or cabin shed. It wasn’t cheap but has certainly been a quality unit and has never let me down.
Service manuals if ever needed
Service manuals if ever needed
Last edited:
r2m
Richard
The ones that have come with two of my dual ARB Twin compressors have been fine. (had one on my Hundy also)
Did blow out an air line. But that was my fault letting it rest on the braided hose that got too hot.
Duty cycles are a real thing.
7 tires was the max the Smittybilt would reach before it got hot and shut off. Then 15 minutes before it would cool back off.
Sure sucked when airing up more than one rig.
- Thread starter
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That's actually not terrible if they were tires in the 33-35" range... then again how much did it cost?
I definitely need to improve my compressor game this year, been on borrowed time with my mini Viair for years now
They were 32s. It cost around $170. It's assembled with plastic wire nuts on the inside, and the wires that activate the motor/pump aren't sheathed where the go into the metal compressor housing, so one wore a hole in it and shorted out, thereby bricking the compressor (since it's pressed together and can't be fully taken apart). If you get one, you'll like it for a bit, then it will crap out, leaving you frustrated and without air. Especially because you will have wasted a day building a bracket or mount for it that won't fit an ARB.
Learn from my mistakes. Just get the ARB the first time
.
I used x2 Merlin 25ft hose from Harbor Freight. That gave me 4 black handles instead 2 if I went with the 50ft hose.
The Haltecs are expensive, but worth it IMO.
Some connectors and pressure guage
I have a ball valve attached to the round gauge that I use when airing down.
The Haltecs are expensive, but worth it IMO.
Some connectors and pressure guage
I have a ball valve attached to the round gauge that I use when airing down.
Also the digital All Top is nice for airing back up and auto shutoff.
Yup.
Couldn't find much in the way of specs on the M18 but I wouldn't expect it to perform well with bigger tires.
My buddy's M18 certainly did better than my first air-up setup, which was around $25. This one actually still works and is kept in my wife's car as an emergency inflator. It took 20 minutes and 2/3 of a battery to get all 4 tires, but it did work.
Since then, I've changed direction and almost never buy cheap tools and gear any longer (perhaps outside of $14 air hoses and chucks). Too many instances of the tool/gear just not working well enough of being total junk and breaking. Buying once and crying once is cheaper in the long run and saves time/frustration.
Mine is 10 years old and going strong yet
Didn't have the fancy case back then and I use an old army tool bag for storage plus hoses, etc. Works surprisingly well but not the fastest and is a bit of a PITA to hook up. I used to use a shop across from the office for some maintenance and one day when I walked in they had a pair of Viair chrome compressors sitting on top of some boxes. I asked him about them and he does a lot of custom builds for car shows. And wins a lot he travels all over the Country and has a row of trophies on one wall. All he uses is the chrome Viair compressors he mounts them permanently in the show cars and said that he didn't think you can kill them, he has never had one die. That he knows of. a lot of his work is for customers custom cars that get shown.
Have looked at upgrading to the larger 400P or 450P with a connection to the 7 pin trailer connection for power. Maybe someday.
I standardized on Rigid battery tools and picked up an inflator a few years ago for something like $50 and it works shockingly well. I already carry battery operated impact wrench and thanks to @Rednexus now my Sawzall. And the inflator plus 2 batteries. It is just as fast as the Viair and easier to use. Inflating all 4 tires uses less than half the battery can get 3 inflations per battery. But spending 3+ weeks at a pop at either Canada or Arrowhead means I also have to take and use the charger every couple of days. Have to charge the dogs collars and Garmin Alpha so it gets a bit ridiculous with all the cables and electronics in the cabin at night.
Now that I write this and think about it I really should start down that upgrading path.
@Cold Iron , onboard air is the way to go! Once you have it, you'll never look back. No needing to mess with batteries, alligator clips, etc. Turn the compressor on, hook up you hose, and inflate. I prefer the ARB compressor for speed, but at the end of the day, I just think the cheap Chinese off-brand compressors are junk and push people away from them every chance I get. VIAIR stuff seems to have a good reputation but is just a bit slower than the ARB. But, it is significantly less expensive as well.
