12 Volt Air Compressor

[KirsL]

Air Zenith – Air Suspensions

air-zenith.com

I had one of these on my dodge for 15 years. It lived between the frame rail and the floor of the bed. So kinda shielded but basically full exposure to the elements.

It's a beast. 5 gallon tank from empty to 145 psi in like 3.5 minutes. It would run a 1/2 air impact gun if you wanted.

You could feel it vibrant the truck when it ran.

Water finally killed it. But after so many years, I can't complain. I'll definitely get another.

 

[fourwheelerjeff]

years ago there was a thread on these air compressors; I bought one. I was wheeling a Cherokee years ago on 34/10.50-15 LTBs and popped a bead. got it out of the back to air it up much to laughter of others on the trail. they were impressed when it did the job. granted I lifted the front end up so it would seat but it popped it right on.

also used it on another camping/wheeling trip to air up a 42 that was on a 16.5 rim and used peanut butter to keep air from leaking out until it seated the bead. when it popped it was slinging peanut butter through the air.

I bought a tap at HF and put a regular connector in the head so I could use my regular air hoses on it.

then some jackass stole it.

 

[Capt Ron]

Also an option. Basically a self contained York.

Voltair 12 Volt Air Compressor

This is a 12 volt permanent mount air compressor by Voltair. It is a heavy duty cast iron twin cylinder, oil lubed compressor that runs at 470 RPM. It also has a 1 HP motor that has a 90 amp draw at 100 PSI. This compress will fill a 10 gallon tank from 0 - 150 PSI in 2 minutes and 55 seconds...

zips.com

Pricey, but I bought one a few years back and properly cared for will last my lifetime and then some.
It is actually mounted inside the box, not sure why they display it like that.

 

[kbclamper]

I have the smitty built 5.6 cfm compressor and it works fine for my 35s plus it was cheap

 

[ZooMad75]

Also an option. Basically a self contained York.

Voltair 12 Volt Air Compressor

This is a 12 volt permanent mount air compressor by Voltair. It is a heavy duty cast iron twin cylinder, oil lubed compressor that runs at 470 RPM. It also has a 1 HP motor that has a 90 amp draw at 100 PSI. This compress will fill a 10 gallon tank from 0 - 150 PSI in 2 minutes and 55 seconds...

zips.com

Pricey, but I bought one a few years back and properly cared for will last my lifetime and then some.
It is actually mounted inside the box, not sure why they display it like that.

Holy Crap!

 

[70jimmy]

I looked at doing several types of compressors, even had a couple York systems but never hooked them up. I opted for CO2 tank instead. Maybe if I ever do an ARB locker I will look at it again

 

[fourwheelerjeff]

Also an option. Basically a self contained York.

Voltair 12 Volt Air Compressor

This is a 12 volt permanent mount air compressor by Voltair. It is a heavy duty cast iron twin cylinder, oil lubed compressor that runs at 470 RPM. It also has a 1 HP motor that has a 90 amp draw at 100 PSI. This compress will fill a 10 gallon tank from 0 - 150 PSI in 2 minutes and 55 seconds...

zips.com

Pricey, but I bought one a few years back and properly cared for will last my lifetime and then some.
It is actually mounted inside the box, not sure why they display it like that.

I have this one that I want to mount in a utility bed on my truck, I have never used it

Phoenix 12V DC Air Compressor

The AC12V3 portable air compressor from Phoenix USA features a 3 gallon tank and .75 HP motor and has a compact design.

zips.com

I looked at doing several types of compressors, even had a couple York systems but never hooked them up. I opted for CO2 tank instead. Maybe if I ever do an ARB locker I will look at it again

I have air lockers on both my TJs running off CO2 and an ARB running them in my LJ

 

[70jimmy]

I have this one that I want to mount in a utility bed on my truck, I have never used it

Phoenix 12V DC Air Compressor

The AC12V3 portable air compressor from Phoenix USA features a 3 gallon tank and .75 HP motor and has a compact design.

zips.com

I have air lockers on both my TJs running off CO2 and an ARB running them in my LJ

Hmmm I would like to see pics or explanation how you have that set up. Gee look how much money I saved.

 

[ZooMad75]

years ago there was a thread on these air compressors; I bought one. I was wheeling a Cherokee years ago on 34/10.50-15 LTBs and popped a bead. got it out of the back to air it up much to laughter of others on the trail. they were impressed when it did the job. granted I lifted the front end up so it would seat but it popped it right on.

also used it on another camping/wheeling trip to air up a 42 that was on a 16.5 rim and used peanut butter to keep air from leaking out until it seated the bead. when it popped it was slinging peanut butter through the air.

I bought a tap at HF and put a regular connector in the head so I could use my regular air hoses on it.

then some jackass stole it.


View attachment 426374

I had that exact unit. Bought one at a local Orielly's. It did the job slowly until it didn't want to anymore. I think I got three years out of it, using it maybe two to three times a year. Two of my buddies each bought one at the same time and they both failed by the second trip out with them.

That brought up a memory that Larry has one of these Extreme Outback portable Air compressors. Way beefy, but large. They work just as well as my ARB too as I've borrowed it for a couple wheeling trips before I got the ARB. They don't sell the portable kit, but have hard mount units only now.

EZ INSTALL 12V Magnum Kit | Extreme Outback

www.extremeoutback.com

They are larger than an ARB twin. So they may not be as easy to stuff under the hood of a square. I did some digging a while ago and did discover similar motor/compressor designs being sold through industrial equipment type places.

Shop All Commercial Air Compressors | Fergusonhome.com

Shop All Commercial Air Compressors on Ferguson Home

www.aircompressorsdirect.com

 

[ArizonaK5]

I'm liking the idea of a portable unit. Can take it with me no matter what I'm driving at the time.

 

[fourwheelerjeff]

Hmmm I would like to see pics or explanation how you have that set up. Gee look how much money I saved.

are you talking about running the air lockers off CO2?

in my 98 TJ I have an Ox Locker in the front and ARB in the rear. on the 2000 TJ I have Ox Lockers front and rear.

when I first bought my 98 the Ox Locker was run off the cable. It was hard to engage and didn't fully engage. I got on Ox's website and ordered https://ox-usa.com/product/oxa1001/ since it already had the ARB in the rear running off CO2. at that time the PO set the CO2 on the ARB to run off some type of heavy duty truck air switch; so I ordered 2 of these. https://ox-usa.com/product/air-switch/ that I mounted in the console. that one has a fixed 150 PSI regulator but I have an adjustable I bought but never put on.

on the 2000 it had a newer model Ox in the rear that was already air actuated. I ordered a retrofit kit for the front along with 2 switches. it was already set up to run off a paintball cylinder using this https://ox-usa.com/product/oxa-co2/

Power Tank makes a lot of stuff to hook your ARBs up to run off CO2. https://powertank.com/collections/arb-locker-parts

 

[70jimmy]

Thanks I have a powertank setup in the back seat are so I will have to look at their website.

 

[Kain]

I have Viair 10005 in my rig and love it. change the switch out that they provide it will fail on you

 

[fourwheelerjeff]

Hmmm I would like to see pics or explanation how you have that set up. Gee look how much money I saved.

this is not a very good picture but I found it on my phone and thought I would share. I used a union to connect the metric air line off the ARB to the standard air line off the CO2 tank. I keep telling myself I will get better pictures next time I am around that Jeep.

 

[skunked]

years ago there was a thread on these air compressors; I bought one. I was wheeling a Cherokee years ago on 34/10.50-15 LTBs and popped a bead. got it out of the back to air it up much to laughter of others on the trail. they were impressed when it did the job. granted I lifted the front end up so it would seat but it popped it right on.

also used it on another camping/wheeling trip to air up a 42 that was on a 16.5 rim and used peanut butter to keep air from leaking out until it seated the bead. when it popped it was slinging peanut butter through the air.

I bought a tap at HF and put a regular connector in the head so I could use my regular air hoses on it.

then some jackass stole it.


View attachment 426374

I have the same one and used it for years without any issues. It was slow, took over 5 minutes a tire to air up but it was cheap and worked.

 

[dyeager535]

I looked at the "Gobege" 12V compressors, they seem to be on the upper end of the cheap compressor scale. Fair number of reviews and tests, but not seeing anything long term. No idea how long they have been out.

I think it would matter how often you intended to use it. For a lot of use I think you'd definitely want a heavier duty unit, but the Gobege flows very well compared to the smaller Viair options.

https://www.amazon.com/Compressor-Offroad-Portable-Inflator-Vehicle/dp/B09F9L6HFK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Viair site is handy as they give fill times vs. tire size: https://www.viaircorp.com/portables/400p (as an example)

 

[ZooMad75]

There are at least 5 or more versions of that Gobege compressor for sale on Amazon alone. The only difference is the colors. All have the same exact cfm output. Smittybuilt and Rough Country sell a version of that same unit. They work but are slow.

My Smittybilt was a few years old when I got it. It wouldn’t work at all eventually.

 

[dyeager535]

My Smittybilt was a few years old when I got it. It wouldn’t work at all eventually.

Do you think that they (Gobege and clones) are lying about output? I'm not saying they aren't, that sort of dishonesty is common. The Viair stuff with similar or less advertised output says like 2-4 minutes/tire from 15-30PSI, depending on size. IMO that seems pretty quick, feels like it takes about that with CO2.

 

[ZooMad75]

Do you think that they (Gobege and clones) are lying about output? I'm not saying they aren't, that sort of dishonesty is common. The Viair stuff with similar or less advertised output says like 2-4 minutes/tire from 15-30PSI, depending on size. IMO that seems pretty quick, feels like it takes about that with CO2.

I can’t say if they are lying about output. But just practical experience with me trying to air up the same size tires as my buddy with an ARB twin it was pretty obvious what was quicker. I’d fire mine up to fill my 2.5 gallon prior to stopping so I had a little head start on the first tire.

If we both started filling at the same time I’d still be on my second tire while he was finishing his last tire. He’d come over and start filling one of mine by the time I got to the third one.

Mine was every bit of 5 years old at least so wear and tear could be a factor. A new one might be better. But knowing I had to replace mine anyway I didn’t want to put the same one back in. At least with the arb it’s build quality justifies the higher cost. Plus as others have shown ARB supports the product with the fact that you can get replacement parts for it. You won’t be going back to whatever Chinese company that makes all those clones of the same compressor and getting anything for it. Just chuck it and get another one.

Personally I just didn’t want another throw away compressor. I had the $50 cheapy everybody picked up when checker had them on sale. It failed eventually, besides being slow. The smitty failed after a decent lifespan. But it still quit working. I took it apart and besides the cheesy wiring for a relay and thermal cut out switch it just screamed low quality.

I saved up a little more to upgrade to the ARB twin and it’s been flawless. Though I will say the twin does not like to work with power being fed from a resettable circuit breaker. It was too much resistance on the main power feed wires and caused the two 40 amp maxi fuses to blow. I replaced the fuses and took the main power wires to the arb and went direct to the battery. No more issues.

The only reason I had them getting power from the resettable circuit breaker was due to the fact I had the arb pulling power from a bus bar and I wanted circuit protection for the feed cable to the bus bar. Doing so cleaned up having a bunch of wires coming off the positive battery lug. But once back at the battery the compressor was happy.

I’ll have to find it. Somewhere recently on the web there was a comparison of all the recent 12v compressors. I can’t remember where I saw it. I’ll look tonight.

 

[Wes Harden]

Hey Rob, what size wire/cable feed the bus bar? Which kind of resettable circuit breaker.

I do not want to go the battery. My plan was to go to my VSR, voltage sensing relay, aux batt side, 4g feed, protected by 175 amp manual reset circuit beaker