Off-Road Air Compressors: An Overview & Comparisons (video)

[popo_patty]

Well hello fellow Bronco forum members!

I recently nerded out on air compressors, I compiled a ton of info, did weeks of research, contacted manufactures, called companies and scrolled through mind-numbing amounts of social media accounts. I then compiled most of the relevant data into an hour long video! Now if you're not into watching an hour long video about air compressors... I did add shortcuts in the video description to jump to different parts. I will also add the basic numbers below in the thread.

However, if you like data, research, talking about warranty's, heat dissipation, quality control, internal components and more, I encourage you to watch the video. It also took me 6 hours alone just to film this with all the airing up and down I did on a warm day, with even more time spent editing and researching so if you like it, giving it a thumbs up or a comment on the video itself is very helpful!

I know, I know, its an hour video about air compressors... I think most will find it fairly easy to watch though and in depth... or not





Here is also a spread sheet on the raw specs: Time stamps are airing up 4x, 37" tires from 10-35psi.
-Trickflate $125 205 cyl temp. 132 hose temp. 7:11
-Viar 450 $350 178 cyl temp. 24.47
-M18 $180 + battery 131 temp. 15:40 (had to do one at a time). Used approx 75% battery
-Smittybuilt 2781 $160 175 cyl temp 150 hose. 13:31
-Arb single $330 294 at hottest point in engine bay. 20:10
-ARB dual $616 250 cyl temp. 8:30
-Thors $329 (on sale for 289) 205 cyl temp 175 hose temp. Plastic was cooler then metal. 5:55
-Ezflate $325 193 cyl temp 165 hose. 6:10
-Morrflate $325 190 cyl temp 126 hose. 6:07

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[popo_patty]

For whatever reason (at least on my end), the embeded video keeps starting at the halfway point on the video. If that's the case, just scroll it back to the beginning. Sorry about that! I can't figure it out.

 

[Jeff Lebowski]

Thanks for putting in this work !!!!

 

[TNTACO]

Awesome work. Thanks.

 

[robo]

I watched this shortly after you put it out. Most everyone I'm sure had noticed that many of the compressors looked pretty much identical. Thanks for clearing that up.
I know many of us appreciate your heart for the off-roading community.

 

[rcl4668]

Well hello fellow Bronco forum members!

I recently nerded out on air compressors, I compiled a ton of info, did weeks of research, contacted manufactures, called companies and scrolled through mind-numbing amounts of social media accounts. I then compiled most of the relevant data into an hour long video! Now if you're not into watching an hour long video about air compressors... I did add shortcuts in the video description to jump to different parts. I will also add the basic numbers below in the thread.

However, if you like data, research, talking about warranty's, heat dissipation, quality control, internal components and more, I encourage you to watch the video. It also took me 6 hours alone just to film this with all the airing up and down I did on a warm day, with even more time spent editing and researching so if you like it, giving it a thumbs up or a comment on the video itself is very helpful!

I know, I know, its an hour video about air compressors... I think most will find it fairly easy to watch though and in depth... or not





Here is also a spread sheet on the raw specs: Time stamps are airing up 4x, 37" tires from 10-35psi.
-Trickflate $125 205 cyl temp. 132 hose temp. 7:11
-Viar 450 $350 178 cyl temp. 24.47
-M18 $180 + battery 131 temp. 15:40 (had to do one at a time). Used approx 75% battery
-Smittybuilt 2781 $160 175 cyl temp 150 hose. 13:31
-Arb single $330 294 at hottest point in engine bay. 20:10
-ARB dual $616 250 cyl temp. 8:30
-Thors $329 (on sale for 289) 205 cyl temp 175 hose temp. Plastic was cooler then metal. 5:55
-Ezflate $325 193 cyl temp 165 hose. 6:10
-Morrflate $325 190 cyl temp 126 hose. 6:07

Thank so much!

 

[fallguy]

Thanks for the video, learned a lot. Is there not a compressor that uses a house hold plug? Is there not enough amps/current for a compressor using that plug, or lighter stye plug? Would be nice to not have to even open the hood.

 

[lakesinai]

Well hello fellow Bronco forum members!

I recently nerded out on air compressors, I compiled a ton of info, did weeks of research, contacted manufactures, called companies and scrolled through mind-numbing amounts of social media accounts. I then compiled most of the relevant data into an hour long video! Now if you're not into watching an hour long video about air compressors... I did add shortcuts in the video description to jump to different parts. I will also add the basic numbers below in the thread.

However, if you like data, research, talking about warranty's, heat dissipation, quality control, internal components and more, I encourage you to watch the video. It also took me 6 hours alone just to film this with all the airing up and down I did on a warm day, with even more time spent editing and researching so if you like it, giving it a thumbs up or a comment on the video itself is very helpful!

I know, I know, its an hour video about air compressors... I think most will find it fairly easy to watch though and in depth... or not





Here is also a spread sheet on the raw specs: Time stamps are airing up 4x, 37" tires from 10-35psi.
-Trickflate $125 205 cyl temp. 132 hose temp. 7:11
-Viar 450 $350 178 cyl temp. 24.47
-M18 $180 + battery 131 temp. 15:40 (had to do one at a time). Used approx 75% battery
-Smittybuilt 2781 $160 175 cyl temp 150 hose. 13:31
-Arb single $330 294 at hottest point in engine bay. 20:10
-ARB dual $616 250 cyl temp. 8:30
-Thors $329 (on sale for 289) 205 cyl temp 175 hose temp. Plastic was cooler then metal. 5:55
-Ezflate $325 193 cyl temp 165 hose. 6:10
-Morrflate $325 190 cyl temp 126 hose. 6:07

Thanks so much for doing this review. I also installed the ARB single in the Fall of 2021. I used the 4x4LED bracket, now I believe ARB has a bracket. It does get quite hot. It takes about 2.5 minutes each to inflate my 33" Nitto Nomad Grapplers from 18# to 35# on the beach, one at a time. I have an inflation hose bag. I'm very pleased with the performance.

Wiring the Single ARB was so mystifying that I paid the local 4WP store to wire it, after I installed the pump. I've been told that the plug-and-play nature of the ARB Twin makes it easier to install than the single. (Top photo, your video. Bottom, my install.)

I really appreciate your explaining the ARB copy-cat models. I think it's an ethical issue to steal someone's design. Again, thanks.

 

[popo_patty]

Thanks for the video, learned a lot. Is there not a compressor that uses a house hold plug? Is there not enough amps/current for a compressor using that plug, or lighter stye plug? Would be nice to not have to even open the hood.

Unfortunately those don’t get the amps needed to crank out the psi for large tires. There are household items like slime compressors from auto zone that work for small tires. But it’s a lot of work to pump up 37” tires and they don’t fair well off-road. The little yellow pump is an example of a car socket compressor.

Those dual cylinders are drawing 90 amps!

Closest viable option would be a battery powered compressor that you recharge on a household plug.

some people wire connections to other mounting points in the vehicle so they don’t have to open their hood

 

[userdude]

Unfortunately those don’t get the amps needed to crank out the psi for large tires. There are household items like slime compressors from auto zone that work for small tires. But it’s a lot of work to pump up 37” tires and they don’t fair well off-road. The little yellow pump is an example of a car socket compressor.

Those dual cylinders are drawing 90 amps!

Closest viable option would be a battery powered compressor that you recharge on a household plug.

some people wire connections to other mounting points in the vehicle so they don’t have to open their hood

I have a Husky single I got from Home Depot that I used to air up my spare from flat flat. Took forever and started smoking (literally) around 37psi. Also started smelling like something melted. Oh yeah, it has a wall plug. (I have 35's and aired up to 42psi to test the plug. It leaks. )

@fallguy If you're in a garage, you might be able to get an electrician to install a plug near the box for this, although that might cost more than the compressor.

 

[Montana Bronco]

a hose bag

Oh, I see you have met my ex-wife.

 

[userdude]

@popo_patty I haven't watched the video yet; did y'all test the new MORRFlate with the various updates? I think it's the PSI Pro?

 

[Aonarch]

I rock the Viair 440p with the Morrflate 4 tire hose kit.

It works well.

 

[lakesinai]

Thanks for the video, learned a lot. Is there not a compressor that uses a house hold plug? Is there not enough amps/current for a compressor using that plug, or lighter stye plug? Would be nice to not have to even open the hood.

No. You must use alligator clips onto a 12v battery, or hard wire to a 12v battery.

 

[broadicustomworks]

TrickFlate here with a dual hose system to do one side at a time (one "short hose" to reach the front tire and one longer one to reach the rear or another vehicle nearby if needed).
Always works, gets the job done in less than 4 min per side, always gets really hot!
So I tend to not pack the hoses and compressor back up the way I had them and let it cool down a bit.
One day the lure of having an "always there and ready" system I don't have to pack up and carry will probably get me and I'll end up with an engine-bay mounted one. Space is a premium, as is the time/effort to pack/unpack each time but saving that small amount of both comes at a premium price.

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