Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Is ARB compressor waste of money??

36K views 45 replies 31 participants last post by  chopperbobby 
#1 ·
Looking at the ARB compressor. My Rubicon has lockers so not concerned about that use. Rather thinking it would be nice to have on board air just in case e.g. need to air up tires, blow dust out of cab , air up mountain bike tires.

Anybody with OEM lockers get the ARB compressor only to find out the $500 could have been spent on a more useful mod? Do you use the compressor for anything?

Also i see the SPOD has an integral and I assume optional pressure gauge.

Does this entail running pressure hose from compresser into cab to read pressure. Anybody get the gauge and find it useful or not?

Lastly: if I get the compressor better to get hoses and other accessories from ARB or just part out from Home Depot?
 
#2 ·
I am not going to say the ARB compressor is a waste of money because it is a quality piece of kit. That said, if all you want is something that will air up your tires, I highly recommend this compressor. http://www.pepboys.com/product/details/9357343/00789

I have been very happy with it's performance. I wheel with some guys who run Viair compressors that cost 3 times as much as this one. This unit inflates my 35's quicker than the Viair compressor and doesn't run nearly as hot as the Viair.

It will inflate 35x12.5's form 15 PSI to 30 PSI in about 90 seconds per tire. I have used it on tires up to 38" without problem. It fits under the back seat and out of the way when not in use.

I have been using it about every weekend for the last 8 months with no problems at all with it. Plus, you could burn 8 of these up and still have spent less than the ARB unit.
 
#6 ·
I am not going to say the ARB compressor is a waste of money because it is a quality piece of kit. That said, if all you want is something that will air up your tires, I highly recommend this compressor. http://www.pepboys.com/product/details/9357343/00789

I have been very happy with it's performance. I wheel with some guys who run Viair compressors that cost 3 times as much as this one. This unit inflates my 35's quicker than the Viair compressor and doesn't run nearly as hot as the Viair.

It will inflate 35x12.5's form 15 PSI to 30 PSI in about 90 seconds per tire. I have used it on tires up to 38" without problem. It fits under the back seat and out of the way when not in use.

I have been using it about every weekend for the last 8 months with no problems at all with it. Plus, you could burn 8 of these up and still have spent less than the ARB unit.
x2, have this unit and it works great
 
#3 ·
I looked at that option too. You would have to run a pressure line into the cab if you go that route. I came to the determination that it was better for me to purchase a portable air compressor to carry in the back for when I needed it. I also looked into getting the Warn winch with the built in compressor,. There are some great reviews on them and they are very dependable.
 
#32 ·
.........I also looked into getting the Warn winch with the built in compressor,. There are some great reviews on them and they are very dependable.
When I planned out the build on my '09 six years ago I opted for the Warn 9500 Powerplant with built in compressor. I pencilled the thing and while it really wasn't cheaper than separate winch & compressor, it was a one step set & forget install that killed two birds. I figured when the pump died I'd get an ARB or Viair. Well the pump is still roaring along fine, zero issues. Inflates a 37 from 10 psi to 32 in about 2.5 minutes. Newer ones are quieter.
 
#4 ·
I have the ARB twin and have been well pleased. My brother got a single cylinder Viar and it overheats and shuts down before it will air up all 4 tires. He has it at the shop replacing it with the ARB now.
If you wheel and want to air down your tires you really need a compressor. That said you do not have to buy the most expensive but you get what you pay for..
 
#7 ·
Not sure why everybody thinks an Spod is needed when running an ARB compressor. SPOD is perfect if you need to run multiple things, but if all you're planning on running is ARB compressor you're basically spending several hundred dollars on a really nice switch to operate the compressor harness that comes with the ARB anyway. On an ARB twin the relays are built into the compressor assembly anyway so a single switch of any type supplying the appropriate pigtail on the compressor will turn it on and off if you don't want to use the supplied ARB switch. Pressure gauge isn't really needed either as the compressor runs a 120-150PSI pressure switch. It runs to 150 then shuts off. If it comes on frequently you have a leak. If you add a gauge you basically create a potential leak when it really isn't needed.
I love my twin ARB, fills my 37's in no time and never shuts down from overheating.
 
#14 ·
Are you talking about the ARB Bracket from M.O.R.E.?
https://www.mountainoffroad.com/jeep-jk/jk-accessories/air-compressor-mounts.html

I have one on my 2015 JKU with the ARB Twin and SPOD with gauge. It all fits well and runs great. I plan on adding a tank later which is why I got the gauge in the SPOD. It just depends on how much you want to spend, and what you plan on using them for if they make sense for you.
 
#11 ·
2 posters so far have recommended the MasterFlow Tsunami. It fits my budget really well and I very rarely need to air up. I will be getting this one before upcoming trip to CA and Moab.
 
#15 ·
FYI, I have a couple of these and they both have 1/8" NPT (non standard nipple) and many people had changed them out to 1/4". I bought another unit last week from Pepboys using their coupon THIRTYALL, and the new unit is tapped & fitted with standard 1/4" NPT outlet.

Not sure when the production change happened but one can use standard 1/4" accessories without doing mods.
 
#12 ·
I have the Viar on my TJ with the tank but seemed too long to air up. I went with the Twin ARB just for the air up for my JK. Just trying to install now and based on all my research I think it will prove a faster option.

Probably going to do the SPod although it's pricey.
 
#13 ·
I bought the ViAir Dominion kit from EAD OffRoad and also have the sPod with the air gauge. I opted for the optional tank, have an air chick in the front bumper and one in each footwell. Overkill? Probably but that's ok. I have a slow leak at the air manifold, I just haven't had time to go through it to fix. I decided against a portable one as I didn't want to run the risk of forgetting it, wouldn't do me any good if I didn't have it. Some parks have compressors, some don't. If you're on a trail and need to air up, or use air tools which is possible with a tank, an OBA setup is the way to go, plus you don't have to wait in line to fill up if there's a lot of people there. I like having the gauge inside, it's not needed, my kit has one in the air manifold under the hood, so it's a bit redundant. I do wish the gauge was backlit in the sPod though.
 
#22 ·
I have the ARB twin compressor and use it all summer long on the beach. Expensive but airs up 35" tires quickly. Plus it will not shut off and have to cool down like other compressors. I have a 12volt plug on my front bumper and just plug it in. Don't have to lift my hood. Good investment. Go for it you won't be sorry.
 
#25 ·
I used to run a twin piston Ebay special the same as most people recommend. It was ok but they run hot and whilst they're cheap I always knew in the back of my mind I couldn't rely on it lasting for a long time.

When it started to leak I got a twin ARB from a bloke on ebay brand new very cheap. It's the stand alone unit, not the case mounted unit but it still comes with the full wiring harness to mount it and wire it up.

I also bout a new hose and tyre gauge inflator from ARB for a great price.
It's mounted in the rear on a Springtail Solutions MOLLE rack, high, dry and a source of dust free air.
I've plumbed the air outlet via the ARB chuck to come out the licence plate blanking plug that's standard on all Australian delivered JK's.

I'm now inflating my 35/12.5/17 Summit Mud Hogs from 15psi to 32psi in around 30 seconds a tyre. I have a second air hose to inflate other peoples tyres as soon as mine is finished. I generally can inflate my tyres and 2 tyres on another Jeep by the time they have 2 of their own reinflated.
 

Attachments

#31 ·
G'Day Bruce!

Glad I was noodling around looking at stuff and happened across this thread. I was considering putting the ARB dualie under the hood, but was concerned with all the crap gets thrown up there when I'm offroad. Compressors you like to keep in a fairly clean place, away from water, dust and mud, espeicially alkali mud.

I like this set up so much I'm going to do this, too. Great pictures and thanks absolute buckets for posting it! If I'm ever down Oz way I owe you a beer.
 
#27 ·
I was really thinking about ordering the Slime 40026 seems nice dig the hard case, figured I would just throw this in there. Seems like a much cheaper option then the ARB but good quality. I believe there is a threat review about it.
 
#33 ·
Consider altitude when you are buying a compressor. In Colorado I've refilled my tires in the driveway off my single ARB unit to save CO2 and it's almost a 20 minute per tire ordeal. That was 37s, 8-28 PSI. I've also seen guys spend nearly an hour and a half airing up using smaller compressors here. No doubt they work, but they take a lot of time and have a tendency to overheat because of how much longer they have to run. The twins work well here as does CO2 and compressors with an air tank. If you are a sea level wheeler, then disregard ;)
 
#34 ·
A good point. The vehicle holding the world record for highest altitude driven was running an ARB compressor and lockers. They had to constantly adjust tire pressure due to altitude change and had no problems with the air system. Iirc they reached 9000+ feet in Chile. Look it up, its a pretty awesome documentary.

I have the old school arb compressor that has a tiny tank on it. I ran a line to another solenoid and then to a .5 gal viair tank. Takes exactly 57seconds to fill my entire air system, tank, lines, lockers. Or I can fill all but the big tank in about 8 seconds. I can fill a tire in a few minutes. Its no CO2 setup, but its convenient.
 
#45 ·
I went with the Powertank and i'm glad that I did. It fills the tires fast but it is always reliable too. We were finishing up for the day and my buddy was using his twin ARB compressor and I was using my Powertank. I got done before he finished his second tire. By the time he got to his last tire his hose kinked into the side of the compressor (mounted under his passenger seat) and the heat from the compressor melted a hole in the cheap yellow hose that came with the unit. This might be a freak occurrence but i've never had issues with filling my tires. There is nothing mechanical to break and the hose gets frosty instead of hot but always works.
 
#46 ·
I had the pep boys one and it worked fine. Slow but fine. Started blowing fuse last couple of uses. I got the arb single it is great fills up tires way faster and I do two tires at a time no problem.
Very easy to use. Have it mounted under hood on a duel compressor mount. Hooked up to a spod want to be.

I feel it is worth it. No longer having to take up space inside. Take out compressor hook up to battery and hook up hose. Now just hook up hose and fill two tires at once. No problems. Do all 4 tires with no rest.

With the pep boys one had to let cool after two tires and still change fuse. I kept many on hand
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top