Thanks Mark for your thorough and insightful test of these compressors. We currently have an ARB High Output but it runs out of puff at 75 psi when levelling the airbags in our camper. It also gets very hot and we are apprehensive to shut the lid of the box until it has cooled down. I think our next compressor will be a Bushranger Max Air 3 and your test confirmed what we already thought. Good Job Mate !!!!!!!!
Well done Mark from Tasmanian Offroad Adventures, an awesome no bs comparison on an item I am about to purchase. You have made my decision a lot easier. Thanks for the time and effort you put in.
G'day Mark! Awesomely informative video. Good on you for the effort in making it. Just came back from a 4WD trip myself, and got ribbed by my mates for not having my own compressor, and having to share theirs (and slow the mob down), haha! Was doing some research to choose the best value for money compressor that I could buy, and came across this video amongst others. This was the best comparison test so far I've seen and you've certainly helped me decide what I should go for. Thanks for that, mate! Looking forward to the rest of your videos, bud.
I've got a REPCO brand compressor in the boot of my car. It's main job is to supply air for the horn. The system has a 6 litre air tank. This compressor pumps out 160 l/pm fad. It fills the air tank to 125 psi in less than a minute. I recently changed 2 tyres on a friend's car. The compressor inflated them both in about 3 minutes. For a single cylinder compressor, this is very fast. The tyres were standard 15" car tyres.
G'day Mark and Congrats on another great test, well done. It is exactly a year ago since you did the ARB vs Thumper mk2 test on smaller Tyre's, and that was on 265/75/16's and the ARB took 9m 40secs to complete all 4 Tyre's, The Thumper mk2 took 13m 20secs, which is a 4m 40second difference, Now on this test on bigger Tyre's the Thumper mk2 managed to do it 3m 35 seconds faster than it did last time, not only that it managed a faster time than the ARB which in the first test did it in 9m 40secs, This makes me think that buying generic brand compressors is a mine field because you had 2 thumper mk2 compressors and on smaller Tyres the last one took over 3 and a half minutes longer to inflate the tyre's which tells me to stay well clear of them and the Thumper max may have been faster this time round but as we have seen with your other T-mk2 it is more a matter of luck as to whether you get a good one or not, I had so much trouble getting a hoes for my 6 week old generic compressor which is why I bought the ARB H/O and then the Twin, Australia is a mighty big place and getting stuck out there through a flat tyre is not a risk anyone should take, I was lucky because my Generic hose broke in the Driveway, Others may not be that lucky, whats the point in paying big bucks for BFG's if you can't pump em up, Why buy the best Tyre's and then cheat on the most important part which is the compressor, I agree with what you say, I'd buy the MaxAir 3 which I might add is the 3rd slowest compressor in the test, but If you are serious and want proven reliability and full on parts etc then the ARB H/O or for the heavy duty jobs ARB Twin are the only option, the MaxAir 3 is the way to go, Even before your thumper mk2 broke how can there be such a huge difference in performace with 2 identical compressors, that alone Red Flags thumper products.
Hey G55, thanks for your comment. Yes, all very good points, in particular the point about spending money on tyres, so why not a campressor? I was waiting for someone to bring up about the variances in the times between the ARB vs Thumper comparison and this one. In hindsight there was an issue with the first Thumper compressor. I had no idea of this at the time... it pumped up all 4 tyres in a similar time and there was no indication that it was faulty. I can only test what I have. I do have thoughts along similar lines to you about the cheaper compressors. I did actually think of purchasing 6 Thumpers and testing them against each other! I actually own a ARB HO compressor mounted under the bonnet and it powers the rear locker as well. Even being subject to dust, mud, dirt and water it has performed faultlessly for 4 years. I really do like the features of the Max Air 3 (escpecially the 5 year warranty), but I'd be happy to buy an ARB HO again. As I said in the conclusion, there are many criteria for buying a compressor and if putting different emphasis on criteria you may decide one compressor is better than another. In my opionion you can't go wrong with either of the ARB compressors, very high quality gear.
Yeah it's a shame a store won't lend you a few of the same models, I found a great test on The long paddock site and they had some good info and pictures but they also mentioned modding the compressors to, so I set about modding my generic twin and found it stayed a bit cooler but not much and it increased the air output, Most of the inflation times with these compressors boil down to torqueing the heads down evenly and the Air Fitting where you plug the hose on to, out of 8 head bolts none were tightened so the Barrels were loose and the air fitting hole was too small and drilled off set, No allowing the Air to get in the hoes makes the out let build up excessive heat and slows inflation speed, Another thing is someof these compressors have plastic pistons with gaskits made out of cardboard boxes, still with the writing on them, checkout at the bottom of the page on this link in the photos, I think you will be surprized, Thanks again for the great effort, www.thelongpaddock.net/12-volt-aircompressor-test.html
Those generic twins have a long male connector and they are meant to have a 5/6mm bore at the end that screws in it was off set and only 2.8mm so I drilled it out in 0.5 mm steps until I got to 4 or 4,5mm can't remember and then put 13 raps of PTFE tape on it and screw it back in, PTFE can stand temps of 240/280*c so it's all good. job done, It went from 14.8psi per minute to 17 psi per min which is about a 15% increase and it runs a bit cooler not a lot but enough and it pumps fast enough so you can see it lift the car/truck and Torque the Head bolts the correct way in 5 inlb steps from 20 inlb up to 30 inlb and then stop at 33/34 inlb, remembering that these are cast alloy and only small bolts so don't go over 40 inlb or you could be in trouble, but back off all the head bolt first and start from scratch and then Torq it up. It will work with all of these compressors, If the screwed in part of the out let is not as big as the hole where you hook on the hose then drill it out to suit, this is the same as port and polishing a cylinder and the effects are the same. Good luck.
Thank you for your hard work. At 24:37 you say that each person has their own needs, and you are right. One of my needs is how LOUD the compressor is. IT IS EXCEEDINGLY UNFORTUNATE that during the tests, instead of letting us hear the SOUND of each compressor, under load...... we heard...... music. For me, therefore, the entire 26:50 video was completely unhelpful.
Great video -thanks. I am a newbie to this 4wd stuff and had been struggling to work out what I need. Knowing the time it takes to inflate and power draw/consumption helps quite a lot. Max AIr III looks to be in the sweetspot for me and the 5 year warranty seems like a good safety net. Thanks again mate!
@Fast Farmer. I have been accused of being bad at maths, but when I say it takes 10 minutes, I mean all 4 tyres. It's pretty clear in the video. So no, it's not 4 x 10 minutes - 40 minutes. Hope this clears it up for you.....
Great comparison video. As an owner of the Thumper Max for over 2 years now without issues I seem to be one of the lucky ones, but I do have a spare pump for just in case on more remote trips. One thing to point out, when measuring the current you look to be using Anderson plugs rated to 50A and this may be introducing added resistance for the quickest two pumps, reducing their current draw and speed.
Cheers mate. I’ve been using the original Thumper Max in my Cruiser for the past 6 months and it’s been working great! Like you though, I’m carrying the little TJM compressor as well for backup. I regards to the 50 amp Anderson plugs.... maybe, but I think any voltage drop would be very minimal. Might make a good test.... I’m just about to fit the Thumper Max 2 to my new Ute and I will be connecting using 120amp Anderson plugs.
The most comprehensive review I've come across, great work. You sold me on the Air Max III, I have it setup under the bonnet of my '15 Hilux with a braided hose running to a nitto fitting on the bull bar. I do a lot of driving on very soft sand so 12PSI all round is my go to number on most occasions, takes me just under 5 mins a tire to get back up to 40PSI on 265/70R17's Cooper AT3's.
Thanks mate. Helped me choose my new unit. My 11 year old gave up the ghost this weekend. To rebuild or not, this is way easier and cheaper. Hope my ARB hoses and air chuck will fit the new Thumper.....
Great clip, and one of the more balanced comparisons I have seen. But the assumption you made re the ARB twin is incorrect, the cooler temp is not due to the level of stress on the compressor. The ARB twin I would suggest; tested cooler because of the tank. Air heats when compressed, and cools when it expands, so testing for heat on the exit side of the tank produces a false negative result. If you had tested on the intake side of the tank, the ARB twin, you would find probably gets plenty hot too. Great job and thanks for taking the time to make the clip.
Cheers mate. A couple of other people have said the same thing, I’m happy to go with that. I have another test planned where I can test this, hopefully ARB come to the party again and loan me a twin compressor.
Just bought the Ridge Ryder on sale today in NZ. Sale price was $160? From $335 NZD.The quick connect was missing and after talking to the guy at super cheap got it for $100 even! since that part was not in the box. It still has the screw on connection. Think I got a good deal.
Good video 👍🏻 I too have had numerous problems with 4wd Supacentre & warranty issues. I do a lot of solo remote traveling and it’s just not worth the risk (getting Supacentre products).
Cheers mate. If speed and price were the only criteria then these compressors would be the pick of the bunch. Taking into account warranty period, reputation and lack of local dealers/shops evens up the ledger.
i too have had to claim warranty on a few products, so i will not deal with them again, one being i had a product fail straight out of the box and then took 2 weeks for it to be replaced.
Good work mate. Appreciate the time and effort it would have taken to do this. I've got the SC RR and it works great. I often get aired up before the mates. I find the thing that makes the most saving for time is how long it takes you to get it out and put it away. A permanent set up makes it pretty quick. That current draw of the Thumper twin is definitely a deal breaker.
DENMONKEY Cheers mate. The test did take longer than I expected! I've run that RR a bit and agree it's a good compressor. Great point about the setup time. I'm running the on board ARB compressor in the Hilux, and you're right it does save a lot of time.
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures yeah always seems to. I can double the time for any task I'm doing as soon as I want to turn it into content and editing takes even longer. It's still good fun though. Hope the subs come your way.
Yeh, there was a good days filming, plus research and getting them altogether! I found it a bit frustrating that there wasn't a big independent comparison, so decided I would do one!
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures well you did a good job. Although I would have put those numbers on a spread sheet for people to read and compare. I lost track after a few numbers ypubsaid. Lol. Know more work. But that was a lot
I just checked and you're right, it has changed. Clever marketing! XTM at $120 with 1 year warranty and Ridge Ryder at $190 with 5 year warranty. You're essentially paying an extra $70 to get an extra 4 year warranty. Definitely worth paying the extra I reckon. Even better if it comes down on special.
Personally own the XTM compressor and am very impressed with it. Those plastic coil hoses are rubbish IMO. I purchased one to run additional tools (Mostly air gun to blow dust off) with and melted it in no time with the XTM compressor. The guage on mine is rubbish and only seems to work when you turn the compressor off which means walking back to the front of the car. Otherwise it all works well and for the price is a good unit. It would be nice to switch it off from any point around the vehicle or have a pressure cut off switch but for the price Im happy.
Thanks mate for the in-depth comparison test, best one l’ve watched to date. This will certainly help those contemplating the purchase of a new air compressor. I bought an air compressor from Repco, (cost $240) 4 years ago and it is used regularly (25-35 minutes/month) and still going strong. 👍👍
Cheers for the feedback Brian. I'm not familiar with the Repco compressor, but if is has worked that well for you over that period of time, it's a winner!
Great stuff and a good comparison with thorough details shown. I have just bought an XTM from BCF yesterday (still at members price of $99), and this was good to see and know about, I'm not airing up and down all the time as I've just got back into 4WDing so I think this will suit me for a few years to come.. I've heard and read a lot of bad reports about the Thumper compressor so I've stayed away from that. Thanks.
its insane the cost vs performance of the dual arb compressor and tank. I have a DC12-112 Renegade Industrial Compressor 12V compressor with 6lt tank suitable to run air tools and while its large was looking at how to permanently mount in a vehicle with tank.
I totally agree. It is quick and it was the only compressor to stay cool during the test, but at the price point I'm not sure how many people would be willing to buy one.
thanks for your efforts on this big endeavor. I would have loved to see all the test results in a table so I could compare the results important to me.
Had my 4wd SC Thumper die on 2nd use but luckily being near a shop front, was able to swap out on the spot so not too bad on the warranty for myself. However it does give me a little anxiety relying on it now. I haven't had any issues since with the MK2 and it does do a good job when needed. Does get hot though.
Thank you for this comprehensive and quite excellent comparison video. I own a Ridge Ryder Ultimate air compressor, very satisfied with it. Like you have mentioned, only buy it when it is on sale (around $160).
Thanks for the comparison, Bigger is not always better. Warranty is a Big issue, so quality build is important too. VGood unbiased opinions wasa great help yo me. Thanks
Another test you don't see very often is the duty cycle of the compressor. I have the lower capacity ARB unit (a good few years old now). When doing some research into fittings etc I cam across duty cycles. That is the length of time it will run for continously. My unit (can't remember the times now but I will the details somewhere) has an on-time of some good minutes but you then need to leave it off for a while to cool down. Other units had the same issue. This makes some of them no good if you want to pump up two sets of tyres. Or the tyres of several vehicles. So if in a party of several vehicles they each need their own compressor otherwise an air up will take a few hours.
Great review. Some tips for next time, maybe noise level would have been nice to measure and in the conclusion maybe a nice table comparing all parameters? Price, speed, warranty, etc.
Thank you! I watched this clip, in different parts, over 10 times to get the detailed information I was looking for. I changed my mind a few times, but finally decided to go with the Thumper MKIII (which is an upgraded model from the MKII reviewed in this video), and because it was cheap (lets hope it works!), I was able to also buy the indeflate from Drifta to make things easier.
hungrymonster80 cheers mate! I can only assume the mk3 is better than the mk2. Have just acquired the new Thumpers, so should have a brand new monster comparison uploaded in a month or so.
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures As it turned out, apparently the MK2 is exactly the same as the MK3. They have been shipping MK3s with MK2 packaging. I went to exchange mine in person, and after detailed discussion, staff insisted it was exactly the same unit... so I ended up walking out with the one I walked in with. Waste of time & confusing. Haven't had any issues with how it works though.
hungrymonster80 wow, that’s kind of surprising, kind if not! I’ve had the mk3 Thumper for a little while now but it’s still in the box. I’ll get some testing done soon
Hi mark, did you allow the 4l arb tank to fill up prior to commencing inflation? This will quite drastically reduce the inflation time of the first tyre, but otherwise for tyre inflation the tank will be of little benefit to tyre inflation as the reservoir will barely fill, the only real benefit is for running air tools or seating bead. (My opinion). I have the ARB twin ‘onboard’ under my drivers seat, it’s by no means the quickest but it’ll do 8x33’s consecutively no prolegs at all. I’ve had two of the new twin cylinder Supacentre ones let go, each after one use only and one carry bag broke.. I got jack of it and went to arb and forked out. Get what you pay for!
ashley talbot no I didn't fill the tank first. As you said would have made a difference to the first tyre. I'm not surprised it can do 8 33z in a row. It wasn't stressed at all during the test.
that was an excellent test....THE amp drawage is great....ideally i recon for a 4 by 4 and a car...dont bother with the 70 80 amp stuff....stick to around 40 amps. you want something mid rance price in order to probably get decent lasting quality. speeed is not such a big deal with the mid range gear. and warranty ease narrows it down to about 3 or 4 of the ones he showed.. after that pick which one looks and feels best
Great review. I went through 2 thumpers and both broke. I got a refund and got the ARB max output. But in fairness I had to change 2 digital gauges from ARB. But ARB were excellent about it
I bought one thumper and it broke warranty process and follow up was abysmal threw it in the bin never got my money back and will never buy anything from them again. Went and bought the ARB Twin portable, bloody expensive but works and is supported.
Tasmanian Offroad Adventures yea i thought it might of been too good to be true. Should of said it died the first time i used as well and shut down i think from heat before even pumping up one tyre :) Great comparison too by the way.
Awsome test, a little unfair on temp test, cause the ARB twin has a big cooling tank so your 150mm up the hose test is invalid IMO. In my personal experience, I killed 3 different brand units in tow years before getting the ARB high output which has lasted six years and still going. This was a great real world review, thank you.
Thanks mate, thoroughly done, was looking a a thumper but also know 4x4 super are difficult to deal with, had thought about the xtm and you made good points there. Subscribed and look forward to checking what else you do. 👍cheers.
Stay away from 4wd supa center air compressors, cheap pumps will draw huge current, while you pay a bit more for a better quality one, and the current draw is less, The thumper max compressor that drew around 80+amps is a huge current draw and something i would avoid. I have been doing electronics for many years and same with cheap led lights & light bars they can all draw more power than a better quality one. My point is i have learnt the hard way from buying cheap lights to cheap gear, you pay for what you get. But you can sit in the middle range brands with little issues. Tasmanian offroad Adventures good to see a fellow Tasmanian give you a honest review and advise
Cheers mate, appreciate the insight and feedback. I have another test lined up where overall amp draw is measured, not just maximum. Should be interesting....
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures I look forward to seeing that test. Also maybe consider doing video on cheap ebay items and the pro's and cons. there is too many 4wders out there who buy say cheap recovery gear that is just down right dangerous. But either way thanks for your videos.
Thanks for a well done unbiased shootout. Hard to tell the truth from all the sponsored tests. Yours seemed fairdinkum and I hope it was. Subscribed, keep it up.
GREAT review - thank yo so much!! One Q - why was the Thumper Max all black - like a generic spec, rather than the retail colours? This also comes with an optional tigger air tool with cut off, for a few extra dollars. For me - its this or the slower but better quality Max Air 3. Decisions Decisions.
Cheers Brad. The Black Thumpers were the previous models before the blue ones. Having owned 5 Thumpers (most bought for comparisons) 3 are now dead after being used sparingly. I say go the Max Air 3 or ARB single and be content to wait a few extra minutes to pump up your tyres.
Great to have an unbiased opinion. I have the Rough county one and it packed up within the first 10 uses. I’m half way across the Nullarbor now as it stopped working, it wouldn’t even blow up a balloon but it’s out of its 1 year warranty despite the amount it’s been used. I wouldn’t buy This product again !
Cheers mate! That’s one thing that in hindsight that I should have covered in the video and quite a few people have pointed out - what good is warranty if you’re in the middle of nowhere without a working compressor. I wanted the video to be unbiased so I didn’t talk about the ARB compressor that I had in my Hilux. That compressor was permanently mounted under bonnet for 6 years and worked perfectly every time despite being subject to mud, water sand and dirt.
Worst thing is many people mount the compressors under the truck on the frame rail or body and that is where all the dirt, dust, rocks, and water is. Key to long life is to mount it where it can get clean air and not be damaged.
SomethingRandom cheers mate. I begged, borrowed and stole.... I didn’t actually steal! Some of the compressors were given to me, some were loaned and some I purchased. Not sure I will get the same opportunity to have as many compressors again, but I do have another test in mind.....
bhutch731 can’t complain about that. 5 year warranty makes it a winner too. We did a Vic High Country Tagalong Tour early this year and I reckon nearly half the crew had the TJM compressors. All were happy with them.
Why not use 1 compressor to fill both front or both rear tyres at the same time, using a T-joint and an extra hose? Pressure should distribute evenly. It would thus be only three actions while setting up camp. 1) Connect front wheels, set/start, 2) Swap to rear tyres, set/start, and 3) Storing.
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures No, I have not done it myself yet. But am looking forward to step into the 4WD community. And I see many people deflating their tyres. But they never show the inflating procedures. And as you would always want equal pressures on both front or rear wheels, then why not inflate 2 tyres in 1 go. It would just make life easier. I would just take a 1m extension from my compressor, then a T-joint and 2 separate 2m hoses to the tyres. Many 4WD now also come with tyre pressure readings in the dashboard, insuring that it works (or not). But I am sure results cannot be that bad. And sometimes the simplest solutions work great.
Sensational comparison thankyou. Roughly how much time lapsed between each tyre? Also if inflating an offroad caravan with 4 x tyres do you think a decent rest period be required between 4WD and van?
Wayne Chapman cheers mate. Wait time between tyres was as long as it took me to walk to the next tyres and connect it. I think it would depend on the compressor if you are pumping 8 tyres. I’m certain the ARB twin could pump up 8 in a row, not so sure about the others. I have another test in mind that would test this out. Just need to find some time and see if I can get the collection of compressors again.
Thx for your test, still usefull in 2020 I think :D small improvement : A small comparison chart can be great Full reference of each model & stats claim by the constructor
Cheers mate. I purposely didn't bother noting the specs as they are a little pointless. Aside from current draw I don't have the equipment to verify air flow etc. Manufacturers can put whatever they like knowing that more than likely no one will test it. For me, I measured the important infomatoon such as speed, current draw, temperature and warranty.
Max Air 3 looks exactly like Viair 450p. Identical comp mount, same coiled hose, same rubber plastic M fittings, and even the bag looks identical. We purchased the Viair 450p-rvs which is the RV model with 60' of hose and special dually inflator stem plus a updated version of the pistol grip with 40" lead hose...that way your not bending down for each tire.
Mog Man I found out after I did the comparison that the Bushranger compressors are Viair. I think the Black Max is the 300P and the MaxAir3 is the 400P Automatic.
ANXIETY JL I found out since I did this test that the Bushranger compressors are actually Viairs. I believe that the Blackmax is the Viair 300P and the MaxAir 3 is the Viair 400P Automatic.
Fantastic video mate 👌 I really appreciate the effort you put into this. Before watching I nailed it down to the ARB and BRmax and am confident on my gut feeling now. Had many of those cheaper style high output ones and don't rate them, for the sake of two minutes the BRmax looks like a great bit of kit. Cheers
Michael Spencer cheers mate! I have to say I didn’t know much about the Bushranger compressors before this test. The only reason they were in the test is that ARB insisted I put them in (I only asked them for the ARB compressors). When I look back at this video I feel I down played the ARB single a bit. I’ve got one and I reckon it’s awesome. I was trying not to be biased but I think I went the other way a bit much. Have you seen the new comparison with the bigger tyres?
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures no I haven't, I don't typically run overly big tyres as I'm on the "skinny" side of the coin. I had one of the ARB ones when I owned a Jimny and I did like it, especially the hose as you mention. However, you'll need to spend the extra $80 or so to get the trigger gauge so the total total ARB set up is more around $500 as opposed to the Bushranger at $350. I can't really justify that extra coin based on the performance and quality between the two. Being an electrical engineer I also can see the quality and efficiency of the motors based on the performance, current drawer and temperatures which was fantastic to see. Really shows the difference in quality between the units and pricing points. Something often over looked.
Cheers mate. I gave the Thumper to my mate, he’s only used it a few times but it’s still going. I’ve got the Thumper Max from this test in my Cruiser pumping up 35” tyres and it’s still going well. I’ve just mounted the Thumper Max MK 2 from my other compressor test in my new Ranger. I’m a bit surprised but they are all working well.
Really good video, really comprehensive and thorough test. Thanks for going to the trouble, I agree with ur rationale re not awarding a winner, cheers.
Absolutely. 5 years ago these were easily the most popular compressors that people bought along on the 4wd Tagalong Tours. Most of those people were running 265/75/16 tyres. The compressor is a little slow but just keeps going.
Good stuff. I'm guessing the air temp for the ARB twin was after the air tank? The tank will allow the air to cool a bit, I'm expecting. I'm also interested that you had a 50A Anderson plug setup that was running the 85A run. Did you have any problems with the heat on the Anderson connector, or those smallish battery clamps?
I own the Thumper Max and have only managed to use it 3 times in about 18 months. Gauge is rubbish and unreliable but is as fast as stated in the video, I often need to turn the compressor off once or twice to get within a ballpark of a reading. Doing this isnt great for the internal motors and I am not sure if it is due to internal temps, or my vehicle, but it can sometimes not turn back on. but once it sits for a couple of minutes i can manage to get it going again. It definitely struggles and I do not trust it 100%. Definitely a steal at $120 odd bucks i got it for but will get a better known brand when it does die (i can sense it coming).
Hi mark, just watched your video, great job well done, I just had a question about the 2 fastest compressors, the amps that are drawn, I’m going to be using a Anderson plug fitting rather than alligator clips, your measuring device I noticed is using a 50 amp plug and not that heavy wiring, I will use the standard wire that can with the compressor as it should be ok, but given that the one unit dragged 83 amps should I use a 120 amp Anderson plug and what square section wiring to where my external plug in Anderson plug is located (5 metres from battery) Kindest Regards Peter (from Tassie)
Hey Peter, thanks mate! You're not going to believe this, but I'm about to do something similar. I will be mounting the Thumper Max Mk2 on my alloy tray, 5 metres from the battery. I will be using 120 amp plugs (the 50 amp plugs get hot with continuous use) and running 2AWG cable that is the largest that can fit the 120 amp plugs. Using this cable (and say 1m of earth cable, so 6m in total) will theoretically give me a voltage drop of 0.55 volts which is fine with a compressor.
The best way is to run a positive cable from the battery (I will be using a 150 amp fuse as well) and an earth from the compressor to the chassis - preferably a threaded hole/nut. I will be cutting the original compressor wiring as short as possible as over a long distance it is too small and will create an excessive voltage drop - and get too hot as well. Let mw know how you go. Maybe I should video my new compressor setup!
If you didnt have lockers and just needed a compressor for tyres and you wanted a realiable unit which would you buy with no hesitation between the arb high output single and the bushranger max air 3 ??
Hey mate, excellent question! I’m actually at this point right now! I hard mounted the Thumper Max mk2 in my Ranger and it died a month or so ago (that’s 3 out of the 5 Thumpers I’ve had die). I’m tossing up whether I put in one of the cheaper ones I have or to go single ARB or Max Air 3. In the video I said I would go the Max Air 3, but the ARB single that I had mounted under the bonnet in the Hilux provided over 6 years of faultless service, so I think I would go the ARB again.
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures thanks for your reply i also have had a arb in my last landcruiser but sold it with the car , currently i have a thumper which i have mounted in tactix toolbox , however im looking to do remote trips and would like to swap it out with a realiable unit for peice of mind. Im in two minds go the portable high output or the bushranger
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures thanks for that, i got the bcf compressor the other week, havent used it yet. was thinking of mounting it in the toolbox and connecting it to a 10l tank, looks like i'll have to add a 150psi pressure switch and rewire it a bit.
It's content like this that makes UA-cam such a great information resource. What an excellent review - my thanks for going to the effort.
Without question the most thorough product review I have ever seen on UA-cam!
Thanks for your totally unbiased opinion and views.
👍
David Handley cheers mate, thanks for the feedback!
You're a bloody legend. Thanks for the hours of work you put in to this.
Haha, thanks mate, no problem!
Thanks Mark for your thorough and insightful test of these compressors. We currently have an ARB High Output but it runs out of puff at 75 psi when levelling the airbags in our camper. It also gets very hot and we are apprehensive to shut the lid of the box until it has cooled down. I think our next compressor will be a Bushranger Max Air 3 and your test confirmed what we already thought. Good Job Mate !!!!!!!!
Well done Mark from Tasmanian Offroad Adventures, an awesome no bs comparison on an item I am about to purchase. You have made my decision a lot easier. Thanks for the time and effort you put in.
David Lee cheers mate
Yep great job - no BS and we all need more of that. Got the Max111 based on your recommendation - thanks.
G'day Mark! Awesomely informative video. Good on you for the effort in making it.
Just came back from a 4WD trip myself, and got ribbed by my mates for not having my own compressor, and having to share theirs (and slow the mob down), haha!
Was doing some research to choose the best value for money compressor that I could buy, and came across this video amongst others. This was the best comparison test so far I've seen and you've certainly helped me decide what I should go for.
Thanks for that, mate!
Looking forward to the rest of your videos, bud.
Thusara D cheers mate, appreciate the great feedback. I'm glad that if it helps people make a decision on buying a compressor!
I've got a REPCO brand compressor in the boot of my car. It's main job is to supply air for the horn. The system has a 6 litre air tank. This compressor pumps out 160 l/pm fad. It fills the air tank to 125 psi in less than a minute. I recently changed 2 tyres on a friend's car. The compressor inflated them both in about 3 minutes. For a single cylinder compressor, this is very fast. The tyres were standard 15" car tyres.
G'day Mark and Congrats on another great test, well done. It is exactly a year ago since you did the ARB vs Thumper mk2 test on smaller Tyre's, and that was on 265/75/16's and the ARB took 9m 40secs to complete all 4 Tyre's, The Thumper mk2 took 13m 20secs, which is a 4m 40second difference, Now on this test on bigger Tyre's the Thumper mk2 managed to do it 3m 35 seconds faster than it did last time, not only that it managed a faster time than the ARB which in the first test did it in 9m 40secs, This makes me think that buying generic brand compressors is a mine field because you had 2 thumper mk2 compressors and on smaller Tyres the last one took over 3 and a half minutes longer to inflate the tyre's which tells me to stay well clear of them and the Thumper max may have been faster this time round but as we have seen with your other T-mk2 it is more a matter of luck as to whether you get a good one or not, I had so much trouble getting a hoes for my 6 week old generic compressor which is why I bought the ARB H/O and then the Twin, Australia is a mighty big place and getting stuck out there through a flat tyre is not a risk anyone should take, I was lucky because my Generic hose broke in the Driveway, Others may not be that lucky, whats the point in paying big bucks for BFG's if you can't pump em up, Why buy the best Tyre's and then cheat on the most important part which is the compressor, I agree with what you say, I'd buy the MaxAir 3 which I might add is the 3rd slowest compressor in the test, but If you are serious and want proven reliability and full on parts etc then the ARB H/O or for the heavy duty jobs ARB Twin are the only option, the MaxAir 3 is the way to go, Even before your thumper mk2 broke how can there be such a huge difference in performace with 2 identical compressors, that alone Red Flags thumper products.
Hey G55, thanks for your comment. Yes, all very good points, in particular the point about spending money on tyres, so why not a campressor? I was waiting for someone to bring up about the variances in the times between the ARB vs Thumper comparison and this one. In hindsight there was an issue with the first Thumper compressor. I had no idea of this at the time... it pumped up all 4 tyres in a similar time and there was no indication that it was faulty. I can only test what I have. I do have thoughts along similar lines to you about the cheaper compressors. I did actually think of purchasing 6 Thumpers and testing them against each other! I actually own a ARB HO compressor mounted under the bonnet and it powers the rear locker as well. Even being subject to dust, mud, dirt and water it has performed faultlessly for 4 years. I really do like the features of the Max Air 3 (escpecially the 5 year warranty), but I'd be happy to buy an ARB HO again. As I said in the conclusion, there are many criteria for buying a compressor and if putting different emphasis on criteria you may decide one compressor is better than another. In my opionion you can't go wrong with either of the ARB compressors, very high quality gear.
Yeah it's a shame a store won't lend you a few of the same models, I found a great test on The long paddock site and they had some good info and pictures but they also mentioned modding the compressors to, so I set about modding my generic twin and found it stayed a bit cooler but not much and it increased the air output, Most of the inflation times with these compressors boil down to torqueing the heads down evenly and the Air Fitting where you plug the hose on to, out of 8 head bolts none were tightened so the Barrels were loose and the air fitting hole was too small and drilled off set, No allowing the Air to get in the hoes makes the out let build up excessive heat and slows inflation speed, Another thing is someof these compressors have plastic pistons with gaskits made out of cardboard boxes, still with the writing on them, checkout at the bottom of the page on this link in the photos, I think you will be surprized, Thanks again for the great effort, www.thelongpaddock.net/12-volt-aircompressor-test.html
Cheers mate. I haven't read that article before - wow! Very interesting read as are your findings on increasing the speed of your generic compressor.
Those generic twins have a long male connector and they are meant to have a 5/6mm bore at the end that screws in it was off set and only 2.8mm so I drilled it out in 0.5 mm steps until I got to 4 or 4,5mm can't remember and then put 13 raps of PTFE tape on it and screw it back in, PTFE can stand temps of 240/280*c so it's all good. job done, It went from 14.8psi per minute to 17 psi per min which is about a 15% increase and it runs a bit cooler not a lot but enough and it pumps fast enough so you can see it lift the car/truck and Torque the Head bolts the correct way in 5 inlb steps from 20 inlb up to 30 inlb and then stop at 33/34 inlb, remembering that these are cast alloy and only small bolts so don't go over 40 inlb or you could be in trouble, but back off all the head bolt first and start from scratch and then Torq it up. It will work with all of these compressors, If the screwed in part of the out let is not as big as the hole where you hook on the hose then drill it out to suit, this is the same as port and polishing a cylinder and the effects are the same. Good luck.
Thank you for your hard work. At 24:37 you say that each person has their own needs, and you are right. One of my needs is how LOUD the compressor is. IT IS EXCEEDINGLY UNFORTUNATE that during the tests, instead of letting us hear the SOUND of each compressor, under load...... we heard...... music. For me, therefore, the entire 26:50 video was completely unhelpful.
I have the decibel readings of each compressor. Would you like me to share them with you?
Great video -thanks. I am a newbie to this 4wd stuff and had been struggling to work out what I need. Knowing the time it takes to inflate and power draw/consumption helps quite a lot. Max AIr III looks to be in the sweetspot for me and the 5 year warranty seems like a good safety net. Thanks again mate!
Stuart Fillmore hey mate thanks for the positive feedback and I'm really glad that I could help out!
Awesome review. Thanks for keeping it unbiased and genuine. Need more of this in the interwebs.
Cheers Phil, I'm glad that it came across as intended.
@Fast Farmer. I have been accused of being bad at maths, but when I say it takes 10 minutes, I mean all 4 tyres. It's pretty clear in the video. So no, it's not 4 x 10 minutes - 40 minutes. Hope this clears it up for you.....
are all these compressors for the diffs or just for tires?
Imagine buying a compressor that takes 40 minutes to inflate 😂😂😂 I would never take it even for free!
Great comparison video.
As an owner of the Thumper Max for over 2 years now without issues I seem to be one of the lucky ones, but I do have a spare pump for just in case on more remote trips.
One thing to point out, when measuring the current you look to be using Anderson plugs rated to 50A and this may be introducing added resistance for the quickest two pumps, reducing their current draw and speed.
Cheers mate. I’ve been using the original Thumper Max in my Cruiser for the past 6 months and it’s been working great! Like you though, I’m carrying the little TJM compressor as well for backup. I regards to the 50 amp Anderson plugs.... maybe, but I think any voltage drop would be very minimal. Might make a good test.... I’m just about to fit the Thumper Max 2 to my new Ute and I will be connecting using 120amp Anderson plugs.
Bloody good video. Rare to find such concise thoroughness. Thanks for the good work!
Marc de St Pern cheers mate!
The most comprehensive review I've come across, great work. You sold me on the Air Max III, I have it setup under the bonnet of my '15 Hilux with a braided hose running to a nitto fitting on the bull bar. I do a lot of driving on very soft sand so 12PSI all round is my go to number on most occasions, takes me just under 5 mins a tire to get back up to 40PSI on 265/70R17's Cooper AT3's.
Scooba Limalima great to hear! I was really impressed with that compressor. Especially hard mounted, it’s an ideal solution!
Thanks mate. Helped me choose my new unit. My 11 year old gave up the ghost this weekend. To rebuild or not, this is way easier and cheaper. Hope my ARB hoses and air chuck will fit the new Thumper.....
Hey mate, thanks for that. ARB hoses don't fit the Thumper unfortunately.
Thank you very much Mark. Appreciate the time and effort. You helped me to choose.
seso384 cheers mate, glad it helped!
Cheers, thanks for making the effort to do this, the bushranger 3 is the one for me (the updated bushranger model in this vid)
Great clip, and one of the more balanced comparisons I have seen. But the assumption you made re the ARB twin is incorrect, the cooler temp is not due to the level of stress on the compressor. The ARB twin I would suggest; tested cooler because of the tank. Air heats when compressed, and cools when it expands, so testing for heat on the exit side of the tank produces a false negative result. If you had tested on the intake side of the tank, the ARB twin, you would find probably gets plenty hot too. Great job and thanks for taking the time to make the clip.
Cheers mate. A couple of other people have said the same thing, I’m happy to go with that. I have another test planned where I can test this, hopefully ARB come to the party again and loan me a twin compressor.
Just bought the Ridge Ryder on sale today in NZ. Sale price was $160? From $335 NZD.The quick connect was missing and after talking to the guy at super cheap got it for $100 even! since that part was not in the box. It still has the screw on connection. Think I got a good deal.
Palpac score mateM I've seen those quick release fittings on eBay too, might be worth a look.
legend mate, wish i'd seen this months ago, would've saved a lot of internet research and forum browsing
Good video 👍🏻
I too have had numerous problems with 4wd Supacentre & warranty issues. I do a lot of solo remote traveling and it’s just not worth the risk (getting Supacentre products).
Cheers mate. If speed and price were the only criteria then these compressors would be the pick of the bunch. Taking into account warranty period, reputation and lack of local dealers/shops evens up the ledger.
i too have had to claim warranty on a few products, so i will not deal with them again, one being i had a product fail straight out of the box and then took 2 weeks for it to be replaced.
Good work mate. Appreciate the time and effort it would have taken to do this.
I've got the SC RR and it works great. I often get aired up before the mates. I find the thing that makes the most saving for time is how long it takes you to get it out and put it away. A permanent set up makes it pretty quick.
That current draw of the Thumper twin is definitely a deal breaker.
DENMONKEY Cheers mate. The test did take longer than I expected! I've run that RR a bit and agree it's a good compressor. Great point about the setup time. I'm running the on board ARB compressor in the Hilux, and you're right it does save a lot of time.
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures yeah always seems to. I can double the time for any task I'm doing as soon as I want to turn it into content and editing takes even longer. It's still good fun though. Hope the subs come your way.
Cheers mate. Just watched your 36v vs petrol chainsaw. Great vid and food for thought.....
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures cheers Nate. They are getting better
Wow. That must have took a long time to do. I admire your dedication to this subject.
Yeh, there was a good days filming, plus research and getting them altogether! I found it a bit frustrating that there wasn't a big independent comparison, so decided I would do one!
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures well you did a good job. Although I would have put those numbers on a spread sheet for people to read and compare. I lost track after a few numbers ypubsaid. Lol. Know more work. But that was a lot
According to the SCA website, the Ridge Ryder appears to now have a 5 year warranty, currently at $190 but still appears to be worth the coin.
I just checked and you're right, it has changed. Clever marketing! XTM at $120 with 1 year warranty and Ridge Ryder at $190 with 5 year warranty. You're essentially paying an extra $70 to get an extra 4 year warranty. Definitely worth paying the extra I reckon. Even better if it comes down on special.
Personally own the XTM compressor and am very impressed with it. Those plastic coil hoses are rubbish IMO. I purchased one to run additional tools (Mostly air gun to blow dust off) with and melted it in no time with the XTM compressor. The guage on mine is rubbish and only seems to work when you turn the compressor off which means walking back to the front of the car. Otherwise it all works well and for the price is a good unit. It would be nice to switch it off from any point around the vehicle or have a pressure cut off switch but for the price Im happy.
Thanks mate for the in-depth comparison test, best one l’ve watched to date. This will certainly help those contemplating the purchase of a new air compressor. I bought an air compressor from Repco, (cost $240) 4 years ago and it is used regularly (25-35 minutes/month) and still going strong. 👍👍
Cheers for the feedback Brian. I'm not familiar with the Repco compressor, but if is has worked that well for you over that period of time, it's a winner!
Great stuff and a good comparison with thorough details shown. I have just bought an XTM from BCF yesterday (still at members price of $99), and this was good to see and know about, I'm not airing up and down all the time as I've just got back into 4WDing so I think this will suit me for a few years to come.. I've heard and read a lot of bad reports about the Thumper compressor so I've stayed away from that. Thanks.
Tim Gay cheers mate, glad it helped.
Thank you for making this , very informative . Cant thank you enough mate this has really helped me decide on which one i need.
its insane the cost vs performance of the dual arb compressor and tank. I have a DC12-112 Renegade Industrial Compressor 12V compressor with 6lt tank suitable to run air tools and while its large was looking at how to permanently mount in a vehicle with tank.
I totally agree. It is quick and it was the only compressor to stay cool during the test, but at the price point I'm not sure how many people would be willing to buy one.
Ripper review!
Thanks Mark -- that is MUCH appreciated. As others have said, you helped me decide.
Cheers mate
thanks for your efforts on this big endeavor. I would have loved to see all the test results in a table so I could compare the results important to me.
Had my 4wd SC Thumper die on 2nd use but luckily being near a shop front, was able to swap out on the spot so not too bad on the warranty for myself. However it does give me a little anxiety relying on it now. I haven't had any issues since with the MK2 and it does do a good job when needed. Does get hot though.
StupidRedDog
In Australia it's the retailer you buy the item from that has to deal with the warranty issues.
Thanks heaps for that, you made it easy for me to choose my new compressor. You also helped steer me in another direction!
Solid review Mark, crazy amount of effort put into the vid. Can't want for your channel to explode.
Perspari cheers mate!
keep in mind the amperage draw is a function of time too, if youre running twice as long at half the amps its the same same
The idea behind testing peak amp draw is to factor in for battery and cable size.
Thank you for this comprehensive and quite excellent comparison video. I own a Ridge Ryder Ultimate air compressor, very satisfied with it. Like you have mentioned, only buy it when it is on sale (around $160).
you've helped me make up my mind(Max Air III it is), awesome vid, brilliant info 10/10
Cheers mate, glad it helped!
Thanks for the comparison, Bigger is not always better. Warranty is a Big issue, so quality build is important too. VGood unbiased opinions wasa great help yo me. Thanks
Pete Lie glad I could help mate!
Another test you don't see very often is the duty cycle of the compressor. I have the lower capacity ARB unit (a good few years old now). When doing some research into fittings etc I cam across duty cycles. That is the length of time it will run for continously. My unit (can't remember the times now but I will the details somewhere) has an on-time of some good minutes but you then need to leave it off for a while to cool down. Other units had the same issue. This makes some of them no good if you want to pump up two sets of tyres. Or the tyres of several vehicles. So if in a party of several vehicles they each need their own compressor otherwise an air up will take a few hours.
this is the only video i can find that gives a real comparison for the equipment, have you done a suspension kit video?
Great review.
Some tips for next time, maybe noise level would have been nice to measure and in the conclusion maybe a nice table comparing all parameters? Price, speed, warranty, etc.
Thank you! I watched this clip, in different parts, over 10 times to get the detailed information I was looking for. I changed my mind a few times, but finally decided to go with the Thumper MKIII (which is an upgraded model from the MKII reviewed in this video), and because it was cheap (lets hope it works!), I was able to also buy the indeflate from Drifta to make things easier.
hungrymonster80 cheers mate! I can only assume the mk3 is better than the mk2. Have just acquired the new Thumpers, so should have a brand new monster comparison uploaded in a month or so.
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures As it turned out, apparently the MK2 is exactly the same as the MK3. They have been shipping MK3s with MK2 packaging. I went to exchange mine in person, and after detailed discussion, staff insisted it was exactly the same unit... so I ended up walking out with the one I walked in with. Waste of time & confusing. Haven't had any issues with how it works though.
hungrymonster80 wow, that’s kind of surprising, kind if not! I’ve had the mk3 Thumper for a little while now but it’s still in the box. I’ll get some testing done soon
Much obliged for the video comparison.
Nice job mate - narrowed it down a lot for me - thanks
Hi mark, did you allow the 4l arb tank to fill up prior to commencing inflation? This will quite drastically reduce the inflation time of the first tyre, but otherwise for tyre inflation the tank will be of little benefit to tyre inflation as the reservoir will barely fill, the only real benefit is for running air tools or seating bead. (My opinion). I have the ARB twin ‘onboard’ under my drivers seat, it’s by no means the quickest but it’ll do 8x33’s consecutively no prolegs at all. I’ve had two of the new twin cylinder Supacentre ones let go, each after one use only and one carry bag broke.. I got jack of it and went to arb and forked out. Get what you pay for!
ashley talbot no I didn't fill the tank first. As you said would have made a difference to the first tyre. I'm not surprised it can do 8 33z in a row. It wasn't stressed at all during the test.
that was an excellent test....THE amp drawage is great....ideally i recon for a 4 by 4 and a car...dont bother with the 70 80 amp stuff....stick to around 40 amps.
you want something mid rance price in order to probably get decent lasting quality.
speeed is not such a big deal with the mid range gear.
and warranty ease narrows it down to about 3 or 4 of the ones he showed..
after that pick which one looks and feels best
All good advice mate!
Great review. I went through 2 thumpers and both broke. I got a refund and got the ARB max output. But in fairness I had to change 2 digital gauges from ARB. But ARB were excellent about it
Grouse Dun cheers for the feedback mate! The ability to return a product under warranty is a biggie I reckon.
I bought one thumper and it broke warranty process and follow up was abysmal threw it in the bin never got my money back and will never buy anything from them again. Went and bought the ARB Twin portable, bloody expensive but works and is supported.
@@markoliver3370 Yes, have heard similar stories. My warranty return experience was relatively painless
Tasmanian Offroad Adventures yea i thought it might of been too good to be true. Should of said it died the first time i used as well and shut down i think from heat before even pumping up one tyre :) Great comparison too by the way.
Awsome test, a little unfair on temp test, cause the ARB twin has a big cooling tank so your 150mm up the hose test is invalid IMO. In my personal experience, I killed 3 different brand units in tow years before getting the ARB high output which has lasted six years and still going. This was a great real world review, thank you.
Well done vid, thanks for time and effort to compare.
Cheers mate, thanks!
Thanks mate, thoroughly done, was looking a a thumper but also know 4x4 super are difficult to deal with, had thought about the xtm and you made good points there. Subscribed and look forward to checking what else you do. 👍cheers.
Rich Phantomoski cheers mate, appreciate the positive comments!
Wonderfully detailed review! Thank you for taking the time to produce it!
DBay Boyds cheers mate, appreciate the feedback!
Stay away from 4wd supa center air compressors, cheap pumps will draw huge current, while you pay a bit more for a better quality one, and the current draw is less, The thumper max compressor that drew around 80+amps is a huge current draw and something i would avoid. I have been doing electronics for many years and same with cheap led lights & light bars they can all draw more power than a better quality one. My point is i have learnt the hard way from buying cheap lights to cheap gear, you pay for what you get. But you can sit in the middle range brands with little issues. Tasmanian offroad Adventures good to see a fellow Tasmanian give you a honest review and advise
Cheers mate, appreciate the insight and feedback. I have another test lined up where overall amp draw is measured, not just maximum. Should be interesting....
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures I look forward to seeing that test. Also maybe consider doing video on cheap ebay items and the pro's and cons. there is too many 4wders out there who buy say cheap recovery gear that is just down right dangerous. But either way thanks for your videos.
Thanks for a well done unbiased shootout. Hard to tell the truth from all the sponsored tests. Yours seemed fairdinkum and I hope it was.
Subscribed, keep it up.
Rod Yeo 100% unbiased! I know what you mean, that’s why I did this comparison.
Wow you put so much effort into this. Well done
GREAT review - thank yo so much!! One Q - why was the Thumper Max all black - like a generic spec, rather than the retail colours? This also comes with an optional tigger air tool with cut off, for a few extra dollars. For me - its this or the slower but better quality Max Air 3. Decisions Decisions.
Cheers Brad. The Black Thumpers were the previous models before the blue ones. Having owned 5 Thumpers (most bought for comparisons) 3 are now dead after being used sparingly. I say go the Max Air 3 or ARB single and be content to wait a few extra minutes to pump up your tyres.
That's what a professional work look like! Thank You!
Best review I’ve seen yet, great job
Tony Lawton cheers mate
You absolutely killed this review! Thank you mate
mymistymountainhop cheers mate!
Five star review mate, very helpful. Much appreciated.
Thanks for your totally unbiased opinion and views
I watch a lot of UA-cam, this was seriously good UA-cam, you legend!
James Cross cheers mate!
Great to have an unbiased opinion.
I have the Rough county one and it packed up within the first 10 uses. I’m half way across the Nullarbor now as it stopped working, it wouldn’t even blow up a balloon but it’s out of its 1 year warranty despite the amount it’s been used.
I wouldn’t buy This product again !
Cheers mate! That’s one thing that in hindsight that I should have covered in the video and quite a few people have pointed out - what good is warranty if you’re in the middle of nowhere without a working compressor. I wanted the video to be unbiased so I didn’t talk about the ARB compressor that I had in my Hilux. That compressor was permanently mounted under bonnet for 6 years and worked perfectly every time despite being subject to mud, water sand and dirt.
Worst thing is many people mount the compressors under the truck on the frame rail or body and that is where all the dirt, dust, rocks, and water is. Key to long life is to mount it where it can get clean air and not be damaged.
Fantastic informative review without the sway to one brand or another, thanking you for the effort, very helpful..
Simon Bowles cheers for the feedback mate!
Awesome work mate, no idea how you were able to get so many air compressors!
SomethingRandom cheers mate. I begged, borrowed and stole.... I didn’t actually steal! Some of the compressors were given to me, some were loaned and some I purchased. Not sure I will get the same opportunity to have as many compressors again, but I do have another test in mind.....
Thanks for taking the time for this thorough review. Refreshing to see.
A lot of effort in doing this comparison!Thanks for sharing 👍
I have the XTM. For $99 I am not fussed that the warranty is only 12 months.
Awesome review mate, very thorough and unbiased.
Scooba Limalima cheers mate!
Love my TJM got 11yrs out of 1st one , maybe slow but gives you time to check over your car while enjoying a beer .
bhutch731 can’t complain about that. 5 year warranty makes it a winner too. We did a Vic High Country Tagalong Tour early this year and I reckon nearly half the crew had the TJM compressors. All were happy with them.
Thank you so much for such a thorough and detailed comparison. It must have been very time consuming.. great efforts.. thanks again
Khaled Ramadan cheers mate, it did take a little longer than I expected!
Why not use 1 compressor to fill both front or both rear tyres at the same time, using a T-joint and an extra hose? Pressure should distribute evenly. It would thus be only three actions while setting up camp. 1) Connect front wheels, set/start, 2) Swap to rear tyres, set/start, and 3) Storing.
henri wolbrink interesting concept. Have you gots pics of how you set it up and what hoses you used?
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures No, I have not done it myself yet. But am looking forward to step into the 4WD community. And I see many people deflating their tyres. But they never show the inflating procedures. And as you would always want equal pressures on both front or rear wheels, then why not inflate 2 tyres in 1 go. It would just make life easier. I would just take a 1m extension from my compressor, then a T-joint and 2 separate 2m hoses to the tyres. Many 4WD now also come with tyre pressure readings in the dashboard, insuring that it works (or not). But I am sure results cannot be that bad. And sometimes the simplest solutions work great.
Thanks for this info. Very well presented, and very helpful.
Sensational comparison thankyou. Roughly how much time lapsed between each tyre? Also if inflating an offroad caravan with 4 x tyres do you think a decent rest period be required between 4WD and van?
Wayne Chapman cheers mate. Wait time between tyres was as long as it took me to walk to the next tyres and connect it. I think it would depend on the compressor if you are pumping 8 tyres. I’m certain the ARB twin could pump up 8 in a row, not so sure about the others. I have another test in mind that would test this out. Just need to find some time and see if I can get the collection of compressors again.
Great video mate I love your work. I have the XTM and can't fault it
Mark R cheers mate, appreciate the feedback!
Great video!!!
I have now decided which one I will buy
Dennis Calvert glad the video helped mate!
Thx for your test, still usefull in 2020 I think :D
small improvement :
A small comparison chart can be great
Full reference of each model & stats claim by the constructor
Cheers mate. I purposely didn't bother noting the specs as they are a little pointless. Aside from current draw I don't have the equipment to verify air flow etc. Manufacturers can put whatever they like knowing that more than likely no one will test it. For me, I measured the important infomatoon such as speed, current draw, temperature and warranty.
Max Air 3 looks exactly like Viair 450p. Identical comp mount, same coiled hose, same rubber plastic M fittings, and even the bag looks identical. We purchased the Viair 450p-rvs which is the RV model with 60' of hose and special dually inflator stem plus a updated version of the pistol grip with 40" lead hose...that way your not bending down for each tire.
Mog Man I found out after I did the comparison that the Bushranger compressors are Viair. I think the Black Max is the 300P and the MaxAir3 is the 400P Automatic.
Need to add Viair to the mix... Ive had prople with ARBs ask to borrow my Viair because it is faster than their ARB..
ANXIETY JL I found out since I did this test that the Bushranger compressors are actually Viairs. I believe that the Blackmax is the Viair 300P and the MaxAir 3 is the Viair 400P Automatic.
A great review - made my choice easy for a new compressor
Well done mate great review very informative and appriciate the time you put into doing this video for us
Cheers mate, appreciate the feedback!
Thanks mate for a great, no-nonsense , review. Thanks :)
Thank you for this video . just what i needed to find a good compressor,
Glad to help mate!
ARB for me, great review.
Cheers mate. I actually own an ARB, great compressor. Can't go wrong with it.
Good onya mate, very good and informative review. Looking forward to more content now I've subscribed
Fantastic video mate 👌 I really appreciate the effort you put into this. Before watching I nailed it down to the ARB and BRmax and am confident on my gut feeling now. Had many of those cheaper style high output ones and don't rate them, for the sake of two minutes the BRmax looks like a great bit of kit.
Cheers
Michael Spencer cheers mate! I have to say I didn’t know much about the Bushranger compressors before this test. The only reason they were in the test is that ARB insisted I put them in (I only asked them for the ARB compressors). When I look back at this video I feel I down played the ARB single a bit. I’ve got one and I reckon it’s awesome. I was trying not to be biased but I think I went the other way a bit much. Have you seen the new comparison with the bigger tyres?
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures no I haven't, I don't typically run overly big tyres as I'm on the "skinny" side of the coin. I had one of the ARB ones when I owned a Jimny and I did like it, especially the hose as you mention. However, you'll need to spend the extra $80 or so to get the trigger gauge so the total total ARB set up is more around $500 as opposed to the Bushranger at $350. I can't really justify that extra coin based on the performance and quality between the two.
Being an electrical engineer I also can see the quality and efficiency of the motors based on the performance, current drawer and temperatures which was fantastic to see. Really shows the difference in quality between the units and pricing points. Something often over looked.
This such an excellent video. Thank you so much for pulling all this information together.
Genesis 2020 cheers mate!
Awesome clip! Thank you very much. All the way from the Ipswich.
Selwyn cheers mate
Thank you for the thorough review, cheers from Miami.
Good vid, Are you still using the 4x4 supacentre product? if you are have you had any further issues with them? If not what did you settle on?
Cheers mate. I gave the Thumper to my mate, he’s only used it a few times but it’s still going. I’ve got the Thumper Max from this test in my Cruiser pumping up 35” tyres and it’s still going well. I’ve just mounted the Thumper Max MK 2 from my other compressor test in my new Ranger. I’m a bit surprised but they are all working well.
Really good video, really comprehensive and thorough test. Thanks for going to the trouble, I agree with ur rationale re not awarding a winner, cheers.
Murray Ball thanks for the feedback!
The TJM sounds like it would be great for the Jimny
Absolutely. 5 years ago these were easily the most popular compressors that people bought along on the 4wd Tagalong Tours. Most of those people were running 265/75/16 tyres. The compressor is a little slow but just keeps going.
Good stuff. I'm guessing the air temp for the ARB twin was after the air tank? The tank will allow the air to cool a bit, I'm expecting. I'm also interested that you had a 50A Anderson plug setup that was running the 85A run. Did you have any problems with the heat on the Anderson connector, or those smallish battery clamps?
I own the Thumper Max and have only managed to use it 3 times in about 18 months. Gauge is rubbish and unreliable but is as fast as stated in the video, I often need to turn the compressor off once or twice to get within a ballpark of a reading. Doing this isnt great for the internal motors and I am not sure if it is due to internal temps, or my vehicle, but it can sometimes not turn back on. but once it sits for a couple of minutes i can manage to get it going again. It definitely struggles and I do not trust it 100%. Definitely a steal at $120 odd bucks i got it for but will get a better known brand when it does die (i can sense it coming).
Hi mark, just watched your video, great job well done, I just had a question about the 2 fastest compressors, the amps that are drawn, I’m going to be using a Anderson plug fitting rather than alligator clips, your measuring device I noticed is using a 50 amp plug and not that heavy wiring, I will use the standard wire that can with the compressor as it should be ok, but given that the one unit dragged 83 amps should I use a 120 amp Anderson plug and what square section wiring to where my external plug in Anderson plug is located (5 metres from battery)
Kindest Regards
Peter (from Tassie)
Hey Peter, thanks mate! You're not going to believe this, but I'm about to do something similar. I will be mounting the Thumper Max Mk2 on my alloy tray, 5 metres from the battery. I will be using 120 amp plugs (the 50 amp plugs get hot with continuous use) and running 2AWG cable that is the largest that can fit the 120 amp plugs. Using this cable (and say 1m of earth cable, so 6m in total) will theoretically give me a voltage drop of 0.55 volts which is fine with a compressor.
The best way is to run a positive cable from the battery (I will be using a 150 amp fuse as well) and an earth from the compressor to the chassis - preferably a threaded hole/nut. I will be cutting the original compressor wiring as short as possible as over a long distance it is too small and will create an excessive voltage drop - and get too hot as well. Let mw know how you go. Maybe I should video my new compressor setup!
Hi, I think you may have posted this to the wrong video, not sure what it has to do with my exhaust.
Cheers
Spook
If you didnt have lockers and just needed a compressor for tyres and you wanted a realiable unit which would you buy with no hesitation between the arb high output single and the bushranger max air 3 ??
Hey mate, excellent question! I’m actually at this point right now! I hard mounted the Thumper Max mk2 in my Ranger and it died a month or so ago (that’s 3 out of the 5 Thumpers I’ve had die). I’m tossing up whether I put in one of the cheaper ones I have or to go single ARB or Max Air 3. In the video I said I would go the Max Air 3, but the ARB single that I had mounted under the bonnet in the Hilux provided over 6 years of faultless service, so I think I would go the ARB again.
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures thanks for your reply i also have had a arb in my last landcruiser but sold it with the car , currently i have a thumper which i have mounted in tactix toolbox , however im looking to do remote trips and would like to swap it out with a realiable unit for peice of mind. Im in two minds go the portable high output or the bushranger
Send your compressor back to 4WD Super Centre for warranty, “Nekminit” they post you two high lift jack’s. 🤣
great review, can you use a trigger style inflator with BCF XTM compressor ?
psy06 cheers mate. The trigger style inflator wouldn’t really be suitable as the compressor doesn’t have a pressure switch.
@@TasmanianOffroadAdventures thanks for that, i got the bcf compressor the other week, havent used it yet. was thinking of mounting it in the toolbox and connecting it to a 10l tank, looks like i'll have to add a 150psi pressure switch and rewire it a bit.
It wouldn’t be too hard to do with a switch and relay.