These tyres are equivalent to 35’s and are heavy truck tyres. A high-flow compressor is essential.So what do you get? We narrowed down our choices a little. This is what we decided we needed:.

A continuous 100% duty cycle to speed up tyre inflation. (Duty cycle is the on/off time for a compressor. For example, a compressor that will run for 10 minutes then needs to be rested for 10 minutes to cool down, has a 50% duty cycle).

Able to pump tyres to at least 90psi (remember, we have a truck with heavy truck tyres). A 12 volt compressor. We could have gone for a 24 volt unit, but then it couldn’t be powered from other vehicles. A maximum current draw of around 60 amps. Above 60 amps, cable sizes become unwieldy.

A reliable brand with a solid reputation for reliability. A compressor with enough output to run air tools.After much reading and research, the ARB twin compressor bubbled to the surface. The extension hose plugged into the quick-connect fitting.So What’s It Like To Use?This unit actually lives up to the advertising hype. Our truck tyres are 285/70/19.5, which is equivalent to a 35” tyre in the old terminology.

Shop Campbell Hausfeld’s selection of twin stack air compressors, maximizing capacity and portability in a variety of models to handle most air tools. Ingersoll Rand Twin-Stack Portable Electric Air Compressor — 2 HP, 4-Gallon, 4.3 CFM, Model# P1IU-A9.

The ARB twin inflates each tyre from 45psi to 90psi in just a few minutes.The air tank earns its keep when you connect the air gun. We often use it to blow out dust and dirt from inside the truck. The tank helps the compressor maintain enough air volume for the air gun to be highly effective.All hoses, fittings and switches are high quality so everything snaps together neatly and precisely. These accessories are supplied as part of the ARB compressor portable kit. You can purchase a second hose separately and simply plug into this one if you need to reach further.Does It Use Much Power?When running full tilt, the compressor draws 55 amps. This is slightly lower than expected, so we’re happy with this. Each motor is individually wired, so the positive connection at the alligator clamp has two cables and two large in-line 40 amp blade fuses.The cables do get warm after prolonged usage, but nothing to worry about.

Given the length of the cable, the next size cable up would probably be ideal. Still, the cables as supplied are doing their job.For those of you who are interested in the specs, ARB have with all the vital statistics listed. Damage to the negative cable, supplied new from factory.The company I bought it from was reluctant to replace it at first, but eventually agreed after some arm-twisting. I was expecting them to just swap out the cable, but to their credit they gave me a complete new unit.What Modifications Have We Done?The alligator clamps were replaced by an Anderson plug. The has a 63 amp circuit breaker that was installed to power a compressor.

6AWG cable runs from the circuit breaker down to an Anderson plug. We removed the alligator clamps and fitted an Anderson plug. Each motor has its own supply cable, hence the two 40A inline spade fuses.I will also make up an adaptor cable using the redundant alligator clamps, another Anderson plug and some 6AWG cable. This way, the ARB compressor can be used on any vehicle.Any Tips?We have a couple of tips you might find useful.Quality Tyre GaugeSpend a few extra dollars and buy a good quality tyre pressure gauge. Considering the price of new tyres, it’s worth spending a bit extra to know you have the correct pressure.Under-inflation kills tyres, not to mention the real possibility of blowouts. The sidewall overheats and eventually fails if the tyre is under-inflated.We had difficulty finding a quality tyre gauge to read the truck’s tyre pressures, given we have to run them up to 90psi. Most gauges only read up to around 75psi.

Eventually we found the one pictured. If you’re buying for a 4WD, you’ll have a huge range to choose from. Just make sure you chose a quality brand.

Close-up of the Slime tyre pressure gauge. Gauge reads up to 160psi.

That should be enough!Slime tyre pressure gauges are a good option if you’re after a quality product.Water In Air TankEvery air tank collects water. This comes from condensation and is unavoidable. At first I was scratching my head, wondering how to drain the tank. Then in desperation, I read the Instruction Manual. They have a simple procedure for draining the tank, which I won’t go into here.Suffice to say, sometimes it does pay to read the manual!Be GentleI’m a strong believer in looking after your gear. Dumb ways to die 2 stupa. A small amount of TLC goes a long way.Keep all air fittings out of the dirt and mud, don’t let the compressor suck in huge mouthfuls of dust, clean the filters occasionally and generally treat the unit with care.

This is especially true for tyre gauges – they don’t like being dropped or knocked around. Would We Buy Another One?Yes we would. The ARB portable compressor is a high quality piece of equipment. It does the job with ease. Hopefully its longevity will match the overall quality.Update 2019: I wouldn’t even consider buying another one of these compressors at this stage.

It’s a lemon.Do you need something this big for a standard 4WD? Probably not. But it depends on how you set up your 4WD and how you use it.

If you already have air tools for example, then you could take these with you when you travel instead of the usual hand tools. Or maybe you have 35” tyres. Maybe you do heaps of sand driving.

Or maybe you just want one because you can. In Summary Pros:. High capacity compressor, inflates tyres quickly. Can be used to power air tools and an air gun.

Will work up to 150psi. Shining tears opening. Does not get unacceptably hot. Compact carry case means everything you need is in one place.

Pre-wired and ready to use. All items you need are supplied as a package. Quality build and design.Cons:.

Update 2019: Both motor/compressor assemblies have been replaced due to failures since I first wrote this article. One of the most expensive compressors on the market. Quite heavy to lift and carry around.