In off-roading circles, air compressors are quite common as they can be used for a multitude of tasks – from filling up your tyres on the road to running locking differentials for an extra bit of traction. But if you’re in the market for an air compressor there are several factors to consider, all of which we’ll be taking you through below.
What are 12 volt compressors?
12-volt compressors are powered by your vehicle’s battery and can either be permanently mounted to your 4×4 or used portably. They can even fit in their own convenient carry cases.
Air compressor accessories
There are numerous accessories to speak of that can make your air compressor even more flexible and useful. You could add extra or reserve air tanks for larger tyres and faster inflation and inflation gauges for monitoring tyre pressure. There are also tools that will allow you to use your compressor to inflate everything from airbeds to inflatable tents.
Installation options
Portable – A portable air compressor could be the most convenient option for some and requires no installation whatsoever. Most users, however, prefer a permanently mounted unit.
Engine bay – Of course, you’ll need to find a place to mount your 4×4 air compressor and if you have room then it is possible to mount it in the engine bay. Indeed, this is where the majority of users tend to install their units.
The cab – It’s quite easy to mount the compressor in the cab itself in older vehicles but in more modern rigs there is generally less space to work with. Note, however, that an air compressor makes a lot of noise, so mounting it in the cab might not be a practical choice.
Generally speaking, your best bet is probably to look at where others have put theirs with the same make and model as you.
Air tank – You can always find a spot to tuck the air tanks out of the way if you look hard enough.
Switching – You’ll need to figure out where you want to put the switch to actually turn the compressor on. Next to the locking differential switch is often the best location.
Access points – Finally, you’ll need to sort your fittings and access points. More fittings mean a shorter hose you need to carry around, but it’s more cost and effort to install.
It’s all about the brand
Whatever you’re looking for in an air compressor, we’d always recommend going with a trusted brand such as ARB. We stock a range of ARB air compressor bundles that are ideal for a range of different situations.
The ARB compact compressor, for example, is good for air lockers only whereas the ARB High Output is good for 2 air lockers plus tyre inflation and the ARB twin compressor is good for faster inflation of larger tyres. All of our ARB compressors also come with wiring looms where needed and all of our bundles come with everything needed to interconnect the different supplied components.
If you want to know more and are still unsure which compressor would be suitable for your rig then contact us today and we’ll be glad to help you further.
Image: Hrecheniuk Oleksii / Shutterstock.com