12v compressors

Post by **Kane** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:12 am

Hi all. I'm after a compressor to mount on my 4bi and was looking at the opposate lock blue tounge for it's fairly hi flow rate and it's fan cooling. Has any one had any experances with this unit or any other brands to look out for? Also I don't want to spend a fortune on one so only ones under say $500 for the stand alone unit. Any info would be grately apprecated.
Cheers, Kane.

Post by **sw1** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:31 am

had one for 2ish years now
i put it in the engine bay and it hasnt missed a beat yet

Post by **fatassgq** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:46 am

Recently got a bushranger max air one for a good price mainly for its high flow rate. Will shit on the blue tongue one for air flow (unless you are talking about the twin tongue one)
It is a pretty big mother and it has a real deep throaty noise compared to the little arb type ones.

Go here for specs http://www.bushranger.com.au/maxair.html

I got mine for closer to $300

It has a few little things I would like to change but other than that it works well. Certainly better than ARB ones for pumping tires up.

I am going to set up an engine driven one again soon though cause they rock.

Cheers
Brian

Post by **BundyRumandCoke** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:08 am

Do an engine driven air con compressor if you can fit it. It will absolutely sh1t all over ANY electric compressor. I sold a brand new ARB compressor that I won, cause it was useless by comparison. And it should work out a fair bit cheaper too. Do a search for how to do it.

Post by **Hekta** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 12:25 pm

BundyRumandCoke wrote:Do an engine driven air con compressor if you can fit it. It will absolutely sh1t all over ANY electric compressor. I sold a brand new ARB compressor that I won, cause it was useless by comparison. And it should work out a fair bit cheaper too. Do a search for how to do it.

Yeah those Endless Air ones are a bit cheaper than the Blue Tongues and shit on them in terms of air output. I've got a blue tongue portable type one (mounted in a box with battery clips etc) which is good and handy to use on different cars etc but it's got nothing on an engine driven one.

Post by **Big Red Toy** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 6:31 pm

well endless air sell rrp $395
Second Hand A/C Pump From Wreckers $30
Install youself & Fittings $100
Pumping up your tyres in under a minute each whilst others stand around using shitty electric compressors PRICELESS

Post by **BigMav** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 7:27 pm

fatassgq wrote:Recently got a bushranger max air one for a good price mainly for its high flow rate. Will shit on the blue tongue one for air flow (unless you are talking about the twin tongue one)
It is a pretty big mother and it has a real deep throaty noise compared to the little arb type ones.

Go here for specs http://www.bushranger.com.au/maxair.html

I got mine for closer to $300

It has a few little things I would like to change but other than that it works well. Certainly better than ARB ones for pumping tires up.

I am going to set up an engine driven one again soon though cause they rock.

Cheers
Brian

I also got one of these but for far less than $300. Do a search on ebay for air compressors and you'll see new ones which are identical to the bushranger. And i do mean identical. I put mine and a bushranger one side by side and the only difference was mine had a plastic air filter thing while the bushranger one was metal. I think I paid $160 in the end. I checked the boxes on the two compressors and they have the same output, current draw, even the same carry bag without the badge. I am very happy with how the compressor runs and if you are only using it for pumping up tyres they are ideal. A 285/75 16 will go from 20 to about 40 in well under 2min to give you an idea. It also comes with a few different valves for your airbed, footies, and also a built in guage on the airline similar to the guage at the servo. Don't be fooled by the lack of a brand name sticker on it!! Hope this helps you in a purchase.

Post by **scotto** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 7:40 pm

guys i am looking at setting up an air locker and want to avoid using ARB compressor

they say no problem - but an release valve or solendoid needs to be fitted in/on (whatever) any compressor re: airlocker engagement

i like sounds of bushranger but need to know what is involved in setting it up. theory is to run the air line to a tank with a guage somwhere ni cab so i know i got enough air in it...

they say need resevoir for air. so is the thing to do with the bushranger run it to a tank underneath with the pressure switch for the locker in there?

i SAY i don't mind waiting wile tyres pump up...would prob spew to find out takes 20 minutes to reinflate..

the package does seem almost feasible though cause the switches etc are included in the 'electric' part, not the 'locker' part

any help would be great. . . . . .

Website · Post by **murcod** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:42 pm

Here's the sort of thing you can do to a Maxair for running lockers.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=8403

Be careful of the cheapies that are supposedly the same- I've seen a couple and they aren't!! The specs were about the only thing I could see that were similar.

Post by **mudtoy** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:35 pm

The Bushranger is an awesome pump and is now sold/owned by ARB...news is that the exact same compressor is available but without the Bushranger logo or price tag, hence the cheapies on Ebay which are just as good. Brawn 4x4 has these for general sale and at a reasonable price. The ones I have seen are identical and come from the same factory.

I run a twin tongue which is fast and strong. I have also run the old single blue tongue. The benefit is that they are continuous and will never die, draw back is cost. Given my time again I would have purchased two of the unbranded Bushrangers and still saved on the twin tongue.

All you need is a seperate tank, a cut off switch and the locker actuator solenoid (and of course the associated fittings, wiring, switches and air line).

www.4wdtv.com.au

Post by **AussieCJ7** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:51 pm

we have all seen cheaper models made in same factory etc but one has plastic pistons and other cost cutting methods you dont see

not saying these are the case but in 12 months time of hard use lets see if they are exactly the same :finger:

or one end of the QC line go to brand x and the other to brand y the specs will read the same but not the real outputs

as an example of QC and stated figures how many holden SS bomodores really put out 225Kw FW ponies if they are ever tested sure some will be more but lots are less they are nomimal figures now image a production company who can get x for half their stock and y for the other half

Post by **Liam** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 7:43 am

the brand name-less is not the same. It's a korean knock off. The 'specs' are the same because they've just copied them off the box. When they run side by side the difference is obviuos.

Post by **BigMav** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:12 am

The unbranded one i got has a metal piston. I know because i had it apart after someone told me they were plastic. Do as you like, its your money and yes i've also seen them run side by side. :roll:

At the moment mine is just portable but i'll be mounting it permanently as soon as i find a spot for it. It's a fairly big sucker. Maybe there are a few copies around i don't know but i'm still happy with the compressor i got.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:51 am

BigMav have you any pics you can post of yours? Some of the copies I've seen are obviously not the same (eg air intake filter in a totally different spot and different piston housing), so I'm interested to see what your's looks like.

I notice Repco are now selling a comp with the same specs too!

Post by **BigMav** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:18 am

murcod wrote:BigMav have you any pics you can post of yours? Some of the copies I've seen are obviously not the same (eg air intake filter in a totally different spot and different piston housing), so I'm interested to see what your's looks like.

I notice Repco are now selling a comp with the same specs too!

No i don't unfortunately, I have a digicam but I am in east timor at the moment and the mav is in brisbane. The filter is different on mine as i said earlier. It is made of plastic and the bushranger metal or vice versa i can't remember. I'm fairly sure that it was in the same spot. I won't be back in australia for a few months yet but will check it all out then. I guess it really is up to the individual buying the product, personally i couldn't see anything wrong with the compressor but there may be other inferior copies around also. I think i bought mine from campmart or some camping store, i saw them on ebay later and thought they would be the same from the pics but could be wrong. I haven't used mine heaps yet as i haven't had it that long but time will tell as to how well it goes. I like the lpg bottle tank idea, i've got a few of those lying around so might do the same, what are all the fittings worth? Would Enzed be a good start for the fittings?

Post by **BundyRumandCoke** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 12:48 pm

[quote="Big Red Toy"]well endless air sell rrp $395
Second Hand A/C Pump From Wreckers $30
Install youself & Fittings $100
Pumping up your tyres in under a minute each whilst others stand around using shitty electric compressors PRICELESS[/quote]

Having others not bothering to pull their shitty electrics out, and line up to have their tyres pumped up with mine is even more priceless.

As for running air lockers, it doesnt matter where the air comes from, you can run lockers off a tank that is fed by an engine driven compressor. You can also run air tools, dusters, ect as well. Id say mine cost far less than $150, including tank, fittings, and solinoid horns.

Post by **BigMav** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 1:38 pm

Murcod I remember reading about the bushranger look a likes on another forum so i did a search and found it if you are interested. It seems like the plastic piston rings has been debated before. Check it out.

http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/inde ... 87;start=0

Post by **iwannabeapirate** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 12:12 pm

Liam wrote:It's a korean knock off.

Wakeup call! Everything is made in Asia these days.

Why would Bushranger or any other company spend money developing there own compressor when the can buy and badge a perfectly good one from a supplier in a country where people earn in an month what we earn in an hour?

Most of the larger 4WD accessory companies are just marketing companies. They just put their "name that you can trust" on a product that costs them half (or less) what they charge you for it.

You can also get the same pump at Supercheap Auto and save yourself the cost of the postage.

Cheers,
David

Post by **BigMav** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:30 pm

Thanks, exactly what i've been trying to say. It was campmart where i bought mine by the way for $160. Have a crack at ebay and you might get it cheaper. I hope i didn't upset anyone who has a bushranger unit. I'm just trying to help anyone who may be thinking of buying one.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:43 pm

BigMav wrote:Murcod I remember reading about the bushranger look a likes on another forum so i did a search and found it if you are interested. It seems like the plastic piston rings has been debated before. Check it out.

http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/inde ... 87;start=0

The air hose and bag don't appear to be the same, but the compressor it self does. BTW it wasn't me saying they had plastic pistons.

The others I've seen advertised don't even look like a Maxair. I guess it still up to debate whether they are made in the same factory or not and only time will tell how long they last in comparison.

I'm not disappointed as I paid $290 for my genuine one with the five year warranty. The bag that came with mine also appears to be a lot stronger and better made.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 3:07 pm

I've now got my Maxair in front of me (didn't have it with me before) and the compressor looks identical apart from the airfilter. The bag may also be the same- it's a bit hard to tell from the pic.

Here's the Repco one- it's very similar apart from the airfilter set up:

Here's a pic of the Maxair:

Post by **BundyRumandCoke** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 4:49 am

And you would think, that these days, with copywrite laws, patents, ect, that if one company manufactured an air compressor that just happened to be virtually exactly the same as another companies, that there wouldnt be a big court case?? I tend to agree that some are just rebadged models made by the one company.

Post by **carts** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 9:26 am

I got one of the Ebay models for $142. Works a treat. Seems to be the same as the bushranger one in every respect. Even the air filter is the same. Its supposed to have PTFE piston rings and stainless steel valves, but I am not going to pull the thing apart just to find out. Maybe when it dies....

Post by **BigMav** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:13 am

The air hose and bag don't appear to be the same, but the compressor it self does. BTW it wasn't me saying they had plastic pistons.

Yeah i think the hose is different, it isn't long enough to reach all the wheels on the mav and it looks cheaper as well. The bag mine came in was quite large and made of decent material but it just had some other badge sewn into it. Mine will be mounted on the car somewhere anyway so its fine in my case. A definite advantage is the warranty you got with yours. I have only 12 months i think from campmart.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 11:27 am

BundyRumandCoke wrote:And you would think, that these days, with copywrite laws, patents, ect, that if one company manufactured an air compressor that just happened to be virtually exactly the same as another companies, that there wouldnt be a big court case?? I tend to agree that some are just rebadged models made by the one company.

Copyright laws in those countries (from what I've seen and heard) are worthless and not enforced. Software piracy and things like that are rife over there; so I imagine patents would be much the same with the local Governments not caring?

But yes it could be exactly the same factory. We need two people willing to donate / disassemble a genuine and "copy" for scientific purposes! :lol:

Post by **ianmc** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 11:31 pm

I have one purchaesd on ebay for $155 + postage.
Do not buy a similar cheaper one at about $100.
The one I bought is identical to that posted above in similar bag
& on a flat 30x9.5 tyre it took 3 mins to bring it above 30psi.
Thats better than most except the compressor type.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:12 pm

I notice BigW have a compressor that looks remarkably like the Repco one (filter mounted low) with a Maxair style bag and hose for all of $89.77 in their latest catalogue. It's got "Flowmax" on the bag, and doesn't give any specs.

Post by **Webbie** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:43 pm

O.K did some homework . :shock:

the reason these compressors all look similar to the maxair(Which is made exclusively by VIAIR)is that the patent has expired and are able to be copied but not nessasarily cloned to be within the same specs.The maxair (VIAIR) is the most copied compressor on the market so please beware of what you are purchasing,and if you get a great run out of your no-name unit ,well done but if dyies i bet you wont get the 5 year manufacters warrenty that the maxair and viair do.HAPPY SHOPPING.

Post by **grazza** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:46 am

As per my info in another post, this one from Autobarn.
Its bigger than the bushranger and MaxAir, 3/4hp. Comes in a good solid case too. $250

Post by **matta** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 1:22 pm

Hi all, I just popped into ARB Northside and had one quoted (BUSHRANGER) for $399.00.........

Any ideas on who does better. Seems a little steeper than what others have paid??

MATT

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