Onboard Air or Portable Air?

I've had both the Viair and ARB Twin. Hands down, ARB wins. 100% duty cycle is a big deal. The ratings are based on 60mins as has been said, but also they're not real world. Put it another way, if in the desert and its 100deg, I was able to get maybe 3 minutes out of the Viair before it would overheat. That translates to a single tire, more or less. Then I get to wait for it to cool down. Which, in 100deg, took much longer than 3 minutes (50% duty cycle advertised). And then it broke. Seals just aren't up to use in the heat. With the ARB, it'll run 'till job done.

As for portable vs on board: I'm debating this myself. I have the portable ARB Twin and twice now I've been caught without it (friends needing help, me out and about, me not with the portable in the truck). I've had to go home and retrieve it adding an hour to the ordeal. I'm seriously considering going on board.

This is one of those things. Do you want to be 'the guy' who can help? Or will you ignore the call? If you are the guy who'll take the call, do you want to get the job done quickly? Or do you mind cludging things together for a job that should take 10mins and instead takes 2 hours? Your call for those situations.

 

Checking things out with the ARB's I stumbled across this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNjavC5y0kc. He has a Jeep but has anyone ever seen someone route a hose to a different location on their truck? Kinda seems like a lot of work to do so. Also, has anyone ever heard of someone mounting a single or twin in the bed of their truck and getting extra long wires/harness to get it to the battery? That way it is not under the hood and is still extremely accessible.

 

Quoting my own post, this video is cooler actually(1. b/c he has an Australian accent 2. he has an outlet on both sides of his vehicle). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhN-5fPNw2g&t=192s. Now all we need is someone who wants to mount one of these underneath their rear seats in a CM and then run a braided hose to each side with an outlet to attach the hose. Seems easy right?

 

I was looking at this one at Costco as well. How do you like it? Lasted you 4 days running?

 

We were able to charge phones and blow up air mattress..but not continuously running for 4 days.

 

At the Overland East Expo the ARB Tundra had theirs mounted this way.

 

Nice! You take any shots of it by chance...or know who to contact in regards to getting some more info on it? TIA

 

No. Like a DA I did not take any shots. However, the guy I talked to was Josh Harrell, Sales Manger for Fleet and Government. Email was jharrell@arbusa.com (p) 904-379-8216 or (m) 217-418-8959. I was not interested in mounting my twin this way, but it looked pretty slick.

 

Thank you sir, I will reach out to him.

 

Contacted him and got some great info, see below.

"Matt,

I have attached a few pictures of our

$592 CKMTA12 '12V' On-Board Twin High Performance Air Compressor, Ideal for Air Lockers Locking Differentials, Tire Inflator, Air Horn, Air Tools and Pneumatic Tools.

CKMTA12 mounted on the side of the bed of our Tundra. Our one gallon air tank (part #171601) is also mounted in the truck. We have our quick air connect mounted on the rear bumper next to the license plate.

I have also attached our Air Systems product line. The steel braided lines and fittings, along with the remote hose coupling kit will allow you to run the air hose connections to any point on your vehicle."

My only response to him was the wiring harness and getting that to the front of the truck. I installed a pop n lock a while back so will just follow that to the battery but was hoping for confirmation on if any additional wiring length is needed.

 

Last update, heard back from Josh. Here it is:

"Matt,

You will need to add wiring in order to go from the rear to the battery. The

$592 CKMTA12 '12V' On-Board Twin High Performance Air Compressor, Ideal for Air Lockers Locking Differentials, Tire Inflator, Air Horn, Air Tools and Pneumatic Tools.

CKMTA12 has a wiring loom for the battery that is approx 6.5' long. The wiring loom for the

$323 CKMA12 On-Board Air Compressor High Performance 12 Volt for Air Locker Differentials and Tire Inflation

CKMA12 is approx 8.5' long. I have not installed a compressor that required more wiring, so I am not sure the best setup. I would recommend talking to someone with electrical knowledge in order to extend the wiring loom. There are in-line fuses and heavy gauge wire in the loom, so you will need to make sure the appropriate additions are used.

Our tech department may be able to recommend something for you. You can call them in our Seattle office at 425.264.1391 or email tech@arbusa.com. Otherwise, an installer that is good with vehicle wiring can take care of that as well."

I was palnning on calling the Seattle office but can anyone recommend wiring add ons for this type of system? Will the only option be soldering or do you think posi-taps may work? Certain gauge? TIA.

 

That is great. Glad that worked out. Alot of smart electrical people on this site. I am sure someone will speak up. There is a thread on here somewhere about wire gage, amps and distance.

 

OK... So I've been wondering about the same... onboard vrs portable

In a few days instead of having one off road vehicle, I'll have two! So makes more sense to me to get a portable so I can take it on either vehicle!

Here's the plot twist/question: if I decide to install air lockers for either (or both vehicles) does the compressor has to be mounted onboard or a portable one can do the same function (feeding the lockers)?

Sorry for the dumb question

Thanks!

 

Throw my name into the onboard vs. portable debate.

I had an onboard Firestone system on my ‘07 GMC for the airbags and used it a ton to air up tires. It was awesome once I got all leaks fixed. Didn’t liked giving that up when I sold the truck, so I bought the ARB portable “toolbox” compressor about 10 years ago. It’s been nice to have it portable and not lose it when I sell my rigs. I use it 4-5 times a year to adjust the pressure in my tires and it’s held up well.

But I have two issues now to answer. One, my gear load for weekend camping trips (with a travel trailer) is pretty full with the kids and their bikes. Space is limited and having a portable system just takes up space I could use for something else. Second, Santa is bringing two inflatable paddle boards this winter (yep, more gear) and I need air for those. It took me about an hour to fill four donut-style pool toys with my ARB last summer and I don’t want to do that again. So while I think a portable system will work (like what I have now), I’m feeling like a 100% duty cycle onboard is a better use of my limited space and “requirements”. Thoughts?

 

Regarding the fill time: which ARB portable to you have? Single or twin? In either case, you more or less already have a top of the line option. Both are 100% duty cycle units. Difference between them, obviously, is the twin's ability to kick out almost double the air in the same amount of time. So from that perspective, if speed is the goal, the twin would seem to be the right choice.

As for onboard vs portable, no real comment to make that hasn't already been said; it really boils down to personal use cases and preference.

Hope that helps.

 

It’s the single compressor, but a generation or two older. I don’t believe it’s 100% duty cycle. I’m thinking the twin just because it’s got twice the volume.

 

Got it figured out. I completely forgot that Expedition Essentials makes a mount for the Tacoma and they have a harness for the single arb compressor to get it all the way up to the battery in the front. Costs $95. But for roughly the same amount as a bolt on compressor mount under the hood I will be getting the harness, a braided line and the coupling kit to run it in the back of the truck by the hitch. That way I don't have to pop the hood...for the many times I plan on using this lil thing, ha.

 

Anyone know if there is a bedside mount for a compressor or anything small? I will probably have to make some new holes in it to make it fit the single ARB. TIA.