Maverik Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 I have been though as many topics as I can find through Google and Lr4x4 but what I found was mainly on engine driven units. Looking for a lightweight 12v air system to install in my LR90. Options I'm considering: T-max 4x4 adventurer VIAIR compact ARB compact Its main purpose will be for tire inflation, with the possibility in mind for putting a small tank in to have a reserve for other uses - all be it light duty uses. The VIAIR and ARB both come with tanks and thats reflected in the price. Has anyone had good/bad experiences of either. Cheers Mav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M&S Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 I bought the older T-Max compressor, 72 litres per minute, for £50. http://www.insideout4x4.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=10&products_id=75&osCsid=c38a174c7f0c979739c1d59710339af6 I'm happy with it. I found the power cable a bit short for the Disco so lengthened that myself, and the gauge isn't very accurate but I don't think any of them are that good without an upgrade (or easily fixed with a marker pen ). It inflates my 235/70R16's plenty fast enough, and is proving reliable to date. To be honest we had both the Viair and T-max next to each other at the time and I couldn't bring myself to spend 3 times the price. I see the new T-Max is 160 litres per minute, and for £85 I wouldn't hesitate to buy it myself. I now await the "you pays yer money" mantra that everyone here seems to have... I did, and I had £100+ left for a Difflock drain plug, Alive EGR removal kit, Wipac work light a few strops and shackles, a map light, novelty mug and beer and food and I'm sure a few other bits I bought that day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Have been running a t-max twin compressor for a few years, and been very pleased with it - there is a thread somewhere on installing it in the discovery. Getting hold of a tank is pretty easy. The ARB unit we have used in Orange's challenge truck does diffs well, but struggles to do tyres imho. hth Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 T-Max twin ones work well, hoof out loads of air and put up with muck & bullets. The switch is rubbish, but that can be discarded / overcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tel Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 i run a twin t-max and so do 2 of my mates they do the job really well for £60 and you can strip all the rubbish off them to make them quite small Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Twin T-Max here too, it's very good. Bloody noisy though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Air suspension compressor robbed from a P38 or a D2. Very quiet but about as fast as an ARB, it will inflate tyres but not up to air tools - though have used it with an air nailer and an air riveter with some success. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 As Mark says, the standard ARB is rubbish at anything other than lockers (sometimes I onder about that, too!!). I have a PCL connection for an air line for emergencies, but it takes an age to inflate a tyre. The T-Max one seems like a very good solution for the money and at Tel says, it can be stripped down to make it relatively small compared to the size it comes out of the box. Chris is also right with the P38 air compressor. Very quiet and is more than capable of airing tyres. To be honest, you're better off installing a small reservoir from the get-go as it means the compressor has an easier life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted October 29, 2010 Author Share Posted October 29, 2010 (edited) Thanks for your comments guys, from the looks of it I think T-max or the P38 option are looking the most attractive. The annoying thing is I can't find a catalogue for the T-max compressors, what model is this twin one a few of you have? Cheers Mav Actually tracked them down to the Bearmach products catalogue... how tedious is that thing!! yikes... ok now thourghly confused, I found a BA2663 with a pump on eather end... and I've found another BA2663 with one pump that looks a bit bigger than BA2641, anyone care to clarify? Edited October 29, 2010 by Maverik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exmoor Beast Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I've had a twin pump T-Max for years, like everyone says above the switch and the guage bit are carp but the unit itself is brilliant. They sit on a pre-drillied rubber isolated base as well so you can bolt them in easily. Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrKev Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 and 1/8 BSP fittings once you've stripped it all down, so easy to connect up to stuff. Here's Mark's thread: http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=30732 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruuman Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 T-max single piston here, had it for over 2 years, used constantly. I now have a small resovoir under seat and the compressor behind the middle seat. Puts tires back on rims no problem, air duster but no big tools. been under water and mud many times. I stripped it down, absolutely no damage. Amazing value. i'd go for the double pumper, but they didn't make it then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbs Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 Has anyone thought about a truckair compressor I bought one ages ago and it has brilliant ok It's a bit big but it sit's behind my passenger seat and has never let me down John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outdoor_ian Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I,ve got a truck air buried away somewhere, it use to go to a fairly high psi if I remember correctly but I'm not sure of how much its speed. Anyone know ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveG Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 An old P38 will also supply a good tank and pressure switch. Cheers Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 Although my reply ought to be in the Tools & Fab section - I made a pretty good compressor out of an old winch motor driving an air-con pump. It drew a couple of hundred amps - but spat out about 15 cfm at 100psi! Sufficient to run a rattle gun continuously without a reservoir. I also tried the same motor driving a pressure washer - which worked pretty well too. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zim Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 I've got a tmax twin pump that fills an air tank (about 10 litres). What pressure do you guys run your t max's up to ? at the moment mine is off at 100psi (ish) and back on at 90. I've got a little regulator to drop the pressure for the arb's and winches G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweetyduck Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 I've just got a new T-Max. The one thats 160ltrs per min. It pumps up a flat 235/85 in 2mins. Nothing to compare it too but i'm happy with it. The guage is carp though. Check out "JGS-4x4" on Ebay for all the most current T-Max Gear. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/JGS-4x4-Land-Rover-Parts Used them a few times and they are super. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruuman Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 I've got a tmax twin pump that fills an air tank (about 10 litres). What pressure do you guys run your t max's up to ? at the moment mine is off at 100psi (ish) and back on at 90. I've got a little regulator to drop the pressure for the arb's and winches G my system runs to 120psi, purely because it was the cheapest pressure switch I found http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Air-Compressor-Pressure-Control-Switch-90psi-120psi-/360306823738?pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item53e3f5d23a like you I use a regulator for the arb, it works well. I need to add a one way valve though. The tmax is good for 150psi I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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