ARB made their Brushless Single Motor 12V compressor about as dummy-proof as possible.
The ride comfort of your off-road adventure is directly related to two things; suspension and tire pressure. One of these things can easily cost thousands of dollars. The other one is free. Of course, a quality suspension system provides more benefits than simply improving ride quality, but when it comes to bang for the buck, running your tires at a lower pressure is the clear winner. Improved traction, a smoother ride and reduced potential for flat tires? Check! But when your tires roll back onto pavement you will need to reinflate them. If you’ve got a short drive at low speeds to a nearby gas station, you’re covered. If not, you’ll need a portable air compressor.
The best portable compressors are small and lightweight, easy to use, efficient and reliable. “Portable” means different things to different people. To me, it means that it’s self-contained, easy to store in a rig packed with gear and light enough to carry without throwing out your back. The ARB Brushless Single Motor 12V air compressor checks all those boxes. At just over 17 pounds and fully contained within an IP67 rated Pelican-style case measuring just 12.1” x 7.2” x 14”, it’s small enough to store on the floorboard where it’s out of the way until you need it.
ARB made their Brushless Single Motor 12V compressor about as dummy-proof as possible. It connects directly to your vehicle battery using two alligator clamps equipped with a polarity correction harness. So, if you’re color blind or, like me, you can’t remember if red is positive or negative, you can safely connect either clamp to either battery terminal. The hose uses a quick-connect fitting on both ends and the chuck locks onto the valve stem; no babysitting while the compressor inflates the tire!
The ARB compressor has an impressive 90% duty cycle and airflow up to 4.9 CFM. That sounds cool, but what does it mean in the real world? Basically, assuming a 10-minute cycle the compressor can run for 9 minutes before it needs to rest for 1 minute, and it inflates the 37” tires on my overland camper from 20 to 50 PSI in 3 to 3 ½ minutes. Inflating the 33” tires on my Land Cruiser takes around 1 ½ minutes to go from 18 to 35 PSI. Just remember, after a few minutes of continuous use the unit becomes hot enough to burn skin. It’s perfectly normal, but you’ll need to let it cool down before you pack it up. Also, it is important to know that the system is under high pressure, and you need to maintain control of the hose when disconnecting it. The first time my wife used the compressor, she didn’t have a grip on the hose and when she disconnected it, the metal fitting flew into her chest.
The included 20’ hose is long enough to easily reach all four tires on my F250 Crew Cab and you’ll be unlikely to leave it behind thanks to its safety orange color. The hose and power cable all fit neatly into the case. Neither one comes with its own bag/pouch, but they each fit perfectly into a 1-gallon Ziploc bag if, like me, you’re a neat freak.
For all the good, I do have a couple minor nitpicks. First, the power cable plugs into a port on the compressor but doesn’t “lock” into place. At least a couple of times, this caused the power cable to slide out and disconnect when moving the case while in use. Second, ARB doesn’t include a pressure gauge with the compressor; you must purchase this separately for $90. ARB makes an analog and digital version, and both have a bleeder valve to help you dial in the perfect pressure. I just wish ARB included one with the kit, even if they had to charge a little more for it. I don’t have it yet, but for $25 ARB also sells a blow gun that connects to the hose. I’ll pick one up for blow out our camper water lines while traveling.
The ARB Brushless Single Motor 12V compressor is a reliable, compact workhorse. At $869.95, it’s a solid investment that you’ll appreciate every time you point your rig down a dirt road.
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