Best portable tyre pump

Submitted: Sunday, Feb 19, 2023 at 22:24
ThreadID: 145347 Views:3957 Replies:10 FollowUps:19
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I have an ARB the type in the grey plastic box. It’s Chinese rubbish.
What should I replace it with?
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Reply By: pmk03 - Sunday, Feb 19, 2023 at 23:01

Sunday, Feb 19, 2023 at 23:01
I have a Bushranger that's 20 years old & still works. From memory it was continuous rated.
I keep it as a spare now.

I replaced it with a larger one from Bushranger a couple of years back because I was starting to get worried the old one would eventually let me down.

Both have been great & never missed a beat

I don't have part numbers at the moment but can probably find them if you are interested.

Hope this helps,
Paul
PMK3AUSTRALIA

AnswerID: 642905

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 05:30

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 05:30
Likewise I am on my second one , gave my old one to my son
The Maxair 111 is are a nice compressor, the guage on the hand piece is accurate and works well on its own as a deflator They are not to bulky or heavy either and have a good warranty The compressor motor is a USA Viair
https://www.snowys.com.au/max-air-iii-compressor

There are a couple of informative Utube review videos about on them
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Follow Up By: riverman - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 07:30

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 07:30
Another happy Bushranger owner.
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Follow Up By: Briste - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 09:36

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 09:36
I have a Bushranger Air Max III. Hasn't seen a lot of use, but it seems to work well. I did have a faulty inflator - the bit on the end of the hose with the trigger and the gauge - and had excellent warranty support direct from Bushranger. New inflator shipped asap. No proof of purchase required.

I also had confirmation from the chap handling warranty support that it was ok to remove the alligator clips and fit an Anderson plug. which he had done to his own unt,

The one caution I'd add is that this unit is made for the US market and all the threads and fittings are US sizes, so nothing you buy here will fit, at least not that I could find. Fortunately Bushrange do carry a full range of parts.
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Follow Up By: Member - FLNGO - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 13:07

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 13:07
The Maxair III looks in every way identical to the Viair I purchased from the US 10 yrs ago. I purchased this unit as it was continuous rated.
Mine is now permanently mounted above the DS rear wheel arch in the LC200, works a treat airing up 6 tyres.
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Follow Up By: Briste - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 21:19

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 21:19
I'm fairly certain that the current Bushrangers are a rebranded Viair. IIRC the replacement inflator I was sent was branded Viair, as are a number of the spare parts on their website. Explains the US threads and fittings.

If Bushranger are simply rebranding compressors sold overseas, then who knows what PMK03's 20 year old unit is. They may have been selling Viair back then, but it's hard to be confident of that.
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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 at 07:39

Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 at 07:39
American thread size is probably AF, or might be SAE.

Macca.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 at 08:42

Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 at 08:42
.
If the threads in question are 'piping' threads (rather than screw fasteners) I can assure you that all such 'NPT' threads are satisfactorily interchangeable with our 'BSP' threads in sizes from 1/4"(6mm) to 3/4"(19mm). Those size references being the nominal inside diameter of the pipe. Not a precise match but acceptable for most applications below 600psi.
However, especially in the smaller sizes used on proprietry fittings such as air chucks and gauges, threads are sometimes used that do not conform to piping thread standards and defy efforts to find matching fittings.
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: pmk03 - Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 at 09:16

Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 at 09:16
I have changed the outlet on my Bushranger & just used 1/4" fittings I purchased from Repco.
I removed the chuck style outlet & fitted a barbed fitting as it suited my setup better & just have the hose connected permanently to the pump.
Was a slightly loose fit but I used some teflon tape & it works well. No leaks.

Paul
PMK3AUSTRALIA
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Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 at 09:16

Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 at 09:16
When I spoke to Bushranger direct back around 2010 they told me it is an Viiar compressor they use but their own base, frame hoses etc.
On my old one I went to a hydraulic hise fitting place like Pirtek and bought a thread adapter fitting so I could use a Nitto fitting
I am happy to stick with the hose and guage supplied on the latest unit as it is much better
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Follow Up By: Briste - Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 21:01

Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 21:01
I found out the hard way that the Bushranger doesn't have Nitto fittings. I'd dearly love to know what fittings the Bushranger does have. Does anyone know? I went through all the fittings at Total Tools, and although I came close, ultimately I drew a blank. I was hoping not to have to replace the hose as well.

The warranty chap at Bushranger told me that all the threads and fittings were US, and not to expect to find anything compatible here. I've had personal experience of the incompatibility of NPT and BSP threads in sizes larger than Alan mentioned, so this made sense to me. I'm a little surprised to hear that there is compatibility in smaller sizes.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 at 13:47

Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 at 13:47
.
Hi Briste,
My extensive experience with imported USA process control instruments with American NPT threads was that they were closely compatible with BSP fittings in 1/4", 1/2" and reasonably so for 3/4". The diameter and pitch were the same but the thread form was a bit off.
Today, NPT fittings are available in Australia but not so in earlier times and we had to make-do.
When it came to the high pressures of natural gas applications we needed to import NPT fittings.
Cheers
Allan

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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Feb 19, 2023 at 23:22

Reply By: Member - McLaren3030 - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 07:40

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 07:40
Hi Reg,

I have an ARB twin motor compressor with a tank in the black plastic box, have not had any issues with it. It performs very well.

Macca.
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Reply By: Stephen L (Clare) SA - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 07:43

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 07:43
What is wrong with it Reg?

I have one and it is over 10 years old and no problems with it.
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Reply By: Member - Jim S1 - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 09:25

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 09:25
I also have an ARB model, about 20 years old. Replaced the hose with some better quality stuff recently , with an extra metre or two as well, but the compressor still works just fine. Not quick, but does the business.

Cheers
Jim
"Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." A fisherman.

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Reply By: Member - nickb aka"boab" - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 10:35

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 10:35
HAHA : I have a "mean mother" I can highly recommend . :)))
Cheers Nick b

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Reply By: Member - pedro1 - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 15:31

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 15:31
I had problems with my ARB compressor in the grey box with the relay block female sockets deforming and making intermittent contact due to heat from current load. Also a separate plastic plug/socket had the same fate. I replaced that with a anderson plug which solved that problem
AnswerID: 642915

Reply By: Member - Outback Gazz - Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 18:16

Monday, Feb 20, 2023 at 18:16
Hey Reg

What makes you say the ARB compressors are Chinese ?

According to this video they are designed and manufactured here in Australia.

https://youtu.be/dWE9DScSbLM

I have also seen reports of Chinese knock offs on the web - possibly you might have purchased one of them by mistake ?


Cheers
Gazz
AnswerID: 642919

Reply By: richard v2 - Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 16:21

Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 16:21
Kings supercentre have a Thumper Max Twin compressor pump which has out performed the best in many comparisons for only $169.00
AnswerID: 642928

Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 17:23

Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 17:23
I have one of these and it puts out more than enough air to blow the dust and cobwebs out of my desktop computer.

It has a pressure cut-out switch that will stop the compressor at about 120PSI so I just run out hoses to reach the van and car.
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Follow Up By: pmk03 - Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 17:40

Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 17:40
I also have had one of these Max AirTwins,from 4WD Supercentre, Was a great pump.
I would finish airing up faster than any of my mates.

But it soon failed, all I kept was the hose & tossed the rest in the bin.

Can't risk it not working when I need it the most. That's when I bought my second Bushranger.

With the van & car it's 8 tyres each time. The Bushranger is a little slower but it never stops.

Cheers
Paul
PMK3AUSTRALIA
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Follow Up By: Member - Outback Gazz - Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 19:31

Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 19:31
I've nearly always run two 4wd's at the same time - the Ranger has an ARB twin onboard and I can't fault it !

Seven years ago I purchased a Kings Thumper twin for $89 delivered to my front door - it's copped a flogging in my Mitsubishi van for 3 years and then the same flogging in my 200 for 4 years up until a month ago when it decided to give up - just like the Australian cricket team :)

Nearly bought another one for less than a couple hundred dollars but decided to go another ARB twin for the 200.

Like any product in life, some people have a long trouble free run with it while others have nothing but trouble after trouble after trouble. ( sort of like a wife really lol lol )

Happy inflations

Cheers
Gazz

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FollowupID: 922524

Reply By: Joe G2 - Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 21:37

Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023 at 21:37
https://seriousair.com.au
Don't have one but sounds like a good bit of kit.
AnswerID: 642929

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 at 06:48

Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 at 06:48
Thanks Joe. Serious bit of gear, serious price!

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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Follow Up By: Joe G2 - Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 at 09:53

Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 at 09:53
Yes your right about the price Bob.
I'm tempted because our new traveling vehicle is a 716 Hino truck and runs higher pressures in the tyres than a most 4X4s. On dirt we drop pressures unless it's only a short stretch, so pumping 6 tyres back up to 80 to 90lbs is very taxing on any portable compressor.
I've done lots of forum searches but unable to find any first hand comments about them.
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FollowupID: 922530

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 at 19:27

Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 at 19:27
Judging by the air filter fitted to the unit, Joe, I’d give it a tick. Just need to find the “readies”?

Bob.

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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Follow Up By: Member - Outback Gazz - Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 at 20:20

Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 at 20:20
" I’d give it a tick. Just need to find the “readies”? "

Hey Bob - you could have one on each side of your rig !

The left one does your LH side tyres and the right one does your RH side tyres - no need for long hoses lol

More time to have a cold beverage - win win I say :)


Cheers
Gazz
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FollowupID: 922538

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Friday, Feb 24, 2023 at 06:26

Friday, Feb 24, 2023 at 06:26
Yeah Gaz, dip into my super before Elbow does! :-)

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

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