INFLATED OPINION
AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF SERVICE, HOW IS THE PORTABLE ARB TWIN COMPRESSOR HOLDING UP?
NO OTHER piece of 4x4 kit I own has been used as hard or frequently as this portable ARB twin compressor. Hands down, I’ve used and slightly abused this air compressor for years, without a single issue. It’s come on every newvehicle road test, every camping trip and every multi-vehicle comparison I’ve done over the last few years, usually with a line of 4x4s behind me waiting for their turn. That’s the magic about this product, it is so fast and consistent at inflating tyres thanks to the twinmotor design, there’s often no need to set up another smaller compressor in the convoy.
That speed comes at a cost, though, both financially and space-wise. This is an expensive air compressor, coming in at $950; and the case it is mounted to isn’t exactly small. I’m prepared to live with this, as the benefits far outweigh the negatives for my needs.
I’ll never forget how impressed I was using this compressor over nine long days at the recent 4X4 Of The Year test, inflating the tyres of six vehicles in over 40-degree heat, at least two times a day. I was actively trying to push the compressor past its limits, which I am yet to find. It never cut out; it just kept chugging along.
The beauty of this portable unit is everything is stowed safely inside, from the inflator to the air hose to a small air gun for cleaning out air filters on the tracks. I’ve resisted the urge to permanently mount this compressor because of how versatile this portable unit is, even though that would be cool.
Another notable mention is the 4L air tank that sits inside the case and is connected to the compressor. When you turn the compressor on, it will cycle until the tank is full. Then when it’s time to use the compressor, a huge amount of air is forced in to the tyre, taking pressure off the compressor and speeding up inflation times in the process. It’s also perfect for reseating the bead on a damaged tyre, as that sudden rush of air pressure helps no end in that scenario. When you’re finished pumping up a tyre, I’d recommend turning the compressor off to let any remaining air out of the system, which will prevent moisture building up in the tank when not in use.
The ARB portable twin air compressor is certainly not a cheap item, but considering how it has held up and performed consistently for me over the years, it has paid for itself. I’ve done essentially zero maintenance, but once I put those alligator clips on to the vehicle’s battery, this compressor will work … and fast. Here’s to another seven years of service!