Portable Compressors AGAIN...

[solmanic]

OK - I know this topic has been done to death, but this time I'm asking the questions...

I found a couple of references to the TJM "Ox" portable compressor - but a few of youse who say you got them didn't actually file any follow-up (Spudboy - I'm looking in your direction).

How do they compare to the tried and true Bushranger Max-air (which has been my benchmark). TJM are selling the Ox for only $170 which is a big cost saving from $400-odd for the Bushranger. The Ox also has a 5 year replacement warranty, and they swear all the vital internal components are metal, not plastic. Plus it's red - which my wife likes.

[Aaron]

Im looking at the Ox also. I had my eyes on the $350+ ones but couldnt justify it as the type of 4wd'ing I do will only require me to take my tyres from 16psi back to road pressures. I cant see the point of spending hundreds of dollars on something that will pump my tyres up 15 seconds faster... when Im out in the bush playing Im far too relaxed to care about how long things take. Tjm is a reputable enough brand for me

[streaky]

Just as a comparison...In Dubai we buy the Max Air from BushRanger for USD$133.00

I don't know how that converts to Ozzie Dollars...but just to give you an indication.
The ARB compressor is double that. (I prefer the Max Air in terms of performance, price & reliability)

Both come with one year warranty.

I'm can't comment on the Ox...it's not available in the UAE.

S.

[87County]

if you drop into your closest ARB dealer they have a free handout "magazine" with a comparo test in it....

not surprisingly it showed the $300+ arb job to be the best but the other info for all the others is in there

[Patto110]

In at the local tjm shop to get a high lift and had a glance at their compressors.5yr UNCONDITIONAL warranty I was told by the salesman, no questions and for a couple hunge hard to beat?:)

[101RRS]

The current Ox has a list price of $380 so if you can get one for $170 I would go for it - but is it the current model - the current Ox is black not red.

The TJM Budget is red and has a list price of $220 - so you might just double check what model you are looking at.

Both are 'also rans' in the test but when price of the Budget is taken into account it gives reasonable performance for the $$.

All of the Bushranger models performed pretty well compared to their opposition - cheaper models clearly not as good as the more expensive models.

The new ARB would still seem to be the pick on the basis of outright perfromance.

Garry

[solmanic]

Yep - it's the budget one - red (I thought they were both called "Ox"), but still with a 5 year warranty. Unfortunately I have just noticed that it comes without a cigarette lighter plug - just battery leads which is not all that convenient in a Defender (especially when SWMBO is sitting in the passenger seat ;)).

So - is there still anyone out there who can report on its effectiveness?

[gghaggis]

Not sure if Coventry's still sell the Typhoon 150 (double-pumper), but I've just replaced mine here in WA. Cost around $170 for 150 l/min compressor (about twice the output of the ARB one). My last one lasted 2 years - in all honesty, it's still going (just a bit noisy), but for the price I figured it was easier to just replace it.

Cheers,

Gordon

[solmanic]

I'm just after an off-road tyre pump so l/min & speed is not as important as reliability and price. Like someone else said, it doesn't matter if it takes a few more minutes to pump the tyres back up when you're jabbering on about how gnarly the drive was to your mates.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

I'm just after an off-road tyre pump so l/min & speed is not as important as reliability and price. Like someone else said, it doesn't matter if it takes a few more minutes to pump the tyres back up when you're jabbering on about how gnarly the drive was to your mates.



unless the tide is coming in....... :eek:

[Michael2]

In order to speed up tyre inflation with whatever type of compressor you have, why not consider an air tank.

A water type fire extinguisher will be either alloy or stainless, and have a tyre valve in the head for charging it up. Replace the fire hose with an air hose and if you choose to leave the trigger on, then you can charge it up and just press the trigger for an instant gush of air. Otherwise just plumb it all in.

If you keep it removable instead of mounted, then you can leave the water pickup in the extinguisher, fill it with water and charge it up when camping, and place it next to the fire for a quick & easy way to put the fire out. Then drain it and charge it up again for 4WDing.

I picked up seven 2nd hand ones for $5ea the other week for some local aulroians & myself. I'd been thinking of using a scuba tank that failed at 2,500psi, but that was way toooo heavy (15kg).

I'll keep the slow ARB compressor (already mounted) for the difflocks, and use the $70 Max Air look a like for charging the air tank.

[Tank]

OK - I know this topic has been done to death, but this time I'm asking the questions...

I found a couple of references to the TJM "Ox" portable compressor - but a few of youse who say you got them didn't actually file any follow-up (Spudboy - I'm looking in your direction).

How do they compare to the tried and true Bushranger Max-air (which has been my benchmark). TJM are selling the Ox for only $170 which is a big cost saving from $400-odd for the Bushranger. The Ox also has a 5 year replacement warranty, and they swear all the vital internal components are metal, not plastic. Plus it's red - which my wife likes.
I bought a Supercheap "Clone" of the Bushranger Max (which was selling retail around $200) for $79 2 years ago, dont know how much warranty it's got and don't care, it has worked flawlessly for 2 years now, I go off road every weekend and sometimes during the week, I use it to pump my 33's up, sometimes 2 or 3 times a trip, doesn't get hot, does the job and for the price I could buy 5 Supercheap Clones for the price of an OX, geez I could buy a full size 50L 240V 2hp compressor for my w/shop for the cost of these expensive compressors. Here's a tip buy 2 Supercheap Clones for around $150 and you'll have a spare. I have an ARB under the bonnet for the Lockers, it is also setup for inflating tyres, and it's only half as quick as my $79 cheapie, how can anyone justify $400 hard earned on a portable Compressor, Regards Frank.

[loanrangie]

A mate told me that GMC make a small portable air tank thats available at bunnings, it is smaller than the arlec 18 ltr tank that is too bulky for vehicle mounting. Here is a link to it - sorry for the large pic.
http://www.gmcompany.com/i/products/RTC16L_hero_HR.jpg

[101RRS]

I'm just after an off-road tyre pump so l/min & speed is not as important as reliability and price. Like someone else said, it doesn't matter if it takes a few more minutes to pump the tyres back up when you're jabbering on about how gnarly the drive was to your mates.

Go to an ARB store and get their ASRB 4x4 Action Magazine - it is free - it has the 4x4 Magazine comparison tests in there. I suspect they have mixed up the perfromance of the Ox and the Budget though. If it is as printed the Budget is twice the perfromance of the Ox for half the price.

Garry

[numpty]

If you're not after speed of inflation (and you can drive off the beach before reinflating anyway) most of the better brands are fine. The main thing is the duty cycle, as a lot of these compressors have maybe a 20 min cycle and then cut out or overheat. I realise 20 mins is a fair time, but I've used our Bluetongue for 30 mins plus without problems as it has a rated unlimited cycle.

[solmanic]

I tried the Supercrap - Bushranger clone a couple of years ago. It blew its fuse on the first tyre - so I took it back and that was that. No second chances because I was so p!ssed off! It left me driving all over Stradbroke Island on 18PSI veeeery slowly trying to find a service station that was open on a Sunday afternoon.

The air tank ideas are interesting - but not for me. I also have no wish to mount anything.

You are right about the specs for the budget TJM compressor being ass-about compared to the Ox. They are even that way round on their website. 34.8lpm for the Ox vs 72lpm for the red cheapy?!?? The cheapy also lists a 40min duty cycle - which at 72lpm means it should never need to run anywhere near that length of time just pumping up 4 tyres.

I'm bored so I might waste some time and pop over to ARB and check out their free mag.

[solmanic]

OK - I went down to ARB - and OMG, why have I never been in there before? I will be starting a birthday present registry there!

The comparison in their little in-shop mag is quite good, really since it was just lifted from 4x4 mag. The thing it does seem to have confirmed to me however, is that for $170 the budget TJM compressor is almost as good as the $300+ ones and with a five year warranty it certainly looks like the best option. As nice as the ARB one is, with its blue anodised body, industrial snap-on bits and tidy carry case - it still doesn't justify the extra $180.