Tyre Compressor for General Use - Any Recommendations

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  MS Paint on 11/03/2020 - 10:22

  I don't want to go another bargain basement compressor

  around the $100 mark?

  Unfortunately that budget pretty well leaves you with a bargain basement compressor.

  • 

    jollster101 on 11/03/2020 - 10:26

    Thanks for your reply.

    There are some that are ridiculously cheap (~$30-$40) which are what I definitely want to avoid. Then there are various others that chime in at around $80-$130 and upwards from there.

    So I was wondering whether all at the $100 (ish) mark were created equal. There is often a jewel in the rough for a lot of things and was hoping someone may be able to say try "x".

    • 

      MS Paint on 11/03/2020 - 10:31

      +1

      I'm no expert on compressors but I'm guessing (like pressure washers) that so many in your budget range share the same components that they are just rebranding the same stuff.

      I picked up a blackridge unit from SCA years ago. 180 litres per minute. It's nothing special but hasn't failed yet. I do monitor the oil levels though and expel unused air after use. Was cheap and nasty and gets used once a fortnight at a minimum.

      • 

        Roger Engelbretson on 11/03/2020 - 11:25

        I second this - I got the 'ridge rider' from SCA, 160Litres per minute. was about $150 (on 50% sale, but they happen all the time for these compressors). I think the ridge rider has been replaced with another brand at SCA now, but it looks identical, so I assume its the same components. When I bought it the ridge rider was tested against expensive ones (like ARB etc, which go for almost $1,000) in a magazine and it came out second best.

        another good one to look at is the one from 4WDsuperstor, it's only $99 - a mate of mine has this one and it looks identical to mine, it comes with exactly the same accessories, so is potentially the same air compressor just rebranded). its this one: https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/products/air-compressors/th…

        • 

          iDroid on 11/03/2020 - 12:02

          +1

          @Roger Engelbretson: I third this.

          Not great quality but had mine a few years now, it just works.

        • 

          jollster101 on 11/03/2020 - 12:15

          +1

          @Roger Engelbretson: Thanks both.

          The Thumper MKIII looks to be available for $99 including delivery so I may just jump in for that one.

          It looks to tick a lot of the boxes based on advice above and also the detailed info from Brightland.

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  Broke-Ken on 11/03/2020 - 10:57

  +1

  I've got a Ryobi one which I sparingly use, and it works just fine. It's within your budget if you already have Ryobi one+ products and have spare batteries that you can swap out as battery is not included with this item

  https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-one-18v-cordless-air-infla…

  • 

    BobD on 12/03/2020 - 07:51

    +1

    I have this one also and it works OK. It saves me a lot of stuffing around when I go to the servo. It can also be used for inflating an air mattress.

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  Brightland on 11/03/2020 - 10:57

  +3

  I'm assuming you mean one of the small car compressors and not one of the big garage compressors… I can offer some advice on buying one from experiences with a few different ones we've had and used to look out for, but haven't bought anything in that price range.

  I have an AC Pro compressor, I got it about 6 or 7 years ago a country field day from truckline for about $160 or something. A quick google and they sit at about the $200 mark on the internets. You go to a field day and all the farmers are walking out with these every year so they must be ok!

  Friends have other smaller, cheaper ones, they spend half an hour inflating their tyres from 15psi back to highway driving. We can do both mine and my husbands in less than that.

  While the one I have and recommend isn't in your price range - a couple of things to look out for that I would use to prioritise my choice. While you probably already know this - these things can get HOT when they operate, especially if they are small capacity. Look for something with a shorter battery cable but a longer air hose, so once you start using it, you don't have to move it as much. Also avoid the coil airhoses - the little compressor the man keeps in his car has had it's air hose replaced a couple of times because it's perished, and the last couple of trips he's taken the hose off mine so look for a long, rubber type hose. Sadly my unit doesn't fit in his Tetris packing system in his car or he'd just pinch the lot!

  Look for cables and clamps that are a decent quality - some of them are so thin they look like speaker cables that would melt on first use. Don't get the ones that plug into the 12v in your car, get the ones that clamp to the battery.

  Capacity shouldn't be too much of a problem for you though - if you are just checking already inflated tyres on a passenger car, it won't be too much stress on the unit.

  Last thing - get a little tyre pressure checker. The gauges on the compressors can be as far out of whack as the ones at the servo.

  Hope that's helpful! :)

  • 

    jollster101 on 11/03/2020 - 12:17

    Thanks, good info.

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  websterp on 11/03/2020 - 11:00

  +1

  I would be using it for the two cars mainly, no off-road and 4WD so just standard tyres. Possibly something useful for kids inflatables

  If this is the only use case then get a portable air compressor (tankless) and that will also fall within your budget.

  One ofthese perhaps

  Or from Bunnings

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  danger0u5 on 11/03/2020 - 11:24

  I bought this one a few weeks ago from Bunnings. Pretty happy with it.

  https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-12v-240v-dual-power-inflat…

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  Euphemistic on 12/03/2020 - 08:39

  If it’s just for a couple of car tyres can you just too up with air at the servo? This is the most common way I’ve inflated car tyres for years even though I have a compressor at home. Having a pressure gauge means I can check often at home and then top after getting fuel if necessary.

  As for inflatables, anything that suits topping up a car tyre will likely not suit any decent sized inflatable. One needs a small volume of high pressure, the other needs lots of volume and little pressure. I use a cheap inflator for those, runs on 12v so is useful when camping etc.