On Board Air

[pskhaat]

At the `Rally' a few people made reference to 12v air compressors and that markdown price for a really good compressor that was going for ~$25 or so.

Was that compressor called the `Tornado'? by any chance? I'm looking to add OBA. I'm also thinking about getting TWO long-duty compressors plumbed together into a common tank for redundancy's sake.

[pskhaat]

Let me answer my own thread. I found the ``Superflow Mini Compressor MV50.'' I believe this is it.

[GeoRoss]

That is the one. It takes about 15 minutes to get all four of my 285's from ~22psi to 38psi and then I give the compressor about 5 minutes to cool down as it gets very hot. Not as fast a CO2, but takes up less room.

It is new to me so I don't know about longevity. Kevin Patterson loves both of his.

Ross

[pskhaat]

Hmmm, maybe I'll have to have two just to get the 35s from 15psi -> 50psi :( I better start Froogling for a better price...

[Brian McVickers]

I also have one and really like it.
It is however a bit fickle and sometimes you need to shake it or hit it to get it going! For $25 I guess I wont mind digging into it, cleaning and rebuilding it. It's most likely a wiring issue.

Note - for any extremely isolated long range trips I would seriously consider a different unit.

The MV50 will however put 20lb back into my four 265/75s in about 12 minutes

[datrupr]

I am also looking into the MV50 unit. It did not take long to put 10lbs in each of my tires when I borrowed Brians unit. I just need to find a place that is still carrying them.

[datrupr]

I just checke dChecker online they are showing no MV50's available, and Pep Boy's does have them for $70. I am not sure they are worth $70, but if I can find one again for $25 I will be all over it!

[flyingwil]

I believe the MV-50 was discontinued, it was replaced with the MF-1050 by DV Innovations, and is sold through Pep Boys, and 4Wheel Parts, You can pick them up on sale for under $60 on sale at Pep-Boys, just watch the adds. Checker was the company that sold the MV-50, but word got around pretty quick in July that they were going for under $25.00 and they are all gone, that I know of.

[datrupr]

I checked with the checker near me a few weeks ago and they said that they were all out, but they had a shipment coming in at the end of the week. I went back on that Saturday and the two that they got in had already sold :( The manager did not think he would be getting anymore in :( And if the same model is for sale at Pep Boys for $70 I am not sure they are really worth it. I dunno though. Maybe I should investigate a bit further.

[Brian McVickers]

A few months back a buddy of mine called Checker corporate and they did an inventory search to find some in California. He lives in Phoenix but had a friend in the area of CA pick it up for him. Maybe after $10 of shipping it could still be a good deal?

[OverlandZJ]

Are you guys using air just for airing tires back up? I'v used a few of the cheaper ones and they never lasted for me. I'v been using a Quik-Air for the last few years and although a sizable price differnce the results are much improved.

I have another On Board Air swap planned for the XJ. I'll be using a York Compressor (belt driven) that'll allow me to reseat beads, run air tools etc. This conversion can be done for a couple hundred. Much better than a Quik-Air/ARB compressor etc.

I'm sure you guys know about this place: http://www.kilbyenterprises.com/
Although i dont know the complete list of vehicles they offer these products for.

[pskhaat]

Wow, $0.8 -> $1k+ !!! That's almost a roof top tent!

[BajaTaco]

I think there is a group buy going on at MUD for those MV-50 types. Not for $25 though. You may want to PM Goodtimes on this forum too - he has one and also complained of the duty cycle I think (shuts off pretty quick in summer time here in AZ). He has 33" tires on his Rubicon.

[calamaridog]

You can buy those at Pep Boys for $59.99. At that price, they are a super deal for what you get.

I have used mine to air up my 4 - 33" tires and my buddies 4 - 31" tires and no problems.

[Scott Brady]

I use the ExtremeAir unit from Extreme Outback Products. At 4LPM it will run most air tools without a tank. It is also very quiet, more like a V8 rumble than 4cyl scream.

[goodtimes]

You may want to PM Goodtimes on this forum too - he has one and also complained of the duty cycle I think (shuts off pretty quick in summer time here in AZ). He has 33" tires on his Rubicon.

Yes, I did run into a duty cycle problem with mine the first time I used it. But, to be honest, I was likely due to enviromental issues. It was 108* outside (Florence Junction in July), and my compressor is mounted under the hood of the jeep....making it even hotter. I filled up 3 of my 33" tires from 10psi to 35psi before it overheated and shut down. I have not had a problem with it since then (also, I have not been trying to air up when it was that hot out.....). The next time I need to air up when it is that hot, I will not go to 35psi...I'll stop around 28psi which is plenty to get my 4000 pound jeep home on it's D rated tires.

[goodtimes]

I use the ExtremeAir unit from Extreme Outback Products. At 4LPM it will run most air tools without a tank. It is also very quiet, more like a V8 rumble than 4cyl scream.

I think Scott's compressor it quieter than mine (mine only moves 2.4Lpm).

Scott, what is the amp draw on yours? Mine will pull 30 amps (FLA), at 12 volts.

[Suty]

I , like Scott, am running the Extreme Air from Outback products. I like it very much and I have a 2.5 Gal Tank in the bed that i work off of instead of the compressor itself. I can run air tools, but I think they would work better if I had more stored air and better quality tools. Here's a couple of Pics' Tu Comps , Suty

[calamaridog]

I used mine again this last weekend. Aired up my 33's and my brother-in-laws 31's. I carry this thing in the Land Cruiser all the time now. Got one for the Jeep. Got one for my parents 4runner. You really can't beat this thing for $59.99 at Pep Boys.

Sorry I missed out on the $24.99 closeouts but this thing is worth $59.99 for sure.

Someday, after more important mods, I will pony up for the Extreme Air.

[jim65wagon]

I missed the 24.99 deal also! Still bought one at the higher price, haven't used it yet but from the sounds of it it will work a lot faster than my trusty TruckAir (100% duty cycle but takes 45 minutes for all four tires).

[MaddBaggins]

I just carry a 10lb Co2 tank. I got about a dozen fills of all 4 tires from appx 18psi to 35psi on one tank. I didn't keep real good track of how many fills I got on the last tank. Plan on keeping better record on the next one.

[pskhaat]

Can they be mounted horizontally? (these MV50s)?

[p1michaud]

I've been thinking of setting up an OBA system for quite some time. I have picked up an MV-50 when they were $24.99 US.

Today, I was driving by a store called Parts for Trucks (http://www.partsfortrucks.com/) and went in to see what they had. They service and sell parts for big rigs. Well they had 2 styles of air tanks that are used in the air brake systems for big rigs. From what I understand, the brake systems typically run between 100 to 125 psi. I picked up a rather large tank, 6.4 Gal, for $49 CDN taxes in! :jump:
The only catch is that the ports are 3/4", 3/8" and 1/4". Not an issue since the store also carried a full line of bushings, fittings, adaptors, etc...

I'll post up a few pics of the tank once I get my digital camera back. For the time being, I'll be installing the sytem and using the MV-50 as a compressor. I intend to upgrade to the ExtremeAire unit once the funds are collected. The plan is to install everything so that once I can afford the ExtremeAire I'll be able to just remove and replace the MV-50. All the relays, circuit breakers, wiring, tank, hoses and fittings will be able to handle the ExtremeAire.

My main uses will be to inflate tires, activate a front ARB in the future and run some light duty air tools.

I'm not sure how long the MV-50 will last or if it can be mounted on it's side, but for $24.99 why not give it a try?

Cheers :beer:,
P