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28th April, 2014

Hi,

My question relates to air compressors. I am in the market for a compressor as I do quite a bit of sand driving. I would also like to one day get some ARB Air Lockers, but can only afford to do a bit at a time. Do you recommend getting an ARB compressor installed to pump up my tyres and at a later date add the Air Lockers when I have the funds? Or get a portable compressor for now? And if so, can the portable compressor be removed from the carry box and installed to use with diff locks?

Appreciate any help,

Matt

Dear Matt,

The majority of the compressor assembly used in both our CKMA12 on-board air compressor kit and our CKMP12 portable compressor kits is identical, and for this reason you will find that both units share equivalent performance and durability. As this suggests, it is certainly possible to use either kits to function as the other. However, they were tailored to slightly different directions, and for this reason, there may be more involved with adapting a portable compressor to an on-board installation than you think.

Beside the obvious advantages that each compressor type would have over the other, please consider the following lesser known points:

  • The on-board kit contains the complete wiring loom necessary to properly connect your compressor to your battery and operate not only it, but also one or two Air Lockers from inside the cockpit. The portable does not.
  • The on-board kit is assembled with a longer manifold tube to accept one or two Air Locker control solenoids. The portable comes with a lighter weight manifold with only a single larger port for the hose junction.
  • The on-board kit comes with an anti-vibro chassis to combat the damaging effects of heavy road vibrations on your internal compressor components. The portable compressor comes with a chassis designed to integrate with the carry case and maximise the remaining room in the box.
  • The price for installing a CKMA12 on-board kit is standardised, and most of our fitters have done many of them. Adapting a portable compressor for use as an on-board Air Locker activation system is not a standard procedure, and may involve additional costs. It is also worth noting that you can purchase the on-board (CKMA12) kit as well as a complete tyre pump up kit (171302) for slightly less than the price of a portable kit (not including installation).

Good luck with your decision!

Daniel Bongard
(Engineering Supervisor)

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