Viair vs ARB

[16PW]

It's time to get a good air compressor. I was about to pull the trigger on the Viair 400p or 440p. Then I came across the ARB CKMA12 which is the single OBA and puts out about the same output as the 440p. The twin ARB OBA would be awesome, but I can't see myself spending that much on a compressor. I don't want to spend much more than $300 as most of my money will be going towards WK sliders very soon. I also don't need 100% duty cycle. I run my 37s at 40-35 so I know the compressors I mentioned will get the job done for airing back up from 20psi when off road. I've read plenty of people having the Viair 400p and 440p and everyone loves them, but has anyone had the ARB CKMA12? I'm also wondering about mounting locations for the OBA. I know a CO2 tank is the quickest fill up but I won't go that route. Any other recommendations in this price range are appreciated.

[Colibri]

I have the single arb as well as the dual and a co2 tank all in different vehicles. All pretty good options depending on usage, but if you’re just airing up tires 15-20 psi I’d definitely just get a viair if you’re wanting to keep it at $300 or less. You’ll get more bang for your buck with a viair than the ckma12 hands down

[16PW]

I have the single arb as well as the dual and a co2 tank all in different vehicles. All pretty good options depending on usage, but if you’re just airing up tires 15-20 psi I’d definitely just get a viair if you’re wanting to keep it at $300 or less. You’ll get more bang for your buck with a viair than the ckma12 hands down

Have you ever used the Viair 400p or 440p? The single arb is $275. Viair 440p is $280 and 400p is $180. Seemed like it would be pretty cool to have it on board. My typical usage will be adding 20psi max when I get done with trail. That will be once or twice a month so nothing crazy.

[Colibri]

I’ve used several different viair compressors, but hardwired rather than in portable form. The 440 is definitely the way I’d go given your criteria. Perfect for occasional airing up. If you were going to do it on a more regular basis I’d opt for the 450 with its better duty cycle but sounds like that would be overkill for your intended use

[Mule007]

Viair 450 has served us well. 100% duty cycle; auto shut off; 60’ air hose; bit of overkill for our Travel trailer but has helped several times on air up & fellow travelers pusher tires. In our opinion the best value for our needs.

[16PW]

The 400p automatic seems cool but it looks like you have to hold down lever the entire time while filling up. That seems terrible when doing all 4 tires!

[olyelr]

You want portable or permanent?

The Viair 450p is a pretty good bang for your buck in my opinion for a portable unit. If I ever get around to an on-board mounted setup, I think I will be going the dual ARB route.

[16PW]

You want portable or permanent?

The Viair 450p is a pretty good bang for your buck in my opinion for a portable unit. If I ever get around to an on-board mounted setup, I think I will be going the dual ARB route.

There's my dilemma. Portable or permanent both have their perks. If I go portable I'll do the Viair 440p in order to get the quicker fill up. The 450p would be too slow for my fill ups and intended use. Since I was leaning towards the 440, the single ARB OBA caught my attention since it puts out the same output, but has a better duty cycle at 50% which would be plenty for my intended use. It's also in the same ballpark price wise. The only struggle with the ARB would be to figure out where and how to mount it. OBA seems pretty awesome to have. Dual ARB would be great but

[DamageWagon]

I have a 400p, been using it for around 5 years. It has no problem airing up my 37’s, it’s not the fastest out there but we are always doing other things while it’s airing up. Usually packing up camp or reorganizing the cab, making sure stuff in the bed is good to go. I’ve never wished I went for a bigger one even though it might be a pinch faster, it’s just not worth it for me to spend hundreds more to shave a minute off of something I don’t need all that often.

[16PW]

I have a 400p, been using it for around 5 years. It has no problem airing up my 37’s, it’s not the fastest out there but we are always doing other things while it’s airing up. Usually packing up camp or reorganizing the cab, making sure stuff in the bed is good to go. I’ve never wished I went for a bigger one even though it might be a pinch faster, it’s just not worth it for me to spend hundreds more to shave a minute off of something I don’t need all that often.

That is why I was considering the 400p, a little slower but also $100 cheaper than the 440p.

[1pieceatatime]

Last year I bought the portable ARB twin, thinking it would be a more flexible solution than on-board. It has worked well to air up 35s pretty quickly at 100% duty cycle.

I'm now rethinking the "portable" direction - it is one more thing to have to remember, load, and secure in the truck. Bed space is also becoming a premium, we're planning to buy inflatable kayaks to take on our adventures this year. Ultimately I think I'm going to go to an on-board setup this year for simplicity and cargo space efficiency.

[Colibri]

Last year I bought the portable ARB twin, thinking it would be a more flexible solution than on-board. It has worked well to air up 35s pretty quickly at 100% duty cycle.

I'm now rethinking the "portable" direction - it is one more thing to have to remember, load, and secure in the truck. Bed space is also becoming a premium, we're planning to buy inflatable kayaks to take on our adventures this year. Ultimately I think I'm going to go to an on-board setup this year for simplicity and cargo space efficiency.

This is it exactly for me. It needs to be there all day every day so I can’t forget to bring it and it needs to not impact cargo space

[OffroadTreks]

I'm adding two more this year, vs onboard air. Once a tank is empty you have to refill the tank. And I've seen some real world demos showing that a 2.5 gallon tank isn't any faster than the dual compressor.

So this year my plan is to plumb a full system with quick disconnect next to each tire. Four compressors, one for each tire.

Right now, I've been doing two tires at a time one side at a time. And I'm usually faster than the guys with the ARB twin.

[16PW]

I'm adding two more this year, vs onboard air. Once a tank is empty you have to refill the tank. And I've seen some real world demos showing that a 2.5 gallon tank isn't any faster than the dual compressor.

So this year my plan is to plumb a full system with quick disconnect next to each tire. Four compressors, one for each tire.

Right now, I've been doing two tires at a time one side at a time. And I'm usually faster than the guys with the ARB twin.

That's a serious setup! You'll look like a nascar pit crew out on the trail. I saw your build where you mounted the twins in the rambox. Great space for them.

Last year I bought the portable ARB twin, thinking it would be a more flexible solution than on-board. It has worked well to air up 35s pretty quickly at 100% duty cycle.

I'm now rethinking the "portable" direction - it is one more thing to have to remember, load, and secure in the truck. Bed space is also becoming a premium, we're planning to buy inflatable kayaks to take on our adventures this year. Ultimately I think I'm going to go to an on-board setup this year for simplicity and cargo space efficiency.

The storage is another reason why I'm considering the OBA. I'm pretty much maxed out on space under the rear seat and floor bins. I don't want to throw it in the bed either. The least amount of stuff in the bed, the better. Less crap to secure down. Especially since I have my spare thrown in the bed.

[Idaho RC]

The 400p automatic seems cool but it looks like you have to hold down lever the entire time while filling up. That seems terrible when doing all 4 tires!

My wife made a Velcro strap to hold down the handle on the inflator handle on our Viair 450. It's simple and it works great but of course I keep a close eye on it.

[16PW]

The 400p automatic seems cool but it looks like you have to hold down lever the entire time while filling up. That seems terrible when doing all 4 tires!

My wife made a Velcro strap to hold down the handle on the inflator handle on our Viair 450. It's simple and it works great but of course I keep a close eye on it.

Does the auto off function work when you have the handle strapped down like that?

[Idaho RC]

The 400p automatic seems cool but it looks like you have to hold down lever the entire time while filling up. That seems terrible when doing all 4 tires!

My wife made a Velcro strap to hold down the handle on the inflator handle on our Viair 450. It's simple and it works great but of course I keep a close eye on it.

Does the auto off function work when you have the handle strapped down like that?

No auto off. I just keep a close eye on it.

[16PW]

Puma looks interesting, but with the size of it I would want it mounted. Has anyone mounted a puma or seen mounted on a PW?

[PWJouster]

still cant believe how much room there is when this is fit in the ram box.

[16PW]

still cant believe how much room there is when this is fit in the ram box.

How are you liking the twin? The more and more research I do, the more I'm leaning towards the twin. I don't want to end up kicking myself in the ass for buying something that puts out half the output and still spending close to $300, which would be the Viair 440p. Even the Viair OBA setups with tanks don't put out as much as the Twin. The rambox is a great spot for it, but I don't have that. I'm wondering if the twin will fit behind the grill.

[OffroadTreks]

6.16 CFM is pretty impressive. Put one on each side of the truck and air two tires at a time and you'd be fast as fuuuuuuuuuuuk


But also, man are you spending the

I'm going to have about $389.00 in my setup and be able to air up all 4 tires at once. Soooo exciting. Now if it would just stop snowing.

[16PW]

6.16 CFM is pretty impressive. Put one on each side of the truck and air two tires at a time and you'd be fast as fuuuuuuuuuuuk


But also, man are you spending the

I'm going to have about $389.00 in my setup and be able to air up all 4 tires at once. Soooo exciting. Now if it would just stop snowing.

lol It really is a lot of money for that twin. That would cut into my WK slider money which I plan on ordering soon. Which Viair series do you have? I just saw a video of someone making a 4 way split off of a single ARB and aired up their 35s pretty quick. One of the very few perks of living in Phoenix, AZ is there's plenty of desert trails for the winter.

[DamageWagon]

6CFM is pretty sweet from a small compressor! At 12v leave the engine running haha.

[OffroadTreks]

I think doing a shoot out video this year at PWIM might be a great idea. There will be plenty of people with different compressors, if we can get together and setup our tires about the same and run a timer.

Maybe see who can go from 20 psi to 45 psi on a 37 inch tire the fastest. I know most of us with 37's don't run 45 psi, but this would be for testing.

Don't know if anyone has noticed, but the CFM rating is usually at 0psi and the more psi the slower they get.

That twin drops in half at 29 psi. It's still pretty good though.

But the Viair units have a little bit more consistency. I'm still pretty close to 2 CFM from my units max rating of 2.62 by the time I hit 40psi.

I can't find fill rates online for the ARB Twin. But the Viair 400c says it will do a 2.5 gallon tank 0 to 105 PSI at 1 min. 27 sec. (± 05 sec.)

[OffroadTreks]

For the price you pay, if you're not doing an onboard air setup with a big tank, I'd say go buy two Viair 300p or the 400p https://amzn.to/2Xf1rNZ

You can buy two for less than the ARB twin unit and do two tires at once.