Sometimes it's easy to forget what holds a car up; We get caught up in the technology on the modern automobile, the stylish looks, speed or power, the comfort...But none of that would matter if it wasn't for one simple thing, a thing we all actually need as well; Air.
Without air in the tyres a car simply doesn't work properly. Sure, there are vehicles that have solid wheels, like a forklift for instance, but generally automobiles use pneumatic tyres - Tyres filled with air [or nitrogen] under pressure. Take away the air and the vehicle is useless for driving generally.
Some weeks ago I shredded a tyre, tore the sidewall completely away from the rest of the tyre due to the heat build-up that occurred, because of the tyre having lost most of its air. It's a potentially dangerous scenario and quite costly also.
Of course there's times when one removes the air from a tyre on purpose - A four wheel driver will air-down before tackling off road tracks which helps provide better traction through a larger tread-footprint and helps prevent staking [punctures] as a semi-deflated tyre is more pliable than a fully-aired tyre plus it provides additional suspension benefits for a better ride on the rough stuff. It means less impact on the environment also as the larger footprint prevent tracks getting cut up.
The tyre on my off-road camper trailer that decided it would shred itself. You can see the spare about to go on also.
What goes down must come up
Generally I run 40psi on the road in my Landcruiser tyres but when I hit the loose gravel and tracks I air-down to 28psi straight away. Of course, not if I'm only going a short way on the dirt. But what goes down must come up as running on deflated tyres on the bitumen will destroy the tyres quickly and possibly lead to issues like I had above. So one must have a means to air-up prior to driving on sealed roads.
There's a multitude of products to do the job, compressors, designed to air-up vehicle tyres but they're not all the same and will not all do the job efficiently, or at all, so care must be taken when choosing what's right for the job at hand. This is what I use.
ARB portable high output air compressor
As you can see above, the unit is contained in its own carry box which I stow in the car at all times. The compressor unit is mounted in the box along with a few other items including the inflation gauge, my tyre deflator [used for quick deflation], hoses and the battery-connection cables.
I added an additional hose so I have 12 metres all up; I often tow my camper trailer and need the air to reach back to its wheels. The deflator doesn't come with the unit either, I just store it in the box so I don't lose it or have to hunt for it when I need to air-up.
I really love having this unit as it allows me to check the tyre pressures on my vehicles easily without having to leave home. Tyres should be checked weekly, for pressure [and damage], and when the vehicle has been at rest for at least three hours or false readings may be obtained - Heat changes tyre pressure of course right?
More importantly is the ability to air-up no matter where I am, including in the outback after off-roading or after beach driving for which I air-down to about 18-20psi. With the cost of four wheel drive tyres it makes sense not to damage them by driving deflated on hard surfaces and it's simply dangerous anyway.
How does it work
One simply pops the bonnet [hood] and connects positive to positive and negative to negative on the battery terminals of the cranking battery. This powers it up and when the car is the started the compressor can be used. The vehicle is started so that the compressor doesn't drain the battery - Cranking batteries are not designed for long-drainage but a quick burst of power after which they need recharging, while the car runs.
Plug in the air hose to the compressor outlet and the inflation gauge to the other end and one is ready to start pumping up the tyres. By this point I've usually gone around and removed all the valve caps from the tyres so it's a simple matter of going from tyre to tyre and inflating to the desired pressure, replacing the cap as each is done. The last image below shows the inflation gauge in action and below the battery connection by clamps.
The compressor will inflate from completely flat but usually I only need to go from around 18psi as a minimum as I rarely air-down below that. It will inflate to 40psi from 20psi in 30-45 seconds or so per tyre and I rarely rest it. If I was doing two vehicles I'd let it cool down a little in between each vehicle though. There's no storage tank on my unit, it just runs constantly, but that's not so much of an issue as I'm usually only doing six tyres as a maximum, my vehicle and camper trailer.
Multi-purpose
I have fittings that allow the unit to be used as an air-blower also - This comes in handy when blowing dust or sand out of things out in the field and I use it at home for the same thing, sometimes on my guns and equipment.
The compressor unit can be mounted in the vehicle but I choose not to as I move it from vehicle to vehicle. In the advent of the vehicle having air-diff-lockers it's required as the compressor is used to lock up and un lock the differentials. It generally goes in the engine bay but can be fitted just about anywhere including underneath as they are water resistant and tough. Cheaper units simply would nod stand up to that treatment.
There's also a twin compressor version but it's quite heavy, incredibly costly and for me it's overkill. It's usually used by racing car, motorbike and go-kart teams and tradespeople as they simply mount them in their race-trailers or trucks where size and weight isn't a factor. In this case they usually buy the optional storage tank so they have on-demand air at all times as the compressor cycles whenever the tank-pressure drops.
Price
The unit I have was $377AUD plus another $37 for the additional hose and $79 for the inflator gauge. So it's not cheap really, but I'm the buy once cry once guy and prefer not to buy sub-standard equipment. The twin compressor portable unit is $877AUD and all it would do for me is be faster - I deal with a little longer inflation time to save the money.
The on board units are a bit cheaper to buy but wiring looms and locker air-activation units are required, plus labour costs so they are far more costly in the long run.
If you like you can visit the compressor section of ARB's website and check out their massive range of equipment in general by clicking this link to ARB's website.
For a fellow like me who is often out in remote areas four wheel driving having the means to air-up is critical. It's not just about having aired-down, it's also to take care of business when punctures happen, and they do. It's one thing having a plug-kit on board to repair the puncture but without air you're going nowhere.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I did this post for @bigtom13 who asked for it so ask me anything you like mate. Yeah, it took me a while but I got it done Tom.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Discord: galenkp#9209
An amazing detailed post on a very interesting set-up. If I ever wanted to do proper offroading across Russia, something like this would be amazing. Thank you once again for another great post
Hey mate, thanks for commenting. It's a cool little unit and so handy. Off-roading for me would be vastly different without it. Not having the ability to air down and up would limit my options of where I could go.
Nothing worse than a substandard air compressor when outback somewhere. People also run them at 20 deg in their costal suburbs but they are much less efficient as they heat up and if the ambient air is 45 C they quickly heat up and become very inefficient. Nice post. Sorry about the tyre.
Good points you make; Those inferior compressors are slow, unreliable and, whilst cheap, are rarely worth wasting time with.
I've had this ARB one for six years and used it alot with never an issue. I change the filter now and then and that's about it. There are some assorted spares if it was to fail but that rarely happens with this unit. Expensive, as most ARB stuff is, but worth it in my opinion.
Ah yes, the tyre that decided to let go. I've since fitted a tyre pressure monitor system to the trailer and my Landcruiser so slow leaks, fast deflation and under/over-pressure conditions all report wirelessly to a head unit. Problem solved.
Thanks for commenting. I hope you and the family are well. 😊
Thanks mate; we are good. Coming back to Oz for 18 months or so in August (assuming our flights go) .
Oh that's cool; The great return! Scomo will be at the arrival gate to welcome you home - He does that for all returning expats. 😄
I assume you're staying at your own place although I guess you could just moor and use the boat.
We are storing the boat; and going back to our cabin in the woods.
Cool! Cabin in the woods is my style for sure. I'd say the scrub has rejuvenated pretty well from the fires in 19/20 too.
I was unaware about forklift tyres before this post. I don't drive and these things are looking aliens for me about air down etc haha. This post is giving handy information about air in tyres and problem regarding this I am going to bookmark it so when I learn driving I would keep in mind these tips.
Well, you know the post isn't about forklift tyres right? It was just a reference I made. Thanks for taking a look and when you start driving I think it will be a good idea to know about tyres and tyre pressure as not knowing can cause issues.
Thanks for your comment.
We could really confuse him with just the smallest effort :) I know of an effort to make airless offroad tires for motorcycles. (They are weird looking but they are in a relatively late stage of development).
We had a local company that would put foam (like the spray insulation) into Bobcats that our company rented out. That one thing saved a lot of 'flat tire' and 'tire off the rim' service calls. Lotta dickheads around that don't know how to use equipment.
Tyres are a pretty broad topic really I guess and there's loads of options and technology going on also. That foam thing sounds interesting.
The foam doesn't seem to work at high speed, but at construction site speed it works well. There are also the 'run flat' option that have an incredibly strong sidewall and will go quite a few miles with a very low air option.
I've been using a 'gt' quality tire on the connie with a really stiff sidewall. It's a pain in the ass to mount but it's gotten me home (or to a safe port) with a non pluggable leak... The first one I put on the rear is still laying in my yard. I had a near death experience with a tent spike on the road that tore the sidewall and I got home about 15 miles. I didn't care about the tire but didn't want to wreck the rim. Mission accomplished.
I'm not a huge fan of that foam stuff although it does the job, as does that goo they pump into tyres to get a few extra miles out of them when flat - Many sports cars come with it as there's no room for a spare tyre. I prefer a spare, but then I'm an off-roader so it's not surprising.
You gave me an idea though, a post about plugging a tyre. I might get one done. :)
This company used some kind of propriety foam product and it worked really good on low speed high load tires. As I recall it was around $250 per tire in the '90s. Not even remotely cheap.
You mentioned using Nitrogen. For years I have used 76% Nitrogen in my tires. Normal air :) I had a friend that was a specialty machinist for Goodyear in Akron, Ohio. He told me that the tires/wheels for Craig Breedlove's LSR car had wheels and tires that were solid. He machined the tires to spec on the wheels. I guess that works at over 750 mph.
I've plugged maybe 10 motorcycle tires over the years. I had one that was almost brand new (I'd ridden from here to central Texas on it) and I put better than 12,000 miles on that plug. You can buy everything you need to have fresh plugs at WalMart. Cheap.
Yes I know the post was not about forklift tyres but that was a fact which I didn't know before. Yes hope I will drive very soon. Thank you 😊
Ah ok, sorry I wasn't sure. Language barriers and all you know.
Dirt driving and tar driving totally different beasts, many don't consider tyre pressure. Talking of beasts that is one mean off road vehicle to go into deep bush Awesome!
Something I have pondered over the years is why when learning to drive some basic tutorials about tyres and tyre pressure are not even considered for normal road driving. Check mirrors and tyres are pumped very little else then behind the wheel.... no, learning a bit more can save your butt on the road.
I agree. There's a girl at my work who a couple months ago had a deflated tyre. I told her as I'd noticed it and suggested she get it pumped on her lunch break at the service station. She told me she'd never done that before. 22 years old and driveling since 17. 🙄
Changing a tyre confuses many....,Slow leak check valve, easy enough a little spit on the end of the finger and place it where you pump the air in to check...
Yup, most probably the first thing my brother taught me was how to change a tyre. Helped a friend work on his VW Bug dismantle almost completely greasing parts and replacing, one learns if you prepared to get your hands dirty!
I heard a story not so long ago of a person getting a flat tyre in a fairly remote area and when attempting to change it couldn't demount the spare from underneath the vehicle as the bolts or mechanism was rusted over. It took hours and the driver was unable to do it without assistance fortunately found in a nearby house. The woman and her child were out in the hot sun for hours [no water on board the vehicle] whilst the driver and the helper tried to do the job. [Luckily the woman in the house provided some shelter.]
Moral of the story - Know what you're doing and make sure you keep things in working order. And be prepared.
Anyway, I don't think a person should be driving a vehicle without knowing how to properly check tyre pressures and change a flat tyre out. Just my opinion.
Spare under the vehicle is worst design feature, in the boot or back tail on larger vehicle more desirable.
Watched a person on a slight angle try change tyre not placing a brick or rock behind the good tyres to hold firm, gives me the heebie jeebies.... imagine weight, jumps off jack 🙃no thought process.
Lol...Not chocking the tyres is one of the biggest mistakes people make. I've seen it all.
Check tyre pressure, water and oil... Done thing once weekly, modern cars who know even how to open the bonnet....
For fun an old advertisement of French rally driver out in the bush and our locals guys lost in translation....
Wow! That's a cool set up, well though out and really functional. In all honesty I use a 5 gallon pressure tank when I know I'll be letting air out. We do have a little sand around here after all. I like this idea a lot. If I go through with building my threatened 'outlander' I'll get one of these.
Damn. I just went to the website. I probably should be pissed at you for giving me that sort of rabbit hole to jump down. That's my kind of place. Exotic and amazing gear.
I have a little bitty 12v compressor that lives with me in a motorcycle saddlebag. I also have a tire plugging kit that I drag around and has saved my bacon a few times. Mine has a couple of options for power including a 'lighter plug' option that I use on the connie. On the V Strom I have an SAE plug that I attached to the battery. It has alligator clips for the battery, too.
I've actually used this quite a lot. I built a portable sprayer system for spraying weeds or shampooing carpets and this works perfect to charge it :)
It's amazing the uses one can find for compressed air but certainly for proper Off-roading it's required to air-up after airing-down which opens up opportunity to get a little further down the track.
Those smaller units have the place, like on a bike, just as the larger units have their place. I'm happy with mine though, keeps me aired.
That spray system sounds interesting, I could use one around the place for poison as those pump sprays never do the job properly.
I bought a stainless steel pump sprayer, added a schrader valve (tire fill valve), deleted the pump and changed out the hose, valve and spray head. I had about $100 into by the time I was done, but at the time we were using it routinely to spray carpet shampoo evenly.
After I was done with the cleaning business I started using it for weed control and big bug death. Works just fine and has for better than 10 years.
Sounds simple enough for a MacGuyver-dude like you! A good idea though. I need to find a solution for weed spray. Those hand pump bottles suck and the larger capacity ones never hold pressure and leak poison from the hoses. Maybe this could be a solution.
Hi Galen.
Cool post. Kinda jealous of your setup. Sorry about the shredded tyre, it's the worst when it's the sidewall 'cause you gotta chuck that sucker. Although this is very technical, you can get away from air or nitrogen compressed tyres. It's called a tank.
Ok granted it doesn't look stylish or swanky but hey, it's a thought. I love the idea of cruising around in a tank type vehicle, but perhaps it's my pop cult culture of TankGyrl showing through? If shtf it might be the best option?
I'm pretty happy with my off-road camper trailer and I've always worked hard to make sure I have the appropriate tow-vehicle and off-roader. Having said that, if I could get away with a tank I'd do it!
I test drove one once as I was seriously thinking about getting one. The salesperson took this footage of me making a little [intentional] boo boo.
I didn't get it in the end as it didn't come in the right colour.
Hahaha Galen. You always make me laugh. I needed that this morning!
Here there is a serious problem with mini bus taxis that do not know, obey or care about the road rules and tend to cause a lot of crap. I have actually fantasized about driving over mini bus taxis with a tank just like that boo boo. Dude, they are epic and nobody is gonna f*** with you on the road (or off road) if you're in a tank. We can dream right? :)
Lol. Happy to bring you some mirth in the morning.
Please don't get me started about wanting to drive a tank every day - I'll only get depressed because I can't have one.
One of my mates is a Captain in the army and commends a tank unit, three tanks. He says there's nothing quite like being in a tank when it fires and the only problem is they don't get to live-fire as much as he wants. The use tank-simulators mainly. I have not been in one that is firing but I've been near and it's pretty awesome. But in truth I just want to drive over things in one. On the road. Like, people in cars who get in my way. Or just any really. 😂
Well it's good to know that there are at least a few people in the world that would be happy to drive around in a tank.
2009 I found this one somewhere in England :)
I spent a day at the tank museum in Dorset a couple years ago. Amazing. You should get there if you like tanks. (You'll need a day.)
https://tankmuseum.org/
Some Tigers.
I would love to see that. Definitely worth a full day. Shot for sharing with us.
I live right near Yuma Proving Ground where the Army does all of it's vehicle testing (and much more). They have a static display on the road to the main gate which features maybe 20 of the units they have tested including tanks from the WWII Sherman (pictured) to the Abrams. It's always fun to see what's on their 'desert test loop'.
That is so cool. You are very fortunate to see these regularly. I don't even think that South Africa has tanks and if they did, they probably lost them or they were stolen lol. Beautiful piece right there. Now I really do want a tank.
The problem with those track kits is the wear. 1000 miles is a LONG ways on those. But it'll go in snow or mud or just about anything else :)
That is true, you'd have to take a few spare sets with you and I can't imagine that they are light either, but I agree about the all-terrain.
I get to thinking about things and get in trouble. In this case I remembered this photo which is actually a crop out of another photo that I took in NE Oregon last summer. This is called a 'snow cat' and you see them around in the high country. It's specifically set up for snow, but it's good in any snow condition.
Hi Tom. That is ridiculously cute. I want one. We don't get snow here much but I'd be happy to drive around in that. Very cool
They are pretty darn cool. Most of the Ski Resorts have several and they are routinely used by the National Forest Service to groom cross country trails. And, obviously, there are some in private hands. I'm guessing this one is used to feed cows when the snow gets too deep.
It's awesome that they are multi-purpose like that, but I'm so biased right now after looking at tanks that if I had the choice, I'd choose the tank any day.
120 psi in my big 10 tires.
Yeah, and they cost more too!
This sounds like a must, interestingly i've never used anything more than a cheap compressor, perfect for a flatty rather than a proper puncture. When we got the Xsara we needed a booster pack, this conveniently came with a half decent pumper upper, it now lives in Dorothy.
This looks a proper kit, accurate, good quality and reliable a must but offroading and long adventures, ta muchly @galenkp
Those small units that generally run off a 12v socket can be ok for a little top up now and then but they'll never work so well for big off-road tyres, especially when attempting to air-up from very low pressures. I had one of them back in the day when I was a kid but now need something more robust. It's a great unit and to be honest I don't think the money is too bad.
Shredded tyres look scary x_x
Yep...Not as scary as Saturday night movie night without snacks though! Lol.
Or anytime without snacks I guess. 😇