Rough Country Compressor

[GATORB8]

I've never understood the idea of purchasing those tiny little twin air compressor setups. I mean sure you can hide them a lot better and they take up less space, but as much as they're charging for them, you can get way more bang for your buck and way faster air up with a slightly bigger system.

Though I haven't put the money into it yet, this is what I'm going to be getting.
https://thorslightningairsystems.com/products/lightning-bolt-totalcontrol-true-dual-air-compressor

RC Twin Air Compressor: 6.16 CFM
ARB Twin Air Compressor: 6.16 CFM
Thor's Lightning Dual Air Compressor: 10.6 CFM

I get the whole size thing, though I just don't understand why you would want to pay more money to spend more time airing up, when you can spend less money to spend less time airing up! Kind of sounds like a win-win to me!

Why pay more for the Thor's lightning when the OG Napa it's based on is cheaper?
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MTWM10215C

I'd have considered the Napa/Maxi Trac back when I got my ARB portable, but it was sold out for like a year solid. The real reason I went on-board was to save the space in the back on trips.

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[SadRobot]

I've never understood the idea of purchasing those tiny little twin air compressor setups. I mean sure you can hide them a lot better and they take up less space, but as much as they're charging for them, you can get way more bang for your buck and way faster air up with a slightly bigger system.

Though I haven't put the money into it yet, this is what I'm going to be getting.
https://thorslightningairsystems.com/products/lightning-bolt-totalcontrol-true-dual-air-compressor

RC Twin Air Compressor: 6.16 CFM
ARB Twin Air Compressor: 6.16 CFM
Thor's Lightning Dual Air Compressor: 10.6 CFM

I get the whole size thing, though I just don't understand why you would want to pay more money to spend more time airing up, when you can spend less money to spend less time airing up! Kind of sounds like a win-win to me!

Just to offer a different perspective and to answer the why of your question......

I started out with a portable compressor and switched to the under passenger mounted ARB twin and here are my reasons:

1. portable is heavy. I have tiny little T-rex arms and dragging that thing around the jeep was no fun

2. I kept burning my arms on the compressor. That thing got hot like the cornballer

3. After I was done I couldn't put it back in the bag because it was so hot so I had to either just have it loose in the back or wait for it to cool down to put it back.

4. The ARB twin is pretty fast. I can get all tires inflated in about 6 minutes.

So those are my reasons. Mostly it's the convenience and also the burning of the arms.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Why pay more for the Thor's lightning when the OG Napa it's based on is cheaper?
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MTWM10215C

I'd have considered the Napa/Maxi Trac back when I got my ARB portable, but it was sold out for like a year solid. The real reason I went on-board was to save the space in the back on trips.

Interesting!!! It looks exactly like the Thor's Lightning one. I wonder if they both have them made by the same Chinese manufacturer? ?

I bookmarked that page, appreciate the heads up!! ?

I noticed they don't list the CFM at all, but I have to imagine it's the same 10.6.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Just to offer a different perspective and to answer the why of your question......

I started out with a portable compressor and switched to the under passenger mounted ARB twin and here are my reasons:

1. portable is heavy. I have tiny little T-rex arms and dragging that thing around the jeep was no fun

You lost me at dragging it around the Jeep...

While I agree with the guy above who said the Napa version is cheaper for the same thing (and I'm going to buy that compressor instead), the greatness of the Thor's Lightning air-up system Is that you can air up all four tires at once!

https://thorslightningairsystems.co...apid-4-tire-air-system?variant=43299566387456

Albeit before they started selling these four tire air up systems more recently that I've seen, you would have had to make this system yourself back in the day, which isn't terribly complicated to do.

So if you were lugging around the big compressor, I could see it being annoying. Which is why you should mount this somewhere on your vehicle in the cargo area and air up all four tires from there.

Basically there's no reason to move the bigger better compressor around.

Size wise you can actually fit the Napa or the Thor's Lightning compressor underneath your seat as well. It's bigger but it's not so big that you can't fit under there comfortably.

So at this point the argument becomes:
Do you want to spend more money for less?



Here, I even did some measurements for you:

Personally I would make my own mount rather than spending $200 for one of the Thor's Lightning mounts, but I mean teach their own!

Though realistically, mounting it in the cargo area would make more sense.

 

[SadRobot]

You lost me at dragging it around the Jeep...

While I agree with the guy above who said the Napa version is cheaper for the same thing (and I'm going to buy that compressor instead), the greatness of the Thor's Lightning air-up system Is that you can air up all four tires at once!

https://thorslightningairsystems.co...apid-4-tire-air-system?variant=43299566387456

Albeit before they started selling these four tire air up systems more recently that I've seen, you would have had to make this system yourself back in the day, which isn't terribly complicated to do.

So if you were lugging around the big compressor, I could see it being annoying. Which is why you should mount this somewhere on your vehicle in the cargo area and air up all four tires from there.

Basically there's no reason to move the bigger better compressor around.

Size wise you can actually fit the Napa or the Thor's Lightning compressor underneath your seat as well. It's bigger but it's not so big that you can't fit under there comfortably.

So at this point the argument becomes:
Do you want to spend more money for less?



Here, I even did some measurements for you:

Personally I would make my own mount rather than spending $200 for one of the Thor's Lightning mounts, but I mean teach their own!

Though realistically, mounting it in the cargo area would make more sense.

If you mounted it inside would you need to create your own wiring to get power to the battery? It looks like it comes with alligator clips.

Do you have the 4 tire system? How fast does it air up? I'm already setup with my ARB twin but my brother may have a need in the future for an air compressor system.

 

[GATORB8]

You lost me at dragging it around the Jeep...

While I agree with the guy above who said the Napa version is cheaper for the same thing (and I'm going to buy that compressor instead), the greatness of the Thor's Lightning air-up system Is that you can air up all four tires at once!

https://thorslightningairsystems.co...apid-4-tire-air-system?variant=43299566387456

Albeit before they started selling these four tire air up systems more recently that I've seen, you would have had to make this system yourself back in the day, which isn't terribly complicated to do.

So if you were lugging around the big compressor, I could see it being annoying. Which is why you should mount this somewhere on your vehicle in the cargo area and air up all four tires from there.

Basically there's no reason to move the bigger better compressor around.

Size wise you can actually fit the Napa or the Thor's Lightning compressor underneath your seat as well. It's bigger but it's not so big that you can't fit under there comfortably.

So at this point the argument becomes:
Do you want to spend more money for less?



Here, I even did some measurements for you:

Personally I would make my own mount rather than spending $200 for one of the Thor's Lightning mounts, but I mean teach their own!

Though realistically, mounting it in the cargo area would make more sense.

The Napa is the OG. It was branded "Maxi Trac" and came out a few years back and it blew up and was sold out for a long time. There are some weak points and a bunch of videos out there that you probably want to check out for "upgrades" on youtube. Note 300 Liters per minute = 10.6 cfm. There are probably 10 clones out there in addition to the Thor's Lightning, including Up-Down Air, Morrflate, EZ Flate, etc.

Most of those also sell 4 ways, but it's a super easy DIY for around $100. I have my original 4 way and a 2x2-way for my new on-board setup.

Example parts from Amazon:

 

[Deleted User 38384]

35" tires: 12psi to 35psi in 5 minutes (All four tires)



Damn, I didn't even know you could use the for tire air up system to air down all at once. I mean personally I'll stick with my coyote system because that way I don't have to keep checking on it, but that's pretty nuts!

 

[Deleted User 38384]

If you mounted it inside would you need to create your own wiring to get power to the battery? It looks like it comes with alligator clips.

Do you have the 4 tire system? How fast does it air up? I'm already setup with my ARB twin but my brother may have a need in the future for an air compressor system.

Yeah I was noticing that myself. So if you were to mount it in the cargo area, I think we all have that 12 volt plug back there. You could easily enough strip the clamp wires and attach your own 12 volt plug. And then just plug it into the cargo area. 12 volts is 12 volts no matter you're getting it from the battery or the plug. ?‍

 

[GATORB8]

Yeah I was noticing that myself. So if you were to mount it in the cargo area, I think we all have that 12 volt plug back there. You could easily enough strip the clamp wires and attach your own 12 volt plug. And then just plug it into the cargo area. 12 volts is 12 volts no matter you're getting it from the battery or the plug. ?‍

No where near enough power there, you'd pretty much immediately blow the fuse.

The twin has dual 40 amp fuses. From the site, the TL is fused at 90 amps.

You'll need a new run, nothing on the Jeep factory is setup for that, including the tow harness.

 

[SadRobot]

35" tires: 12psi to 35psi in 5 minutes (All four tires)



Damn, I didn't even know you could use the for tire air up system to air down all at once. I mean personally I'll stick with my coyote system because that way I don't have to keep checking on it, but that's pretty nuts!

5 minutes is pretty good.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

No where near enough power there, you'd pretty much immediately blow the fuse.

The twin has dual 40 amp fuses. From the site, the TL is fused at 90 amps.

You'll need a new run, nothing on the Jeep factory is setup for that, including the tow harness.

Interesting.

Man these guys thought of everything!!!

20 ft of 6 gauge copper wiring in that kit specifically for Thor's lightning compressor, with a 150 amp relay for added safety. Only $100. By comparison I found this 25 ft of 4 ga. Braided cable, copper coated aluminum for about $40 bucks on Amazon. I don't know, it's a bit more money, but the kits all there, kind of makes that $100 kit worth it.

I feel like we're getting a bit away from the point here. Legitimately, it's a Wrangler you could spend a fortune on this thing do this whole setup for crazy bucks, air up in 5 minutes air down all at once with the same kit, I could see someone easily spending $1,000 with Thor's Lightning between the mounts, the compressor, the air systems, etc.

Personally I just plan on getting their four point connect system for the $200 bucks and at this point I'll be purchasing the Napa compressor for $150. I don't carry a lot so this really no point in me trying to mount something. I'll be adding some storage containers on the roof rack here before too long, I'm sure some of this stuff will go in those containers when I do hit the trail.

But legitimately all you actually need to do this system is the Napa compressor and the Thor's Lightning multi-tire kit, for a total of the same price of just the ARB dual compressor.

 

[pittperson]

My ARB just showed up, still in the box. Any opinions between the RC and ARB? If I can save $300 for more toys, the ARB is going back.

 

[cosmokenney]

I put the RC in a little while back and the thing has performed pretty well so far. It will do all 4 37" tires from 15 to 34 PSI, with 4-way hose system, in about 10-12 minutes. I also swapped out the included pressure shut off for one that shuts off at a lower pressure. The included one shuts off at something like 120 or 150 psi and the unit really struggled to get that high. So the 100 psi switch cuts it off almost immediately.

 

[GATORB8]

I put the RC in a little while back and the thing has performed pretty well so far. It will do all 4 37" tires from 15 to 34 PSI, with 4-way hose system, in about 10-12 minutes. I also swapped out the included pressure shut off for one that shuts off at a lower pressure. The included one shuts off at something like 120 or 150 psi and the unit really struggled to get that high. So the 100 psi switch cuts it off almost immediately.

Any chance you have a link for the 100 psi switch?

 

[GATORB8]

My ARB just showed up, still in the box. Any opinions between the RC and ARB? If I can save $300 for more toys, the ARB is going back.

It looks like they changed it pretty substantially from the initial release version we have. Doesn't look like as much of a straight copy now.

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