Onboard Air Showdown: Kings Thumper Max Mk II, ARB Twin and TJM Pro Series Twin 12V Air Compressors
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- čas přidán 5. 08. 2024
- Buy your Thumper Max II here: amzn.to/3qSmiu5
In this episode of Lock your Hubs 4WDing, we compare the performance of the Supacenter Thumper Max II vs the ARB Twin and the TJM Twin Air compressors!
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What modifications would you like to see done and tested on the Thumper Max?
Remote air intake & filter so it can be mounted under the tub
In-line air tank
Heat recovery 😂
@@y0uCantHandle I could just about run the 80 on the heat that thing generates! 😁
Love your work 👍 Would love to see you mod it for permanent installation - wiring, air tank, remote on/off etc
I've modded my Thumper Max quite a bit. Bigger cable, removed the electronics and replaced with a relay, high flowed the air intake etc. There is plenty that can be done.
Need to now compare the tuff terrain compressor
Good comparison video, cheers cobber. This is the first review I've watched. Needing a compressor and the Thumper Max MkII is on sale atm for $99, seems like a no brainer for the price.
They are hard to beat for the price!
Nice testing, looking forward to the thumper mods
Stay tuned, there's going to be plenty!
Our Thumper Max has been going strong for about four years now. Its handy to move it from vehicle to vehicle and from shed to shed. I'm looking at installing an ARB Twin compressor in my ute as a permanent unit. Going off the reviews (your videos included) it seems to be a good bit of kit. Cheers
The TJM is stout, without a doubt. It's the quietest of the three and strongest performer if you're not running tanks.
Well done. I've had my double thumber for over 5 years mate. If that's what you can afford, go for it I say. Good comparison video.
Thanks Nas!
Awesome Ep, I just bought a double thumper be great to see what you come up with in your mods.
I'm thinking I'll start with sorting out the electricals, then the external plumbing (that's currently a nightmare!, I had one union pop off during early testing) then finally porting of the heads to really get the air moving.
@@LockyourHubs4WDing ok looking forward to see what you do
Great video mate. Put a large relay and heavy gauge wiring in with 150a anderson plugs.
I think sorting out the electricals is the first mod I'll do.
Two things I noticed when I opened up my Thumper Max were the desperate need for some kind of cable management under the plastic cover and the complete lack of consideration given to dissipating heat away from the cylinders. The reed valves were fairly loose too. I added a couple of computer case fans, but one of those water cooling kits with a radiator/fan array and copper pipes wrapped around each cylinder would be pretty sweet
The cable is supported against the case in this one, though the pressure switch is just floating around loose under the cover.
Doing that this afternoon actually! 35mm², probably overkill but that's ok.
Yeah as much as i like a bargain i have learnt the hard way to not skimp out on some things. I have had my arb compressor now for 11 years, its been mounted under the bonnet of 3 different 4wd and still going strong. Would love to see a thumper max do that
I replaced my single ARB at about the 12 year mark and my ARB twin is still going strong after about 6 or 7 years, I know what you mean about reliability.
I added the 9L air tank to mine and have been running this and the original hoses for 8 years. I can't count the usage but it's very high. The only break fix ive done is cut the end off one of the hoses when its split and reattach. I also run the full size garage style inflater as well as an number of different attachments. It would be interesting to see a comparison adding a tank to the Thumper, as my setup seems very fast and efficient. Note: ive not mounted nor taken the alligator clips off and i run this from my 2nd battery always.
Adding tanks is always going to help reduce inflation times, especially if you use an air chuck that lets you remove the Schrader.
Where did you get the 9L tank from?
Another fantastic vid mate. 👍👏 Still looking forward to your 'drop in lithium' review 😉. Cheers 🍻
I was discussing an underbonnet LiFePO⁴ battery and how you could actually make one work. (Not the companies that claim that their batteries are under bonnet capable and then slash the warranty in half!) I think it may well be actually doable.
@@LockyourHubs4WDing Wow.. didn't know about the warranty being slashed! I dropped in two 'orange' lithiums in my camper trailer without upgrading the chargers... was told at the time it was fine.
Must say I've had no issues at all (almost two years now).. and perhaps they are only being charged to 90 or 95%, but I'm happy. Eg.. Just did nearly a month in Arnhem Land and the setup didn't miss a beat.
Having said that... I'd be interested in just how different my setup is than what I would achieve if I spent heaps on new (lithium compatible) dc/dc and 240v chargers.
Anyhow... Keep up the great work. Always look forward to your vids. 👍👏🍻
Thanks mate, I'm trying to do one a week, but life sometimes gets in the way.....
@@LockyourHubs4WDing No worries mate... I appreciate what you do for us viewers. And I know what you mean... I'm retired and life still sometimes gets in the way of my 'fun' plans!!
Another great video. Suggested improvement is to install a small receiver, need to optimise the size.
A tank?
@@LockyourHubs4WDing yes
Port the head and upgrade the power cables. The power cables made such a huge difference and ive seen others adding a continuous duty starter solenoid instead of the factory fitted relay, running the thumper now via a set of 6b&s twin cables i believe. The oem cables are something like 4mm twin and do not handle the 80a load very well
Surprisingly, the cable, even though it gets warm in use, falls within the 3% voltage drop rule under load. Though I want to integrate an Anderson and continuous duty solenoid to simplify the electricals, so the whole lot is getting replaced.
I got the Thumper hardwired into the Triton but for longer remote trips i demand reliability, therefore I’ve the ARB twin in my 70 series. 👍
My ARB twin has never let me down either!
Lot's of bad reviews of failures on the ARB
I haven't had a thumper max but I have had one that was identical under a different brand. It served me well for 5 months and then grenaded. I am not sure if it got ahold of some cold wet Montana air or if the casting just failed but whichever it was cause one of the block/cylinder combos on the sides to shear all 4 bolts holding it to the motor and shatter the block.
Yep, an all too familiar story unfortunately, a mate is on his third!
Great work as always! Years ago I ported out one of these compressors* and made it about 17% faster. The port work was pretty simple, I drilled the ports out larger and radiused the corners. There's plenty of space to make the ports much larger if you want make new valves. Going 0-40psi on a 33" I went from 236 seconds to 195 seconds after porting. That was at 14.1v. Before porting I ran it at 11.5v (engine not running) and it was a whole minute slower! *Not an actual thumper but one of its identical twins. FWIW I also have an actual thumper max and mine draws 80 amps.
Great to see all the upcoming work might equal gains! Thanks for letting me know about your mods.
Hi
Just so you know, I’m watching and listening and fact checking, please check the percentages of how much dearer than.
@@lastknownlocation8760 damn! I wrote a word file for common calculation so I didn't keep making mistakes..... Looks like I'm going to have to develop an excel file now to do the thinking for me! 😁
@@lastknownlocation8760 Ok I did it and created an Excel file to calculate the percentages (probably should have spent the 10 minutes years ago! ) The percentage calculations for the financial graph seem to work out fine (to the nearest whole percent) Did you calculate otherwise?
The thumper sounds like it’s laboring in the test - that’s how mine sounds when the engine isn’t running & the voltage drops. When the engine is running & the voltage is high it absolutely smashes the tyres up!
Keeping the voltage up (engine on) would also keep the amp draw a bit lower & it won’t get quite as hot as quick. I only operate mine this way & expect it to be reasonably durable as a result.
I suppose the advantage of the Kings is the fact it isn't a bolt in model and therefore you can lend it to your mates when needed. More noise i can live with, slower speed I can live with. Price would be the main thing if it's a tool you'd only ever use once in a while. I carry a KickArse pump in my BT50 and have only ever used it on friends' cars. Oh and I put a Andersen plug on it so it's powered off my rear, not from under the bonnet. That way if I need it on my caravan I can reach.
I think the price is what'll get most people over the line in comparison to the ARB or the TJM.
I was always a fan of my juice boss (rebranded thumper) for the price and how fast it pumps. Worth it.
Having preliminary pulled the Thumper Max apart, I can tell you Supacenter has left a lot of performance on the table, and I'm going to have a crack at finding every single gram of it!
If it breaks it's affordable to buy another 3.5, the only downside is it's hard to hard wire the thumper. There are a few mods that can be done that can maybe improve the performance. Though I think it's good enough in my books.
@@daniel-ll5zr I never been able to leave well enough alone (according to the better half!) I can't see myself starting now! 😁
My thumer max was being used according to the recomended duty cycle, however it got so hot that it managed to melt the solder inside causing a short and nearly a vhichle fire, iam happy paying a bit more and not having to worry about lossing my rig
The solder on the PCB?
Seems you had it fixed in the vehicle with insufficient air flow around it, and you obviously did not fuse it - so that would be your fault if the car burned. If the unit was outside the car it could not have caused a vehicle fire. If you had fused it properly the current would have stopped, preventing further heating of internals. The test showed the Thumper is cooler than the other two.
Larger intake/exhaust ports (I actually ported the intake out on one of these that I had kicking around spare and it seemed to go a lot better afterwards, haha!) and a larger-bore outlet (I think they're only 1/8" as standard) should prove interesting to play with ;)
Firstly I'm looking to fix the electricals, then the plumbing (as you say the outlets look very restrictive) and finally porting both the inlet and exhaust, the finish from the factory is horrendous!
Awesome comparison. I'd be interested in seeing the xtm dual compressor compared to the rest
It looks to be the same compressor as the Thumper Max II. And the Max Track etc..... Other than a few small cosmetic differences, I thought they are pretty much all the same.
Or are they?
I have the xtm single head and a thumper single head and the thumper is a lot faster pumping up my 33”s . I took of both air filters and the xtm hole into head is a fair bit smaller than the thumper , but from the outside other than paint they look the same.@@LockyourHubs4WDing
Unless they have been updated the xtm is the same but without a pressure switch
id like to see correct gauge wiring used from power source to compressor to see if that makes a difference
The electricals are going to get a thorough workout 😁
Including replacing the PCB and all the wiring, that original wiring after the 10 minute torture test was as hot as a two dollar pistol!
Any chance you can do a before and after start up current rush test if you delete the board?
I did a delete on the appalling looking circuit board and went with a solenoid, heavier cables and new pressure switch. I think though, the board had some type of soft start that probably helped with current control.
EDIT. Also you might get some gains with the outlet manifold. They look pretty restictive.
Sure, I'll hook up the oscilloscope and check it out.
If you cut the hose off at the manifold you will see a pissey hole through the barb which generates heat and poor flow. Replace hose barb with a larger bore screw on hose (chuck factory hose & inflator). To reduce heat permanently mount and buy a 3inch 12v boat blower and blow air across heads. Will inflate quicker than arb twin 😁
There seems to be plenty of choke points for airflow built into the compressor, after the electrical, that'll be the second thing I tackle.
I think the high amps and lower performance of the thumper is due to restrictive hose and small cables. Mods I've done: #1 Upgrade to a 10mm hose and get a better clip-on valve connector. #2 Mount the compressor next to the aux Lithium batteries in the back so only using short cables, get less voltage drop and its the best place to pump both trailer and 4wd tyres.
The cables do get warm, and that's a pretty decent indication of too small wires! And I agree, the plumbing looks way too small.
High amps is higher output
@@mrmotofy Compressors pull higher amps when they have to work hard. My compressor pulls 25A when not connected to a tyre and 45A when connected to a 60psi tyre.
@@philg2468 That may be your belief but I tested different on a MaxiTrac...got a vid of it
@@mrmotofy Just measure it with a clamp ammeter
Yes their brand is cheap but I’ve seen so many items that are right up there with the big brands $$$
It seems to be a bit hit and miss for their product (anyone remember the Tigers11 winches? 😁) though the current gen (blue top) LiFePO⁴ batteries seem to be a decent thing.
It's kinda like Aldi! Some products are great, while others leave a bad taste in your mouth.....
Is the Maxi Trac twin compressor being sold at Repco - the same, or just similar appearance to the Thumper??
Is the "'fit and finish" the same - internals, or not ??..
Essentially the same compressor.
How about the most critical aspect of duty cycle!
I did have an issue with the previous gen Thumper (hit thermal cutout on the 3rd tyre) though it didn't seem to get that hot during the 10 minute load test (admittedly was only about 20C that day)
During the modification process I'll be using the FLIR camera to identify any overheating issues that pop up.
The first thing I'd change is the colour. On a different note, I have to wonder about the longevity of each of these compressors when used for even half serious off-roading. I'm hoping the ARB lasts a long time, as that's the one I have.
My ARB has to be a good 6 or 7 years old, hasn't let a charmed life by any stretch and also hasn't missed a beat.
My ARB single was installed with the lockers about 12 years ago and was only replaced last year. (No complaints there)
You don't like the Pink? 😁
Whats wrong with pink? I love it!
@@lexicase8805 exactly, and it reminds me of a 1967 Cadillac Eldorado convertible...... 😁
Best bit about buying pink one is no one’s going to steel it and Yu matés won’t want to borrow it , lol@@LockyourHubs4WDing
@@scottjacobs7522 exactly!
Great testing as always simon! basic mods i would think would be wiring and hose upgrade, then a bit of head work for the slightly more adventurous, should see some good gains..
standing by with beers in fridge and pies in travelbuddy 👌🍻
You're a mind reader right? 😂 That's the exact order I'm doing the mods! The lead gets as hot as a two dollar pistol standard, so that's one of the first things to fix.
What makes no sense to me is the thumper takes way longer to pump up the tyre but is much faster filling the 2 tanks. Especially since it seems better in all other tests.
I agree, there seems to be an inconsistency in the results, though keep an eye out for the upcoming video where I think I've gotten to the bottom of it.
Nothing wrong with the kings of thumper, Max, except for the modification you need to do is to change the colour to camo great graphs Once again I understood everything this time just for a change. Thanks, for the video
Glad you liked it mate, did you notice the new graph colour scheme?
There's actually a pattern to it, though nobody has picked it up yet......
#eastereggs
@@LockyourHubs4WDing I think I worked it out. It's all about pride?
@@eds4wdcamping you know me Ed, if it's not technical, I'm probably not interested.... so definitely not pride related!
@@LockyourHubs4WDing okay, I think I know what it is but this conversation could go for ages in the comment section 3 pins or four pins
@@eds4wdcamping nope 😁
So the new Tuff Terrain V4 is out.....maybe an opportunity to see if the new kid on the block is any good? Got some great features and at a claimed 400LMP (presume free-flow) its said to be 'class leading'. Anyway, $540 with auto-off at preset psi and 100A draw, its gotta go alright???
Interesting, I haven't seen that before. More compressors should have auto stop, it's 2023!
@@LockyourHubs4WDing yep, how hard could it be!
Can you do a video on what difference having a tank actually makes when inflating tyres.
I've done a single tire inflation comparison (check out the ARB vs TJM video) and it's not even close! The tanks win by a long margin, especially if you remove the Schrader valve. Though might do a 4 tyre inflation as well.
@LockyourHubs4WDing I feel like I'd rather have a parallel thumper, for "redundancy" before getting a tank
A 4 tyre inflation is all that matters.
Yep great comparison, I have a thumper just better value for myself. Thanks for posting
Even though the performance might not be as good as the ARB or the TJM, it's a bit of a bargain!
I bought the smaller unit “the thumper” I don’t mind taking a few seconds longer to pump up my tyre when I know it’s using half the current
If you've got smaller tyres it's not so much of an issue. Though I used to run 35" tyres and hated always being the last to air up.
Half the current for 2x as long is still the same amount of power and it will get hotter since it's running longer. Heat is bad for stuff in most cases.
@@mrmotofy it’s half the current but only a few seconds longer, faster= less efficient = more losses
@@michaelhermans4753 Much more than a few seconds. It's half the output. Physics doesn't work that way
Good testing methodology but limited to one tyre only? Appreciate your efforts here but needs testing on 4 tyres minimum. (6 tyres to simulate a trailer in tow even better) Duty cycle and heat generated comes into play big time for real life scenario.
Speaking from experience.
That's the reason I ran all the pumps under load for 10 minutes. Though if you were testing performance with tanks installed, more than one tyre inflated would be valid.
The the apparent loudness. A 3dB increase will be a berely perceptable, if at all, increase in apparent loudness. A 10dB increase is an approximate doubling of apparent loudness to the human ear.
Assuming the app is at all close to correct, the TJM is easily perceptibly quieter than either the ARB or the Thumper Max.
@@LockyourHubs4WDing The extra weight of the TJM is probably also helping to attenuate the noise.
Interesting but not sure "why" I even bothered to watch this. I gave up on electrical compressors a few years ago & bought an engine mounted compressor (& NOT just a modified a/c compressor, but a proper air compressor) that mixed with a sizable tank & I can inflate truck & tractor tyres when I need too, which is why I got rid on my electric compressor (plus, I can run it @ 100% duty cycle 😉) but of course not everyone has the high demand I do, a mounted hose real or want the large expense either, it wasn't cheap! 🙄 Another great video though! Your comparisons are always well done! 👍
Thanks mate, interested in your setup! Piston or rotary? What brand etc, they've got to be the ultimate setup, though as you say not everybody has the need to pump up ag tyres.
It's a piston style, Yorke.
I don't pump up ag tyres though I do live in the country.
I'm heavily involved in Land Speed Racing.
Somehow I seem to be the "go to" for problems in the club & carry a good range of tools, fluids etc
We have a small fleet including trucks (fire tanker, a hiab etc), a tractor, 4wds & trailers that always need air plus any 4wding I do.
I got sick of it taking forever to pump up tyres, especially the larger ones so I shouted myself a Christmas present one year. It was a lot of $$ for mainly just twice a year but I do tend to air down myself a lot more cause it's so easy to adjust at anytime which of course is kinder on me, my vehicle & the tracks. As I run a bit heavy (my 4wd is always loaded) I need all the help I can get especially as I live in sandy country 🤣
That surprised me that TJM is up past ARB and 10 cartons dearer than the Thumper.
The TJM is a bit of a beast, though so is the current draw in comparison with the ARB.
I know an AvE viewer when I hear one!
Hahaha, gotta love AvE!
Run it at 24V and see how long it takes to let the magic smoke out.. ;)
I was watching a video by @daniel kistler and he mentioned a few are run on 24v in winch trucks.
That may end up being the final test. Just in case the magic smoke is released!
Watch dirt lifestyle most professionall mods on compressor it substantially improves its performance
I saw the series, some great mods! Though he didn't do any before and after testing that I saw.
There's no data to show actual improvement he didn't test before
You don't mention the most important Compressor spec ...Duty Cycle. Thumper 16% or 10 minutes versus 100% continuous for TJM & ARB. No such thing as a free lunch.
I couldn't see a duty cycle advertised for the Thumper Max II.
And I didn't reach the thermal limit or any of the three compressors during testing.
@@LockyourHubs4WDingThis (duty cycle ) should be mentioned in the video comparison. Great work as always Simon.
@@LockyourHubs4WDingThermal limits can be set to anything if compressor longevity is ignored. Thumpers Duty Cycle is hidden in Operating Instructions fine print and in fact they are being more honest (sounds of you falling off chair). I have my doubts about the TJM & ARB claim of 100% duty cycle where all they are saying it will deliver a consistent volume/min and pressure which is different than being able to run continuously. A piston-type compressor eventually needs to stop and cool down even if they say they are rated at 100%. A comprehensive heat/time comparative test preferably in conjunction with a compressor pull down will reveal the true story.
Correction. Thumper is 8% or 5 minutes not 16%.
@@offroadoffshore153 Are you suggesting a continuous run time of x hours followed by a teardown?
I had a thumper max equivalent..china made….lasted 10 times
The build quality can definitely vary!
Yes their cheap
Especially if you're just starting out, and not sure if 4WDing is for you, it's a hard sell to spend at least 3 times as much on one of the other compressors.
Omg stop using your hands to talk , loved the tech test but it was such hard to watch with those hand movements
And I'm not even of Italian decent! 😁
there's a guy from the US that modded one (under another name) picked up a lot! more flow etc
typical youtube wont let the link be posted but look up "Dirt Lifestyle, best offroad compressor mods" basically, wiring is to small an sucks, intake is restrictive, outlets are restrictive ^^he showed massive gains with few simple mods but also went further turned the pump into a bit of a beast
I did watch the series, I really like his channel, though I don't remember him doing before and after performance testing.
@@LockyourHubs4WDing he did some basics but lets be honest, no one tests stuff like you test, you get nearly ALL the toys out 🤣🤣
@@arronjohnston742 I do try!
@@LockyourHubs4WDing that's why we come here bud👍
@@arronjohnston742 🤣🤣🤣 thanks!