Why you need ARB Air Compressor on Jeep Wrangler and How to install it?

Most car owners rely on air compressors in a fuel station or auto repair shops when it comes to air compressors. This is because most drivers only know that air compressors are needed to inflate tires, which does not happen frequently. In this article, we’ll look into how to install ARB air compressor on jeep wrangler.

For adventurous wrangler owners, you have to keep an air compressor in your wrangler if you know the circumstances that an air compressor comes in handy.

Your tire might deflate while driving on a deserted road, and you are there stranded in the middle of nowhere. An air compressor comes in handy as most portable air compressors are easy to use in such situations.  

Some drivers ignore portable air compressors because they are over-priced, take up space in the car, and basically have the same function as other pumps.

Some even think that air compressors are only there for the sake of inflating tires. Still, they have other functions especially if you are an adventurous person. You spend some time off-road discovering new trails or camping.  

Uses and Advantages of a portable air compressor

Apart from inflating tires, air compressors can be used for the following 

• Suppose you are camping and you have inflatable beds or any other equipment that needs to be inflated. In that case, you can use the air compressor to do so, provided you know the maximum pressure needed.
• Air compressors fill air rapidly, and you can damage whatever you are inflating if you don’t know the maximum pressure. Set the air compressor to the maximum pressure needed, then inflate.  
• Blowing off dust and light mud layers. If there is no water, you can blow off heavy amounts of dust or light mud off your wrangler or camping equipment. You can also use it to blow off the excess water off something that you need drying quickly  
• If you have tools such as a nail gun or an air hammer, you need to have an air compressor with you if the air tanks in such tools run out of air. Such tools come in handy when camping, and you cannot afford to have them not working at all times.  
• An air pump is powered by the wrangler’s battery. However, it uses very minimal charge.  

Cons

• Can be tiring and hard to install.  

Having an air compressor is also good for other drivers; you might find a driver stranded on the road with a flat tire and decide to help them. You never know when it might help, either in your case or in another driver’s case. Having one in your wrangler always is better than not having it at all.  

ARB Air compressors

ARB is a company that manufactures various equipment, among them portable air compressors. ARB air compressors are preferred by a good number of off-roaders. There are different types of portable ARB air compressors that you can have mounted in your wrangler or carry around in your wrangler. Each has specific features that you evaluate to choose what is best for you.  

ARB high output air compressors are lightweight than most air compressors in the price range they are in. Efficiency is maximized by ensuring a good air-flow rate that ensures smooth and fast inflation and has an air locker activation for onboard models.  

Suppose you want the air compressor installed on your wrangler. In that case, it comes with a mounting kit and wiring for easy installation. In contrast, the other one you can carry around anywhere comes with hoses, a battery, and a carry case that protects the air compressor and other related stuff in case of a fall.  

All ARB portable air compressors are sealed for moisture and dust resistance; thus, the air is always free of contaminants. They are also made of components that ensure durability and noise reduction when using them.

The cylinder bore is anodized for reduced friction, and the piston seal is Teflon-impregnated for a trouble-free working life  

The air compressor you install on your wrangler has an anodized mounting bracket that dissipates heat from the compressor’s motor and is mounted 180 degrees.

The motor is thermally protected from temperature damage for all models. Circuit protection is also guaranteed as ARB air compressors have heavy-duty maxi fuses. 24V and 12V options are available, while only 12V options are available for a completely portable model.  

• ARB Portable Twin Compressor

This type of air compressor comes with two motors that ensure fast airflow for whatever purpose you need it, whether tire inflation, blowing off dust, or using air compression tools. The twin motors have thermal protection and can withstand high temperatures.

The portable twin compressor is available with a carry case with accessories or wiring and mounting hardware if you prefer to install it on your wrangler. This is available in a 12V or 24 V option, but the 24V option is only available if you mount it on your wrangler.  

If you are going to install it on your wrangler, you’ll need a mounting kit that ARB provides to mount the air compressor on then the mounting kit is installed on your wrangler.

ARB has specific mounts for different vehicles, Jeep Wranglers included. Still, if the mount can’t work on your wrangler for a reason or two, you can use the universal air compressor mount that is also provided by ARB.

• ARB Single Motor Compressor

ARB also makes a single motor air compressor with the same features as the dual motor air compressor. The only notable difference between the dual motor and the single motor is that the single motor is smaller in size and has only one motor.  

The installation procedure for both the single motor and dual motor compressors is similar as both of these have the same mounting design and electrical harnesses. The only difference will be the mounting platform you will use and where you will mount the air compressor on your wrangler.

It is recommended that you install it in the engine bay on the driver’s side, where the brake booster lines are located. You’ll have to undo and reposition the brake booster lines to install the mount and the air compressor.

What is the best and safe place to mount ARB Air compressor on jeep?

The Air compressor must be mounted on a vehicle, where there is assurity for long life and reliability. The first thought that comes to mind when thinking about mounting an air compressor is placing it under the hood in the engine bay. This is the right choice considering the safety under the hood.

The next most preferred location for mounting air compressors is on either side of your vehicle’s fender flares just near the tires of your jeep. This is the most sought-after choice when it comes to the safety of mounting an air compressor on your vehicle.

Note: Mounting the air compressor under the hood must be the last option you should have as there won’t be much space on the engine bay to accommodate the air compressor given the design of modern vehicles, so it is better to go with the fender flares to mount the air compressor.

Things you need to complete this installation

• Socket & Wrench
• Deep Socket
• Panel Trim Remover Tool
• Teflon Tape
• Ratchet
• Utility Knife
• Wire Cutters
• Needle Nose Pliers
• Small Flathead Screwdriver

How to install the ARB Air compressor on jeep wrangler?

When buying the ARB air compressor, some sellers sell it as a whole kit, complete with the hoses and clamps, while others sell it as different parts.

There isn’t much difference as you’ll basically spend the same amount buying separately and as a whole kit. The goal is to ensure that you get everything required to install the whole air compressor system smoothly.  

Accounting for all components

• Take the air compressor out of the box and ensure everything listed is available. Failure to which you will have missing components, and your air compressor won’t work if anything is missing.

• There must be an air filter, a high-pressure hose, fitment screws, wiring cables with harnesses, pressure switch, wiring harness relay module, switch with a rocker, tire and ball nozzle inflators, a mounting plate, adaptor that goes onto the air locker manifold kit and tire inflator. 

If you bought the items separately, ensure you get all of them and are compatible with the ARB air compressor.  

Assembling the air compressor kit

• On one end of the air compressor, there is an opening where the air filter goes onto. Install the air filter, then lock in the cap that holds the air filter in place.  
• Identify the wiring harness with red and black wires on the longer harness. That specific harness attaches directly to the harness on the air compressor to one end, the power supply harness.  
• Then on the other end, attach the relay module. The remaining red and blue harnesses attach to the pressure switch. 
• There is another harness that you don’t need. The harness with multiple-colored wires is attached to a number harness. To make the installation easier, get an S-pod system. Wiring the multiple harnesses to their specific switches can be confusing, and you might find yourself connecting the harnesses to the faulty switches.  
• The S-pod control box is a small box that can be installed somewhere in the engine bay, provided it is securely held into place. The S-pod control module is installed on your wrangler’s dashboard, mostly using the screws on the dust tray or mounted somewhere the driver can easily access.  
• On the wiring with the harness attaching to the air compressor, identify one harness with multiple coloring (red, black green) attached to the S-pod control box harnesses. 
• The remaining unconnected wirings are one positive wire and two negative wires. You’ll connect these once you are through with mounting the plate and the air compressor. There are also some other  

If you feel attaching the harnesses will be an issue when installing the air compressor, you can attach them after you mount the air compressor onto your wrangler.  

Installing the air compressor

• Loosen the two brake booster bolts on the firewall, then take the horn off. This maximizes the working area to mount the air compressor mounting plate and the air compressor itself with the wiring.  
• To ensure that the air compressor fits, ARB made it adjustable. You can adjust the positioning of the air locker manifold kit by loosening the Allen key nuts on the side then tilt it downwards. This makes it easier to install and does not take up much space. Ensure to tighten the Allen key nuts after repositioning the air locker manifold kit.  
• Place the air compressor onto the mounting plate and ensure the mounting points align. If they do, insert the screws, tighten the air compressor onto the mounting plate, and ensure that you don’t miss a screw.  
• The mount falls into place directly, but if the screws come out underneath the mounting plate and touch the brake booster, you have to chop them off from underneath the plate.  
• You do not need to drill holes as the mounting plate is designed to use the normal bolt holes found on the engine bay. But they are hard to get to, so you have to use extensions while tightening the bolts.  
• If you had not reinstalled the wiring harnesses, do so, then tie them up neatly with zip ties to ensure they do not get into any moving part of the engine bay.  
• Then get the positive and negative terminals to the battery. Remove the battery clamps, then install the terminals in order then reinstall the battery terminal clamps.  
• Attach the S-pod control box harnesses onto the S-pod control box, then ensure every wiring harness is connected where it is supposed to be.  

Installing other accessories

• Wrap Teflon tape on the adaptor that goes into the air locker manifold kit. Then install it tightly on the opening on the side of the air locker manifold kit. Use a spanner to lightly install It into place. Using Teflon tape and tightening it ensures there are no air leakages while using the air compressor.  
• Install the pressure switch on the other end of the adaptor then the air pressure hose attachment adaptor at the top opening of the air locker manifold kit adaptor.  
• Install the rocker to the S-pod control panel. You can label the old switches or remove the one you are not using, then replace it with the rocker that controls the air compressor. Ensure you have the switch installed according to how you installed the wiring harnesses on the S-pod control box. 
• Switch on switch on the S-pod. If the light on the rocker comes on, then you are good to go. Test out the high-pressure hose and the tire inflator.  
• Reposition the brake booster lines tying them with zip ties, if need be, then reinstall the horn and secure it into place.  

Conclusion

Air compressors are a need regardless of whether you are going caping or not. They come in handy in the trickiest of situations, and if you don’t have one or left yours somewhere, you start regretting and wish you had it installed on your wrangler. It does not take much space to install and does not require any special skills as long as you keenly follow the procedure given.