In my last Oombi Track video I ran a short clip of me airing up next to another car and finishing well ahead with my MORRFlate setup. A few of you said that wasn't an honest comparison. Fair enough.
MORRFlate saw the clip and asked if I'd test it side by side. They paid me for the time the video took. They did not pay for the results and they didn't tell me what to say. They also supplied the gear for testing and review, so I haven't paid for any of it.
The Test Setup
I air down all four 35-inch tyres on the Land Cruiser to 10 PSI using the MORRFlate, then air them back up to 40 PSI. I've been running the MORRFlate inflator and deflator for a while now. It replaced my Jamec Pem, which only does one tyre at a time. The MORRFlate does four.
I checked pressures with two gauges, a MORRFlate gauge and a King Chrome.
The Jamec Pem was missing during filming. I couldn't find it in the garage. I did the same test in 2018 though, so I've used those figures for it.
ARB Twin and MORRFlate Hub: 11 Minutes 28 Seconds
First run: the ARB twin compressor fixed in the back of the Cruiser, feeding all four tyres through the MORRFlate hub. Ten PSI to 40 PSI took 11 minutes and 28 seconds.
I've had that ARB compressor for about 11 years. It's in its third car and it has never let me down. I can't knock it.
Does It Air Down Evenly on Uneven Ground?
Before the next run I put one tyre on a wooden block. I wanted to know if the MORRFlate still airs down evenly when the car isn't level. It's as scientific as I can get at home. The difference was 0.5 PSI, which I'm perfectly happy with.
MORRFlate TenSix PSI Pro Compressor: 8 Minutes 6 Seconds
Next I aired up with the MORRFlate TenSix PSI Pro compressor and the four-tyre hose kit that comes with it. The compressor has an automatic stop at the set pressure, so the hub wasn't needed.
All four tyres hooked up, one tyre reading 9.6 PSI, timer running. Ten to 40 PSI took 8 minutes and 6 seconds. That's over three minutes faster than the ARB.
I didn't expect that. I thought it would be a decent compressor, not this much quicker than the ARB. It's also cheaper. The ARB is $817. The MORRFlate is $698, and that includes the compressor with auto shut-off and the four-tyre hose kit.
My ARB is well proven and I prefer a fixed install. If MORRFlate ever builds a fixed unit I'd consider it. For anyone with a portable compressor, this looks like the one to get, especially with a lifetime warranty in Australia. Long-term testing of it is still outstanding. I'll keep mine for the Porsche and as a mobile compressor.
ARB Twin and Manual Hose: 21 Minutes 22 Seconds
Then I aired up the way most people do. ARB twin compressor, ARB air hose, a manual tyre gauge. You let go of the lever to read the pressure, so it takes a lot longer. I used a cable tie to hold the lever down but still had to keep releasing it to check.
Twenty-one minutes and 22 seconds.
That's how I used to air up the Hilux before I had the MORRFlate. You kneel next to the tyre the whole time. On the Hilux I also spent around 20 minutes putting the flares back on. With the MORRFlate I could do that while the tyres were airing up.
Jamec Pem: The 2018 Result
I found the Jamec Pem afterwards, stored in the garage. These are the 2018 results, which shows how long I've used it. It's a single-tyre inflator and I started from 10.5 PSI, not 10. On the single-tyre test, run off the ARB dual compressor, it took 2 minutes 10 seconds per tyre. That's quite fast. Add at least 30 seconds per tyre for the extra 0.5 PSI and for walking from tyre to tyre and reconnecting. Once you do that, it's about level with the ARB on the MORRFlate hub. It was quicker than doing it manually. Only the MORRFlate compressor was faster. It also auto shuts off, so I didn't have to kneel next to the tyre.
Build quality is workshop grade. After seven years it still works and the internal battery has had zero issues. It costs about $550.
My Verdict
My preferred method is the MORRFlate. It does four tyres at a time and it's faster. If I want different pressures front and rear, I do two tyres at once.
The Jamec Pem is a close second and has proven itself over time. The MORRFlate I've only had for a year and a half, not seven years. For now the Jamec Pem is retired and the MORRFlate is my go-to. Whether the convenience is worth the money is up to you. For me it is.
Why Four Tyres at Once
Doing four at once means I can do something else in the meantime, have a coffee or a chat.
If you air down or up on the side of a dusty road, you want to be done as fast as possible. Every passing car or truck stirs up a dust cloud. Park on the side the wind is coming from.
A high-output compressor on one tyre at a time also means you're paying for capacity you don't use, because the valve is the restriction. With the core still in, a standard Schrader valve passes around 2 CFM, about 57 L a minute. That's MORRFlate's own figure, but it showed up in my test too.
What do you use to air up and air down? Let me know in the comments. I'm keen to hear other solutions.
Planning a Simpson Desert trip? Have a look at my Simpson Desert Travel Guide. More tests on the AllOffroad YouTube channel.
