Everyone knows that you should carry a portable 12v air compressor like the Thumper Max air compressor when you head offroad so you can pump up your tyres after a day of 4WDing, but how many more uses do you know of? Having portable compressed air on hand when you need it is a game changer when you’re out and about, whether it’s out camping, or just on a day trip. Here are five different ways that we use our Thumper Air Compressor when we’re out on an adventure that make things so much quicker and easier!

1. AS A BIT OF HELP TO GET THE CAMPFIRE STARTED

If you’re trying to get a campfire going but you’re struggling because the wood is damp, then here’s a handy tip. Campfires love oxygen, so very carefully use your Thumper Air Compressor hose to pump extra air into your campfire! Set your 12v air compressor up, turn on your car and then fire up the air compressor. Be extremely careful, and aim the nozzle of your air compressor at the base of the fire. Don’t get too close! Within about 10 seconds you’ll turn a small flame into a roaring campfire, and you can even do this multiple times throughout the night if you find that you’re struggling to keep your camp fire going due to damp wood. The trick is you need some sort of flame however – enough that the air coming from your 12v air compressor won’t just blow the flames out. We use this trick all the time and it’s a life saver when camping. You’ll thank us when you see just how effective this 12v air compressor trick is!

2. TO PUMP UP OUR KINGS INFLATABLE STANDUP PADDLEBOARDS

Picture this – it’s a beautiful day and you’ve just turned up to your favourite spot on the water. The sun is out, there’s only the most gentle of breezes and it’s time to go paddleboarding! Get out on the water quicker by using your Thumper Max air compressor to pump up your paddleboard at the flick of a switch. All you need is an inflatable standup paddleboard valve adapter – this connects to the air valve on your Kings inflatable paddleboard and gives you a normal tyre valve connection that lets you plug your Thumper air compressor straight into it! Again though you must be careful – you should only ever inflate your Kings inflatable paddleboard to 15psi, but the Thumper and Thumper Max air compressors are capable of much more than this, so you cannot leave it unattended and you must check the pressure frequently. But the benefits of not having to physically pump your Kings Paddleboard up yourself are definitely worth it!

3. TO PUMP UP AN INFLATABLE AIR MATTRESS WHEN IT’S NEEDED

Got an old-style inflatable air mattress? Sure, you could spend 20 minutes pumping it up with the included hand pump – or you could just connect your Thumper Air Compressor instead, and let it do the hard work for you! You may need a different type of adapter though, but it’s not a hard thing to make work – just take the inflatable air mattress to your vehicle and pump up with your 12v air compressor. It’s worth noting though that the Kings self-inflating mattresses do not need air added in this way – the internal high-density foam expands and sucks in air as it does, meaning these self-inflating air mattresses really do inflate themselves! Use your Thumper Max air compressor to pump up an old-school style inflatable air mattress however and you’ll be that much closer to a good night’s sleep without all the hard work.

4. CLEANING OUT AIR FILTERS ON JUST ABOUT ANY MOTOR

Whether you ride dirt bikes, are into 4WD adventure, have a generator you need to service or just need to keep your farm machinery in good nick, a Thumper Max 12v air compressor can be a seriously handle tool to have on board! If you operate any type of machinery in dusty environments then the air filter element is sure to get clogged with dust and debris. What you want to do in that scenario, is remove the air filter element from the filter housing, and use your Thumper air compressor and 3in1 Ultimate Air Tool to gently blow the dust out of the filter element from the inside wherever possible. Don’t get too close to the filter element though as the powerful compressed air from your portable air compressor could actually damage the element, ripping and tearing it. Instead, stay at least 6 inches away and gently blow the dust out of the filter element. Finish by giving it a light tap against your bullbar or a railing to remove any final dust and debris, and you’re ready to re-install it and get on the move again.

5. ON THE BOAT TO PUMP UP YOUR SKI TUBE OR DIVE FLAG

If you keep a portable 12v air compressor on your boat, it becomes the perfect simple solution to pump up all manner of pool toys, ski tubes and even inflatable dive flags! This is especially handy as there’s usually very limited room on most boats, and of course the boat is prone to rocking as you move around in it, so if you can avoid standing up and not doing all that physical movement then all the better. Just plug your air compressor into your boat’s starter or house batteries, start your motor so your batteries receive charge and pump away. In minutes you’ll be ready to tow the kids behind the boat, go for a dive or just enjoy your time on the water – you can’t beat that!