XTM Air Compressor
Kings Thumper
Thumper Max
XTM and Kings Thumper air compressors are known to be affordable, high-performing and durable.
But, if you’ve taken a close look at these two air compressors, you’ve probably noticed they look almost identical.
Trying to figure out the difference?
Below, we compare the XTM air compressor along side the Kings Thumper MkIII and Thumper Max MKII.
XTM vs Thumper Air Compressors
As you can see in the table below, these two popular air compressors have exactly the same specs (although we couldn’t track down the weight of the XTM model).
| Air Compressor | XTM Air Compressor | Thumper MkIII |
| Max Pressure | 150PSI | 150PSI |
| Pressure output | 160L/min | 160L/min |
| Power input | 12V | 12V |
| Hose length | 8m | 8m |
| Piston size | 60mm | 60mm |
| Weight | n/a | 7.1kg |
| Pressure gauge | Yes | Yes |
| Battery clamps? | Yes | Yes |
| Circuit breaker? | Yes | n/a |
| Check price | BCF | Adventure Kings, 4WD Supacentre |
What’s more, if you take a close look at these products, you’d be hard-pressed to find any differences aside from the colours and branding.
Both the Thumper and XTM Air Compressors feature a powerful 160LPM max airflow and a 150PSI maximum pressure.
They also both have an alloy cylinder head, 60mm cylinder, and alloy piston shank—meaning they’ll keep working hard even after years of use.
Both devices also feature an analog pressure gauge so you can keep an eye on your tyre pressure while you’re pumping them up.
One point worth noting is the XTM features a circuit breaker and thermal protection for safety and peace of mind. We presume this is a feature of the Thumper also but it isn’t specified on the product page.
View Thumper reviews at Adventure Kings.
View XTM Air Compressor reviews at BCF.
XTM vs Thumper Max
If speed is important, it’s worth checking out the Thumper Max.
Here’s how it stacks up against the XTM and the standard Thumper air compressor:
| Air Compressor | XTM / Thumper | Thumper Max MKII |
| Max Pressure | 150PSI | 125PSI |
| Pressure output | 160L/min | 300L/min |
| Power input | 12V | 12V |
| Hose length | 8m | 8m |
| Piston size | 60mm | 2 x 60mm |
| Weight | 7.1kg | 9kg |
| Pressure gauge | Yes | Yes |
| Battery clamps? | Yes | Yes |
| Circuit breaker? | Yes | Yes |
| Check Price | BCF | Adventure Kings, 4WD Supacentre |
This beast of an air compressor pumps out air at 300L/min thanks to its dual 60mm high-speed pistons.
Because this model has dual pistons, it’s capable of filling a 4WD tire in less than 3 minutes.
The Thumper Max is a heavy duty piece of equipment that comes standard with alligator clips and heavy duty battery leads, so you can connect it to a car battery if necessary.
The Kings Thumper Max is also waterproof and dustproof, so you can take it just about anywhere without worrying about damaging the compressor.
If you want to monitor your tire pressure while filling them up, use the integrated LED light.
View Thumper Max reviews at Adventure Kings.
Which should you choose?
XTM Air Compressor
Kings Thumper
Thumper Max
At the end of the day, we recommend going with whichever air compressor you can get a better deal on.
The Thumper generally retails for cheaper, however, the XTM is likely to be the best deal if you have BCF Club membership.
Finally, if you like to get your tyres pumped up quickly, or often use your air compressor on more than one vehicle at once, the Thumper Max could be the best option.
View our top rated air compressors in Australia:
What to keep in mind when choosing an air compressor
Power – A 12-volt air compressor runs directly from the car battery, using battery clips. Less powerful compressors can be plugged into a car cigarette lighter, but these options tend to be slower. The kit should come with battery clips for safely connecting the 12-volt unit to the car battery.
Pressure Gauge – The pressure gauge shows the inflation pressure. Some models use digital displays, making it quick and easy to get accurate readings.
Flow Rate – This refers to how quickly a compressor can inflate a tyre. A compressor that offers air flow of 200L/min will be able to inflate a tyre twice as quickly as a compressor that offers air flow of 100L/min.
Duty Cycle – The duty cycle is the amount of time your air compressor can continuously run, and the amount of time it needs to rest before you can use it again.
Single vs Dual Piston – Portable single piston air compressors are small, cheap and often come with a range of safety features. They can take a long time to fill tyres but they are good all-around options that won’t cost much. Twin piston air compressors are larger and are able to pump more air per minute than single piston products. This reduces the amount of time spent pumping up tyres. But, as they are larger, they require extra power, generate more heat, are heavier to transport and take up more space.
Safety Features – Thermal safety cut-outs are important to prevent overheating when working with an air compressor. Portable air compressors often have built-in lights, and this is something you will definitely need if you find yourself working with the pump in dark conditions.
