Air gauge questions

[TJustin]

Hey all, I was out jeeping today in the San Rafael Swell, we did the Devil's Racetrack (which a local said it couldn't be done because of weather conditions) and I went to air down and broke my air gauge.

I want to get a nice one, but I don't know what to get. It needs to be able to be used over the "air down nozzles" or what ever you call them. I have had previous ones that don't read over the nozzles. They are the pieces that screws over the valve stem to release air.

Tell me what ya think.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

ARB has some nice guages, as does Warn and others.

Question though, why did the local think Devil's Racetrack couldn't be run? Snow or was it really icy? I've been through there in the snow a couple of times and its not that bad. Ice on the other hand could be a bit sketchy in spots.

 

[Spork]

Maybe it's just my tinfoil hat acting up but how much accuracy does a $1 or $2 air gauge lack over a $50 air gauge?

Sure a big visible gauge is nice and may be worth something but is visibility alone worth the price difference?

 

[TJustin]

ya it was icy and slick. when you drop off next to the canyon side is where it got a little ugly... just after the drop off there is a rough section next to the cliff, and it took probably an hour or two to get the guys through. there was about 5" of snow on the trail...

What do the ARB or Warn gauges run? Are they that expensive?

 

[TJustin]

Honestly, I don't know why the local said it, he said that there was goona be fog and snow that would make it impassible???? Needless to say we made it thru, it made it more of a challege than it normally would be.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Honestly, I don't know why the local said it, he said that there was goona be fog and snow that would make it impassible???? Needless to say we made it thru, it made it more of a challege than it normally would be.

LOL, it does add to the adventure. We've come out of there in active snow and a brutal wind. While I knew we could make it out I kept imagining us having to bunker down for the night and waiting out the snow.

 

[TJustin]

After talking to him, it seemed to us that he was calling us out, challenging us to take it on. You know how it is, when someone says it can't be done, you go do it just to prove that you could, not that you really intended to do so in the first place...lol

 

[BlackSheep]

Maybe it's just my tinfoil hat acting up but how much accuracy does a $1 or $2 air gauge lack over a $50 air gauge?

Sure a big visible gauge is nice and may be worth something but is visibility alone worth the price difference?

Generally a better quality gauge will have better calibration from the factory. also, they will be designed to be adjustable so you can get them calibrated at periodic intervals to insure their accuracy.

I've purchased truck tire gauges (up to 150psi) and had them off by as much as 10psi. 10 psi is a lot even when you're talking 80-100psi of tire pressure.

All that said, if you know of someplace that has a calibrated master gauge (your local tire dealer comes to mind - although that's not guaranteed), pick up a few cheap gauges and take them in occasionally to check their calibration. Since they're cheap, if they're off, toss them and buy a new one.

Even buying a more expensive gauge, you should take it someplace to check the calibration when you first get it, aslo occasionally throughout it's life.