The ARB CKMA12 is the on-board air compressor that put permanently mounted air in the 4x4 mainstream: a 12 V single-motor unit that lives in your engine bay or cargo area and delivers 3.08 CFM of free-flow air at the flick of a dash switch. It will air a 33" tire from 15 to 30 psi without drama, run air lockers, and hold 100 psi for tools and tire seating, with a 50% duty cycle that ARB rates honestly at 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off.
Unlike a portable unit that rides loose in the back, the CKMA12 bolts to any flat surface through four 1/4" holes using the supplied backing plate as a drilling template, and the body rotates 180 degrees in its bracket to tuck into tight spaces. The kit ships genuinely complete: full wiring loom, 40 A relay, illuminated dash switch, pressure switch and mounting hardware are all in the box. Sealed to IP55 against dust and water, it has been designed and manufactured by ARB in Kilsyth, Australia since 2009, and carries ARB's 3-year warranty.
What's Included:
CKMA12 single-motor 12 V compressor assembly with over-pressure safety valve
Mounting bracket and backing plate (doubles as the drilling template)
Washable sintered-disc air filter assembly
Pressure switch and manifold hardware
Complete wiring loom with 40 A relay and illuminated ARB dash switch
Mounting bolts, washers and terminals
Features
High-Output On-Board Air 3.08 CFM of free-flow air and 2.34 CFM at 29 psi, enough to air up a 33" tire from 15 to 30 psi in about two and a half minutes, run a locker, or seat a bead.
Mounts Anywhere, Points Anywhere Four 1/4" mounting holes on the supplied backing-plate template, and the compressor body rotates 180 degrees in its bracket, so it fits engine bays, cargo drawers and under-tray spaces.
Everything In The Box Full wiring loom, 40 A relay, illuminated dash switch, pressure switch and hardware are included, so the install needs no parts-counter trips.
Sealed Against The Trail IP55-rated sealing keeps dust and water spray out of the motor, and the washable sintered filter is the only maintenance item.
Honest Duty Cycle ARB rates the CKMA12 at a 50% duty cycle, 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off at 100 psi, instead of quoting a burst figure it cannot sustain.
Built By ARB In Australia Designed and manufactured by ARB in Kilsyth, Victoria since 2009, and covered by ARB's 3-year North American warranty.
Fitment & Compatibility
Application
Fit
Any 12 V vehicle with a flat mounting surface roughly 8" x 4" (engine bay, drawer system, under-tray, cargo area)
✓ Fits
ARB Air Locker air supply
✓ Fits, purpose-designed
Tire inflation with the ARB inflation kit or Pressure Control
✓ Fits
24 V vehicles
● Use the CKMA24 instead
Fit guidance: The CKMA12 is a universal-mount component, not a vehicle-specific part: it bolts to any flat surface through four 1/4" holes you drill using the supplied backing plate as the template. Universal does not mean no-drill, and mounting location choice (heat, water exposure, hose runs) is the real install decision. The install guide covers placement in detail.
Specifications
Model: ARB High Output On-Board Air Compressor, single motor
Part Number: CKMA12
Voltage: 12 V DC
Free-Flow Air Delivery: 3.08 CFM (87.2 L/min)
Air Delivery at 29 psi: 2.34 CFM (65.9 L/min)
Maximum Pressure: 100 psi
Current Draw: 14.2 A at free flow, 25.2 A at 29 psi (40 A relay supplied)
Duty Cycle: 50%, rated 30 minutes on / 30 minutes off
Ingress Protection: IP55 (motor assembly)
Dimensions: 7.5" L x 3.9" W x 5.7" H
Product Weight: 7.7 lb
Shipping Weight: 11 lb
Thermal Protection: Internal overheat cut-out
Warranty: 3 years
UPC: 881348007223
Installation
Type: Bolt-on to a drilled flat surface; full electrical kit supplied · Time: 2-4 hours for a tidy engine-bay install with switch wiring · Tools: Drill with 1/4" bit, socket set, crimper; basic 12 V wiring competence · Difficulty: Moderate
The supplied loom, relay and switch cover the whole electrical side. Pick a mounting spot away from exhaust heat and water spray, use the backing plate as your drilling template, and follow ARB's guide for the pressure-switch plumbing.
Resources
Everything you need for your ARB On-Board Air Compressor, 12V Single Motor, 3.08 CFM, 100 psi, IP55, in one place.
Warranty. ARB covers the CKMA12 with a 3-year unlimited-mileage warranty through ARB North America (Air Locker Inc., Auburn, WA). Wear items such as the filter element carry a 1-year term under ARB's standard warranty schedule. We describe ARB's warranty exactly as published and it is honored through any ARB-authorized dealer in the US.
Free shipping. This item ships free to the lower 48 states and typically arrives in 3 to 7 business days.
Inspect on delivery. Please inspect your order on arrival. If anything is damaged or missing, contact us right away and we will make it right.
About ARB
ARB started in 1975 in a Melbourne garage, when Tony Brown began building bull bars for the four-wheel drives crossing Australia's outback, and the company has grown into the largest 4x4 accessories maker in the southern hemisphere. Its engineering campus in Kilsyth, Victoria still manufactures the products the brand is famous for, including bull bars, Air Lockers and the air compressor line, and its gear is proven in places where a breakdown is measured in days of walking, from the Simpson Desert to the Rubicon.
In North America ARB operates from Auburn, Washington as Air Locker Inc., backing every product with a US warranty program. Prestige Truck is an authorized ARB dealer. Every compressor we ship is a genuine US-market unit with full ARB North America warranty coverage.
Why A Premium ARB Compressor
ARB walks through what separates its compressor line from bargain units: sealed motors, real duty-cycle ratings, serviceable filters and the electrical kit that comes standard.
If you are comparing the CKMA12 against a parts-store special, this is the honest comparison from the people who build it.
Air Lockers And Onboard Air
The CKMA12's original job: feeding ARB Air Lockers. ARB explains how the compressor and locker system work together and why on-board air changes how you drive tough terrain.
Worth watching if lockers are anywhere in your build plan, because this compressor is already the right air source for them.
The ARB Story
How a Melbourne garage operation building bull bars for outback tourers in 1975 became the southern hemisphere's biggest 4x4 accessories maker.
Seven minutes on the company behind the compressor, filmed by ARB itself across its Australian factories and proving grounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on specs, fit and support
Will the CKMA12 fit my truck?
Yes, in the sense that matters: it is not a vehicle-specific part. It mounts to any flat surface via four 1/4" holes you drill with the supplied backing plate as a template, in a 12 V vehicle. It needs roughly an 8" x 4" footprint away from exhaust heat and direct water spray. For 24 V trucks, ARB makes the CKMA24.
What maintenance does it need?
Almost none, by ARB's own account. The single service item is the sintered air-filter disc: pop the filter cover off, rinse the disc under running water, and refit. If you use the compressor often, clean it about as often as you change engine oil.
How fast will it air up my tires?
ARB rates it at 3.08 CFM free flow and 2.34 CFM at 29 psi, which airs a 33" tire from 15 to 30 psi in roughly two and a half minutes. For a full four-tire air-up after a day on the sand, expect around 10-12 minutes of run time, comfortably inside the 30-minute duty rating.
Can it run air tools?
It holds 100 psi and will run small air tools intermittently, but it has no tank of its own. For sustained tool use, pair it with an air tank or step up to the twin-motor CKMTA12. Its core jobs are tires and Air Lockers, and it is excellent at both.
Is the wiring really included?
Yes, completely: the loom, a 40 A relay, the illuminated ARB rocker switch, pressure switch and terminals are all in the box. You supply only the mounting location and the drill.
What is the warranty?
3 years through ARB North America, unlimited mileage. ARB's schedule puts wear items like the filter element at 1 year. Register with ARB after purchase and keep your invoice; warranty is honored through authorized dealers like us.
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