Air compressor Tire inflate

[Sonnyblu42]

Hello, I am beginning to gather up all the various items I need for my (Chevy) Van Life. I can not decide upon an Air Compressor. They have all changed so much and seem so cheap since I last looked. I see what Amazon recommends and I'm just not impressed. I was hoping for a consensuses here of a good one to buy. Thanks...

 

[AnFear]

Something to think about is the air pressure. On my van the rears are 80 psi and 65 in the front. Most cars run around 32 so a compressor that's good for a car may not work for you.

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Sonnyblu42! Sorry, I do not have any suggestions but hopefully someone else will.

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[tx2sturgis]

VIAIR Portable Compressors have a good reputation in the 4x4 crowd, but they aint cheap.


https://www.viaircorp.com/portables

 

[Matildas mate]

I am also looking at purchasing a compressor and am considering this one in particular...

https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-400P-Automatic-Function-Portable-Compressor/dp/B000X9B32M

I consider this to be an item that i wanted to be more than adequate for my needs. A bit expensive but from what i have been reading, the less expensive smaller models are inadequate for the higher pressures required for the tires on a van. And smaller compressors sometimes require as much as 8 hours to fill one tire to the recommended pressure - depending on variables i would imagine.

I am anxious to hear from others on this topic.

 

[johnny b]

If you're a Ryobi cordless tool owner (already have a battery or 2), they have a couple options:

1 gallon tank:  https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-1-gallon-air-compressor

Small, cheap handheld:  https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-power-inflator

In between, dual use (mattress, etc):  https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-dual-function-inflator-deflator

 

[tx2sturgis]

I am also looking at purchasing a compressor and am considering this one in particular...

https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-400P-Automatic-Function-Portable-Compressor/dp/B000X9B32M

And smaller compressors sometimes require as much as 8 hours to fill one tire to the recommended pressure - depending on variables i would imagine.

That would be a good one I assume...BTW the cheap little inflators can take 10-20 minutes to air-up a low tire, but never 8 hours, the little 'hobby' motors in those can overheat and burn out if they are running for too long.

Basically, any portable air compressor that plugs into a cigarette lighter plug will take a fair amount of time to air up a low tire. The ones that clamp onto the battery terminals will usually do the job much faster, as a general rule.

If you plan on going into areas where you need to lower the pressure in all your tires for traction, and need to air-up again when you hit pavement, spend the money on a good one.

ARB also has a good reputation.

https://www.arb.com.au/air-compressors-tyre-accessories/air-compressors/

The 'BushRanger' on that page looks just like the VIAIR's....hmmmm.....

 

[Sonnyblu42]

If you're a Ryobi cordless tool owner (already have a battery or 2), they have a couple options:

1 gallon tank:  https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-1-gallon-air-compressor

Small, cheap handheld:  https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-power-inflator

In between, dual use (mattress, etc):  https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-dual-function-inflator-deflator

Yes... That is a very good idea! The Ryobi's would be great for the road... and much better that the cheap AC units I have now. Can you charge Ryobi's with DC?(without an inverter?) I don't have my Van yet, so I don't know what tires I will have. But I know I need something suitable for the Desert and a compressor that will handle them. That Ryobi looks nice...

 

[Sonnyblu42]

Something to think about is the air pressure. On my van the rears are 80 psi and 65 in the front. Most cars run around 32 so a compressor that's good for a car may not work for you.

Yes, I going to want a tire that is suitable for the Southwest... that's for sure. I doubt that I will be able to afford a 4x4, more than likely just a Express 1500, 2500 but I will still want suitable all terrain tires for sure and a compressor that will handle them, if needed.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I have an MV-50 12V air compressor.  It is adequate for what I use it for: pumping up my tires after air down for pot-holed or washboard roads.  I have 265/70-17 tires and go from 40 psi to 70 psi.  It usually takes me from 20 - 30 minutes to air up 4 tires with cool down between each tire.

https://www.amazon.com/Inflator-Por...?ie=UTF8&qid=1542047849&sr=8-1&keywords=mv-50

There are u-tube videos that will explain how to increase efficiency but so far mine is stock.  I think Sternwake gave directions on this site but I couldn't find it.

Any 12V compressor that plugs into a cigar lighter is only good for blowing up beach toys and air mattresses.

 

[jonyjoe303]

I been using this bad boy for almost 5 years, I bought mine at pepboys but you can find on ebay for around 70 dollars. This is definitely heavy duty and made for truck tires but used it for my car and now my van tires. Its quick and you connect directly to your car battery. Just make sure and get good quality bussman 30 amp fuses, the cheaper 30 amp fuses always blow on this compressor. Highly recommend it to everyone who need a fast compressor. After 5 years still run like a champ.

Masterflow mf-1050

 

[highdesertranger]

well I have had several 12v air compressors over the years.  any guess why I had several?   here's what I have come to  realize.  the ones that plug into a cigarette lighter are toys.  they take forever to blow up a LT tire this long duty cycle means a short life.

then you have the ones that clamp to the battery.  a vast improvement however they a still fairly slow and if you read the fine print you must have the engine running as they like to run at about 14v.

my last electric one was a Viair and it was the best electric one I have owned but I still found it inadequate.  so I mounted a engine driven compressor.  oh boy what a difference.  I can blow up a tire that took 10 minutes with the Viair in under a minute.  I can run air tools and the like.  I could never run air tools with the Viair no matter what Viair claims.

now I know most of you don't need to run air tools and really don't want to mount an engine mounted compressor. but let metell you there is no comparison.  a few pics.





sorry about the second one being blurry.  it's a pic of the distribution manifold,  the pressure switch,  and gauge.  the compressor is an old York air condition(AC) compressor.  I made the mounting bracket.

highdesertranger

 

[LoveCareThinkDo]

I been using this bad boy for almost 5 years,
Masterflow mf-1050

This is the same model I have. I've had it for about 3 years. It is "rated" for large truck tires. Got mine at O'Reilly's. Works great except for one thing: The gauge is off. I gotta pump it up till the gauge says 50 pounds to get 36 pounds in the tires.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[tx2sturgis]

The only way you're gonna be happy is with one of these:

https://www.mylittlesalesman.com/2008-doosan-hp1600iq-air-compressor-9466033

Side benefit: It will make HDR jealous.

 

[bullfrog]

Ryobi does make a vehicle charger for their 18volt one batteries. If you already use Ryobi for lights,fan,impact, vacuum and other tools it makes sense to buy the compressor even if it is the small one as it works great on bicycle tires and will fill a car tire but if an 80 to 100psi truck tire you should make room for the larger one gallon compressor. I run most of my stuff under 35psi and the small one works but that last ten psi takes forever it seams. I like HDR have ran an old ac compressor and with a small accumulator tank work the best just make sure they stay properly filled with oil.

 

[kaBLOOnie Boonster]

Funny that you should ask about tire inflators, because I just went through the same project. Ended up buying a Smittybilt 2781 (their big one) for the standard price of $165, from a local four-wheel-drive store. It was popular with the motorsports people in the area. They use it on 34 and 35 inch diameter tires. You can get it online of course.

I tested it today for an aired-down trailer tire, 15 inch. It inflated it to 45 psi in one minute. Wasn't even that loud.

Time will tell. So far it looks good. Yes, you do alligator-clip it to the battery posts, and you do idle the engine.

My previous inflator was a VIAIR 88 -- OK, but too slow.

 

[jonyjoe303]

The smittybilt looks like the masterflow, even the on/off switch looks similar, I saw the review on youtube it sounds almost the same when operating. I was impressed when it pumped up that large tire in less then 5 minutes. On the masterflow I have never notice any problem with pressure gauge,  but I usually use a seperate PSI gauge to check the tire pressure. They are usually close enough.
On mine I don't even run the engine when I use it, the 2 or 3 minutes it takes to top off my tires is inconsequential. But with the engine running it will pump quicker, if the tire was completely empty thats the way to go. 

 

[Sonnyblu42]

Thank you everyone... Yes it seems it true, as many of you originally pointed out, that it's either all or nothing with the Tire Inflators... with nothing in between. But of the cheap ones the MasterFlow1050 (in it's various adaptions) is a good choice. I had an older Kobalt that did the job, I was able to inflate truck tires. I found the new Kobalt and it looks like an X-Falcon Spaceship toy, a toy for kids... This hardly breeds much confidence... OK Well... I know a lot more than when I started. Thank you again... and it great to be part of the forum!