What do you use for a portable tire air compressor?

[newbury]

Just burned out my $30 HF unit on it's 4th trailer tire.

Any recommendations?

I'd like to keep it under $100 so I'm thinking I'll have to go with something like an HD Porter Cable "pancake" compressor run off an inverter. This will let me use long hoses to get back to the trailer. THe good RV 12V air compressors like the VIAIR 450P Automatic Function Portable Compressor seem to cost almost $300.

 

[BHD]

This is what I use,
I put it together, last year and wonder now how I got along with out it, it has been a marvelous tool .

Airing tires,
Driving fence posts,
Using an air wrench and so on.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I just use shop air. Never had a 12v unit.

Chris

 

[joshuabardwell]

You're not going to like this answer, but honestly, every single one of the little 12v portable units is a POS that will burn itself out in the first two years of use, or 20 hours, whichever comes first. (DISCLAIMER: These numbers pulled out of my butt.) They all run hot and they take forever to air up a tire because they are limited in the amperage they can pull. So you have to run them a long time, and they get even hotter, and eventually they self-destruct. If you absolutely must have a 12v portable unit, buy two, because the first one is definitely going to leave you stranded eventually. You'd be better off spending $129 on a Harbor Freight 2 HP / 8 gallon portable oiled compressor, though.

 

[smstonypoint]

You're not going to like this answer, but honestly, every single one of the little 12v portable units is a POS that will burn itself out in the first two years of use, or 20 hours, whichever comes first. (DISCLAIMER: These numbers pulled out of my butt.)

Joshua may be correct if the units are over-used. Don't laugh -- I carry a 12V Slime compressor ($35 at Walmart) in each of my vehicles. I bought them to serve as a stop-gap measure if needed while on the road, but I use them occasionally to "top off" my tire pressures. I have had them more than 2 years, but have used them less than 20 hours each.

Steve

 

[handirifle]

That's because you didn't use a good 12v compressor. I got one off Ebay, from a company called Buzzard Gultch, believe it or not. It's got a 100% duty cycle, and put out more air than Via Airs units.

This is what it looks like as it came. It IS more than $100 though, it was $200 when I got mine and shipping was free. I took this one apart and used it for onboard air in my '01 Wrangler. The article is here. Onboard Air System

These things are tough and durable. The company refers people to my site when they are asked about using it on a truck or RV.

Here is their current Ebay listing. I just looked it up, the price has gone to $225 but still free shipping. 12 Volt 1 5 Gal Air Compressor Puma Mini | eBay

It comes complete, ready to use as shipped. I installed mine with a 40 amp relay under the hood and a control switch in the dash. It's all in the article if you care. Anyway the compressor is rock solid, and they told me they would still honor the warranty even after I used the parts separately.

Pumped up a lot of truck size tires with no issues what so ever. I meant to add, it took about 2-3 Min to air a car tire to 35 PSI from flat.

Not what you would carry in you trunk but for a truck or RV it's perfect.

 

[handirifle]

I have zero connection to this company, just pushing a good product.

 

[gdayers123]

Harbor Freight sells an 11 gallon air tank that you can fill with your garage air compressor up to 125 PSI. I use it for blowing off my Kubota B3300SU when I am finished cutting a field. It provides plenty of pressure and last a good while. I carry the same 12v unit you have from HF in case I need to refill the tank in the field. It takes about 20 minutes with the small compressor and about 5 with the garage compressor to air the 11 gallon tank. Nice thing about the tank is it is very light weight and very portable. I replaced the factory 2' hose on the tank with a 25' hose so I can change the hose ends if needed.

 

[gdayers123]

Harbor Freight sells an 11 gallon air tank that you can fill with your garage air compressor up to 125 PSI. I use it for blowing off my Kubota B3300SU when I am finished cutting a field. It provides plenty of pressure and last a good while. I carry the same 12v unit you have from HF in case I need to refill the tank in the field. It takes about 20 minutes with the small compressor and about 5 with the garage compressor to air the 11 gallon tank. Nice thing about the tank is it is very light weight and very portable. I replaced the factory 2' hose on the tank with a 25' hose so I can change the hose ends if needed.

The tank cost about $40.00 at HF.

 

[AGRIMAN]

I have a portable gas compressor similar to BHD's, but what we use most often is our 200 cfm diesel compressor. We piped in a 1/2 inch hose for pumping up tires and other misc things and a 1 inch for blowing off equip. It just really easy to hook up to it and go.....