Portable Air Compressor

[wcampbell47]

I hauled a portable gas powered air compressor in the back of my truck for a long time to meet the need of airing up a low trailer tire and/or changing a flat with an air wrench. I replaced the compressor, air wrench and air hose with the following.

VIAIR portable 12 volt air compressor. 4P-Automatic Portable Compressor | VIAIR. So far has served me well and aired up low tires on already loaded trailer. 70 psi no problem. Works on tractor tires as well.

Switched to a battery powered wrench as well.

If you pull trailers often you know you run across under inflated tires frequently. This helps in a pinch.

 

[DaKing]

Years ago I was out-fitting a race trailer. I invested in a air system. Compressors, plumbing, electrical, air tools...

It was a mistake.

Air tools and the required infrastructure is heavy, and has multiple fail points.

I have since switched to Dewalt 20V tools. The infrastructure required to own and operate the cordless tools is far less than air tools. The weight savings is greatly improved. Part of the cordless infrastructure is larger batteries and 12V charger. The trailer is equipped with solar and battery banks. The solar and batteries are for more than the cordless tools. Trailer lighting is all 12V, heat system is 12v.

For air, I have the dewalt 60V portable compressor. And my pulling truck has ViAIR compressors, and hose to fill tires.

I've since stopped using air tools anywhere, even in my shop. I find air tools actually slow down working. Turn on compressor, wait for air PSI and tank to fill. Un-coil air hose and bring to work site. Most of the time, fight the hose as it gets stuck on stuff. Then fight the hose as you try to move to the other side of the project. And then deal with the noise of the compressor. Where a decent set of cordless tools will work. Less infrastructure to deal with. Easy to move the tools around.

Cordless tools have greatly improved in the last 15 years. Even the ones at Horror Freight are actually good.