12v Air Compressor Recomendation

[rob_s]

I'm in the market for a 12v air compressor I can keep in the truck. this appears to be the top seller on Amazon but I'm not sure I trust the digital gauge in this application
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L9WSTEG/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_hb6BDb3ZJFZ0C

I just need/want to be able to inflate truck tires, kids' bike tires, pool floats, etc. I'm not looking to run tools off of the thing.

Anyone have one they like? Is there a "best" in the offroading or overlanding world that I should be considering?

[LittleLebowski]

I'm gonna geek out and say that getting one like this (https://www.amazon.com/STANLEY-J5C09-Jump-Starter-Compressor/dp/B002X6VXL4/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=air+compressor+charger&qid=1567597059&s=gateway&sr=8-3) would be worth the extra cash.

[MEH]

I'm in the market for a 12v air compressor I can keep in the truck. this appears to be the top seller on Amazon but I'm not sure I trust the digital gauge in this application
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L9WSTEG/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_hb6BDb3ZJFZ0C

I just need/want to be able to inflate truck tires, kids' bike tires, pool floats, etc. I'm not looking to run tools off of the thing.

Anyone have one they like? Is there a "best" in the offroading or overlanding world that I should be considering?

That one specifically says no truck tires. Nothing over 70psi. I don't think that's the one you want.

[hufnagel]

bike tires can easily run up to 100psi sometimes, so you'll want something that can do that kind of pressure.
of course the problem with that is they're slow as hell to fill big things like car/truck tires.
honestly, I just keep a cheap one in the trunk, and plan on replacing it every year or 3 of usage, as they all burn out eventually.

[rob_s]

Looking at these now too.
https://www.viaircorp.com/portables

Looks like in order to get pressure up to do truck tires you gotta go from the cigarette-lighter plug to battery clamps.

That particular brand also doesn’t seem to have an auto shutoff feature which is nice to have.

[rayrevolver]

The VIAIR ones are the supposed to be the real deal and some are designed to be installed/hard-wired into vehicles like RVs.

I almost went that route for my F-150 and Travel Trailer, but I also wanted 110v.

I ended up with this from Lowes:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-12-Volt-And-120-Volt-AC-Voltage-Air-Inflator-Power-Source-Car/1000092575

Figure there is always a Lowes nearby if it fails. It would take forever to air up a flat truck tire due to volume. If that is your mission then a VIAIR is probably what you need.

[txdpd]

I'll second the Viair 87P (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CDWJRZW/). I have them in the cars and they've only been used a dozen times in the 6-7 years, but they've worked every time.

I'd be careful with it for bike tires, I aired up one the kids bikes with it, and it went from 30-60psi in about the time time than it took for you read this sentence. 26” Mountain bike tire would be fine, little tires not so much.

I'd avoid anything that plugs into a cigarette lighter. Seems to be a common point of failure on high draw devices.

[TXBK]

Expedition Portal is the place to look, if you want to find a lot of info. Airing up tires after airing down for trails and fixing flats, is what they are doing. This is including 32”+ off-road tires up to 60-65 PSI.

There are many that are satisfied running the Viair compressors. I’d just get one that seems a bit more than you need, and getting one that connects to the battery will perform better than one that connects to a 12 volt outlet.

I consider the ARB compressors to be at the front of the class of 12 volt compressors. The ARB dual 12 volt with a tank is I what I consider the best. I personally have everything in this kit, https://www.amazon.com/ARB-10000011-Portable-Compressor-Deflator/dp/B07HPCSMVR/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=Arb+dual+compressor&qid=1567615612&s=automotive&sr=1-28, and it has never let me down.

[John Hearne]

I bought one of these to fill the air tank I use to drive my turning targets. The first one was DOA, the replacement has run well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RCTV46/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[ps122]

If you're going to pump up truck tires, I'd recommend the ones that connect directly to the battery (not the cigarette lighter). I usually wouldn't recommend Harbor Freight but I've had good luck with this one: https://www.harborfreight.com/12Volt-150-PSI-Compact-Air-Compressor-63184.html

[ragnar_d]

While not a truck tire (used this on my Crown Vic and Explorer and the wife's Terrain), I've been impressed with the Viair 70P (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012WHBSO/) unit I bought 4 years ago. That compressor and the Longacre tire gauge (https://www.amazon.com/Longacre-50417-0-60-Pressure-Gauge/dp/B00DL6T2YK/) I got at the same time paid for themselves a few times over. The little compressor has been a workhorse for airing up everything from tires to inflatables and beach balls.

When I do finally get a truck, I'll be getting a properly sized/spec'ed Viair unit.

[rob_s]

Thanks everyone!

It appears that, for my truck tire size, I'll need the Viair 88P (https://www.amazon.com/Viair-00088-88P-Portable-Compressor/dp/B005ASY23I/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=88p&qid=1567702652&s=automotive&sr=1-1), and that should be capable of handling kids floats and bike tires (although he chuck doesn't seem to lend itself to bike tire stems stuck in among spokes) as well. I do wish it had the auto-shut-off feature I've seen in some other makes, but the overall build quality of the Viair seems to trump that.

[rob_s]

Thanks everyone!

It appears that, for my truck tire size, I'll need the Viair 88P (https://www.amazon.com/Viair-00088-88P-Portable-Compressor/dp/B005ASY23I/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=88p&qid=1567702652&s=automotive&sr=1-1), and that should be capable of handling kids floats and bike tires (although he chuck doesn't seem to lend itself to bike tire stems stuck in among spokes) as well. I do wish it had the auto-shut-off feature I've seen in some other makes, but the overall build quality of the Viair seems to trump that.

Anyone have any reason *not* to go with this guy? Any comparable make/model that has an auto-shut-off? The cheapie we have in my wife's car is great because I can turn the knob around the face that you can turn to the desired PSI and it shuts itself off at that pressure. Probably not terribly accurate but keeps me from having to stare at the thing.

[RJ]

Anyone have any reason *not* to go with this guy? Any comparable make/model that has an auto-shut-off? The cheapie we have in my wife's car is great because I can turn the knob around the face that you can turn to the desired PSI and it shuts itself off at that pressure. Probably not terribly accurate but keeps me from having to stare at the thing.

I bought one of those Viar 88s for the truck/RV on the road in the early days.

If I recall, it had screw on at the valve. This turned out to be a big pita. It worked well enough though.

I ended up buying one of the $40 blue ones from Kobalt at Lowe's. The over-center locks on the inflator worked well and were efficient. The ability to turn it on and let it inflate to specified pressure was nice. And I am pretty sure it worked fine for my rear truck tires on the Ram 2500 (80 psi) (I could be misremembering that.)

Anyway I sold the truck/RV and left the inflator for the next owner as a gift, so I went to Lowe's and bought another one. Neither have given me any issues over the past five years, they just seem to work.

[RJ]

The VIAIR ones are the supposed to be the real deal and some are designed to be installed/hard-wired into vehicles like RVs.

I almost went that route for my F-150 and Travel Trailer, but I also wanted 110v.

I ended up with this from Lowes:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-12-Volt-And-120-Volt-AC-Voltage-Air-Inflator-Power-Source-Car/1000092575

Figure there is always a Lowes nearby if it fails. It would take forever to air up a flat truck tire due to volume. If that is your mission then a VIAIR is probably what you need.

This is exactly the one in my car right now. I bought it for almost identical reasons.

I would only add that keeping my 80 psi rear tires on my Ram 2500 was not an issue with this pump, but I never had to fill them up from flat, of course. Just 1-2 psi a month under normal use like you do.

[Caballoflaco]

Dude, for bike tires, lawnmowers etc. spend like $30-$50 bucks and get a nice floor pump. Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Serfas-TCPG-Bicycle-Floor-Pump/dp/B001MK3GFS/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=serfas+pump&qid=1567944344&s=gateway&sprefix=serfas+&sr=8-5

The good ones adapt to presta or schrader valves and the built in gauges are accurate and repeatable. I still use my 12 year old Serfas to check and air up my motorcycle tires and have used it plus some elbow grease to fully inflate truck tires a time or two when I didn’t have an electric pump. It’s soo nice not having to deal with wires and hookups or separate pressure gauges to quickly inflate any small to medium size tire.

[trailrunner]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H39S9JQ/

I recently replaced my Makita air compressor with this. First test was on my a tire on my wife's SUV. It must have a slow leak because the pressure was maybe 14 psi when I started. Took about 5 minutes to get it back to 28 psi.

The things I like about it are: 1) I can run it off the same 20V battery I use for my other DeWalt tools. 2) I can set the desired pressure and it will shut off automatically. 3) It's portable and a lot easier to lug around than my old Makita compressor. 4) I have many bicycles, including several road bikes, and it is supposed to be able to inflate beyond 100 psi. Haven't tested it yet. 5) The little light on the compressor is surprisingly handy.

[DMF13]

I've been very happy with this:
https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-dual-function-inflator-deflator

However, I have several Ryobi cordless tools, so I was staying with the same "battery system."

[rob_s]

I bought one of those Viar 88s for the truck/RV on the road in the early days.

If I recall, it had screw on at the valve. This turned out to be a big pita. It worked well enough though.
That is a concern of mine as well. Particularly for bike tires. I'm thinking something like this (https://www.amazon.com/Slime-20332-Inflator-Hose-Adapter/dp/B01MY55BT5/ref=pd_bxgy_469_2/130-9079195-7407225?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01MY55BT5&pd_rd_r=6ff7cc5f-b7f9-418f-a592-843231cd05b5&pd_rd_w=De1I8&pd_rd_wg=Puhbv&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=6GNYG1CZJPJZJFD73X2R&psc=1&refRID=6GNYG1CZJPJZJFD73X2R)may solve for that?




The VIAIR ones are the supposed to be the real deal and some are designed to be installed/hard-wired into vehicles like RVs.

I almost went that route for my F-150 and Travel Trailer, but I also wanted 110v.

I ended up with this from Lowes:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-12-Volt-And-120-Volt-AC-Voltage-Air-Inflator-Power-Source-Car/1000092575

Figure there is always a Lowes nearby if it fails. It would take forever to air up a flat truck tire due to volume. If that is your mission then a VIAIR is probably what you need.



I ended up buying one of the $40 blue ones from Kobalt at Lowe's. The over-center locks on the inflator worked well and were efficient. The ability to turn it on and let it inflate to specified pressure was nice. And I am pretty sure it worked fine for my rear truck tires on the Ram 2500 (80 psi) (I could be misremembering that.)

Anyway I sold the truck/RV and left the inflator for the next owner as a gift, so I went to Lowe's and bought another one. Neither have given me any issues over the past five years, they just seem to work.


This is exactly the one in my car right now. I bought it for almost identical reasons.

I would only add that keeping my 80 psi rear tires on my Ram 2500 was not an issue with this pump, but I never had to fill them up from flat, of course. Just 1-2 psi a month under normal use like you do.
That Kobalt thing just seems bulky as all hell, no? RJ you had both that and the Viair, is the Kobalt bigger or smaller than the 88p?




Dude, for bike tires, lawnmowers etc. spend like $30-$50 bucks and get a nice floor pump. Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Serfas-TCPG-Bicycle-Floor-Pump/dp/B001MK3GFS/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=serfas+pump&qid=1567944344&s=gateway&sprefix=serfas+&sr=8-5

The good ones adapt to presta or schrader valves and the built in gauges are accurate and repeatable. I still use my 12 year old Serfas to check and air up my motorcycle tires and have used it plus some elbow grease to fully inflate truck tires a time or two when I didn’t have an electric pump. It’s soo nice not having to deal with wires and hookups or separate pressure gauges to quickly inflate any small to medium size tire.
I'm trying to get a multi-task tool here. use for kid's bikes and toys most common, but also able to take care of the truck tires if needed.




https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H39S9JQ/

I recently replaced my Makita air compressor with this. First test was on my a tire on my wife's SUV. It must have a slow leak because the pressure was maybe 14 psi when I started. Took about 5 minutes to get it back to 28 psi.

The things I like about it are: 1) I can run it off the same 20V battery I use for my other DeWalt tools. 2) I can set the desired pressure and it will shut off automatically. 3) It's portable and a lot easier to lug around than my old Makita compressor. 4) I have many bicycles, including several road bikes, and it is supposed to be able to inflate beyond 100 psi. Haven't tested it yet. 5) The little light on the compressor is surprisingly handy.


I've been very happy with this:
https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-dual-function-inflator-deflator

However, I have several Ryobi cordless tools, so I was staying with the same "battery system."

If I was on either the Ryonbi or Dewalt systems I'd be looking harder at one of these. I'm on the Milwaukee system and they have this guy (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-12-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Compact-Inflator-Tool-Only-2475-20/304768834) but it doesn't appear to have a provision for use without the battery and it's working off their M12 system which doesn't lead me to believe it's going to work for truck tires. I'm still thinking of getting one just to keep in the garage for the kids.

[Caballoflaco]

I'm trying to get a multi-task tool here. use for kid's bikes and toys most common, but also able to take care of the truck tires if needed.


I get that, but you don’t get to pretend like you’re The Coyote trying to blow up Roadrunner with an air compressor. Also, depending on your kids ages they can or could soon be taught to air up their own bike tires withou your help, it ain’t exactly brain-science.

[RJ]

That Kobalt thing just seems bulky as all hell, no?



Yes and no.

Yes the Kobalt is a ‘thing’ you grab from the trunk when needed. Yes the air and power cords are coils up inside, adding bulk. Yes it has handles built in to grab it with, adding girth. Yes the pump is enclosed, but against that it is more or less rectangular in shape, and fits easily into a shelf or area without getting squashed.

The Viar was always like wrestling an eel; all the cords are loose and aren’t ‘in’ anything, iIRC I stored it in a box anyway.

They aren’t really that $$$ so you might just pick one. They both worked well and did the job, it’s probably just personal preference at the $50 price point.

[rob_s]

I get that, but you don’t get to pretend like you’re The Coyote trying to blow up Roadrunner with an air compressor. Also, depending on your kids ages they can or could soon be taught to air up their own bike tires withou your help, it ain’t exactly brain-science.

"get to pretend"?

I have no idea what you're on about, but thank you.

Thank you for reminding me that when I post on the internet asking "what duck should I buy" and someone replies with "you don't need a duck, you need an elephant" that I should just ignore the response altogether.

[JodyH]

Looking at these now too.
https://www.viaircorp.com/portables

Looks like in order to get pressure up to do truck tires you gotta go from the cigarette-lighter plug to battery clamps.

That particular brand also doesn’t seem to have an auto shutoff feature which is nice to have.

VIAIR are awesome.
I've used mine for 4 or 5 years now air up and down 36" off-road tires, often multiple times a day.

[rob_s]

The Viar was always like wrestling an eel; all the cords are loose and aren’t ‘in’ anything, iIRC I stored it in a box anyway.


I do wish the hose was on a QD for the Viair. Seems like it would make the whole thing more manageable. I plan to stick the whole thing in a bag with some Velcro cable management.

[GNiner]

I bought a Viair 88P recently, and it came in its own little zip closed bag. Very compact.

[TXBK]

Here is an article (Originally published in 2015), from Overland Journal, that includes some info regarding the 88P.

The Overland Journal Air Compressor Test - https://expeditionportal.com/the-overland-journal-air-compressor-test/

[David S.]

I have the harbor freight version of the Viair for my mini van and sedan. Comes in a fairly compact bag that holds hose and pump. I’m sue the Viair does too. Direct connect to the battery, instead of theu cigarette lighter is a priority for car or truck tires. My Super Duty will get the biggest Viair.

[Jim Watson]

And why are we still stuck with the cigarette lighter outlet?
There should be an auto industry agreement on a standard 12v DC plug that is compact, durable, stays plugged, and handles all the current vehicle wiring will deliver.

[rob_s]

Smaller size range than what I’ve been considering but relevant nonetheless.


https://youtu.be/kTpSgUyyBA8

[hufnagel]

rob_s bastard! I was about to post that. :D

Some interesting results.
Personally, I see it as a toss up between the Pittsburgh (HF) and HyperTough (Walmart) pumps.
The former will protect itself, and I don't know where he got the $35.99 Pittsburgh price from (it's $29.99 on the web site) vs. $19.88 for the HyperTough.
And of course, the 20% off coupon at HF makes it $23.99.

[randyho]

If you are frustrated by things that break ( I am ), look into ARB's. Beyond that, explore Co2 options for the least amount of moving parts. If leaning toward the piston options, buy two.

[rob_s]

Bumping this.

Had a half-blowout in the campervan so tores and air and such are fresh on my mind…

Viair 88P Side by Side/UTV Portable Compressor, Up to 33" tires, 120 PSI, Polaris Ranger, CanAm Maverick, P/N 00082 https://a.co/d/3QO38qG

The above seems like a good option but not sure why they list side by sides for this one?

The ones they sell for RVs just seem To have more shit than we need.

[David S.]

I continue to believe that the Harbor Freight version (https://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools-compressors/air-compressors-tanks/12v-150-psi-compact-air-compressor-63184.html) is a good value for occasional use. (Make sure you get the unit that attaches directly to the battery, not the cigarette lighter. I would invest in the (presumably higher quality) name brand unit if I was going to regularly float down tires or be away from roadside assistance.

[bofe954]

Did you ever get one of the Milwaukee inflators? I think I would just do that and try and keep up with having a charged battery. You could also buy a cigarette lighter Milwaukee charger to have when things didn't go right.

[rob_s]

Did you ever get one of the Milwaukee inflators? I think I would just do that and try and keep up with having a charged battery. You could also buy a cigarette lighter Milwaukee charger to have when things didn't go right.

I have an m12 inflator and it’s proven capable of getting the van tires up to pressure but I’d prefer wired in this case.

Just ordered one of these

https://www.campingworld.com/viair-rv-safe-89p-rvs-portable-tire-inflator-for-class-b-rvs-121663.html

[Casey]

While almost certainly overkill, I picked up this ARB unit (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004P9A35E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1) in 2013 and have been using it ever since. It's quiet and quick, and being a direct-connect to the battery, no worries about pulling too much current from a 12V socket.

I recently bought one of the Milwaukee M18 inflators (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Inflator-Tool-Only-2848-20/320022879). It is louder than the ARB, and I dislike the screw-on air chuck, but it is much more convenient to use than the ARB, especially being able to program multiple preset pressure levels into it.

The ARB still lives in the truck full-time for roadside use, but the Milwaukee has taken over for routine air-ups.

[Crashpad]

While almost certainly overkill, I picked up this ARB unit (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004P9A35E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1) in 2013 and have been using it ever since. It's quiet and quick, and being a direct-connect to the battery, no worries about pulling too much current from a 12V socket.

I recently bought one of the Milwaukee M18 inflators (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Inflator-Tool-Only-2848-20/320022879). It is louder than the ARB, and I dislike the screw-on air chuck, but it is much more convenient to use than the ARB, especially being able to program multiple preset pressure levels into it.

The ARB still lives in the truck full-time for roadside use, but the Milwaukee has taken over for routine air-ups.

My beater work truck has an ARB compressor that I pulled off a totalled Jeep Cherokee 20ish years ago bought for parts for my then DD XJ. It sat in storage until ten years ago when I threw it on the truck. Gets used once or twice a year and gives me no issues.

I too just picked up the 18v Milwaukee to keep in my car. I like it. I keep a small 18v impact and Sawzall in there so the batteries were already in place for the compressor.

[mtnbkr]

Looking at these now too.
https://www.viaircorp.com/portables

Looks like in order to get pressure up to do truck tires you gotta go from the cigarette-lighter plug to battery clamps.

That particular brand also doesn’t seem to have an auto shutoff feature which is nice to have.

I have this one in my 4x4 and use it to air up 32" AT tires after a trail run (it as gone up $20 since I bought it a few years ago):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ASY23I

I find the battery clamp power method to be superior because cig-lighter plugs can be flaky and don't support high current draws. Plus, with clamps, I can use a variety of 12v sources.

This pump is quick. I can bring 4 tires from 15lb to 35lbs before my buddy can do one tire with his little cig-lighter car pump.

ETA: I didn't realize I was responding to a 3yo post. :rolleyes:


Chris

[rob_s]

I have an m12 inflator and it’s proven capable of getting the van tires up to pressure but I’d prefer wired in this case.

Just ordered one of these

https://www.campingworld.com/viair-rv-safe-89p-rvs-portable-tire-inflator-for-class-b-rvs-121663.html

Well, despite having ordered on 7/27 from camping world, the lump hasn’t arrived and I haven’t even gotten an order confirmation or tracking info from them. I used PayPal so I’ve started the dispute process thought them.

I say all of this to say that if there’s a better option out there, I’m apparently back on the hunt…