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Favorite portable air compressor for tires?

Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by ssoulssurfer, Jun 26, 2018.

  1. Jun 26, 2018 at 11:11 AM
    #1
    ssoulssurfer

    ssoulssurfer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Figure had to make a whole different post for this.

    Looking for a portable air compressor I can fill up my 32's in a reasonable amount of time (don't really care if it's a few minutes difference between models, long as it doesn't take like an hour).

    Would also like the plug in adapter in the cab (don't think I really need/would use the aligator 12V clips).

    How long have you had it, how reliable...

    Is the light worthy on some of these?

    Obviously price kind of important, hopefully around $50... not looking for anything over $100

    Carrying case would kind of be cool but not necessary.
     
  2. Jun 26, 2018 at 11:19 AM
    #2
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    You say not over $100, but honestly, you get what you pay for. I'm really happy with my Viair 400P. I haven't had it that long, but it's been great, and pretty much a standard compressor; very popular. It says it's good for "up to 35" tires", I don't plan on anything more than 33's, but IMO you shouldn't be planning to operate your compressor at/near its MAX on a regular basis.

    The other one that's good is the 88P, and that does fit in your budget.

    Do NOT get one with the cigarette adapter. Get one that hooks to your battery, and run the engine while you're filling.

    I have a small crappy compressor someone gave me that uses the cig plug adapter, and that thing sucks, or rather, it doesn't blow. I'd have better luck with a bicycle pump... It took 9 minutes to fill ONE tire (32") from 18 to 30 psi, and that thing was HOT afterwords.

    Anything that doesn't draw enough power from the cig adapter to blow a fuse will be a tiny worthless pump. They're nice for little car tires, but if you are planning on using it to air up after wheeling, don't bother with them. The cig adapters can't handle the amperage needed for a decent pump.
     
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2018
  3. Jun 26, 2018 at 11:23 AM
    #3
    BartMaster1234

    BartMaster1234 American Auto Horns

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    Portable? I always have my Campbell-Hausfeld 60 Gal 10.2 SCFM compressor ready to go on the trails!

    86E4A511-D59F-4B63-8662-A8536AC20535.jpg

    Kidding. I know a lot of guys run the ARB compressor as an OBA system:

    ARB CKMA12 Air Compressor High Output On-Board 12V Air Compressor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009F49NP0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AqOmBb5WRF754

    I’ve heard good things about Vlair’s portable system too. I would avoid no-name companies just because.

    Viair 00088 88P Portable Air Compressor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ASY23I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nrOmBb3NNSR9S

    It’s usually nice to run directly on a 12v connection as most of these things use up a lot of electricity. I’ve heard of people burning out their fusible links because of running some compressors.
     
    Hamer95USA, Roddy13, Hobbs and 6 others like this.
  4. Jun 26, 2018 at 11:24 AM
    #4
    iK0NiK

    iK0NiK Insert custom title here.

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    https://www.amazon.com/Viair-00088-88P-Portable-Compressor/dp/B005ASY23I

    Viair 88P. This thing works GREAT. Like @jbrandt said, you're not going to get the sort of quality compressor you're looking for if it's pulling power through your cigarette lighter. You do want something that pulls directly from the battery.
     
  5. Jun 26, 2018 at 11:25 AM
    #5
    KaptainH

    KaptainH Well-Known Member

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  6. Jun 26, 2018 at 11:41 AM
    #6
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    To add a little bit instead of editing my first post 40 times...

    All else being equal, what you get with the more expensive compressors, essentially, is speed. The expensive ones usually have a better duty cycle (can be run longer before needing a break to cool down), higher flow rates and higher max pressures.

    While the max pressure doesn't seem to really matter much when filling tires (you only need 30-35psi, right?), what that means is that you are farther away from maxing it out, therefore it is not working as hard, which means it lasts longer. If you are constantly maxing out even a high quality name brand unit like the Viair 88P, it won't last as long as the 400P, all else being equal. Our Tacoma motors last many hundreds of thousands of miles, but bounce the thing off the rev limiter all the time and what happens?

    For example:
    Viair 088P: max 120psi, 1.5cfm max flow rate.

    Viair 400P: max 150psi, 2.3cfm max flow rate.


    Both of these will theoretically fill a 40" tire to 30psi (technically, so will that crap one I have), however, the 400P will do it quicker and not have to work as hard to do it.

    The other thing is I have a 125psi air tank that I take with me. This is for various things like re-seating a tire bead if necessary. I can re-fill the tank to its full pressure with the 400P without it working very hard to do so.
     
    Hamer95USA and DavesTaco68 like this.
  7. Jun 26, 2018 at 12:38 PM
    #7
    ssoulssurfer

    ssoulssurfer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Gotcha thanks for the feedback everybody.

    Bartmaster1234 - had a good laugh there
     
    BartMaster1234 likes this.
  8. Jun 26, 2018 at 1:30 PM
    #8
    ThunderOne

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  9. Jun 26, 2018 at 3:28 PM
    #9
    aknickyota22

    aknickyota22 Well-Known Member

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  10. Jun 27, 2018 at 9:26 AM
    #10
    ssoulssurfer

    ssoulssurfer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Boom, ordered the 88p, all around sounds good for my use. I would like some kind of bag/case for it though, any recommendations? Checking out tool bags on Amazon.
     
    113tac and Fuergrissa like this.
  11. Jun 27, 2018 at 11:41 AM
    #11
    arifleman

    arifleman Well-Known Member

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    Just did the same on 88P. Someone on Amazon posted a pic of Home Depot's, Husky brand 12" tool bag - fit the 88p perfectly for $7.99. Gonna pick one up myself!
     
    113tac likes this.
  12. Jun 27, 2018 at 12:34 PM
    #12
    Speedytech7

    Speedytech7 Toyota Cult Ombudsman

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    I've done a mod or two
    I'm running two Viair 444C under my hood for OBA purposes... They're hiding at the top of the pic in my passenger fender with a manifold mounted to the firewall.

    0522182021.jpg
     
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  13. Jun 27, 2018 at 12:43 PM
    #13
    Fluffymonkey

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    I have the Viar 70P and I can add 5-10 psi to a tire in just a few minutes. My neighbor has also been borrowing it for his Jeep tire that won't hold air and it fully inflates it in under 10 minutes. I've had it for around 5 years and it still works flawlessly. Viar also makes compressors with more power, but I've been happy with the 70P.
     
  14. Jun 27, 2018 at 12:48 PM
    #14
    Grossomotto

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  15. Jul 1, 2018 at 10:25 AM
    #15
    ssoulssurfer

    ssoulssurfer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    @arifleman did you get/find that bag? I was at home depot couple days ago but only saw bags in the $20-30 range
     
  16. Jul 1, 2018 at 10:26 AM
    #16
    ssoulssurfer

    ssoulssurfer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    On-board compressor would be cool, but I don't wheel enough to justify it. Just need something for the just in case scenario and occasional use.
     
  17. Jul 1, 2018 at 11:15 AM
    #17
    arifleman

    arifleman Well-Known Member

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    Yep, got that bag. It is Husky model #82004N11. Here's a link, you can see if your local Home Depot carries it.
    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-12-in-Tool-Bag-82004N11/203224030

    BTW, I got the 88P and tried it out yesterday - I like it, inflated my tire from 15psi to 30psi in about two minutes tops and unit was only just warm to the touch. It runs quiet, no vibration, lightweight, easy to store. Oh, and the gauge on it is spot on compared to an electronic tire gauge I use. You just have to shut the air compressor off in order to read accurate psi. I wanted a compressor to aid in very occasional flat tire repair or air-up out in the woods and this one fills that niche perfectly.
     
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  18. Jul 1, 2018 at 11:33 AM
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    YOTA 4X4

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    It’s not a compressor, but consider a power tank? Significantly faster than any compressor, allows you to run air tools, cheaper than big dollar air systems, though far from “cheap” I’m sure there’s some other off brands that may be less expensive. Fills are cheap and easy. Welding shop/ paintball shop. Nothing fills tires faster. Also no drain on you’re electrical system and much less parts to break.


    https://powertank.com/

    *EDIT*

    Did some quick googling it seems that you can build your own CO2 system with exchangeable bottles for not much more than $100 bucks.
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2018
  19. Jul 1, 2018 at 11:37 AM
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    Tacomamike mike

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    An ARB high performance will work well on 33” on down.
    I use ARB twins on my rigs, usually add a tank for air tools :)

    Crap did not see under $100 sorry
     
  20. Jul 1, 2018 at 11:41 AM
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    Hobbs

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