Air em down, Air em up

which portable do you recommend ?

 

$91 Viair 88p Portable Compressor Kit (12V, 120 Psi, Forup to 33" Tires)

Viair 88p is a nice unit for around $65

 

Viar 300p if you have 33" tires or larger

Otherwise the 88p is a great deal and good compressor. If you use it frequently, make sure to carry extra fuses for it. I had a couple of them blow and if you don't have spares then it won't run.

 

$91 Viair 88p Portable Compressor Kit (12V, 120 Psi, Forup to 33" Tires)

Viair 88p is what I have and am pretty happy with it. Power cord and air hose is plenty long enough to reach all four tires and even another vehicle's tires if they are close enough. I use it as backup for my CO2 tank or when I don't have the tank with me. Used to have some that would run off the cigarette lighter but they just don't pull enough juice to fill up the tires quickly before they overheat and are useless. Those types should be used for small passenger vehicle tires like a prius or something.

 

I considered the 88P, but I've read just as much bad as I have good. Mostly the bad being the horrible wiring causing constant blown fuses. And the house connection on the compressor side getting loose. Price point is amazing on the flip side

 

Only issue I ever had with mine over 2 years and probably a hundred+ uses was a couple blown fuses. I used that thing a lot and gave it to a friend who is still using it today...I would use it to fill my tires then pass it to one or 2 other people in the group to do theirs as well (technically supposed to let it cool down between uses so I don't recommend that) but it never missed a beat. Just a couple random blown fuses but if you carry spares it won't be an issue.

I finally upgraded only because the 88p was taking a half hour to air up my 33s from 15psi to 35psi, so I got the 300p. No complaints with that one whatsoever but it is considerably more expensive.

 

$132 Smittybilt 2780 2.54 CFM Universal Air Compressor , Black

Smittybilt 2780. Very nice pump and can be found around $75. Outdoes the 88p on 33s and comes with a cool carrying case.

 

VIAIR 400P Automatic

 

I’ve gone through many compressors in my off-roading time; this one has lasted me longest: https://www.quadratec.com/products/92044_0008_07.htm.


It is essentially a Smittybilt 2781 sold under Quadratec’s own brand, with sturdier air hose fittings.

I owned the Smittybilt 2781 previously, but the air hose broke around the metal fittings after a year and a half. Smittybilt uses unique fittings that cannot be found aftermarket. When I contacted Smittybilt about their crummy fittings, they told me to buy a new compressor. So I went and bought a different brand. I still have it.

 

Will it keep up with 35s at 16 PSI going up to 40?

 

Yes. It is a pretty heavy duty compressor.

I had 35” tires on my Wranglers: it handled them with ease. It took 5 minutes to air up a 35” tire from 16 to 35-37 PSI.

 

Can’t go wrong with an ARB compressor. There’s a reason why they’re expensive

 

I had issues with an onboard ARB compressor that blew a fitting after a couple of trail runs. It had been professionally installed. I ain’t spending that kinda money on a compressor again.

 

At 45psi a 35” tire will take around 100 gallons of air to fill. (This is atmospheric pressure)
So that’s around 80~90 gallons of air per tire you need to put through the compressor, you should start reading up on duty cycle if you want it to last.

 

Yeah I've been hearing a serious increase of problems that people are having with ARB compressors. They moved production to China so that may be one of the reasons

 

Thanks for the input - good discussion thread

 

If you ever plan on installing an ARB air locker then I recommend to just go ahead and get the ARB compressor, since you'll need it eventually anyway. It'll air up your tires pretty quick (very quick if you get the dual compressor setup) and it will supply air for the locker

 

Nah I'll just keep using my 10lb CO2 tank. 4 tires in 4 mins.

 

The only power source is the battery terminals yeah ?- I have my socket in the bed of the truck - like use that

 

You only want to use a compressor that utilizes the battery terminals...the power outlets in the bed and in the cab won't support a heavier duty air compressor, they'll only support those cheap ones that you buy at the auto parts stores that are meant for cars/sedans and small tires.