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Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Yahoo Message Number: 83010
We all know what a hassle it is to maneuver our coaches around in a gas station to inflate all six tires. I would like to find an air compressor better than the 12 volt, plug-in-the-cigarette-lighter type that most auto stores carry.
Does anyone use, or know of, a 110 volt A.C. air compressor that has the capacity to inflate RV tires easily, yet is small enough to store in the motorhome without using up too much space? Of course, a hose and tire air bib need to be available for it.

Mike Carrick, Salem, OR, 2007 Inspire 51983

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83012
Mike, below is a link to the one I carry with me. Does a great job on the tires and has been useful for various other projects too. The important thing for airing up the tires is the "cut in". This model cuts in at 120psi.
http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-C2002-Oil-Free-Pancake-Compressor/dp/B000O5RO1Y
Jim

99' Magna
As an Amazon Associate Country Coach Owners Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83032
Mike - I've installed a quick disconnect on the air brake bleeder line(s) which runs a nominal 120 PSI. You should have three convenient locations if you wanted to get at all the tires with a 25' hose. This has worked well for us. Make sure to install a petcock ahead of the quick disconnect for safety. Something to consider, perhaps, as an alternative to an air compressor.

At 09:55 AM 10/6/2012, you wrote:

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83037
Sears has a small 150psi compressor that works good for us. Cost less then $ 100.
Wayne

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83091
The some critical things to look for in a compressor are:
1) Max Pressure - You want at least 150 psi for large coach tires. These pumps will cut in at 120 to 135. AKA "working capacity". The cheeper 125 psi pumps will not cut in on some high pressure tires. You need one that cuts in well above your tire pressure.
2) Tank Capacity - The larger the tank the faster it will fill a tire (but the more space it hogs.) A tank will build up pressure while you move from tire to tire. Tankless pumps just run at their CFM rate without saving any air so they take more time. The little Viair's will do the job, just very slowly.
3) Cubic Feet/Min - Big tires need big pumps. You want to look for CFM at pressure. It's easy to have a high CFM rate at 0 pressure. (big piston/little motor) With coach tires you want something that has a high CFM rate at pressure.
4) Duty Cycle- You should look for a 100% duty cycle. Cheeper pumps must have a cool down period after a certain duty period. I've seen some that are 10/20. This means that after you run 10min you should give them a 20 rest before using them on the next tire.

Since I tow a Wrangler and go off-road we are airing up tires all the time. I've mounted a 12v Puma 1hp/3.5CFM at 0, with 2gal tank, in the Jeep and use that on the coach when necessary. CFM at 90 PSI: 2.2, CFM at 40 PSI: 3.0, Max. PSI: 150, Duty Cycle 100%. A 50ft air hose in the Jeep and another 50ft in the coach allow me to fill coach tires even with the Jeep is in tow position. Quick and easy without digging through storage compartments.
Amazon.com: Puma Industries LA5721 Air Compressor, Single Stage Oil-Less...
Jim Harkins
Valencia, CA
2005 CC Allure
As an Amazon Associate Country Coach Owners Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83093
Got a husky pump from Home Depot- around $100.00. Will easily pump tires to 120 psi- not very fast but it get the job done. Pump is small and portable.
I am not in a be hurry since I retired.
Robert & Chee Chee Huffhines
2007 Tribute #81042
2006 Jeep Liberty


Quote
The some critical things to look for in a compressor are:
1) Max Pressure - You want at least 150 psi for large coach tires. These pumps will cut in at 120 to 135. AKA "working capacity". The cheeper 125 psi pumps will not cut in on some high pressure tires. You need one that cuts in well above your tire pressure.
2) Tank Capacity - The larger the tank the faster it will fill a tire (but the more space it hogs.) A tank will build up pressure while you move from tire to tire. Tankless pumps just run at their CFM rate without saving any air so they take more time. The little Viair's will do the job, just very slowly.
3) Cubic Feet/Min - Big tires need big pumps. You want to look for CFM at pressure. It's easy to have a high CFM rate at 0 pressure. (big piston/little motor) With coach tires you want something that has a high CFM rate at pressure.
4) Duty Cycle- You should look for a 100% duty cycle. Cheeper pumps must have a cool down period after a certain duty period. I've seen some that are 10/20. This means that after you run 10min you should give them a 20 rest before using them on the next tire.

Since I tow a Wrangler and go off-road we are airing up tires all the time. I've mounted a 12v Puma 1hp/3.5CFM at 0, with 2gal tank, in the Jeep and use that on the coach when necessary. CFM at 90 PSI: 2.2, CFM at 40 PSI: 3.0, Max. PSI: 150, Duty Cycle 100%. A 50ft air hose in the Jeep and another 50ft in the coach allow me to fill coach tires even with the Jeep is in tow position. Quick and easy without digging through storage compartments.

Amazon.com: Puma Industries LA5721 Air Compressor, Single Stage Oil-Less...

Jim Harkins
Valencia, CA
2005 CC Allure
As an Amazon Associate Country Coach Owners Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83141
Mike here is what I use:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SMC-BOOSTER-REGULATOR-VBA40A-TO4N-Z-NEW-/320995453409?pt=Pneumatic_Hydraulic_Valves_Parts&hash=item4abcd1e9e1
You would have to supply you own air fittings, but briefly it will operate @ 60+ CFM at pressure and the output pressure will be double whatever the input pressure is up to a max output of about 150PSI.
Full retail on these bad boys is over $500. It's basically the same thing that Dickman tire is selling without the fancy plastic carrying case and $5 worth of hose. Weighs about 5 pounds and you can carry it on the floor next to the drivers seat if you wish. It's about a foot long and 4-5 inches wide and high.

You can find them regularly on e-Bay.

Dave Trotte01
Intrigue 11215

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83151
Another option that I have is a small portable compressor; I have a Husky purchased from Home Depot that's good to 155 psi and costs $99. See the link for info
Trim Plus 3-Gallon Electric Air Compressor-H1503TP at The Home Depot
No problem airing up our coach tires and easy to carry to other locations, like a friend that doesn't have one of these. Liquid rewards are often offered and accepted.

Tom & Patty Crews
2000 Magna 5764
2005 Honda Pilot

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83155
I use a Porter Cable 150 psi pancake compressor. See pictures under Photos, "Compressor Installation", September 14,2009. Compressor cuts off at 150 psi and turns back on at approximately 135 psi. We carry 115# in our front times and 105# in the rear. If you have another typical compressor that usually cuts off at 115# and turns back on at 100#, you can modify the setting by opening the controller and setting the numbers higher. A screw adjustment that sets a contactor. We did this on our first compressor. In some cases you may have to replace the max pressure relief valve or set the max pressure just below it. I drilled a hole so that I could readjust the compressor back to the normal settings if I wanted to use the compressor for other uses. I bled the tank after filling the tires so I wouldn't keep the high pressure in the tank. The Porter Cable costs around $150 at Lowes.

Judy n Joe

98 Intrigue 10578

Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83259
MikeinOregon97392, 2007 Inspire, no. 51983
A couple of weeks ago I asked forum members to suggest a portable air compressor suitable for RV tire pressures. I want to thank the members who replied. I got really helpful replies, suggestions, and links.
Based mostly on space limitations in my cabinets, and need to get one in a hurry, I chose the VIAIR 450P unit (two-day delivery from Amazon).
Yesterday I started on a five-week trip from Salem, Oregon to Houston, Texas. I arrived at the first stop last night at Eagles Hot Lake near LaGrande, Oregon, and as we were parking, the tire pressure monitor signaled low tire, inside passenger rear. Wow! a chance to try my new compressor.
I had had Les Schwab (Junction City) install the system where the inside tire air valve stem comes out through one of the openings in the outside tire rim for ease of checking and filling. Each valve stem has a short easy-fill cap. The cap from the inside tire was rubbing on the wheel rim to the point where it was abraded for about half its width, and I could see the reason for the low pressure in the inside tire was the pressure of rubbing on the rim had pushed the inner stem of the cap downwards and released air pressure.
So, all I needed to do was remove the cap and pump up the tire. The VIAIR pump worked perfectly. It added 30 lbs air in about ten minutes. OK, now I've had the thrill of using my new toy. I hope the rest of the trip is uneventful.
Mike

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83265
I also use a VIAIR compressor but I use it for both leveling the coach and for airing tires. It replaced the original supplemental compressor. I have a couple of pictures here for your info;
http://www.moenracing.com/viair/
Barney

07 Inspire 52059

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83266
I also use the air multiplier from Dickman Tire in Junction City. It produces 160#s using the motorhome outlet. Its is in a small plastic case that is easy to store.

Bob Mussman

2006 Allure 31434
 

Re: Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires?

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 83270
I took a 4x4 piece of aluminum tubing and made a permanent hard mount in the drivers compartment.

The Dickman booster is rather slow but for 5-10 pounds it does the job and definitely has the pressure for those 120 pound tires.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348