Portable Air Compressor?

[blacklab]

Do you travel with a portable air compressor?

If so, any recommendation?

Thank you.

Cheers,

Bryan

[ealmasy]

We have a Dewalt 20V Max compressor and love it.

(I have purchased way too many different compressors/inflators over the years, and this is the first one I can unreservedly recommend.)

[Brian R.]

I wouldn't travel without a portable air compressor. Many gas stations' air compressors are impossible to access with a trailer. I have a Viair and am very pleased with it. https://www.technorv.com/viair-air-compressors/

[Boxite]

Yes! And you won’t believe the hard duty this cheap little hot-dog compressor is forced to endure.

FIrstly,…it’s a Harbor Freight 3 gallon “Hot Dog” which runs on 110 volts and creates 110 psi of pressure. I paid $39 for it on sale. It has not failed in 9 years despite the fact it’s contained inside an unventilated compartment.

It lives in the left RAM BOX of my pickup truck. It’s directly connected to a small 400 watt 120 volt inverter I paid $5 from Pep Boys (normally $25 on sale but came with a $20 rebate coupon.)

It was installed to power my TRAINHORNS instead of the $600 compressor the TrainHorn people specified. Yes, it does the job quite well and never runs out of air in that service. I routed air from it to the horns using plastic air-brake-line for 18-wheelers. It’s connected via a “Milton” quick-connector.

I use it to inflate swim-rafts, to blow dust/dirt/etc on small work-tasks, and tires of all sizes. I keep a 25’ coiled air hose also with a quick-connector in the Ram Box with it. I can open the lid, disconnect the TrainHorns and connect the hose for whatever other job I might want. (Note: Topping-off air in the Airstream or truck is a simple, quick job….but a large truck tire which is completely deflated will take about ten minutes or so. The first discharge of the tank will only result in about 15 psi of air in the tire due to the large volume/capacity of the tire. About 3-5 mins of the little compressor will top-off the tank, which can then finish off the tire refill.)

So, while it’s not a high-capacity compressor…it is a really affordable and helpful tool that fits inside a Ram Box where it’s out of the way and not likely to be stolen….but it will require the availability of an inverter…which by the way…my wife uses with an instant pot or a crock-pot while we’re travelling with the airstream to cook pot roast, etc on the back floorboard while driving down the highways. (I mounted the inverter beneath the drivers seat so it’s readily accessible inside the truck, and ran an extension from one of the two outlets to the Ram Box for the compressor.)

[Turkeybaster]

Thank you for asking this question. It is a purchase I am currently considering.

[DonRich7878]

DeWalt FlexVolt Cordless 2.5 Gallon Compressor

This a working compressor, much more than a tire inflator.

[DKGA]

Viair 400P automatic

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by ealmasy

We have a Dewalt 20V Max compressor and love it.

(I have purchased way too many different compressors/inflators over the years, and this is the first one I can unreservedly recommend.)

This is what I now have. I had a Viair and this is much easier to use. This is the perfect size with plenty of power and capacity for my 2500 tires as well as the AS tires.

[Omega Man]

Viair 300rvs, is the way to go!
Find it on Technorv

[Rolind]

Viair 400p

[Dennis C]

I’ve got a Vlair unit also that is 12V powered. I use it for tires.

I’ve carried a 6-gallon pancake compressor in my truck bed when camping in transitional times between fall and winter when a quick de-winterization might be necessary, but this isn’t something that I typically do.

[ealmasy]

Originally Posted by Hans627

This is what I now have. I had a Viair and this is much easier to use. This is the perfect size with plenty of power and capacity for my 2500 tires as well as the AS tires.

Yup. Used to have a Viair too (400P, I think), and while it was definitely a sturdy unit, the DeWalt is built just as well and way more convenient to use.

[Dennis C]

What makes the DeWalt unit more convenient? I’m just curious. My Vlair just hooks up to the battery, I screw the nozzle on the valve stem, and turn it on. It’s not especially inconvenient.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by DKGA

Viair 400P automatic

Yep.
I must admit the coil hose drove me crazy with tangles, so I made a 30' regular air hose with female couplers on both ends. (For some reason, Viair puts a male coupler on the compressor.)
The fittings are 'industrial' or 'D' standard, and it'd recommend the 'automatic' coupler, which you simply push on and it latches.

[Saluda372]

Although we're a Dewalt house our compressor is a Viair 88 P(12 V). Great compressor, battery clips to go direct.

[DCPAS]

We do not have one. I am kind of curious what those that carry compressors use them for apart from inflatable toys. I get that they would be handy for full timing, but we fall into the occasional use category. I always check tires before we go. If I had tire punctured, I would change the tire. Just wondering if I am missing something.

[Saluda372]

Tow vehicle and dual axle trailer plus spares equals 10 tires. We have a single axle but that's enough reason for me. Have used it.

[Dennis C]

I store mine in my trailer’s outside storage compartment. I frequently use it at the storage facility before a trip. I don’t use it as often on the road, but I have before.

[dznf0g]

Although my truck is gas, and has only one battery, it has two battery trays. My compressor is stored under hood on the empty tray.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Airstream Forums mobile app

[richard5933]

Another vote for Viair.