Portable air compressor for winterizing

[dog_and_cat]

We are about to take delivery of a new Globetrotter and I'm in the process of buying essentials that I think we'll need for the road. Hence, a portable air compressor!!

From what I've read in other threads, the Viair models are good choices. I'm trying to decide between a model that's good for topping off tires (88P) or a more capable model like the 400P. We live in Upstate NY and I can a situation where we'll be returning home from warm-ish weather to freezing temps at home and we'd want to winterize somewhere in transit.

Any specific opinions or experiences on whether the 400P is adequate to winterize?

Thanks in advance.

[1StreamDream]

I will just add that you are very wise to plan for that, I just lived through it myself. We spent a month (Feb) in warm weather, then returned home (upper midwest) to cold winter. I skated by, I planned my return around the weather a little bit, but I nearly went to a home depot while we were away to get a small compressor for exactly this reason (blow down the water lines). I have a relatively small pancake compressor (6 gal) in my garage at home, I was hoping for something smaller to lug in the winter, but I have not found a unit that appeals to me (that is smaller enough than my current pancake unit).

[wulfraat]

I have the 450P. I would not bother with anything smaller than the 400 even for tires only... these units are slow enough as it is

I winterize with a standard compressor+tank system at home but others claim you can winterize with the viair 400+. There is another thread here on the forum about winterizing with these units.

After 3 years I mounted in my truck bed / permanently wired to the battery. Super convenient as I am frequently adjusting tire pressures on the rear axle of the truck + air bag suspension helper springs.

[s1000pre]

Fini Airboss...Smaller than a pancake, though just as capable. I purchased one of these air compressors years ago. Still going strong, I looked everywhere online, I can only find it for sale with a nail gun. Anyway, it not only works great...it is the perfect shape to fit into compact areas. Now that I have an Airstream, it’s now one of my take alongs.

https://www.amazon.com/Fini-AB1PAK-1...=fini+a&sr=8-3

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Even in an "unplanned" situation, it's a pretty good bet you will be able to find 120V power to do the blowout. I would go with the biggest ( most CFM / most HP ) pancake compressor you can find at Lowes of Home Depot. Pressure needed for blowout is pretty modest. It's the volume of air / size of the tank that matters more.

Even a fairly modest pancake model may pull 10 to 12A at 120V. That would be like pulling 100A at 12V.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bostitch-6-...luded/50396510

Is one of many. It will do a *much* better job than any of the "usual suspects" running at 12V.

Bob

[Ginophiles]

I had planned on installing onboard air in my truck like wulfraat, but, my 20 year old 30lb "portable" Senco finely died last week and I needed just a little something for small jobs. Found this at Home Depot. I would say get a matching impact driver for the landing gear, but I think you Globetrotter guys just push a button right?

[IMG]/www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-1-gallon-air-compressor[/IMG]

[mikebyrne]

I use a bike tire pump (Joe Blow) to winterize, along with the plastic fitting that is available from RV centers or Walmart. Just takes a few minutes to clear out any water in the lines.

[drbrick]

We never leave home without our ViAir 40047 400P-RV Automatic Portable Compressor Kit. I have a Blog Post as to why:

https://www.marriedwithairstream.com...ir-compressor/

[Mollysdad]

I have the Viair RV 400P.
It's the best small compressor out there. The 450 P can be run continuously, but has a lower volume of air. I never needed to run more than five minutes anyway.
I will say I dislike the hoses. Really I only need one. They're not the same. One is the master and the other is an extension. I think Viair wanted to keep male air quick releases on both the compressor and gauge. The two hoses tangle like crazy. I may get a non coil 30' hose and store it separately.
I ran across this video using a Viair 400 to blow out lines.
They actually did not recommend a tank type air compressor because it could allow oil into your plumbing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyjFAFFe7xs&t=8s

[Fungus]

I agree with Bob, it’s the air volume that will slow you down for winterizing, not the air pressure. I own two compressors, a lightweight pancake style that is nearly useless for winterizing (too many breaks to wait for the pressure to build up again) and a contractor portable model that works fine (although I have to wait on it occasionally).

I’ve winterized exactly one time so my experience may not be the norm.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by wulfraat

I have the 450P. I would not bother with anything smaller than the 400 even for tires only...
. . .

Copy that. The 450 RV Kit is a great tool, and has a duty cycle of 100%, unlike most if not all of the others.

Trying to save a little money, on tools that will last decades, is a false economy IMO.

Buy the right quality tool for the job . . . once.

Travel safe . . . and . . .

[dog_and_cat]

Originally Posted by Ginophiles

I had planned on installing onboard air in my truck like wulfraat, but, my 20 year old 30lb "portable" Senco finely died last week and I needed just a little something for small jobs. Found this at Home Depot. I would say get a matching impact driver for the landing gear, but I think you Globetrotter guys just push a button right?

[IMG]/www.ryobitools.com/products/details/18v-one-plus-1-gallon-air-compressor[/IMG]

Yes on the push a button!

[Jacob D]

For years after draining the water systems, we used the 10 gallon water heater in our 67 Overlander powered by a small 12v tire pump to winterize. It took about 15 minutes to fill this make shift "air tank" to 60 psi with our little compressor but we seldom had to do it more than twice, once for cold water and once for hot. The only thing we had to buy was a 1/2 inch pipe to schrader adapter from Camping World.

[dog_and_cat]

Thanks for the replies so far.

uncle_bob - I have a pancake unit nearly identical to one you linked from Lowes but I really don't want to carry the extra size/weight and the possibility of "oil in the fresh water system" is a bit of a concern.

Based on these and other comments I'm planning on either the Viair 400RVS or the 450 RVS. Either seems fine for topping tires but I'm confused about the benefit of the 450's 100% duty cycle when it comes to winterizing.

If I'm using the Viair winterizing kit with the regulator set at 30 or 40 psi would the lower duty cycle of the 400 even be a factor?

[MIFC]

We just had the same situation in Florida timing our return to Michigan’s arctic blast. We have a VIAIR 88 but that is not enough volume.

We ended up with this one:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-3-Ga...sor/1000258241

Worked very well, not all that heavy to move around, and I can use it at home.

[GeeSag]

We like the Bostitch. Being able to stack stuff on top of it is a big plus.

Here is a set of "What I use and Why" from a post a year ago:
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f45...ml#post2336200

One additional thing to consider:
We did the same: A trip to Florida, then planned the return to an Artic Blast.

We ran into one big problem:
While we were still below freezing, we had a very difficult time finding anti-freeze.
We were in south Georgia getting ready to drive into 13 degrees the next day.
So we thought we could easily winterize at the campground in South Georgia.

If you are particular about the antifreeze you use, and do not want any with ethanol, then it can be very hard to find in climates that rarely experience freezes.

For our winter Florida trips now, we buy ahead and carry the anti-freeze with us.

[GeeSag]

Here is another interesting topic:

For those getting ready to drive into an artic blast from a warm humid climate:

Think about your Air-conditioning drain cups.

In the above post, we mentioned driving from Florida and then driving the next day to 13 degrees.

We winterized in route.

We did not think about the Air-conditioning Drain Cups.
The drain pipe sites a bit high and does not drain 100%.
Normally in Autumn there are enough days for it to dry out.

Going from Air-conditioning to 13 degrees in two days:
One froze and burst.
Expensive repair. Part was cheap. Labor was not.

[ROBERT CROSS]

VIAIR 450P-RV, in the TV.
26gal oil less, 4.5cfm at 90psi with 170 max psi, 22yr old Craftsman in the garage for "blowing the lines".

POI..I believe most all of the portables are oil less

I usualy blow 15-20min @ 45psi from the Craftsman for Winterizing.

Bob
🇺🇸

[1StreamDream]

GeeSag, sorry to hear of your headaches, and thanks for sharing that suggestion. I for one had no idea that was an item to have on the "checklist", and full disclosure, I'm not exactly sure where to find the start point of this drain. Does anyone know how to prepare that drain path for winter ? do you somehow use compressed air to try to evacuate whatever is there ?

[guskmg]

For you owners that have an inverter: I installed a duplex 110 volt socket in the roadside frig outside cabinet where the single socket is located. I run my Campbell-Hausfel compressor plugged into the duplex to blow lines and air tires. On the curbside tires I use the installed outside 110 volt socket. Just be you inverter can handle the load which is not very much.
guskmg