Best Cheap Air Compressor for Tire Inflation at the Trail Head?
- Thread starter nwoods
- Start date
Best and cheap aren't mutually inclusive. Either you spend the money on an air comp that comes with heavy duty cables and alligator clips or you get a cheap one that will get hot and die in short order.
Which one trips your trigger?
I hard wired an Air Zenith OB2 air comp and haven't looked back. I picked it as an used rebuilt unit from eBay few years back. Heavy gauge wires along with a 100amp relay with screw on lugs (not the cheesy spade connectors) were used and it's been running w/o a single hiccup. Even though it has a 100% duty cycle, I tied in both sliders as air tanks to keep the duty cycle low. I do pop up the hood open during use in order to keep the temps down. That engine bay gets hot but everything helps.
I don't like to screw with junk more than once. Do it right, bend over, cry once, then be done with it.
Sure, a cheap air comp will work but I simply don't have the patience to spend half hour airing back up. Furthermore, I use an air nozzle to blow off the back of the vehicle every time I'm going to open up the rear hatch during wheeling. I also need to blow out the air filter every morning before we hit the trail for the day.
Ever tried to inflate a SUP or your kid's giant inner tube at the lake with a dinky air comp? It blows, er, I mean it sucks! People come over to my camp to use my air comp to blow up their water toys and she keeps on putting out w/o a single complaint.
Often times I have to air up the trailer tires so that's six tires at a MIN!
My Stuff has to work and it has to do with it style and consistency.
Some of us are wheeling $40k+ vehicles and yet, we don't want to spend money on a quality air comp. This doesn't compute
Which one trips your trigger?
I hard wired an Air Zenith OB2 air comp and haven't looked back. I picked it as an used rebuilt unit from eBay few years back. Heavy gauge wires along with a 100amp relay with screw on lugs (not the cheesy spade connectors) were used and it's been running w/o a single hiccup. Even though it has a 100% duty cycle, I tied in both sliders as air tanks to keep the duty cycle low. I do pop up the hood open during use in order to keep the temps down. That engine bay gets hot but everything helps.
I don't like to screw with junk more than once. Do it right, bend over, cry once, then be done with it.
Sure, a cheap air comp will work but I simply don't have the patience to spend half hour airing back up. Furthermore, I use an air nozzle to blow off the back of the vehicle every time I'm going to open up the rear hatch during wheeling. I also need to blow out the air filter every morning before we hit the trail for the day.
Ever tried to inflate a SUP or your kid's giant inner tube at the lake with a dinky air comp? It blows, er, I mean it sucks! People come over to my camp to use my air comp to blow up their water toys and she keeps on putting out w/o a single complaint.
Often times I have to air up the trailer tires so that's six tires at a MIN!
My Stuff has to work and it has to do with it style and consistency.
Some of us are wheeling $40k+ vehicles and yet, we don't want to spend money on a quality air comp. This doesn't compute
Last edited:
Regcabguy
Oil eater.
Same here. 21 yrs. They are cheaper now than what I bought mine for. Like everything they went up $40. Still a great unit.
nwoods
Expedition Leader
I'm going to go ahead and assume the last two commenters did not read the original post
The parameters are as follows:
- Under $100
- for use by others who forgot their own air, or as an emergency back up only
- Somewhat disposable. I just gave one away to someone with two flats and no remaining spare, when they were 100 miles from nearest service
The parameters are as follows:
- Under $100
- for use by others who forgot their own air, or as an emergency back up only
- Somewhat disposable. I just gave one away to someone with two flats and no remaining spare, when they were 100 miles from nearest service
plh
Explorer
I'm going to go ahead and assume the last two commenters did not read the original post
The parameters are as follows:
- Under $100
- for use by others who forgot their own air, or as an emergency back up only
- Somewhat disposable. I just gave one away to someone with two flats and no remaining spare, when they were 100 miles from nearest service
If you are giving them away! https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-150-psi-portable-inflator-63152.html
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
I'm going to go ahead and assume the last two commenters did not read the original post
The parameters are as follows:
- Under $100
- for use by others who forgot their own air, or as an emergency back up only
- Somewhat disposable. I just gave one away to someone with two flats and no remaining spare, when they were 100 miles from nearest service
*for use by others who forgot their own air, or as an emergency back up only
This one eludes me, to be honest. If your own air comp is good enough, you can air them up after you're done.
*Emergency back up unit
No need for it if your primary unit is robust and made of quality.
* Somewhat disposable. I just gave one away to someone with two flats and no remaining spare, when they were 100 miles from nearest service
You have a big heart man, kudos.
I know, I'm being argumentative
nwoods
Expedition Leader
Not argumentative, just not cognizant of my initial post. As I initially posted, I use a CO2 tank as my primary air source. It is finite. If I were to offer its use to everyone, I would run out of air that much faster, thus the need for a spare air system. Also, more than most people, I am usually the trail guide, and as such, supposed to be able to compensate for the unpreparedness of others. I fill up with CO2, then make my rounds and out out the rest of the group will some poor sap is slowly filling up with my MV-50. Its a time management thing, as much as it is convienance.*for use by others who forgot their own air, or as an emergency back up only
This one eludes me, to be honest. If your own air comp is good enough, you can air them up after you're done.
*Emergency back up unit
No need for it if your primary unit is robust and made of quality.
* Somewhat disposable. I just gave one away to someone with two flats and no remaining spare, when they were 100 miles from nearest service
You have a big heart man, kudos.
I know, I'm being argumentative
Hopefully, the new MV-90 will be significantly faster, quieter, and better all around. I am pleased that it was just picked by Overland Expo as one of its top recommendations. Granted, they picked a more expensive Ironman clone of the MV-90, but its the same unit as I what I bought for $120. https://www.overlandexpo.com/compass/gear-collections-air-compressors/
toddz69
Explorer
nwoods
Expedition Leader
Initial thoughts on the MV-90:
Wow, its big. Easily about 60% bigger than the MV-50. Not quite double the size, but quite a big bigger.
Its pretty fast. I have 285/70/17 tires (33"), and it filled from 18 psi to 36 psi in 2 min 42 seconds, indicating about 45 psi on the dial. That's quite a bit faster than the MV-50 use to do it. Its also MUCH quieter, with a significantly lower tone to the compressor sound. Build quality seems pretty good, a bit of an upgrade from the MV--50. Still gets quite hot! Disconnecting the air hose after a few tires, you'll be wanting gloves, despite the foam ring.
Wow, its big. Easily about 60% bigger than the MV-50. Not quite double the size, but quite a big bigger.
Its pretty fast. I have 285/70/17 tires (33"), and it filled from 18 psi to 36 psi in 2 min 42 seconds, indicating about 45 psi on the dial. That's quite a bit faster than the MV-50 use to do it. Its also MUCH quieter, with a significantly lower tone to the compressor sound. Build quality seems pretty good, a bit of an upgrade from the MV--50. Still gets quite hot! Disconnecting the air hose after a few tires, you'll be wanting gloves, despite the foam ring.
rnArmy
Adventurer
Me too.
Inyo_man
Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining.
I've used an older version of this Viair 90P for many years. Never hit the duty cycle even when airing up from 12psi to street. It's slow, but gets the job done and it comes in just under $100.
Home Depot even carries it...
Cheers
Home Depot even carries it...
Cheers