Master Flow- Breathing Life Into An Old Thread
I wish I could say I found some of these Master Flow compressors for $25.00. I have been aware of these little, powerful compressors for a couple years but was not able to find them at my local Checker/Kragen Auto Parts chain when I looked.
The Extreme Aire compressor from Extreme Outback Products has been a part of our outback gear for a few years, a portable model mounted in a tool box. I like this pumper very much and have used it on several tires. However, the tool box mounted Extreme Aire is a heavy and relatively expensive compressor. I can't afford the space or money to have one in virtually every rig we own. With these Master Flows Q-Maxx compressors I can.
Last week I discovered the Master Flow Q-Maxx compressor at my local COSTCO for $49.00. I bought one and tested it, then bought a few more. One for each vehicle and/or spares. My motto, borrowed from Filson's, is "Might As Well Have The Best". But there is a strong case to be made for 'value'. With backups at the ready, I'm willing to put one of these to the test, maybe even hard mounting one in the engine compartment.
Tire Inflation Test Data March 2007
Temperature 50-degrees Fahrenheit
Elevation: 4,800-ft.
Tires: BFG 255/85R16 on an F350
Tires lowered to 15-psi, with a target inflation of about 50-psi. This is more than I usually run on these tires when unladen and close the my towing pounds-per-square-inch.
First Tire:
15 - 46-psi: 5-min, 2-sec. (gauge indicated 50-psi)
continued up to 54-psi: 6-min, 35-sec. (gauge approx. 60-psi)
Second Tire:
15 - 54-psi: Elapsed Time 13-min, O-sec.
Third Tire:
15 - 52.5-psi: Elapsed Time 19-min., 30-sec.
continued up to 56-psi: 20min., 30-sec.
Fourth Tire:
15 - 67-psi: Elapsed Time 30-min., 0-sec.
continued up to 97-psi (gauge indicated 105-psi): 40-min., 0-sec.
The compressor was turned off between tires just to reconnect the hose and once to move the battery claps (they're not long enough to reach the left-rear tire on a crew-cab F350). I stopped the clock while the compressor was not running. My test compressor did blow a fuse when turning it off and on onetime. It was replaced with the provided 30-amp spare (I threw a few more spares into the kit).
Forty minutes is the maximum recommend continuous run time for this compressor which I is why I just kept filling the last tire to work the pump and see how high it would go. Even if I needed to get my 255s up to 'loaded towing pressures' this little compressor will easily do it in less than 40-minutes; probably closer to 25-30-minutes. Surely it will run hotter during summer heat but it appears to have plenty of cushion to fill the tires on my rigs. Filling the tires of a whole trail ride group is another matter.
With this 'worse case' test scenario out of the way, when I'm out traveling off-highway and need to refill tires to hit the high speed pavement, 35-40-psi is usually plenty for my 32 and 33-inch tires.
My unit came in a handy carrying bag, and for $50.00 I think they are very worth the money. They are advertised on eBay for $80.00. This seems like a very good solution for an average user to inflate moderate sized tires.
redLine/James
Scenic WonderRunner said:
This summer......while in Stillwater, Minn. I found this SuperFlow MV50 at Checker Auto Parts. I came in off an ad they had.....they were out of that one but said they had a better one at the same price!.....I paid just $24.99
I've very happy with it!
Here is a Review I found........
....that's Not my hand!....hehe
