Cordless Tire Inflator

[TopoTony]

I can never quite find the truth on whether there's a worthy cordless, portable inflator. SO many to pick from. Almost went for the Makita, but then found out that you have to hold the trigger, and it won't shut off at the desired pressure. And, it's expensive.
Also need one that can handle my trailer's 80 psi. I see lots of knock offs on amazon, but find there's some false advertising, some saying they have brushless motors, when in fact not. This was true with the makita knock off, for $35, compared to $170 for the real one.
Please let me know if anyone has a particular unit that works well. I'm not fond of hauling my 50 lb tank compressor out of the shed, and definitely can't take it with, on trips.
thanks

 

[CharlesinGA]

Cannot really help you on the Makita. The Youtube channel Project Farm has apparently done two different tests of battery powered inflators.

If you are not familiar with Project Farm, he does a respectable job of testing various things and tallying the results. Worth watching.

When at home, both my truck and trailer are in my shop and it has compressed air and a couple of hose reels, and I have an air bottle if I need to get outside where the hoses won't reach. On the road (and I have not needed air on the road yet) I have the tiny compressor on my truck that powers the exhaust brake and it has a couple of couplings and all kinds of air stuff, like a chuck, blow nozzle, etc plus a self coiling air hose.

I'm going to suggest one of the Viair compressor kits which have long cords and clips to clip on the batteries of your tow vehicle or trailer (or add an Anderson connector to plug into). There are a number of different Viair models and they are not cheap, however you are getting a quality compressor. I haven't read a bad thing about one yet.

Charles

 

[bigb56]

I can never quite find the truth on whether there's a worthy cordless, portable inflator. SO many to pick from. Almost went for the Makita, but then found out that you have to hold the trigger, and it won't shut off at the desired pressure. And, it's expensive.
Also need one that can handle my trailer's 80 psi. I see lots of knock offs on amazon, but find there's some false advertising, some saying they have brushless motors, when in fact not. This was true with the makita knock off, for $35, compared to $170 for the real one.
Please let me know if anyone has a particular unit that works well. I'm not fond of hauling my 50 lb tank compressor out of the shed, and definitely can't take it with, on trips.
thanks

Have you thought about installing a 12 volt compressor on your tow vehicle? I'm not too trusting of the portable cordless units, I have a Milwaukee and although it could be used in an emergency it is painfully slow and I only use it for bike tires.

With your 4x4 Tundra you could put a nice ARB under the hood and have air for both the truck and the trailer wherever you go, with 80 PSI not a problem.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

I haven't had a battery powered one that could do more than bike or cart tires. Most cheap 12v powered ones will burn up doing anything more than 30psi. The vlair ones are made for the purpose but spendy, and for an RV that likely has 120v inverter or genset power being 12v doesn't offer an advantage. A compact AC powered hot dog or pancake compressor will do 100+ psi, not burn up and won't be an expensive solution.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[bigb56]

I think an portable electric compressor is great when you have a big RV and lots of payload. In my case I don't have either, and the OP has a small trailer with 1,200 lbs of payload and a Toyota pickup, I would think an electric compressor would be kind of a pain to carry around all the time and not so sure it's a viable solution for smaller setups.

The ARB single isn't cheap at $320 (unless you consider how many cheap compressors you might go through over time) but takes up zero room, only weighs a few lbs and is high quality and fast. Also nothing to drag out and hook up, just plug in your air hose and flip the switch. And when you leave the RV it's still with your tow vehicle. Win Win for me!

I also have a Viair 450 and 2.5 gal tank mounted under my Superduty which also works great but takes up more space and weight. It was our tow vehicle until we decided to switch to a MH/toad setup. I have used a small impact with it to change a tire.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

For minimal size/weight and high pressure one option is what the offroad types use, CO2.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[RayIN]

I can never quite find the truth on whether there's a worthy cordless, portable inflator. SO many to pick from. Almost went for the Makita, but then found out that you have to hold the trigger, and it won't shut off at the desired pressure. And, it's expensive.
Also need one that can handle my trailer's 80 psi. I see lots of knock offs on amazon, but find there's some false advertising, some saying they have brushless motors, when in fact not. This was true with the makita knock off, for $35, compared to $170 for the real one.
Please let me know if anyone has a particular unit that works well. I'm not fond of hauling my 50 lb tank compressor out of the shed, and definitely can't take it with, on trips.
thanks

While not cordless, I've carried, used,and lent this 150psi compressor since 2008 and it's still working properly.

12V 150 PSI Compact Air Compressor

Amazing deals on this 12V 150Psi Compact Air Compressor at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[LarsMac]

I was helping daughter shop for a small RV, and on a test-drive, the Curbside Front tire was low on air. The sales guy pulled out one of those little cordless thingies. It got some air in the tire, but it became obvious that it wasn't going to get anywhere close to the 70 lbs we needed. They are probably OK for a car tire.
I keep a Stanley FATMAX in my RV.

 

[Wasillaguy]

I've been using this for 3 seasons, no problems so far.

No auto-shut off, I use a 2-way chuck with the gauge built in.

 

[dave541]

DW gave me an Etenwolf Cordless and I love it.
Inflates up to 110 psi, shuts off at the desired pressure, lightweight and small. I haven't used my tanked compressor since.

 

[CharlesinGA]

Here is my onboard air system. Compressor mounted on top of the intake manifold of the Cummins, half gallon air tank behind the LH headlight, and one of the air couplings on the back of a running board (one on each side). All plumbed with 1/4 inch SAE J844 air brake tubing inside of quarter inch wire loom sleeving.

If it ever gives up I will mount a much larger unit on a bracket on the frame rail, with lots of vibration damping. The engine absorbs virtually all of the compressor noise, impossible to hear when driving, and difficult to hear with the engine off.

Its there to operate the exhaust brake valve, mounted on the outlet of the turbo.

 

[TheBar]

While they may not air up tires on a Class A I have 2 old Campbell Hausfeld cordless air compressors. They work fine airing up my Class C and car tires and quieter than other brands. Rarely need more than 5 lbs so its just a couple minutes on each tire. I bought a Viair last fall but those 16 foot wires take as long or longer just dealing with them. I had to replace the 12v lead acid gel battery in both of them after about 7 years. But the batteries were less than $20. I also own a Stanley 1200 amp that's really heavy and loud so I don't use it much. But it will jump start my 460 V8 and the 120v outlet comes in handy at home during power outages. It will run a 60 watt LED light for 24 hours.

 

[DonTom]

While they may not air up tires on a Class A I have 2 old Campbell Hausfeld cordless air compressors. They work fine airing up my Class C and car tires and quieter than other brands. Rarely need more than 5 lbs so its just a couple minutes on each tire. I bought a Viair last fall but those 16 foot wires take as long or longer just dealing with them. I had to replace the 12v lead acid gel battery in both of them after about 7 years. But the batteries were less than $20. I also own a Stanley 1200 amp that's really heavy and loud so I don't use it much. But it will jump start my 460 V8 and the 120v outlet comes in handy at home during power outages. It will run a 60 watt LED light for 24 hours.

When I only want to add a few PSI to an RV tire, I use one of these. I also use such for each of my motorcycles. Set the PSI and let go and it works perfectly with the auto shut-off.

For something more serious, such as to add a lot of air to a motorhome tire, I also use a large Viair, but mine is modified in a couple of small ways. I made a cable for it that can connect to my Anderson connectors to either of my motorhomes to my 300AH Lifep04 battery. I do NOT need to start any engine to run the thing. I also can plug in the stock cable. And my Viair has a screw-in thingy for the valve and a way to hold the trigger in so I do not have to hold it in and can walk away until it is done. I always take both on my RV trips. I carry the small one on my electric motorcycle rides.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[bigb56]

When I only want to add a few PSI to an RV tire, I use one of these. I also use such for each of my motorcycles. Set the PSI and let go and it works perfectly with the auto shut-off.

For something more serious, such as to add a lot of air to a motorhome tire, I also use a large Viair, but mine is modified in a couple of small ways. I made a cable for it that can connect to my Anderson connectors to either of my motorhomes to my 300AH Lifep04 battery. I do NOT need to start any engine to run the thing. I also can plug in the stock cable. And my Viair has a screw-in thingy for the valve and a way to hold the trigger in so I do not have to hold it in and can walk away until it is done. I always take both on my RV trips. I carry the small one on my electric motorcycle rides.

-Don- Reno, NV

Curious if you've ever checked the voltage with the engine/charger on vs no engine/charger. I'm in the habit of starting the engine just to get less voltage drop to the compressor motor. Of course current draw increases with pressure resulting in more VD so it's a moving target.

 

[DonTom]

Curious if you've ever checked the voltage with the engine/charger on vs no engine/charger.

No reason to. The voltage of the Lifepo4 battery without the engine running is about the same as an AGM with the engine running.

I'm in the habit of starting the engine just to get less voltage drop to the compressor motor.

Again, no reason to. The Viair runs well & fast to 80 psi as is, no need to increase the voltage to it.

80 PSI max is all I ever need. But if I wanted it to run with more voltage, I could either start the engine or the genny. But I never even bothered to try that.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[bigb56]

No reason to. The voltage of the Lifepo4 battery without the engine running is about the same as an AGM with the engine running.


Again, no reason to. The Viair runs well & fast to 80 psi as is, no need to increase the voltage to it.

80 PSI max is all I ever need. But if I wanted it to run with more voltage, I could either start the engine or the genny. But I never even bothered to try that.

-Don- Reno, NV

I'm fairly new to Li batteries so I don't know what happens to voltage when a substantial load is applied. My 12 volt compressors are both connected to AGM and FLA starting batteries which I know can show a substantial voltage dip when a heavy load is applied. I haven't experimented much with my (first) Li battery which I've had for just a little over a year now.

 

[DonTom]

I'm fairly new to Li batteries so I don't know what happens to voltage when a substantial load is applied.

AFAIK, for extreme loads such as engine starting, the LA batteries are better. But a decent size Li battery can also do the job, in most cases,

But for an air compressor I would expect the Li to do a better job, even under its max load. Exceptions can be if very cold or very hot. Li batteries like about the same temps we do, LA are less picky about temps.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

View attachment 1114891
I've been using this for 3 seasons, no problems so far. View attachment 1114894
No auto-shut off, I use a 2-way chuck with the gauge built in.

I see a couple of problems with using that type of air chuck. You have to wait at the tire, which can take some time with a motorhome tire.

I like the thingies that screw onto the valve and then use the auto-shutoff. I will find something else to do as the tire is being filled.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[TopoTony]

DW gave me an Etenwolf Cordless and I love it.
Inflates up to 110 psi, shuts off at the desired pressure, lightweight and small. I haven't used my tanked compressor since.

That unit looks pretty good. Lots of good ideas by everyone here. I think I'll try out the S6. It's only a hundred bucks, and would be so much easier than lugging out my heavy tank compressor.

 

[bigb56]

Tony are you a map guy?