Impact Wrench Recommendation

[wincom6]

Hello, I'm thinking of buying an impact wrench.  I'm not looking for a very large or small one.
Will my 2004 Meridian put out enough air to run a medium pneumatic impact gun in an emergency? 
Should I consider a electric one?
I have no plans for changing tires or any other large job.
Can anyone suggest a good brand?
Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer.  Paul

 

[ironrat]

If your not looking to change tires on the road then I couldn't think of anything else you may use an impact on! For the most part they are just too big for anything else on the road.

 

[muskoka guy]

i keep an electric one on board to change tires. i also keep a johnson bar and a set of impact sockets on hand. the electric impacts will do as good of job as any air powered one considering you are not going to have a large compressor on board. if you are not changing tires you might consider a good cordless drill .

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Choice of an impact wrench is driven by the torque load (lb-ft) required to do the job. Once you pick the torque size, then you can get the air pressure needed to operate the tool. The air system in the coach is allowed to fluctuate more than the usual shop compressor - the peak is typically 125 psi but in many rigs it can drop to around 85-90 before the compressor cuts in again, so your available working pressure is probably something like 90 psi rather than 125.

So, what do you consider to be "medium"?  And what would you use it on if not tires?  I needed an impact wrench once to remove a damaged hydraulic jack and I suppose it could be handy for some other chassis repairs, but do you really do that on the road?  If I thought I might need to do that level of work away from home, I might carry the sockets but figure on renting or borrowing the tool itself.

 

[wincom6]

Thanks Gary/ Muskoka Guy, I had found loose chassis bolts and it was difficult to tighten(see Loose Carriage Mounting Bolts in another post).  I was trying to keep them from spinning because I could not reach the head. After I borrowed an impact wrench the job was very simple. I was so impressed that I thought" I really need one of these". I?m going to look into an electric one.  Something I did not say is with age and arthritis, I don?t have the upper body strength to really tighten larger chassis/frame bolts.   

 

[John From Detroit]

I have 3, Could stand to get rid of one if you are in S.C. (Western, Oconee county).

I think my big one is 1/2 inch, it's one size too small for tires on a motor home but can do the job if abused.  I woudl recommend if you go air get basically 2.

One is more an air rachet, (higher speed, smaller (3/8" perhaps) and oen larger (1/2 or 3/4")

 

[RoyM]

I have one, a 1/2"air. It sat in the tool box unused for a couple of years, the next time I tried it no power and leaked around the trigger. The o-rings and seals have dried out from lack of use. Unless you plan to use it frequently and maintain it likely a waste of money. I have yet to use an electric with comparable power.

 

[s2kskibum]

I bought a corded DeWalt Impact, delivers about 500 ftpounds of force. Bought it to help do the shock replacement, what a great tooll! Power enough for the wheel nuts as well - have a nice heavy cord for it. My 18V cordless DeWalt is also one of the best tools I own, and I have a trailer full (built houses from the ground up, alone!).

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

There is nothing like an impact wrench if you have a use for it, but you could say that about most any specialized tool. Loose chassis bolts certainly qualify as a use for an impact wrench, but I would be inclined to rent or borrow one since it is presumably a one-time job and a decent quality wrench with adequate capacity is going to be expensive.

What is the torque requirement for those bolts? You don't want too little or too much. If under about 250 lb-ft, I would be inclined toward electric, but over that I would go with air. But an unused air wrench will deteriorate over time.

 

[Mopar1973Man]

I've got a cheap Harbor Freight impact gun and works really well. Typically will loosing nuts up to 130-140 ft/lbs with 90-120 PSI of air.  I know you can spend serious money on impact guns and they all go up in price but get stronger. You got to be careful because some guns are strong enough to do damage to bolts and nuts if your not paying attention.

 

[Brother Bear]

I've owned air tools for 30 years. (used to be a truck mechanic) I've had my Milwaukee cordless impact set for a year or two now. My ?" Milwaukee will rival my ?" air impact for torque. It puts out 450 ft/lbs. Be careful! One could twist lug bolts with that kind of force! I'll heartily recommend a good electric for your use. No need for air hookups and hoses. Milwaukee would be my choice!

 

[wincom6]

Thanks everyone, Armed with all your good information I went to Sears. I had an old gift card that I needed to use. I was hoping to find a good corded electric model.  They only had a very large electric one but they did have cheap air wrench ($39).  It will be a hassle with the hose but I will not need to worry about expensive batteries and I really don?t think it will get much use. I?m only going to have it on hand in case a larger bolt is found loose again.  Thank you every one for your help.  Paul

 

[denmarc]

I've owned air tools for 30 years. (used to be a truck mechanic) I've had my Milwaukee cordless impact set for a year or two now.

Hey Brother Bear,
Put my air Chicago Pneumatic of 30 years against your cordless Milwaukee! 
As an ex-auto mechanic, I still use the Snap On (Blue Point) and CP air tools of that era.  I just took care of them and kept them oiled up.  Still use the Snap On air ratchet and the CP 1/2" drive gun quite often to this day!  They haven't failed me yet.

They just don't make stuff like they used to.  I miss those days.

 

[Brother Bear]

Hey Denmarc,

My 30 yr old air impact gets used all the time at the shop too. It's a CP as well. But I'm not sure I'd want to see it side by side with the Milwaukee Electric. 

 

[RoyM]

Thanks everyone, Armed with all your good information I went to Sears. I had an old gift card that I needed to use. I was hoping to find a good corded electric model.  They only had a very large electric one but they did have cheap air wrench ($39).  It will be a hassle with the hose but I will not need to worry about expensive batteries and I really don?t think it will get much use. I?m only going to have it on hand in case a larger bolt is found loose again.  Thank you every one for your help.  Paul

I  bought one of those first. What a POS, I should have known better.

 

[teamteke]

Consider a cordless battery unit.  They have come a LONG way over the years.  200 ft.lbs with an inexpensive Ryobi unit about $99.  Lithium units available also.
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/ryobi-18-volt-impact-wrench-p260.html#.UMqB9XebKnU 

 

[RoyM]

Replacement batteries can be pricey.

 

[muskoka guy]

i am a contractor and we use electric impacts all the time. for construction i found air ones wont take the dirt  and dust we encounter where as the electric ones it doesnt affect. we regularly drive 8 in lags into timbers and deck trimmers with no problem. i can take my coach tires off no problem with them. i keep the johnson bar extension on hand in case any of the them dont want to cooperate.