What is a good air compressor?

[Veg Hed]

Last week I had to air up a tire that was completely flat just so I could drive my van to the tire shop to get new tires. The air compressor I have literally took about 1 1/2 hours to pump the tire up to 30 psi. Then I was able to drive to the gas station to top it the rest of the way off for the drive. This made me realize that I really need a new air compressor.

So I was wondering what other people would recommend. I am interested in getting an on board set up but would be happy with something that worked a lot quicker than my current set up. The warn power plant is nice but is out of my price range and I am not going to be running any power tools. I will probably mostly use it to top of my Toyos after I air down on a back road or something. Thanks...

[bluedog225]

I second the request. I just need something that runs on 12V and can get me up to 80 psi without taking forever. Occasional use and reliable brand, nothing extreme needed.

thanks

Tom

[billwilson]

I am looking at a Viair 400 portible - @ $250
semi prerm mount under seat
run a hose out the propane door with q/c
hard wire to battery with q/c's also

why?
if i am in BFE and air down and cant air up
because i saved $100 on the compressor would be a bummer

My use will be more BFE and Baja and am striving to be self suffecent

If i was close to AAA, no problem

Same reason i am spending an extra $200 on my generator
(yamaha 2400 instead of a smaller lighter honda for $200 less)

I have spend awhile "getting by" in my Westy
Great fun, glad i did, but... i want Ice, A/C and a 16 inch TV
whilst in BFE

[kzemach]

I don't have a good recommendation (I have a relatively inexpensive one that works fine, but am not in country right now so I can't tell you the model). However, I went through TWO other inexpensive ones almost immediately, even ones that said they could do 80psi, and I followed the on/off directions and didn't overrun them. When I say I went through them, it means they died a horrible, smoking burn-out death. Each was returned for a refund.

The inexpensive 12V cig socket ones may work fine for a car at 35psi, but even if they're rated for 80PSI you're taking a risk. I'm happy with mine, but the third time was the charm. And I don't know how long that charm will last, either.

[BroncoHauler]

As pricey as it may seem, the Extreme Air compressors are worth it to me. 100% duty cycle is critical in my opinion, and the put out a lot of cubic feet per minute (cfm) of air, which is important when airing up large tires, not to mention to fairly significant tire pressures.

When I bought my SMB used, the previous owners included a Viair compressor (probably purchased from SMB), but I went ahead and made the investment to have an Extreme Air installed. The Viair now sits in my rear storage compartment (as a backup?). I've had my fill (no pun intended) with cheap air compressors on my Bronco. I ended up finding a great deal on a Thomas brand electrical compressor (completely rebuildable versus throwaway for most compressors) for my Bronco which has worked great, giving me about but I eventually will install a York a/c compressor that I have and drive it off an engine belt. No much hope of that in a van engine compartment.

Rough comparison
Viair 400 p portable 1.2 cfm @ 100psi (33% duty cycle)
Thomas 12V 1/3hp 0.95cfm @ 100psi (100% duty cycle)
Extreme Air Severe Duty 4 cfm @??? (100% duty cycle)
Extreme Air Magnum 2.6 cfm @ 100psi (100% duty cycle)
York engine driven compressor 4-8 cfm @ 90psi (100% duty cycle)

Treat all these specs as notional, since manufacturers get pretty creative in my opinion.


Herb

[DisabledExplorers]

I have an extreme outback high output and the difference between it & the cheap ones is amazing. Mine has been through brutal use & still going strong.
100% duty cycle matters
Get an extreme outback now & use it with battery clamps then when you are ready perm mount it w/ a tank to run air tools, an air jack and faster tire fills.

[billwilson]

I agree with the 100% duty cycle
HOWEVER:
for most of us, is it worth $700 vs $200 ??

For me and Wilson, i do not see airing up and down to be a regular thing
I dont know if i want to spend an xtra $500 to do a rapid air fill on all four tires

Methinks that fill one side, shut down the compressor, take a break, sip a cold one
move hose, flip the switch and fill the other side

Having absolutly Zero experiance with this please feel free to comments

bw

[Veg Hed]

I'm with Mr. Wilson on this one...I don't need anything too extreme. Although I would love a high end compressor, I really do not want to throw down $700 on an air compressor that I am going to use twice a year, at the most, while in the Baja. If it can air my tires back up in 20 minutes or less (while sippin' on a cold one) then I will be happy.

[DisabledExplorers]

If time ins't an issue than the $50 Qmax compressor from Costco always worked for me..it was just slow at filling the bigger tires.
Whatever compressor you get make sure to go to the battery for your power, the cig lighter sockets just can't give decent amperage.
Make sure to report back with what you do get and how it works.

[bluedog225]

I hate to be the dumb one, but what does a number like "25% duty cycle" mean?