Portable air compressors

[Bobby]

Some of you may know that I bought a Campbell Hausfield air compressor a while ago. It worked ok but had a tough time filling my tires after a day at Paragon. I used it again after driving on the beach. It took over 30 mins to fill my tires from 17psi to 32psi.

I was looking around on eBay and found a few Viair compressors for $159 and up which is a good price but still more than I want to spend on something I use only a few times a year. So I started searching and found the Q Industries MasterFlow MV-50 and MF-1050 being raved about on other 4x4 forums. So I'm searching eBay and there was 2 on auction for $28 buy it now with $15 shipping. I waited a day too late. Then another one for $40 and climbing. I set my max bid at $45 and lost.

I did some more reading and found that Kragen on the west coast has a bunch of them in their retail stores but none online.

Then I read a post where Pepboys has them for $49-$59 but $70 online. He printed out the Kragen online item and headed to Pepboys to try to get them to price match and it worked. There's a Pepboys not too far from me so I decided to take my chance and stop by tonight. But before I went, I printed out a copy of the online price. Here's the Link!!!

With the printout in hand, I went to the Pepboys in Hackensack and went up and down the isles and couldn't find it. As I was walking out I see 4 of them on a center isle display. Then another 2 on the other side with 4 of the lower models (MV-30?). I take one to customer service and show them the printout and ask for a price match. He goes to the manager who's busy and she just says yes, as long as he has the printout.

SCORE!!!

I asked if I can get a couple more and the guy says sure. So I picked up 3 of them for $79.

 

[00328]

Be sure to let us know what you think of it. I have a real crappy one that I got at Pep Boys and it takes about 15 min to increase one tire by about 10psi.
I definitely need to upgrade!

 

[Gromulus]

Compressor

Not sure what the MV-30 model is, but I bought an MV-50 off Ebay earlier this year. I think I paid approximately $60 and it is well worth it. Several people here have the MF-1050 and the MV-50 models. These seem to be the same units with different model numbers. I think they are a bargain.

I use mine quite a bit for my Runner (especially as the temperature drops like yesterday!), other cars, wheelbarrow tires, snowblower, tractor, etc. Much, much faster than the cheap battery plug units.

Here is a review:
http://www.gearinstalls.com/pepboys.htm

 

[cpayne5]

Here's mine in action. It works great. Absolutely cannot beat the performance/ price combo. Takes just a few mins a tire to go from 15 to 40 psi.

 

[Bobby]

Re: Compressor

Not sure what the MV-30 model is

Correction: MV40 or MF1040.
It's the lower model that puts out less than half the LPM than the MV-50 (30 vs. 72 LPM)

Manufacturer's site

The guy that posted the idea of printing out that page and getting it price matched was from CO and it worked out there.

 

[RaysMD]

Thanks. I picked up two of these at pepboys. Seems great for $25. BTW, my pepboys gave me a little problem since the partsamerica website lists the compressor as MV50. They wanted exact model numbers. So, I edited the web page to show the correct model #.


send me a PM if you need the saved web page.

 

[00328]

Took the web page that RaysMD sent me and took it to Pep Boys today.
I could only find the "acting" store manager and he hemmed and hawwed a bit, didn't want to give it to me at that price. He called Checker and of course they couldn't get it to come up on their computer since they discontinued it. I just told him that I got it off their web site so they have it or had it at one time.
About this time the real store manager walked up and took one look at the ad and said that he would give it to me at that price, but only one.
Yes! An MF 1050 for 24.99 is a damn good deal, especially when Pep Boys price was 59.99.
Figured it was worth a try, all they could say was no.
Anyway a big THANK YOU to RaysMD.

 

[Bobby]

About this time the real store manager walked up and took one look at the ad and said that he would give it to me at that price, but only one.
Yes! An MF 1050 for 24.99 is a damn good deal, especially when Pep Boys price was 59.99.

That's weird, the guy was more willing to give me the price if I bought more than 1. I put one up on ebay and sold it for $70 with a local pickup. I have one more on ebay now.

Oh... and I added a quick release at the end so I can use normal air chucks and blow guns.

 

[00328]

I probably would have bought several if they would've let me.

Trying to figure out what other uses this would be good for.
Where did you get the quick release, and by blow gun, do you mean a paint spray gun?

 

[Bobby]

You can get the quick disconnect at Home Depot. The coupler is about $3 and the male hose end with 1/4" barb and 1/4" NTP thread (found in plumbing) was $1.50. Get some PTFE thread sealer for the joints.

I just added links but if you go to the store, you can find them in the locations above.

The blow gun

You have to cut the end of the hose where the tire chuck is and insert the male hose end. You'll need a hose clamp to tighten down the hose over the barb. Then use the thread sealer and screw in the coupler. You'll need a 19mm and 14mm wrenches to tighten them down. You might want to get THIS so you have some extra connectors.

Now you need to get a tire chuck so you can inflate your tires and anything else you want to connect to the compressor.

 

[00328]

Great idea to make this compressor more versatile.
I'll have to track down some of these parts.
Thanks

BTW - Some of the links provided don't show any specific item, just a general power tool area. Intentional?

 

[Bobby]

Great idea to make this compressor more versatile.
I'll have to track down some of these parts.
Thanks

BTW - Some of the links provided don't show any specific item, just a general power tool area. Intentional?

I figure it's worth doing to make it more useful than a tire filler. I'm also looking to get quick disconnects to the battery because the clamps are wimpy and look kinda dangerous for up to 30amps to go thru. I'm looking at some 50 amp Anderson connectors.

I just checked the links and they go to the main page. Click on air compressors and accessories on the left, then hoses and fittings and you'll see the connectors. You want the 1/4" connectors and a 1/4" barb for the hose.

 

[00328]

Yeah, I was checking out some of the accessories.
Really appreciate the insight, thanks. More things to buy.

 

[jmauld]

Have any of you considered permanently mounting one of these somewhere in the vehicle? Should be pretty easy to hardwire it and put a quick disconnect on the hose for when you're not using it.

I've been thinking about doing this instead of carrying around an airtank for my autocross car, but I haven't taken the time to try to find a good mounting spot.

 

[Bobby]

There's a lot of space under the hood and in the back to hard-mount but I didn't think it was necessary. I did add a 50amp Anderson quick disconnects discussed above so I don't have to use the cheap clamps that were on the compressor and it's much easier.

For autox and track use, I used a rechargeable battery powered compressor since changes were 1-10psi difference and the tires were much smaller.

 

[jmauld]

For autox and track use, I used a rechargeable battery powered compressor since changes were 1-10psi difference and the tires were much smaller.

Do you have a link to the one that you use? Part of the reason that I'd like to do this is to cut down on the things that I have to remember to pack. I should just go ahead and get a trailer box so I don't have to remember any of it.

 

[Bobby]

I used one of THESE for about 5 yrs when I was heavily into autoxing and going to the track. I let everyone use it and it was abused fairly well but still held up.

I bought a Campbell Hausfeld rechargeable one that was refurb'd for $20 but can't seem to find it anywhere now. I use it for the airbags on my rear suspension and my bike tires.

I used one of those 30 gal Rubbermaid tubs for all my track/autox stuff. Fit perfectly in the trunk of my old M3 with room to haul an aluminum jack, cordless impact wrench and other stuff. My wheels and tires fit in the back seat.

 

[MDT4RNR]

Not in Stock?

I just called Parts America and they told me they were back ordered. They are still selling them for $24.99.

Called my local Pep Boys in Catonsville MD and they told me they do not keep it in stock, that they would have to order it. I asked the young lady if they would honor the price from the web site, she said that only on parts they keep in stock, since this was not one of them they could not and the price is $70.72

So I thought maybe if I contact the web site they might price match their competitor. well I called and they said that they don't do that.

Ohh well... I can order it from Parts america at 24.99 and wait till they come in.

Thanks Bobby for the great find.

Dax

 

[00328]

It's worth the wait if it doesn't take to long.
I was under the impression that partsamerica(checker auto)had discontinued these because of poor sales.
If you have other Pep Boys in the area, you might want to check those too, my local Pep Boys had a bunch of them on display.