Questions about on-board air in multiple vehicles and uses

[gundrted+t4r]

I've always thought onboard air would be nice to have, but its a big investment and wouldn't be using very often.

Over the summer I found myself in the need of topping off the spare tire on my F250 while camping with our truck camper. Luckily the spare had about 65lbs in it and it could handle the 3500lbs camper of a slow 10 mile drive to a truck stop.

Back to onboard air. I'm not airing up and down every weekend or even every month. In my F250 it would be used to keep my E rated tires properly inflated to handle the load of my camper. In my 4Runner it would be mostly used for topping off my tires (in place of pulling out my pancake air compressor) and filling mountain bike tires (17-25psi).

I have a harbor freight compressor that came with a plastic case. Its a bulky case and often gets left behind because it takes up to much space. It works but thats about it. I have no clue if it could even be mounted anywhere.

It looks similar to this.
12Volt 150 PSI Compact Air Compressor
https://www.harborfreight.com/air-t...olt-150-psi-compact-air-compressor-69285.html

I have no issue buying a new compressor, but don't have a use for a top-end ARB that will inflate 38in tires in just a few minutes.

What good options are out there for nice-to-have air?
Do onboard units have the ability to regulate volume/pressure? This is key for very low pressure bike tires.
Does anyone have experience with moving the unit between vehicles?

Use Case

• Be able to move between a '17 4Runner and '03 F-250 Diesel.
• Be able to top off or air up standard size auto tires.
• Be able to support filling low pressure (17-25spi) tubeless mountain bike tires.
• Support standard air hoses and quick disconnect connections.
• I have no plans to run air tools, air lockers or air bags.
• I'm open to mounting a small air tank, but its not needed (in my mind).

 

[Jetboy]

Any cheap air compressor will probably fill up your tires eventually. The usual problem is that they're too slow. More volume = more money. The best overall value IMO is the smitty built compressors. There are two sizes that cost $90 or $150ish. Even the small one will pump a LOT more air than the HF one. You can also buy a small size Viair from Amazon comparable to the HF one for about $50 and probably be a lot better long term.

For bicycle tires you need to just use the switch and pay attention. No they will not shut off at 25psi. Just fill them up to 35psi and let some air out to suit your desired psi. For tires you'll also have to watch the gauge and use the switch to turn off at a given pressure.

 

[calcrc]

You don't really need any of that big $ air compressors. You can get Portable ones that do the job well. Think about this, if you go off road or get a flat or whatever. If your Compressor takes 3 minutes or 10 minutes, you won't be going nowhere anyways so ....

I got the cheap Viaair 88P one from Amazon for 50 bucks that will be in my utilities Plano box with all the other good stuff that, I find useful for my needs

 

[slide531]

I've always thought onboard air would be nice to have, but its a big investment and wouldn't be using very often.

Over the summer I found myself in the need of topping off the spare tire on my F250 while camping with our truck camper. Luckily the spare had about 65lbs in it and it could handle the 3500lbs camper of a slow 10 mile drive to a truck stop.

Back to onboard air. I'm not airing up and down every weekend or even every month. In my F250 it would be used to keep my E rated tires properly inflated to handle the load of my camper. In my 4Runner it would be mostly used for topping off my tires (in place of pulling out my pancake air compressor) and filling mountain bike tires (17-25psi).

I have a harbor freight compressor that came with a plastic case. Its a bulky case and often gets left behind because it takes up to much space. It works but thats about it. I have no clue if it could even be mounted anywhere.

It looks similar to this.
12Volt 150 PSI Compact Air Compressor
https://www.harborfreight.com/air-t...olt-150-psi-compact-air-compressor-69285.html

I have no issue buying a new compressor, but don't have a use for a top-end ARB that will inflate 38in tires in just a few minutes.

What good options are out there for nice-to-have air?
Do onboard units have the ability to regulate volume/pressure? This is key for very low pressure bike tires.
Does anyone have experience with moving the unit between vehicles?

Use Case

• Be able to move between a '17 4Runner and '03 F-250 Diesel.
• Be able to top off or air up standard size auto tires.
• Be able to support filling low pressure (17-25spi) tubeless mountain bike tires.
• Support standard air hoses and quick disconnect connections.
• I have no plans to run air tools, air lockers or air bags.
• I'm open to mounting a small air tank, but its not needed (in my mind).

Get a prestaflator to use for the bike tires. I use one all the time with a much higher volume compressor and it works great. I haven't used it with my viair but don't know why it wouldn't work. You might also need an extra compressor hose if the gauge and chuck are integrated with the hose on your compressor.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[gundrted+t4r]

Get a prestaflator to use for the bike tires. I use one all the time with a much higher volume compressor and it works great. I haven't used it with my viair but don't know why it wouldn't work. You might also need an extra compressor hose if the gauge and chuck are integrated with the hose on your compressor.

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I think my going it get this one form Amazon. At $39 it has more consistent reviews then the PrestaFlator. They also have a digital version for $37, but I'm but I'm not sure I wanna deal with batteries.

GrimmTools - Universal Bicycle Tire Inflator for Presta and Schrader valves

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0163R0JAE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_HasrAb7HGNZH1

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[Jetboy]

If you attach one of those inflators directly to your Viair compressor you'll either hurt yourself or ruin your compressor.

The compressor does not have a pressure switch. If you cap the air going out like those do - it will either burst some part of the high pressure side or burn up the motor.

You need a tank and a pressure switch to use those. You can get them. But for OBA it's not usually worth the effort. The first best idea is to drill your wheels and get rid of those stupid ****ign presta valves. For $16 you can get rid of the presta valves and be done with it for good.

 

[gundrted+t4r]

It is interesting how all the options look similar.

https://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/32.htm

https://www.superflowair.com

http://www.viaircorp.com/compressors/

Sure they have different opinions, duty cycles and CFM, but at the end of the day they all pump.

The one thing I've noticed is that they don't call out an automatic shut-off. My Porter Cable pancake compressor has an automatic shut-off at 120psi. Do these small compressors have that type of shut-off? I would like to use a small air tank and have the compressor shit off at 'x' pressure.

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[e60ral]

smittybilt has a couple cheap air compressors that have okay airflow. The Superflow MV50 is also cheap.

 

[gundrted+t4r]

If you attach one of those inflators directly to your Viair compressor you'll either hurt yourself or ruin your compressor.

The compressor does not have a pressure switch. If you cap the air going out like those do - it will either burst some part of the high pressure side or burn up the motor.

You need a tank and a pressure switch to use those. You can get them. But for OBA it's not usually worth the effort. The first best idea is to drill your wheels and get rid of those stupid ****ign presta valves. For $16 you can get rid of the presta valves and be done with it for good.

I just saw your post. Thanks for the info on the pressure switch.

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[(none)]

As mentioned, just get yourself a good portable unit and be done with it. Take it wherever you want, any vehicle, etc.

I got a Viair 300P off amazon while it was on sale last May. I've used it quite a bit on the trail and around the house. Coming from those cheap, crappy ones, this thing is awesome. Fills tires from 15psi or so up to 38psi in a few minutes. No longer taking 20+ minutes to air up. I was wheeling with a guy with an ARB on board compressor (single), similar sized tires (265/75 16 for him, 255/75 17 for me). My compressor filled my tires quicker than his did. I finished mine and helped him finish his.

I see little need for the built in compressor if you aren't running lockers or anything else off of it and either way, as you are already seeing, it restricts you to air in only 1 vehicle.

 

[wfo9]

I've had this one for several years. Works great for multiple uses.

http://a.co/aLHP2nQ

It flows enough air to get a tubeless mountain bike tire on...

For the presta valve... Just buy one of the cheap little adapters. You control the pressure by watching the gauge and turning the compressor off....

As far as that compressor goes.. the unit itself works great and had been trouble free. The hose however did break after a few years. I already had an arb hose and fittings so no big deal. Bottom line, the hose and accessories are cheap junk, but the compressor flows some good air.

I have the arb single for my lockers and on-board... but I still use this to fill the tires up because it is faster and no need to wear out the critical compressor with the little jobs.. plus I always find myself filling up other peoples tires....