I have purchased a Craftsman portable air compressor that was recommended on Motor Home magazine. it has a 3 gallon tank and goes to 125 PSI max. I have found this compressor to be unacceptable as it takes forever to go from 90 PSI on my 275/80R 22.5 tires to 100 PSI or higher.My question is: would I be better off to buy a larger tank compressor (125 PSI max with a 25 gallon tank) and leave it in my motor home garage or a smaller more portable unit that I can take with me that has a smaller tank and a higher PSI rating, ( 150 PSI max with a 6 gallon tank)?I have read on the forum that a 150 PSI max unit with a 3 gallon tank can raise the pressure in my size tire 10 PSI in a minute per tire. After my experience, I am skeptical.Thanks,

The pressure is OK as is the capacity of the tank but what is needed is more flow ie. CFM. Mark Polk has a good discussion if you do a Google search for it.The first question is why do you want to go from 90 to 120 psi?There are $500 compressors that will do what you want to do but do you want to spend that kind of money to save time?I run my TV tires at 65 psi when not towing and bump it up to 80 when towing. It takes about 5 minutes per tire to do that. I have the same compressor as you purchased and carry it in the back of our Suburban when camping.

Hi,Look for a compressor that will do 150 psi. It need not be expensive.

Moved from Forum Technical Support

Lowes building supply sells a Kobalt air compressor that goes to 155 PSI has 3 gal tank and 2.6 CFM@90PSI. It does a good of inflating my 255/80/22.5 tires to 100 PSI. Small, light weight and easily fits into a bay compartment. Very inexpensive.

This is the one I bought and I'm very happy with it:Porter Cable Compressor It adds air to my 110 psi toyhauler tires pretty quickly, isn't too noisy, and isn't huge.

Air Compressor recommendation | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

wintersun
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2014
I have found that compressors are effective up to about 80% of their PSI rating. If you need 110 PSI then I would be looking for a compressor rated for no less than 150 PSI and ideally for 200 PSI if you want a fast fill.

I have a 120 PSI rated compressor and it is great up to 75 PSI and then takes a lot longer to get the tires to the 80 PSI that I want. The longer it works the more hot air is getting pumped into the tires and so the more the tire pressure will drop after the air inside the tires equalizes with the ambient air outside of the tire.
FlatBroke
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2014
Took back a Defective Porter Cable and bought a Harbor Freight (here come the haters). 150 lbs 6 gallon tank. Going into my forth year and it's been great. Aired up my 110 tires fast. Just used it to blow out my home sprinkler system. Builds up air fast. Use it more then my 30 gallon 150 lb Craftsman. Best part $99 on sale.
mgirardo
Explorer
Oct 10, 2014
I purchased this Air Compressor last year and have been happy with it. I bought it mainly for our Motorhome, but use it around the garage as well. It's low enough profile that it stores easily in any outside storage compartment on the Motorhome and under the bed. I only air up to 80 PSI, but it goes from 70 to 80 PSI in less than a minute.

-Michael
mosseater
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2014
I can tell you if you have the same model that I do, and it sounds like you do, they have a propensity for blowing the head gaskets between the intake and output. Mine stopped putting out anything over 40 psi. The gasket profile between the two chambers is very thin and once it's breached, it won't pump air. I'd check that first. When mine was new it pumped like a demon. Yours might be leaking right from the start. Only way to know is to tear it apart. Not difficult to do.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Oct 09, 2014
This is the one I bought and I'm very happy with it:
Porter Cable Compressor

It adds air to my 110 psi toyhauler tires pretty quickly, isn't too noisy, and isn't huge.
PastorCharlie
Explorer
Oct 09, 2014
Lowes building supply sells a Kobalt air compressor that goes to 155 PSI has 3 gal tank and 2.6 CFM@90PSI. It does a good of inflating my 255/80/22.5 tires to 100 PSI. Small, light weight and easily fits into a bay compartment.

Very inexpensive.
1492
Moderator
Oct 09, 2014
Moved from Forum Technical Support
pianotuna
Nomad III
Oct 09, 2014
Hi,

Look for a compressor that will do 150 psi. It need not be expensive.
Dick_B
Explorer
Oct 09, 2014
The pressure is OK as is the capacity of the tank but what is needed is more flow ie. CFM. Mark Polk has a good discussion if you do a Google search for it.
The first question is why do you want to go from 90 to 120 psi?
There are $500 compressors that will do what you want to do but do you want to spend that kind of money to save time?
I run my TV tires at 65 psi when not towing and bump it up to 80 when towing. It takes about 5 minutes per tire to do that. I have the same compressor as you purchased and carry it in the back of our Suburban when camping.

Forum Discussion

Air Compressor recommendation

19 Replies

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

air compressors

Air Compressor

Handheld air compressor

Air compressors

Air compressor recommendation