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bigtime_077's avatar
bigtime_077
Explorer
Apr 27, 2014

Air compressor?

This may be a dumb question but I am seriously wondering how many times a scenario like this has happened to any of you. I have been camping now for a while and just bought a new travel trailer. I am starting to get some other items around for it that I feel are must have but don't want to haul too much uneeded items.

My question is about taking an air compressor with you not for inflating pool toys and such but in the event that you would need to add air to the TV tires or TT tires. How often is this a likely event? If you blow a tire out no air compressor is gonna help you there so I don't know if I really see a side of the road scenario unless the spare tire is low. I was thinking more along the lines of at the campground you check air pressure it is low so do you have a compressor to add or just get it to a gas station with air? Or how about you get a nail in a tire, pull it out, plug it, and then need to air it up.

Anyway I have a smaller 120v air compressor but it weighs 35-40 lbs so I was thinking of a 30 amp 12v compressor that uses aligator clips to attach to battery posts.

I guess I am looking for opinions as to whether this is even something to look into or am I just throwing out wild scenarios

Thanks

30 Replies

  • the neatest setup I have seen was a fella that had separated the tank from the goodies, mounted the tank clear under the RV in an unused opening, and mounted the goodies out accessible.
    bumpy
  • We carry a 3 gallon pancake compressor on all trips plus a smaller inflator for bike tires. We don't use the larger one very often but we tend to be conservative like carrying TWO spare tires...
    It's difficult to find air at a gas station that can handle the 80 psi our tires need.
  • I bought a compressor at w w ,comes in it's own bag, with a bunch of acc, too, been working for us for 4yrs so far.clips hook to a bat post.now it's all happy-camping
  • I'm cutting and pasting this from a previous post of mine:

    First the disclaimer. Other than as a customer, I have no affiliation with this company. We are fulltime, movin' around RV'ers for 13 years. A 12V compressor capable of dealing efficiently with 80lb tires, while not essential, has proven useful on many occasions, more specifically the top-offs engendered by changes in altitude and temperature. 9 years ago, we purchased a Master Flow unit that served us well for 3 years until I dropped it off the side of our truck and the intake housing cracked in half. I wrote the company asking about a replacement part. (It would have been a 10 minute switch-out..tops) I explained what had happened and in no way suggested that it was anyone's fault save my own. 4 days later a brand new complete compressor was delivered, no questions asked. We're still using it and kept the old one for parts (which we've never had to use). THAT, folks, is customer service! I offered to at least pay for the replacement part. Their response was: "If you have the chance, tell others about us". I have had that opportunity and just now did it again.

    That said, this is a rugged unit that weighs all of about 5lbs that will completely air a flat 225/16 to 80 lbs in 5 minutes. I can't say enough about the product or the company. And you have to understand that this comes from someone who believes that 99% of everything marketed is ****.
  • Hi,

    I also carry a small tank compressor from Sears. I only use it once in a while to fill up my motorhome tires. It beats trying to fill them at a local gas station and they never give out free air anymore, with some exceptions, and those typically are a 5 minute fill for $1 unless you buy gas, then can be free, but is a smaller compressor more for car tires than the 90 PSI that I need.

    Fred.
  • I feel carring a compressor that is able to top the tires off is a neccessary item to carry along. But then I check the pressure before every hook up.
  • I bought a small pancake air compressor for a C-note from Wally World. It can air up tires, but it is a pain, the thing is extremely loud. Not as slow as the tankless types, but if there were something better that wasn't too much bigger, I'd go that route.
  • I purchased one of the small ones, no tank and runs through the cigarette lighter or direct to the battery. It is worthless for tires. Took me 40 minutes to air up a tire on the truck. It is great for the inflatable toys, which is all I use it for now.

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