On-board Air Compressors
Since Pismo Beach is now a regular destination for me and airing down the tires is a requirement, I'm looking at options for an on-board Air System. I've settled on a system by VIAIR with dual com...
Forum Discussion
adamis wrote:The VIAIR has a max pressure of 200 PSI, a 2.5 gal. tank, delivers 2.24 CFM at 90 PSI, must be permanently installed/mounted, runs off 12 VDC, and costs $833.GordonThree wrote:I bring my Pancake compressor for the ATVs and have run it off the genset which is fine for that application. I used it once on my first trip to air up the truck and trailer and while yes, it did work, it took nearly an hour to do it likely to the detriment of my compressor and a lot of propane. Since then, I've gone to the Air Up station on the way out and pay the guy to fill up. It still takes 20 to 30 minutes (or longer depending on how many people he's servicing at once) but inconvenient plus I'm reliant on him to actually be there (not guaranteed).
How about a DeWalt or Bosch hotdog compressor, AC powered, and a 1500 watt inverter?
I don't believe that standard tanked air compressors from Home Depot are designed for a 100% duty cycle. What this means is that when filling 8 to 10 tires from 20psi to 80psi the compressor will get hot and shutoff to cool down which can add as long as 30 to 40 minutes. Or, the compressor may just run hot but at the risk of greatly shortened life. Either way, I'm running the truck or gen-set for a long time.
The onboard air system although expensive and possibly overkill, saves me from having to lug around the compressor plus it should be able to handle filling all tires quickly and at my convenience.
Harbor Freight sells this Fortress Compressor which has a maximum pressure of 200 PSI, a 4 gal. tank, delivers 4.00 CFM at 90 PSI, is portable, runs off 120 VAC, and costs $250. Based on the CFM rating it should fill tires significantly faster than the VIAIR. It's got an overall 4.7 (out of 5) user rating at HF---pretty good. Granted it's not rated for 100% duty like the VIAIR; however, HF has a 90 day return policy so you'd have plenty of time to check it out---see how long it actually takes to go into thermal overload. As for longevity you have the option of purchasing a low-cost, 1-2 year, one-time replacement warranty. For less than 1/3 the cost of the VIAIR, it might be worth a try.
