Portable Air Compressor question

I've had 12v compressors, but recently switched to an air tank. Put a gauge on it, keep about 80psi in it, and it has been of use. Of course, its limited to the 80psi and when you use it, the psi drops. But for our local trips (and even a few longer ones) it has been useful.

WOW! Yeah, I don't think you'd ever really recover from a hit like that.

PA12DRVR wrote:
I'd second the Power Tank option. I had one in my 5ver and it was pretty easy to top of truck and trailer tires to get to the 110 psi for their rating.

I also carried a 12v air compressor for the catastrophic event when I have a complete tire to fill...only used it once in 8 years.

Inflating a large truck tire from 0 should never be done unless the tire is inside an approved safety cage. Especially if the tire has ever been used.
Simple check of YouTube on http://youtu.be/dKlJJqHFfoQtire explosion will show you why.
or here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uwOjYrOUSYPoping noise is body cord breaking.

One dead 2 injured

grampaBubby wrote:

The next time you have a few minutes, look over the camping world website, PPL Website, 12volt-travel website, crutchfield website... for a product that really interests you. Then (like you said) go find it at amazon. Give them a call and ask some questions about it. Not "can i get it any cheaper" or "can you ship it any faster", But a good couple of real question about the product specifics. 99% guarantee they won't be able to answer your questions.

No quibble with much of your view, customer service and product knowledge is a lost art in American retail generally. Shoot, I've gotten deer in the headlight looks from associates in a brick n' mortar CW, let alone the website. But, I will say places like Tweetys.com, PPL Motorhomes Parts Superstore online, and small "mom/pop" web "stores" like Best Converter, RV Water Filter Store, and others are first rate operations, with knowledgeable folks on the other end of the phone or PC. And many of them beat the pants off local retailers on price. Agree, a local relationship with a business you trust is priceless, even worth paying a bit more for, but sadly becoming an increasingly scarce commodity. :(

PS: Not a paid endorser for the businesses I mentioned, just a very satisfied customer that would buy from any of them again! :B

Ehhh, I really don't mind paying a dollar more when I know it's going to benefit small business. I've seen a few things in my day and what I'm seeing now is a lazy and greedy America. Don't get me wrong, rest and want are good, but in moderation.

Everybody at work today feels they should make more money for the work their doing. Funny thing is they probably had nothing before the company they came crawling to for a job took pity and hired them.
Now they want to work less and get paid more.

Who doesn't want more bang for their buck? No one that I can think of. Trouble comes when the seller is no longer turning enough profit to dedicate the time and resources necessary to support the product.

Then you have big well known companies like sears, kmart and now walmart who invite ANYBODY with a computer to come sell nearly anything they'd like through the sears, kmart... website until the point where it's like online flea market shopping.

What's worse than buying from one of these places and not knowing who you're buying from is that these guys sit back and see what's selling well. Once they draw a bead on a hot new product they do what they do best, crush the little guy. They begin buying and selling the same thing far cheaper than the little guy ever could. Pretty dirty business tactics...

The next time you have a few minutes, look over the camping world website, PPL Website, 12volt-travel website, crutchfield website... for a product that really interests you. Then (like you said) go find it at amazon. Give them a call and ask some questions about it. Not "can i get it any cheaper" or "can you ship it any faster", But a good couple of real question about the product specifics. 99% guarantee they won't be able to answer your questions.

Do you think camping world (THE Motorhome Magazine Sponsor) appreciates loosing business to amazon or walmart? What do you think their response would be to your recommendation of "where and why to buy"?

grampaBubby wrote:

I just don't understand why you would look to buy an 12 volt air compressor from anywhere like that. It's just a huge collage of everyones little brother who couldn't make their own website successful. We have a family member who works with the online stuff and has explained much of it to me. Not that I've retained it all but some stuff I do. I'm also on board with walmart not selling guns and ammo. I've always purchased my car from a car dealer, my spark plugs at my local Napa and my camping and motorhome supplies from a qualified dealer.

Why Amazon? Price, availability, and selection of merchandise. I used to be a skeptic, but am now completely comfortable with online purchases, not just from Amazon, but RV supply and accessory outfits like PPL Motorhomes (excellent online parts store), & Tweety's.com.

It's a new day out there. Glad I learned to embrace it. ;)

I also purchase a very expensive Viair. I got the 450P but it is the best 12v compressor I have ever owned. Does great on the 110psi rv tires.

I personally own a Viair 400P-RV air compressor. Pricey unit, but 12V and it draws up to 40 amps from the battery. It runs at 2.59cfm unloaded and doesn't slow down very much as pressures rise. it also stops pumping once it hits 150psi and uses a traditional airing gun to fill the tires. Pretty competitive to the smaller pancake filters, just much smaller. Takes a little over a minute to air up my 275/65R20 tires from 15psi to 50psi. Smittybilt makes a 12V air compressor that flows up to 5cfm at lower pressures, but drastically drops as you go over 40psi. That's why I went with Viair. I like to drive on the beach and air back up in little time.

grampaBubby wrote:

DHCamper wrote:

Escargot wrote:

smkettner wrote:
put "MV-50" into amazon for a good 12v compressor.

X2

X3 - does the job very well

I just don't understand why you would look to buy an 12 volt air compressor from anywhere like that. It's just a huge collage of everyones little brother who couldn't make their own website successful. We have a family member who works with the online stuff and has explained much of it to me. Not that I've retained it all but some stuff I do. I'm also on board with walmart not selling guns and ammo. I've always purchased my car from a car dealer, my spark plugs at my local Napa and my camping and motorhome supplies from a qualified dealer.

Not sure how this is helpful. Especially the part about Wal Mart selling guns.

DHCamper wrote:

Escargot wrote:

smkettner wrote:
put "MV-50" into amazon for a good 12v compressor.

X2

X3 - does the job very well

I just don't understand why you would look to buy an 12 volt air compressor from anywhere like that. It's just a huge collage of everyones little brother who couldn't make their own website successful. We have a family member who works with the online stuff and has explained much of it to me. Not that I've retained it all but some stuff I do. I'm also on board with walmart not selling guns and ammo. I've always purchased my car from a car dealer, my spark plugs at my local Napa and my camping and motorhome supplies from a qualified dealer.