Portable vs On Board Air Compressor?

[RamblinAnne]

Hey everyone- wondering what your thoughts are on having an on-board vs a portable air compressor. I have a Bigfoot truck camper that I'll be carrying most of the time but not always. I'll be using the compressor to adjust my Firestone Ride Rite air bags/air springs AND for adjusting the psi in my 6 tires (2013 Ford F-350 dually stock tires.. 31" I believe). I'm brand new to this so any advice would help.

Portable seems so much cheaper and aside from taking up some room in my back seat, are there any other cons?? Is the on-board really THAT much more convenient? I don't mind spending the money if I have a good enough reason that it's worth it. But I also don't mind doing a little extra work to save some cash. Clearly I'm conflicted. Please help.

Seems like Viair is the way to go. Anyone argue that?

[dadwolf2]

KKELLER14K wrote:
EXACTLY!...If your pumping tires you got to go with something else.

Wrong, you just need a quality compressor, not those tiny little cheap compressors.

[james65450]

Check out this site for information on larger 12 volt air compressors that are designed to fill tires and even run air tools.

http://expeditionportal.com/overland-journal-air-compressor-test/

[RamblinAnne]

Gaaah!!! Just when I thought I had it all figured out!

[Wyo350]

I have the Viair mounted behind the back seat, bought one of those 5gal. Tanks for filling tires and mounted on the frame under the bed of truck (2015 f350 ) ran an air line to rear and to front of truck.Now I can fill my tires and my bags no problem. You need the constant duty compressor for filling tires otherwise your pump will shut down after so long a run time.

[RamblinAnne]

Thanks everyone for all your help! Some more helpful than others but that's okay, lol, I appreciate the input. I think I'm going to go for the Viair Heavy Duty on board compressor (150 psi, 2.5 gal tank, ~$300). The Power Tanks look amazing but so expensive! I would have loved the idea of a portable but the fact that they don't come with tanks nixed that option. But I guess that's what makes them portable. Thanks again! Merry Christmas fellow campers!

[jefe_4x4]

I'm also in the Power Tank school, by default. I bought a 10 pound tank version 20 years ago to air up my 37 inch Jeep tires every day for a week at Moab. Subsequently, I use a 20 pound tank for long, sandy trips in the TC using the special Power Tank hardware. If you can find all the valves, fittings and gauges, and the special, 'won't freeze' high pressure hose, you can make your own setup. The woe is I could not find replacement gauges anywhere else so had to order a couple from P.T. I think they have their own captive supplier. I can get about 8 complete fills (8x4tires) of my truck tires from 26 pounds to 65 pounds. It is strapped down in the center of the area behind the front seats and the hose reaches all 4 corners from that location. You take the empty tank to Amerigas or other gasseous outlets and swap an empty for a full. To save weight be sure to specify the aluminum tank, not the steelie.
The important thing is the speed at which you can air up your tires, regardless of pressure or size. I've even used my shop impact gun to remove lug nuts when having a flat in an exposed roadside where closure is of the essence. With the ultra high pressure, the tank and a 1K pound strap can aid in remounting a tire that has lost its bead. It's what I have so I'll keep using it.
Just a note about 12V compressors. DO NOT even think about using any cheap, China Freight compressors. I've been sucked in a couple times hoping against hope that tis time it would last, and both were junk after a pump or two. If you do get a stand alone compressor, get the highest quality, most expensive one with a tank and a good warranty you can find. Unless you are always plugged into 110vAC, loose the house current compressor idea.
jefe

[dave17352]

If you want to air up your tires fast check out power tank. Search "Powertank" on the internet.

[dadwolf2]

Unless you think you are going to need/use air tools, I think portable is the way to go. I've used my portable Viair in several different vehicles and now I use it on my Jeep runs when I"m not camping. The Viair 400P fills up my four 35x12.5R17's from 12 to 35 psi and never overheats operating in the southern NV desert.

[Rbertalotto]

I now have FOUR compressors in my rig!!! One for the air bags...One for the exhaust brake I just had installed...One for the AIR HORNS.....And a big a** one for tires, toys, cleaning, etc....You can read about this one here:

http://rvbprecision.com/rv-projects/forest-river-grey-wolf-19rr-compressor-installation.html

The compressors for the airbags and exhaust brake are not "continuous run" compressors. They are for very short duration as they get very hot when run for more than a minute or two. The air horn compressor is designed to run for a few seconds.

The big compressor with the tank is wonderful to have available. One of the best things I've ever installed in my rig.

[bcbouy]

i have the viair constant duty onboard air system.it'll do all you're asking.some of the posts on this subject are really misinformed or just plain wrong.if you don't know,don't post your opinion,it;s not helpful. your worn out old,outdated piece of junk may not blow up a kiddie balloon,but the newer units do a good job.the're sold with tanks and all the valves,switches and fittings for a reason. i air down my tires and airbags when i drop the camper in a campsite to go exploring or to fish a close by lake all the time.and i also adjust my airbags,and no,they don't leak.sheesh.

[rexlion]

For a point of reference: my ViAir 88P (120 psi, 1.47 cfm) will take my 265/65/17 tire from 20 psi to 35 psi in about 2 minutes. Compare this to the volume of your tires. It takes very little room behind the back seat; I keep it in a shooter's bag that came as a gift from NRA and it's always with me in the truck. It is head and shoulders above any of the cheapo portable compressors I've had (the type that plug into the cigarette lighter socket).

If you get an onboard compressor with more PSI/CFM than the 88P and add a tank to the system, I have little doubt that you could air up very quickly whenever you desired. Check out this model: http://www.viaircorp.com/oba-super.html 150 psi, 3.2 cfm, 2 gallon tank.

[Moomba2002]

I run onboard air with the ExtremeAire Magnum 150 PSI 100% duty cycle with a 4 gallon tank. Love the setup not the least expensive by any means but quality cost. They also sell the same compressors in portable versions if you feel you don't need a tank. If you are going to be filling tires to 80 PSI you best get a good compressor as that type of use will burn up most units in time. I will see if I have any photos of my install I can post or PM you.www.extremeoutback.com

[Grit_dog]

Do you have a generator? If not, a portable air compressor is not an option really. 12V portable compressors typically have low duty cycle and low cfm.
On board air, like the expensive Viaair are good but as you found, expensive for the convienence you get and still take you a month of sundays to air back up 6 tires.
If you don't have household power source (generator) then spend the $ to get the best heavy duty on board compressor you can find.
If you have 120v power, get a small contractors compressor. More capable and much cheaper.

You can adjust airbags easily with anything that will pump the pressure you need because it's such a small volume.
Tires are a different story, for regular use like you're planning.

Fwiw, for adjusting bags while on the road, I plumbed into my air actuated exhaust brake. Works great for airing the bags back up after having the camper off the truck when out on a trip. Not for tires though.

I agree with the "why would anyone constantly adjust airbag pressure?" Question.
Unloaded = no air.
Loaded = air. Never found a need to constantly "dial it in."

[Geewizard]

KKELLER14K wrote:
OK...I will chime in. I have exactly what your looking for. The advice you seek, I have and I have been there. I will give you some food for thought. First, and onboard compressor that can run your airbags on the fly is so nice. Second if you do decide on one, do not mount the pump outside of your rig. It should be in the cab somewhere because the little filter will clog up in no time and burn up the pump. Mine is under my rear seat. Third, while they can support the volume of an air bag system and can pump up a tire in an emergency, it is by no means going to fill multiple tires back up to the pressures that you will need to travel. You can mount a Schrader valve to the side of the frame which you can conveniently connect the flexible hose to.... to pump up things within reason, but this is a air system designed for airbags in general.

I second this, almost totally. I don't have a tank in my setup and I use the wireless air controler are the only differences. Otherwise, I have had the same system for 12 years and it's going into the new Tundra as well.