What do you guys who air down your tires use to inflate them? Brands, where-to-buy, prices? Thanks.Bajaboy - 8-23-2007 at 10:34 AM
I have a Quick Air that I bought from 4wd Offroad warehouse in 1997. I think I paid just under $200. It has definitely paid for itself. I have the
portable unit.
Check the Nomad's Tienda at top of page. The lower priced unit is similar to what I have. I have only had it for 2 years, so can't speak to it's
durability. I bought it a 4 wheel parts in the San Diego area. They said it is a very popular unit.
Mine does hook to the battery terminals rather than a cigarette lighter. Pro's and con's to that.
Kenelgatoloco - 8-23-2007 at 11:23 AM
Ditto on the portable Quick Air 2. Got mine at ORW in San Diego. Works great.
VIAIR brand
John M - 8-23-2007 at 11:49 AM
Got mine at Truckperformance.com in Irvine. Actually picked it up on our way to Baja.
Looks as though the following link may not work. But I use the 400p unit by Viair and am quite pleased!
[Edited on 8-23-2007 by BajaNomad]bajabird - 8-23-2007 at 02:27 PM
I use a scuba tank with a tire inflator setup without the schrader valve installed
fast and easy with a 25 ft hose.BajaNomad - 8-23-2007 at 03:09 PM
The MV-50 in the Tienda is the one I use. I had come across these via some online comparisons showing them to (in the last couple of years) to be a
great value against what had commonly been available in years past - basically mid-quality units at a fraction of the price for a (usually)
infrequently used item.
The MV-50's draw more current than those that use a cigarette lighter (they also deliver much more air flow than those units as well), and therefore
have alligator clips to attach directly to a 12v battery. At one point Kragen/Checker/etc and PepBoys all blew them out of their stores discounted at
$25 'cause they weren't selling otherwise because of the lack of a cigarette lighter plug. Can't find them for that price any longer though. $49-79
is the going rate today.
Some people like the twin-cylinder units, but most consider the increased flow not worth the increased price - and even opt for a second
single-cylinder unit instead (if at all).
So, as far as the best "value" I've seen with the high-flow portable air pumps, it's either these MV-50 units, or DavidK picked up a good-looking unit
that looks similar to the MV-50 (and even MORE similar to the Viair 300P which costs more like $175-$240) at Harbor Freight Tools (current price
online for the Harbor Freight unit is $69.99): http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnu...
(notice the "Slime" unit above is one using a cigarette lighter plug)
--
Doug
[Edited on 8-23-2007 by BajaNomad]BajaNomad - 8-23-2007 at 03:14 PM
Something to note that you can notice, and I learned from experience...
The MV-50 pressure guage actually measures the pressure at the cylinder head, and is off about 5psi from what I've consistently measured at the tire.
The Harbor Freight / Viair units have the guage inline at the end of the hose measuring pressure closer (and more accurately) to the tire itself.
Not a big deal, but thought I'd mention it.
--
Doug
[Edited on 8-23-2007 by BajaNomad]BajaNomad - 8-23-2007 at 03:31 PM
This subject was addressed previously, and in reviewing the other thread seems very much worth noting as well:
I've ordered oe from the BN Tienda.Hook - 8-23-2007 at 04:48 PM
I bought something that looks like the MV-50 at Costco a while back.
With my F350 supercab longbed, I dont think I could reach the rear tire on the opposite side of my batter without running it under the vehicle (yuk!).
That is, I dont think I could reach IF my truck wasnt a diesel and had batteries on both sides of the vehicle.
Any long bed, gasser guys have this problem with the clip-on versions? The coiling air hose doesnt lend itself well to "throwing" under the vehicle or
stretching between the wheels.Hook - 8-23-2007 at 04:51 PM
Boy, thats a bad idea mounting one under the hood in a vehicle that spends time in the desert. These things have thermal cutoff circuits I believe and
that would shorten its operation time..........probably its lifespan, too.TMW - 8-23-2007 at 05:26 PM
In 1994 I purchased a under the hood unit from Northwest Off Road Products, they're a Toyota aftermarket company. It's worked fine for 13 years so
far. I like it so well I purchased another for my chevy and it's still going. I paid around $250 for it then. I think the new ones work faster.
[Edited on 8-24-2007 by TW]Bajalero - 8-23-2007 at 05:32 PM
Don , I have 3 of the MV-50's . Keep one handy at all times and the've never let me down . Don't buy the simular model that plugs into the cigar
lighter, they don't have the same power. The ones that clip directly to your battery run best. It's a hefty little machine (maybe 5-10lb.) and has a
nice nylon carrying case
As far as mounting them under the hood (re: Hook), mine came with screw on air filters for the intake. The heat under the hood is another isuue but
they run hot anyway. You don't want to touch tghe cylinder head after it has ran awhile.
Best deal and bang for the buck unless your doing alot of airing up and downBajaNomad - 8-23-2007 at 06:36 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
I dont think I could reach the rear tire on the opposite side of my batter without running it under the vehicle (yuk!).
Well, you could be like this guy who spliced cheap $8 booster cables onto the original power line:
marek - 8-24-2007 at 08:31 PM
Powertank. I can inflate about 12-16 35 inch tires on one 10 pound tank.
Each tire only takes about 30-60 seconds.Barry A. - 8-24-2007 at 09:50 PM
Instead of extending the power cord for the compressor, I just have a 30 foot skinny air hose and leave the compressor (a Quick Air II) in the shade
near the front of the truck. Works for me.Ojosraros - 11-19-2007 at 06:40 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by marek
Powertank. I can inflate about 12-16 35 inch tires on one 10 pound tank.
Each tire only takes about 30-60 seconds.
BajaWarrior - 11-19-2007 at 06:57 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by marek
Powertank. I can inflate about 12-16 35 inch tires on one 10 pound tank.
Each tire only takes about 30-60 seconds.
Do you mean Co2?
If yes, handy but heavy, even in the aluminum bottle. And when your out, your out. Plus, Co2 loses pressure in the tire slightly, maybe 7 pounds in a
50 pound tire after the Co2 warms up. Not the worst thing in the world...
Still, I have used mine many times when traveling, it will also power a pneumatic impact for changing lugs (done that too).
