12V Outlet Compressor Suitable for 285/75r16?

[OptimusPrime]

Opted to post here since this forum seems to have more activity than the General Tech forum.

I want a portable air compressor to keep in my cargo area for 1)emergencies 2)convenient topping off of mountain bike tires. I don't want to invest a ton of time and money.

The Viair 70P/85P is only $50 and uses the 12V outlet which I see as being far more convenient than needing to be clamped directly to the battery. The LiveChat guy on the Viair website is saying that this model of compressor would be overworked in attempting to top off my 285/75r16 tires and that I'd need something that would clamp directly to the battery. Have any of you found this to be true in the real world re. 12V outlet vs. direct battery clamping?

I'm drowning in all of the compressor options on Amazon, so if anyone has one in mind that would suite the needs I mention above, feel free to provide the link.

Thanks!

Chris

 

[n55luvr]

I have been using the viair 88p for about a year now and it's awesome! I only have 32" tires but when I'm out wheeling I can go from around 20psi to 45psi in about 5 minutes per tire. All with the truck not running. It gets hot but I've used it to fill 8 tires on a row without issues.

www.amazon.com/dp/B005ASY23I/ref=cm_sw_r_em_awd_HLFvwbQ9KVC2V

Granted it requires battery clips vs plug in but I think any compressor you use to fill large tires needs direct battery connection. We have a couple plug in compressors, the Wal-Mart type, ava they are ok for small tires but I've tried using then to fill my 32" tires and it took forever!

 

[Output Shaft]

Interdynamics HD300 12V/300 PSI Truck Air Compressor. $30

I used to use two of these compressors to fill tires. Super reliable. Fan cooled. Cheap. Slow though. Perfect for an emergency pump you're not using all the time. Perfect for a bike. Uses cig lighter socket, but I made my own plug.
There are reviews on Amazon too.

It'll fill your 285/75R16, will just take a long time to do it.


Cheap Portable Tire Inflators Sale,Bestsellers,Good,Promotions,Shopping,Shipping,BestSelling,: Cheap Interdynamics HD300 12V/300 PSI Truck Air Compressor

 

[e9999]

a reasonably serious compressor for big tires will need direct battery connection. There is only so much juice you can get out of a standard outlet without busting fuses, something like 10A maybe or 140W. It would then be a matter of how much time you are willing to wait with a cig plug compressor, except that battery-direct/better compressors may also be more reliable. I don't see the battery connection as a big bother myself. A cult-generating inexpensive compressor was the Multiflow or Superflow MT-50 or something like that that made waves a few years ago. Mine work great. Still available. I think it takes something like 15-20 mins to do my 4 285/16 tires from 20 to 40 psi, something like that.

 

[larryt]

I've been using one of these for about 7 years, and might be the one e9999 is referring to: MasterFlow MF-1050 Air Compressor Amazon.com: MasterFlow MF-1050 Air Compressor: Automotive

Go straight to battery for something with this draw, and run the engine while airing up. Mine was hard wired for a while but I reverted to battery clamps to keep it portable. I tapped in a much longer hose, upgraded the chuck and installed a blowoff valve, all on the cheap. It will take a 295/75-16 from 17-37 psi in about 5 minutes. Not the fastest or prettiest, but plenty for my needs.

 

[e9999]

yes, that one and its clone. Some threads about them here.

 

[CV Kurt]

I have the Q Industries MV-50 (which is same unit as above), quite pleased with it. In addition to suggestions above to have motor running while airing up... don't turn this unit on when connected to a tire with more than 30psi in it. This will case the pump to pull too many amps at startup and that will blow the fuse.

Amazon.com: Q Industries MV50 SuperFlow High-Volume 12-Volt Air Compressor: Automotive

 

[TXLX100]

I have been using the viair 88p for about a year now and it's awesome! I only have 32" tires but when I'm out wheeling I can go from around 20psi to 45psi in about 5 minutes per tire. All with the truck not running. It gets hot but I've used it to fill 8 tires on a row without issues.

www.amazon.com/dp/B005ASY23I/ref=cm_sw_r_em_awd_HLFvwbQ9KVC2V

Granted it requires battery clips vs plug in but I think any compressor you use to fill large tires needs direct battery connection. We have a couple plug in compressors, the Wal-Mart type, ava they are ok for small tires but I've tried using then to fill my 32" tires and it took forever!

Another vote for viair 88p. Goes from 15 to 35 psi in 4-5 minutes... Air 4 tires nonstop. Skip the outlet compressors and get one that attaches to battery.

 

[OptimusPrime]

Thank you all for your input - this has been really helpful. I'd been going between the Viair 88P and Masterflow MF-1050, but then I did a little more research and I've come across the below Stanley J5C09 jump box-compressor combo, which is appealing since I also need a jump starter. I'm not sure what spec to look at to determine this - Is the compressor in the Stanley J5CO9 on par with the 88P/MF-1050 or is it weaker like a 12V outlet compressor? What specification do you look for to determine this?

Amazon.com: Stanley J5C09 1000 Peak Amp Jump Starter with Built in Compressor: Automotive

Other than weight/bulk, is there any disadvantage to this style? For me it's either the 88P/MF-1050 and a battery pack like the Antigravity XP-1 or this semi-old school Stanley 1000 combo pack. Thoughts?

 

[little_joe]

I've done the 88P + AntiGravity combo. The 88P is a fine little compressor; the XPS has many uses aside from just jumpstarts, so the portability is hugely useful.

 

[tmandell]

I have both the Stanley and the Viair 88P. I bought the Stanley for the jump pack, it has worked really well for that, I figured the compressor was a bonus. However I must warn you don’t buy the Stanley for the compressor, the plastic tire chuck broke off of mine the first time I tried using it. I bought the Viair 88P because the compressor on the Stanley broke.


I have tested the 88P to air up the tires on my Chevy. I started by removing the valve core until the rim was sitting on the ground. It then took 12 min to air up a 245/75/R16 to 80 PSI. The first 40 PSI took about 4 min. For a cheap and compact compressor the 88P has been excellent, I even run it off the Stanley jump pack from time to time.

 

[bamabrock]

I've had good luck with the harbor freight 150psi unit for the past couple of years. I know stuff is sometimes hit or miss, but it hasn't failed me yet but it gets hot as hell. I bough a cheap toolbox from there, mounted it in the bottom and a hose and store it all in the toolbox once it cools down. Get it on sale then stack a coupon on top. I'm sure it is just as reliable as the generic compressors on amazon. that said, the vivair 88p is probably hard to beat at that price as well.
12Volt 150 PSI Compact Air Compressor