Tire inflators

[jimenez61]

2019 Thor Freedom Elite 22Fe. Wondering maybe any of you can suggest a good tire inflator for my RV. 2 Front tires 75 PDI the 4 back tires 65 PSI. I had a Kobalt from Lowes worked great till it gave out on me a week ago. I've been researching but cant seem to find one that wont hurt my pocket. Luckily I had a $7 extended warranty and they gave me my money back.

 

[Yvonnemarc]

Many of the pancake compressors are inexpensive today. Porter Cable 6gal is $125. Some no-name brands are <$100. These work the best as they’ll inflate your tires in seconds and they store easy. I carry mine always. The 12v cigarette lighter plug ones are not suited for RV tires.

 

[Bob Denman]

I bought a compressor from Wal-Mart that is good to 125 psi...

...but it takes a l o n g Time to fill a tire. Bringing one fro 0 to 80 psi took about 20 minutes.

Look at some of the offerings from Viair.

 

[ducksface]

The ryobi battery powered inflator requires no cord. You attach the chuck to the tire valve, set the pressure you want on a digital readout... And walk away to do another chore until the noise stops.
The size of half a shoe box.

There's a few references and pictures somewhere on the last three pages of the thread in my signature.

 

[lwmcguire]

I bought a compressor from Wal-Mart that is good to 125 psi...

...but it takes a l o n g Time to fill a tire. Bringing one fro 0 to 80 psi took about 20 minutes.

Look at some of the offerings from Viair.

Many of us use the 12v 100% duty cycle Viair but it will hurt the pocket book

If you have space the pancake options or even single tank oil-less compressors work fine

You seem to have very low tire pressure set points by the way

 

[Lt Keefer]

I've been using a Porter Cable pancake but am thinking about Viair. Has anyone seen a Viair clone?

 

[ducksface]

I've been using a Porter Cable pancake but am thinking about Viair. Has anyone seen a Viair clone?

I have one.
The reliability is the same.
When offroading with a group someone always has a broken viair.
You need a long hose and a locking chuck and great patience for any regular compressor.

Harbor freight pancake at $39 if you can stand the noise and the 110v.

 

[Bob Denman]

...You seem to have very low tire pressure set points by the way

It's just a Sprinter: not. An E-450, or F53...

 

[dkoldman]

I have bostitch compressor with 6 gallon tank and regulator so I don't have air pressure supply problem, but I bought this Dual Head Straight Air Chuck Inflator With Inline Gauge and it seems to be a pain to use? https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-head-straight-air-chuck-inflator-with-inline-gauge-63570.html


More often than not; I think I am letting air out of the tires than adding? It is really nerving on trying to fill the backside dual tire (yes I have tire extension). My Merlin chuck does not lock, but I have seen them using this type of chuck and gauge at places like Just Tires; so I just bought one thinking I was going all out (not being cheap).

Anybody know what I may be doing wrong or can recommend the type of chuck and gauge I should use?

On the flip side, my local Just tires will check and fill my air pressure on all of the RV tires for free. But I wish to do when I am home or on the road.

 

[ducksface]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01NCX3H1G?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I looked this up for you, saw it was half price, and bought another.
I'm not sure if you owe me $16

The best I've owned and I've owned a crap ton of them from home assembled at 5psi max to 400psi to the griot big digital to this.
You stab it like a knife or hook it like a hay hook. It has a pleasant kinda pop sound, you pull it off and it holds the reading for you to read.

There's a old post about the first one in my thread somewhere.
I used tulip paint to paint it fluorescent orange and glow in the dark.

 

[Lt Keefer]

I've seen some "cheap" ones on Amazon but until my PC pancake craps out, I'm just looking. Thanks duck about the viair review. My luck has always been that when I buy what everyone else uses, I get the lemon. When I go cheap, it always works, but not always for very long.

 

[halfprice-THOR]

I use this.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006CVXGR0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ILzoFb3QB9TFE

Its stores easy under the bed along with numerous blankets comforters that we will never use but the wife insists on them going camping with us.

Jerry

 

[dkoldman]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01NCX3H1G?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I looked this up for you, saw it was half price, and bought another.
I'm not sure if you owe me $16

The best I've owned and I've owned a crap ton of them from home assembled at 5psi max to 400psi to the griot big digital to this.
You stab it like a knife or hook it like a hay hook. It has a pleasant kinda pop sound, you pull it off and it holds the reading for you to read.

There's a old post about the first one in my thread somewhere.
I used tulip paint to paint it fluorescent orange and glow in the dark.

Actually my issue is more so with the the tire inflator itself. I do have a digital reader in my RV and cars; but not dual chuck as the one you show. I may get it because it would be great to have on RV to easily just check air pressure on the duals. It is in my Amazon Cart waiting until I get over $25 for free shipping

But let's assume, I am 10 psi low on one inside tire. When I connect the my Merlin chuck ( or try to anyway, I believe I may let more air out than I put in) Takes me awhile and I eventually get it; but it makes me a tad nervous to use, because I can spend a while trying to get air back in. It may be user error, or then again some may have encountered and know the trick or product I should use.

 

[dkoldman]

It's just a Sprinter: not. An E-450, or F53...

Actual very close if not the same? My 29VE has F53 and it calls for 82 psi when cold? If I get over 80 I stop; and I am good. I would not want any higher than 80 - 82 in the Texas heat. Also helps for smoother ride which is need very much so for these things.

 

[DbleDutch]

Actually my issue is more so with the the tire inflator itself. I do have a digital reader in my RV and cars; but not dual chuck as the one you show. I may get it because it would be great to have on RV to easily just check air pressure on the duals. It is in my Amazon Cart waiting until I get over $25 for free shipping

But let's assume, I am 10 psi low on one inside tire. When I connect the my Merlin chuck ( or try to anyway, I believe I may let more air out than I put in) Takes me awhile and I eventually get it; but it makes me a tad nervous to use, because I can spend a while trying to get air back in. It may be user error, or then again some may have encountered and know the trick or product I should use.

I use the same chuck minus gauge and control valve. Chuck has full air pressure and once firmly inserted on the stem, provides air. No timing of chuck engagement and activating air delivery. This may be how you are losing air, with a delay in applying air pressure.

The straight chuck aligns well with the inside dual stem and I added a 1" steel extension to the outside dual stem, to get the right angle for the angled chuck head to engage solidly with the outside stem.

 

[lwmcguire]

Actually my issue is more so with the the tire inflator itself. I do have a digital reader in my RV and cars; but not dual chuck as the one you show. I may get it because it would be great to have on RV to easily just check air pressure on the duals. It is in my Amazon Cart waiting until I get over $25 for free shipping

But let's assume, I am 10 psi low on one inside tire. When I connect the my Merlin chuck ( or try to anyway, I believe I may let more air out than I put in) Takes me awhile and I eventually get it; but it makes me a tad nervous to use, because I can spend a while trying to get air back in. It may be user error, or then again some may have encountered and know the trick or product I should use.

After a quick examination of your chuck to be sure the membrane is in good shape and no debris, hold the chuck square with the stem and pull back firmly

Already have the air pressure built up near the cut off psig but not quite to it

 

[Yaktop]

Viair. Yes more expensive than other alternatives but compact, easy to use, works well, for the rv and around the house.

 

[phalexander]

X2 on Viair RV unit. Spendy but awesome.

 

[dkoldman]

No timing of chuck engagement and activating air delivery. This may be how you are losing air, with a delay in applying air pressure.

Already have the air pressure built up near the cut off psig but not quite to it

Both of use guys have convinced me what I was afraid of, user error

This is brand new Merlin dual chuck inflator and it came highly rated. X2Dutch nailed on delay with air pressure as that may be root cause of woes.

Not sure what is meant by having air pressure near but not quite to it.

I have 150 psi source compressor, tanked is full with regulator wide open. I guess I should set at 82 PSI ?

I think I need to learn the timing / sequence to win to press lever relative to when it is square? The fact that I have been trying this on my new RV prolly has made me nervous out of fear of letting too much air out in a tire and having a situation worse than where I started

I think when I learn what/how to do, I will practice on a car tire or spare tire off the boat trailer.

 

[plastrd]

I carry my Milwaukee M12 inflator and with the 4Ah battery it works well for topping up if needed. It displays current pressure and has an auto cutoff at a set pressure so I just set it and walk away for a couple minutes. It was getting regular use when I had a screw in the tire tread and lost 5-10psi each day until I got that patched.

I have an extension with one of those 90 degree flip quick disconnects on the end of its hose and it takes a little finagling to get it on the inner dually. Once it's on it's solid and when you take it off by flicking the lever it just makes a pop and comes off without letting a ton of air out like the screw on ones.