Portable Air Compressor

[Shmily]

New to RVing, need to purchase 12V portable air compressor for my Ventana 3436, it has 275 70R 22.5 michellins, need 125PSI capability. The Viar 400P-RV has been suggested but wanted to hear any suggestion / comments / good deals...
Thanks in advance to you all.

[Winemaker2]

Have a VTDP 3433 and here's what I did and like it.
If I need it I can use the compressor in home / shop but it usually stays in the MH as I have another lower P one at home.

I thought about a 12V compressor but decided the highly recommended ones (Viair) were pretty pricey and I had 120V power anyplace my MH was - either at park or gennie. The porter Cable compressors were also highly recommended and less than half the price.

This thread has some mods I've done including a semi permanent mounting of the PC compr in the rear driver side bay. In fact I just finished installing the pass side air line quick connect that runs from driver to pass side so a 25 ft air line is more than enough to do all the MH + toad tires.

[We_B_Tripn]

I carry a 150PSI Porter-Cable pancake compressor. Yup bigger than the Viair, but also cheaper and I have power whether with the generator or plugged in.

Bill

[tom chelbana]

Not sure about FL chassis, but Spartan chassis have air lines both front and back to use for air needs.
Newmar Man

[Steele]

I choose the Viaair

[IBDAGRIZ]

The Viair if you want 12 volt operation.



The porter cable if 120 is your game.


I have the Viair in my TT and a 120 volt Craftsman at home for portable jobs away from my 60 gallon one.


Griz

[TJ]

Originally Posted by tom chelbana

Not sure about FL chassis, but Spartan chassis have air lines both front and back to use for air needs.
Newmar Man

While true, there is a downside to using the coach air lines. First, if you need to air up tires to 125 psi as the OP suggests, I have found it to be a very slow process. The air tanks are usually pressurized at 125-135 psi and there is a significant flow loss through the long air lines.

Then, there's the need to run the diesel engine to keep the tanks pressurized. For me, that's a bit of a pain.

I carry a 120VAC Porter Cable CMB-15 portable air compressor. It is rated to 150 psi, has decent flow for airing up tires and costs less than $100.

YMMV

TJ

[WoodyS]

Originally Posted by tom chelbana

Not sure about FL chassis, but Spartan chassis have air lines both front and back to use for air needs.
Newmar Man

Front AND back? So far, I haven't found either one, but Spartan insists I've got one in the front somewhere in the generator compartment. I just have to find it.

-----------------------------

Regarding the original post. I don't recommend one of the ViaAir 12v compressors for these large rigs. I have the next smaller size down ViaAir that I use for my 3/4 ton pickup and our Chinook RV. It works well, but it's slow -- particularly at the higher pressures and much larger volumes of air our Newmar coaches need.

And as a couple of other posters mentioned, we already have a great AC power source. So for my KSDP, I went with a small AC powered Makita compressor. I'm not fond of DeWalt/Porter Cable stuff, so I went with Makita. It's a nice little package. And thanks to the built-in pressure regulator, I can just set it to my desired air pressure and not need an expensive filler fitting with pressure gauge.

I also bought a 30 ft. rubber air hose with multiple fittings so I don't even need to move the compressor around to each tire. It stays in the storage bay plugged into AC, and I just walk around the rig with the air hose.

These "small" AC compressors also have air storage tanks (which the little ViaAir units don't have). So they're better for blowing off parts, purging water lines for winterizing, and running small air-tools -- as well as filling the big tires.

[Dougjpr]

I'd go with the VIAIR if you want 12 V

I have the 450P (the RV models were not as readily available here in Canada)

150psi with 100% duty cycle at 100psi

Ordered an extension hose with it (the RV models come with the extra hose)

My digital gauge fit on the standard chucks it comes with.

Everything fits nicely into bag, including extra hose and gauge.

Have not needed it a lot this year, but when I have it has been great.

They are a bit expensive, but worth it in my opinion

[Mr_D]

I have a Viair 450 RV for my 315/80 and 365/70 tires. Takes some time to add 20 psi to that size tire but Viair is up to it. In fact I did it to 6 of my tires. Now to do the fronts but it's too hot and smoky from the wildfires for me to be outside right now.

[featherlite]

I have the viair 400 on our coach and it works great and have used the coach's air system with a 18 gauge air nailer on a reno we were working on . but if I wanted to air up tires I would use one of these

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Californ...-205910463-_-N

nice and quiet


dave

[gkebb]

I agree California Air Tools works well and nice and quiet.

[Nevermind Me]

I am a new owner and had the same question about which air compressor to purchase. I ultimately purchased the Porter Cable. https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-...70_&dpSrc=srch

I am very happy with it and it does a fine job on the front tire pressures. I did upgrade the hose and also bought this pressure gauge that also works well. https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-...70_&dpSrc=srch

I find it much easier to plug into 110 than to 12V.

[Stuart W]

My 2018 K2 Spartan has one air fitting up front