Community Forums

Dano9258 · 05-20-2020, 07:23 PM

We want to buy a printable air compressor for our class C RV but have run into a few questions. We narrowed it down to the Viair options unless someone else has any better suggestions. They have 4 from the 89 all the way to the 450. They say the 400 is for class C. But I looked at our RV which has 30" tires all around (1 each in front, 2 each on each side on rear). The tires are 215/85/r16 Continental VancoFourSeason tires. The tires say 80psi, whereas the Mercedes cab sticker says 61psi. I know if has to do with weight but overall our RV can only add around 1300 lbs before it's at it's 11000 limit...so there isn't too much fluctuation.

1) could we get by with the 89p-rvs or 300p-rvs? It seems our RV has smaller tires with lower psi specs than some.

2) what does the load rating mean at 100psi?

3) how would we fill the inside rear tires? One side looks like it has the air stem coming through as well but the other side only has the stem for the outside tire.

4) anything we are overlooking?

We plan to fill all the tires to 80psi to be safe with the tires.

Ray,IN · 05-20-2020, 08:43 PM

Harbor Freight sells a knock-off of Viair that has worked fine for me when we had 16" load range G tires that inflated to 110psi. It has a 150psi rating, it's not the fastest at inflating to that pressure, but I'm in no hurry anyway.
Since your tires are 16" instead of 30", it should work fine for you too.

Load rating is how much weight the tire will safely support at the sidewall listed pressure.
To inflate the inner dual tires, I use a screw-on valve extension, then remove it after use, as extensions can leak air pressure.
Inflating your tires to the sidewall maximum listed pressure may improve handling when fully-loaded; it also may cause a harsher ride.

Dano9258 · 05-20-2020, 09:03 PM

I guess the main thing im looking for is which of the viair models would work on our rig. I've read the reviews for the harbor freight ones and lowes ones and they didnt seem too good.

With the tires being a max pressure of 80psi, i dont think i need the class c 400P-RVS one, but would be fine with either the 89 or 300. But I don't know either. I don't want to be losing pressure trying to fill the tire from 60 to 70psi or it taking twenty minutes.

Camper25 · 05-20-2020, 09:46 PM

I got the 400..... sitting on the side of the road waiting on a tire to inflate with a slow compressor will get old real fast. At that time, you would wish you had spent the extra money. It's way better to have too much air than not enough.

Only $29 a month for 6 months with no interest on the Amazon store card:
https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-40043-4...9959340&sr=8-3

Ssowers · 05-20-2020, 09:54 PM

The 450 is rated for continuous use. The lower models you have to let it cool down every so many minutes. They generate a lot of heat. Also the 450 turns on and off when you squeeze the handle where the others run continuously.

Camper25 · 05-20-2020, 09:59 PM

Way more money too, it wasn't worth the extra to me.

Isaac-1 · 05-20-2020, 10:21 PM

Viair makes some good compressor, though they certainly want to get paid for them, If you want something cheaper I have one of these Slime brand double acting compressors https://smile.amazon.com/Slime-40026.../dp/B005Z8HAUK which I bought in 2012 and it still works, I have used to inflate the 235/85R16 tires on my F250 to 65 psi, as well as the 225/75r19.5 tires on my P32 chassis motorhome to 75-80 psi, though for these it is usually just topping off. It will easily inflate one tire before needing to cool down for a few minutes, or I can generally top off 5-10 psi on all the tires with just cooling off for as long as it takes me to move from one tire to the next.

sgpd1sam · 05-20-2020, 10:45 PM

Rather than carry a portable/12V compressor, I have a Ryobi 6 gallon compressor. It’s a few years old but doesn’t take up that much room in my Class C bay. Plus, I can use it for other compressor related duties. I’d recommend a pancake compressor of some type.
My ViAir 450 ( or 450, I don’t recall which I have offhand) is relegated to my Jeep.

sgpd1sam · 05-20-2020, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgpd1sam

Rather than carry a portable/12V compressor, I have a Ryobi 6 gallon compressor. It’s a few years old but doesn’t take up that much room in my Class C bay. Plus, I can use it for other compressor related duties. I’d recommend a pancake compressor of some type.
My ViAir 450 ( or 450, I don’t recall which I have offhand) is relegated to my Jeep.

450 or 400

CamJam1 · 05-20-2020, 10:53 PM

I use this one. Works fine for topping off the 22.5" tires on my class A. I paid $99 for mine on e-Bay.

https://www.toolnut.com/porter-cable...hoCY3YQAvD_BwE

Camper25 · 05-20-2020, 10:58 PM

I also carry a pancake compressor to use with my inverter generator, and a 50' hose.

**Spdracr39** · 05-21-2020, 06:57 AM

I have the Porter Cable pancake 1.5 gallon and it works fine for everything. With the tank I can fill it then carry it wherever I need the air and not worry about the cord. If I need the cord I carry a 50' extension cord anyway. Rarely (never) do I need to attempt to air up a tire from totally flat but it would do it in a reasonable amount of time. Just my opinion YMMV

HighDesert · 05-21-2020, 08:58 AM

Yep - Viair compressors are nice and they are pricey - but they work, have everything you need in one package and are reliable and IF something goes wrong, you have excellent customer service. When I had the Class C Sprinter, with the 16' tires, I just used a portable electric compressor that would run off the generator as 80 psi was what I ran. With the class A and 22.5" tires - no way that would work so ended up with the Viair 450. Very happy with the unit.

Gary RVRoamer · 05-22-2020, 09:28 AM

The Viair 400 or 450 is a great choice if the budget permits. If you are motivated to pay for Viair quality and capability, then it makes sense to get one of the better models.

However, for a motorhome owner's occasional need to top up a tire, I'd choose a small 120v compressor and a less robust model. You have a generator for 120v power and that gives a powerful compressor with little risk of overheating. Something like the Porter Cable 1.5 gallon model is a good blend of price and performance.

For tires rated for up to 80 psi, you want a compressor that can deliver at least 100 or 125 psi (max pressure rating) so that it will still pump a reasonable volume at 80. Since yours will mostly be less than 80 (you said 61 psi was recommended), 100 would be plenty (until you get a bigger coach!). There is no reason not to have 125 or 150 psi capability, though.