Portable Air Compressor for tires

[awheeler]

I need to purchase a new portable air compressor for the Montana. Any recommendations?

[oldelmer1]

I have the Viair 400P-RV, very expensive, but it pumps up my 125 pound tires with no problems.

[1retired06]

We have a Campbell Hausfeld 150 PSI, AC, still going strong after 9 years. Have an inverter (2000W) hardwired on the truck.

[DQDick]

Porter Cable from Lowes. Held up to 8 years of full timing so far. Likes to air both 614's and Sailuns:)

[Kyle and Lisa]

We use a Kobalt oilless compressor from Lowes, 155 PSI max output.

[BuilderBob]

I use the VIAIR 450P-RV great unit doesn't take up a lot space and will most all tires up to 150# very quiet to.

[Butch & Kathy]

Viair for me too. A little pricey but very nice.

[awheeler]

I had the Viair, it died after 1 year. I was looking for something different. I went to Lowes and bought the Porter. Hope it lasts longer.

[Texan]

Porter Cable from Home Depot for 99.00

[Dave W]

I too recommend the $100 Porter Cable pancake compressor from one of the big box stores if you can easily store a 120VAc -150psig and 3 cfm. A Vlair has good recomendations if a 12VDC will fill the bill. But, they are costly at 250 bucks and at about 1.6 cfm, are pretty slow. I have the P-C and over the past few years, have found that it will even run an impact gun. My little 12vdc Draftsman which has the same output as the Vlair wont turn it over as it is an air pump, not a tank compressor.

[Renegade1LI]

I have the viair, works great, 12 volt portable, quiet & fast. I keep a good quality plug kit with it, saved us a few times. I originally bought it for the beach but I take it every where.

[Caniel]

Have viair 3 years now, holding up okay so far. I like the 12vdc feature.

[Hblick48]

Since I have a generator, I opted for one of these
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Fini-1-2-Gallon-Portable-Electric-Hot-Dog-Air-Compressor/50385522
It is small, generates 140psi, and takes less than 2 minutes to fill. The only downside is the small tank.

[LDMoore06]

ViAir 450P- RV. Three years and no problems. Running 110psi.

[mtlakejim]

How large of an inverter would it take to run the porter cable?

[Mikendebbie]

Here is a screen shot of the spec sheet from Home Depot. Does this have an answer for the inverter requirements? 15 amps? I dont know anything about inverters but I am curious also.

[jeffba]

if it is 15 Amps a 2K inverter would barely work
I would want a bigger cushion

[mtlakejim]

if it is 15 Amps a 2K inverter would barely work
I would want a bigger cushion

Well it was a long shot. There is a 1000k/2000ksurge inverter on my coach for the residential fridge.

[jeffba]

I have the same. May have to break out the clamp on amp probe and fire it up

[jeffba]

Of course that would mean no new tool

[BuilderBob]

We have the ViAir 450-P RV great comp works good and is very quiet.

[GreG L.]

I looked at all the options (12V and 120V) and ended up getting a Porter Cable form Lowes. I figure I am never without a generator so no power issues, and it was on sale.

[RayT]

Porter-Cable CMB15 has worked great for me. Both for tire inflation and other jobs where a small compressor comes in handy

[mtlakejim]

Of course that would mean no new tool

Oh gee whiz I hate when that happens lol

[newbold]

I just got the Milwaukee 2475-20 inflator, which has a digital display of the pressure set. It uses the M12 lithium battery that my other Milwaukee tools use.

[Bad Moon]

I, too just picked up the Porter-Cable $99 deal from Lowes, but dang, is it ever LOUD! I will have to wait until everyone in the park, (and the surrounding county) is awake before I use it. This sucker could wake the dead!

[jcurtis934]

15 amp is the max surge at startup. But 15 amps of 120vac says that the inverter needs to source 12vdc at 175 amps...approx 2200 watts for surge. Most 2000 watt inverters have two ratings on them. Normal running watts and a surge wattage that is usually double the running wattage.

[Ginvest]

I need to purchase a new portable air compressor for the Montana. Any recommendations?
I use the 150PSI from Harbor Freight....$99. Going on 7 years now.

[whutfles]

I had a 12V oilless which I wore out pumping 80 lbs. So I got a 1hp Craftsman, oil pump, cylinder tank about 20-24" long. I think it runs on about 1100W. But it will take twice the watts to start it. I had 2 12V batteries and a 2000W Napa inverter. It wouldn't start it. I exchanged the inverter for a 3000W. It would start and run OK but would continually sound a whistling alarm with an error code that indicated more was being drawn from the batteries than was being replaced. I replaced the 2 batteries with 2 Interestate 12V large dry cell batteries and runs OK now with no alarm. It airs my G114's to 125lbs. Tank pressure has to get down to 85-90 lbs before compressor kicks in. So when I air a tire, I first release air from the tank till the compressor kicks in, then I connect the hose to the valve stem and let it air until compressor shuts off. I believe the compressor cost $99.00. It starts harder in cold weather. I have opened the tank valve to get it to start in cold. It always runs on 110V regardless of temp. The cables from the batteries to the inverter cannot be longer than 6 feet.

[Dreamersandtravelers]

We carry a craftsman upright 110v air compressor which has adjustable regulator and holds 120psi 24/7. Rarely leaks down. Has come in handy assisting fellow rv'er with inflating low spare. (Remember to check them!) Even operates on our 1500w inverter on two 6vdc battery.

[Klonerama]

I did a lot of research and bought this piston model to reach pressure fast. Small enough for under storage
Makita MAC700 2.0 HP 2.6 Gallon Oil-Lube Air Compressor

[dvines]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006CVXGR0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[jeffba]

Okay looking at VIAIR they are very proud of their compressors. I do not have a generator, but I do have a 2000W Inverter because of my Res Refrigerator. The 1.5 Horse compressor, that i currently own, draws too much of a surge at start up. I Also think the 1 HP compressors are cutting it a bit close.

Does anyone have experience with the following 2 compressors?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-QUIET-TECH-2-Gallon-Portable-Electric-Hot-Dog-Quiet-Air-Compressor/1000405185

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-2-Gallon-Portable-Electric-Twin-Stack-Air-Compressor/1000226861

I have 3 tires leaking at the valve stem on TV. I am getting them fixed, but it has me thinking about carrying onboard air.

[awheeler]

I sent the VIAIR back to the manufacturer. It wasn't a year old and for what I paid I felt it should have lasted a year at least. They found the reed valve was broken. VIAIR replaced the valve and are sending it back to me - no charge. We will see!


Will keep both the Porter and the VIAIR as a backup.

[Dave10]

A 2000 watt generator/inverter will probably not handle a >3/4 hp compressor motor. The start-up/surge current con be many times the 500-600 watt run current for a 3/4hp motor. Even a 3000 watt generator/inverter will struggle.

[Klonerama]

My 2000 Honda easily runs my 2hp Makita

[Dave10]

My 2000 Honda easily runs my 2hp Makita


Good for you. Is that a compressor motor which is the subject of this thread. Compressor motors have a much higher start up current because of its initial heavy load than a circular saw motor.

[Klonerama]

The thread involves survey to types and my original reply
Makita MAC700 2.0 HP 2.6 Gallon Oil-Lube Air Compressor Is related to my 2000i gen as sufficient

[prndl]

While I could have spent more I bought this at HD for $25 and it works fine for topping up my Sailuns to 110#.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-120-Volt-Inflator-HY120/301753174
Works on 120V or get the similar model that works on 12V for the same price.

[powerhaulic]

Viair RV here, works great.
Auto shutoff and fill gun included, worth the money