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Portable Tire Inflators

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  • Super User

Guys hope I never need to use one, Hope y’all never have to use one. 
 

But what brand of 12 volt units are you guys satisfied with that you have. I just feel the need to keep on in the truck. Hope I never have the need for it. Should have been toting one of these around for a long time now. 

  • Super User

I've had several cheap ones over the years.  They all worked in a pinch but I was never impressed with any of them.  They were slow and didn't last long. 

 

Not exactly what you're asking about but I have a Ryobi cordless inflator that uses their 18v rechargeable batteries.  I have several of their 18v tools so I always have a charged battery I can use.  I use it more than my air compressor.  It's just easier.  It's not as fast as the air compressor but it gets the job done and has worked great in the 1.5 years I've owned it.  The built in pressure gauge works very well also. 

1295776895_ScreenShot2021-08-05at9_54_41AM.png.d35d3b7ec22c685f62bf45948ae7627c.png

 

  • Super User

I've got an older model of this and it's worked great. Between the 12v plug and the inflater end it's not long enough to reach from the truck to the trailer tires...but I can plug it into my MinnKota Power Center on the canoe just as easily and now it's long enough for the trailer.

image.png.2d655c4d7944b0249002c179e61843d3.png

 

https://www.autozone.com/tire-repair-and-tire-wheel/portable-tire-inflator/p/slime-12-volt-dual-raft-pump-tire-inflator/837627_0_0

  • Author
  • Super User
4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I've got an older model of this and it's worked great. Between the 12v plug and the inflater end it's not long enough to reach from the truck to the trailer tires...but I can plug it into my MinnKota Power Center on the canoe just as easily and now it's long enough for the trailer.

image.png.2d655c4d7944b0249002c179e61843d3.png

 

https://www.autozone.com/tire-repair-and-tire-wheel/portable-tire-inflator/p/slime-12-volt-dual-raft-pump-tire-inflator/837627_0_0

You bring up a good point about the cord length. Easy to make up a 12v extension cord. To cover all bases that will be a must. Easy and cheap to make up thanks. 

  • Super User
11 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I use a bicycle pump, we don’t need no stinkin’ volts!!!

4-FC7-C92-D-F989-49-F8-AE38-988-B058-C7-

When I was young and strong I could air up a flat tire with one of those in less than 2 hours. ?

  • Global Moderator
1 minute ago, Tennessee Boy said:

When I was young and strong I could air up a flat tire with one of those in less than 2 hours. ?

Aw heck. It only takes 1.5 beers to get 40 lbs in the tire 

49 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I've had several cheap ones over the years.  They all worked in a pinch but I was never impressed with any of them.  They were slow and didn't last long. 

 

Not exactly what you're asking about but I have a Ryobi cordless inflator that uses their 18v rechargeable batteries.  I have several of their 18v tools so I always have a charged battery I can use.  I use it more than my air compressor.  It's just easier.  It's not as fast as the air compressor but it gets the job done and has worked great in the 1.5 years I've owned it.  The built in pressure gauge works very well also. 

1295776895_ScreenShot2021-08-05at9_54_41AM.png.d35d3b7ec22c685f62bf45948ae7627c.png

 

I have the Ridgid version, it's really nice. A lot better than lugging my small compressor all over the yard when I get a flat on one of my tractors.

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  • Super User
30 minutes ago, PourMyOwn said:

I have the Ridgid version, it's really nice. A lot better than lugging my small compressor all over the yard when I get a flat on one of my tractors.

Home Depot ? I was gonna stop there on my way home from work. Not out of my way and they may have something there. 

  • Super User

My brother has a Viair unit. It clamps directly to the battery with alligator clips.  Very solid unit. 

  • Super User

My Schumacher jump starter has a compressor that works well.

  I have had a couple of cheap units that I wasn't too impressed with....one didn't last, and the other kept overheating and cutting off

  • Author
  • Super User
1 minute ago, Choporoz said:

My Schumacher jump starter has a compressor that works well.

  I have had a couple of cheap units that I wasn't too impressed with....one didn't last, and the other kept overheating and cutting off

Most reviews call them out for overheating. 

2 hours ago, Spankey said:

Home Depot ? I was gonna stop there on my way home from work. Not out of my way and they may have something there. 

My local one had it, but tool only. It isn't sold with a battery, those are separate. 

  • Super User

Most battery powered tools are sold without these days. 

  • Super User

https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-150-psi-compact-air-compressor-63184.html?_br_psugg_q=12+volt+compressor

 

I was given one of these several years ago.  I've used it several times and actually liked it enough to buy a second one to go in my other truck.

10 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Not exactly what you're asking about but I have a Ryobi cordless inflator that uses their 18v rechargeable batteries.  I have several of their 18v tools so I always have a charged battery I can use.  I use it more than my air compressor.  It's just easier.  It's not as fast as the air compressor but it gets the job done and has worked great in the 1.5 years I've owned it.  The built in pressure gauge works very well also. 

 

That's what I use. My gauge reads about 5 pounds high, but it's consistent and I'm used to accounting for it now.

Ryobi for me. Have had it several years now. Use it on the boat, utility trailer, tractor, you name it. Never let me down.

It depends on what kind of tire you're pumping up.  If you're in a S-10 with OEM tires, one of the cigarette lighter plug in models work.  The guys and gals that air down their huge tires for off-roading and then need to pump them back up to drive home either have a compressor that's powered by a pulley that's connected to the engine flywheel or one of the Viair portables https://www.viaircorp.com/portables.  The cigarette lighter models can take as long as @TnRiver46's preferred method on a larger tire, especially from full deflation.

  • Global Moderator
2 hours ago, jbmaine said:

Ryobi for me. Have had it several years now. Use it on the boat, utility trailer, tractor, you name it. Never let me down.

Now there’s a real life product review!!

  • Super User

The problem with the battery powered inflators is they don't come with a battery and the batteries are expensive.  I already had several of the batteries so my Ryobi inflator cost $30.   I have 7 Ryobi tools that use the 18 volt batteries.  It's a shame that every brands uses different batteries.  You have to choose a brand for all your wireless tools or spend a fortune on batteries.  Imagine if you had to have a different battery for everything on your boat that needs power. 

  • Super User

I have this. It works great. I can't tell you how many times I've used it with boat trailer, car-truck-Jeep tires, hand truck tires, bikes, etc. It's pretty cheap, AC/DC, 12V. I have a big compressor now, but the portable one is the bomb.

image.png.0b6db39563fab0806dc7a242f6e2a1fd.png

On 8/5/2021 at 11:08 AM, TnRiver46 said:

I use a bicycle pump, we don’t need no stinkin’ volts!!!

4-FC7-C92-D-F989-49-F8-AE38-988-B058-C7-

 

You ain't a real man unless you inflate your tires by blowing really hard into the back of the chuck while you use two fingers to keep the needle in the schrader valve compressed.

  • Global Moderator
27 minutes ago, galyonj said:

 

You ain't a real man unless you inflate your tires by blowing really hard into the back of the chuck while you use two fingers to keep the needle in the schrader valve compressed.

I opened the Schrader valve and Schrödinger’s cat ran out 

  • Super User

Was it alive?

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