Best air compressor for trail use

Keith1138

Keith1138

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2015
Location
Harrisburg NC
I'm thinking about getting on board air or a portable air compressor that connects to my battery. So I can air back up with out a gas station. Any advice? Any pros or cons to either?

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I put an Extreme Outback Products air compressor on my buddy's TJ a couple of years ago. It works fantastic. He has used it for air impact and to air up his tires.

I had to make a mounting bracket for it, modify the upper radiator hose and change the belt to a longer belt but it was well worth it.

They have all the switches, fittings & check valves you need. I just called them up and the guy on the phone walked me right thru everything I needed, placed the order right there and i had everything a week later (i was cheap and did not want to pay the expensive freight)

This is just my opinion.

Here are some of the pictures.
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Any advice on an electric setup? That isnt as expensive as arb or viair.

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Do a search from like 2008 and see if the old.pep boy special is still around. I still use mine. I think it was called tsaumani .
 
Willc said:
Do a search from like 2008 and see if the old.pep boy special is still around. I still use mine.
Click to expand...
What's the pep boy special?

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Like I said mine still works great it now has a harbor freight air hose so I can reach all the way around the xj. For something I bought in 2005 ? And still working better than I expected
 
If your just looking to air your tires back up then that little electric jobber is the way to go.

Milwaukee makes a 12v battery unit that works great. We use one of those for our tires after autox events. Got to bring the car tires from 24 to 35 to drive it home.


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I really don't like anything smittybilt, but read all the reviews and decided this was a good deal

Smittybilt 5.65 CFM Air Compressor - 2781

It's worked well for 4 years

The hose dry rotted after 2 but after I bought a heavy duty replacement
Other than that, absolutely trouble free and airs up my 36's in just a few minutes
 
I have one of those electric masterflow ones. I put a longer cord on it so I could reach trailer tires and stuff. It's about 8 years old. I'd buy another, but would consider the shittybilt one too.
 
My price range is less than 100

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I'm toying with the idea of mounting the masterflow one in the cubby hole in the back of the jeep and putting it on a switch.

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I've run the ol York comp. on mine for several years, only needing to buy a clutch. I use the nerf bars & front bumper, as an air tank. Works great, but takes up engine space & a little heavy. Haven't installed my latest purchase yet! I bought a "Tuff Stuff Xtreme Portable" 12V compressor, off Amazon, for $100. Looks like the HF one, but may have more cfm. Saw 2-3 models at the OBX ride, that were near identical. Even the Expensive Vivair unit, "Looks" the same, & may have the same spec. I Did pick out the highest cfm, I could fine. It doesn't require a tank, but when I switch, I plan to plumb it into my system, for more capacity, & give it a cycle time.
 
Keith1138 said:
I'm toying with the idea of mounting the masterflow one in the cubby hole in the back of the jeep and putting it on a switch.

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Click to expand...

I am not sure that would work, good chance it would melt the plastic.
 
junkxj said:
I am not sure that would work, good chance it would melt the plastic.
Click to expand...
That's what I'm starting to see. I've never used a portable air compressor so I wasnt sure how hot they got.

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OBA with the defunct a/c Samurai system compressor. Never really worked good as an a/c anyway, lol.
With the throttle lock it would hold pressure to a tank at 100lbs. while airing up tires.
Has aired up 7 rigs in 15 min. before leaving Callalantee one year.
Never tried it but i would imagine it would do short bursts from air tools as well.
Only thing I would add is a pressure switch ..... I just use a dash-mounted toggle .... because it will bang into the 100lb. pop-off valve in a hurry if you don't pay attention.
 
Can't beat the MF 1050. I've had one for many years, like 12-13 and bought another for my work truck. At one time I bought a Viair 400 portable unit that has 100 duty cycle and cost over $300 and the MF 1050 outperforms it.
 
CasterTroy said:
I really don't like anything smittybilt, but read all the reviews and decided this was a good deal

Smittybilt 5.65 CFM Air Compressor - 2781

It's worked well for 4 years

The hose dry rotted after 2 but after I bought a heavy duty replacement
Other than that, absolutely trouble free and airs up my 36's in just a few minutes
Click to expand...

I have the same Smittybuilt that I got on sale for half price, it had great reviews and I have been really satisfied with it. Only had for 2 years so will see how it holds up over time.
 
I used an Oreilly electric compressor for a while. I liked it, but it was slow. Took ~5 min/tire to air up to hwy pressure. It was even slower trying to inflate the tires on our car hauler at 2AM in the Churches chicken parking lot, while it had a crown vic on it.

I converted my AC over to OBA and have been thoroughly impressed with it. Ive got probably $40 in it and no complaints. Airs up quick, takes up no additional engine space, I only had to run one switched wire, and I have 3 places to hookup (front, rear, and on the air manifold under the hood). My first attempt cost me a hose. I didnt quite realize the pressure I was working with and so I just made a modified tire chuck to let air keep flowing (Im cheap), blew the hose in ~3 seconds. So then I set up a manifold with a pressure switch, gauge, pop off valve, 2 lines going front/rear, and another quick connect. Works fantastic. Ill try to find a pic.
 
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