The Gear: Portable RV Air Compressors
Gas-station air compressors: Just say no. Never mind the hassle of finding one you can navigate your rig alongside—you can’t trust the damn things. Used, abused, and poorly maintained, they can’t be counted on to show accurate inflation pressure. If you’re on the road with any regularity, you need your own. Bonus points if it’s easier to store and tote than your average beach cooler.
Photo Credit: Fyodor Shiryaev
The Viair 400P RVS checks every box. It looks like something out of Nikola Tesla’s workshop, weighs not quite 11 pounds, and is versatile and powerful enough to service everything from tow vehicles to B-vans to monster fifth-wheels and motorhomes. Connect it to a 12-volt power source—such as your vehicle’s batteries—and it can take a 40-inch tire from fully flat to 150 PSI in minutes. A built-in pressure gauge, along with auto shut-off and thermal overload protection, prevents accidental overinflation.
Operating temps range from a high of 158°F to a low of -4°F means you’re all set on a bad day in Death Valley or an average one in Wisconsin. And the kit ships with an inflation gun, a 30-foot main air hose, and a 30-foot extension hose, plus a 45-degree extended chuck and a 90-degree twist-on chuck—like it’s daring you to find a tire it can’t reach. $370. viaircorp.com
Worthy Alternatives
Photo Credit: TireMinder
TireMinder RV Air
Standout feature: a digital gauge that’s accurate to within 1 PSI. With a noise level of just 60 decibels, you might even be able to top off without violating quiet hours. $370. tireminder.com
Photo Credit: Smittybuilt
Smittybilt High-Performance 5.65 CFM
Built with off-roaders and overlanders in mind, its one-third horsepower motor delivers a continuous output of 40 PSI for up to 40 minutes, and onboard safety features prevent overheating. $204. smittybilt.com
Photo Credit: Via
Viair 88P
Not as powerful as its bigger, pricier sibling, but it weighs just 4.75 pounds and still outputs up to 120 PSI, easily handling tires up to 33 inches. $90. viaircorp.com
This article originally appeared in Wildsam magazine. For more Wildsam content, sign up for our newsletter.
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Source: https://www.rv.com/gear-accessories/the-gear-portable-rv-air-compressors/
