current (11/5/22) recommendation for small air compressor for tires etc.

[newbury]

I've gone through my share of small portable air compressors to carry with my trucks and trailers. My current favorite is my DeWalt 20v Corded/Cordless Air Inflator. I've had it for going on 4 years and have used it for my F350 dually truck, my E350 van, two trailers and several cars. But I'm afraid it's going to die.
I REALLY like the 20V max swappable batteries because I have lot's of them. Most of my inflators before were tied to either a vehicle battery or mains for power.
But I'm concerned it's going to die.
What would TBN'ers recommend for a replacement. I wish DeWalt made a 20v pancake style but they only make a Flexvolt, of which I have some batteries, but not many.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I have this one. It is very strong and will do my trailer tires to 125psi when needed. It does not run tools. If I needed air tools to run I would do CO2 tanks.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X9AXR8

Black Friday will have some deals I paid $160.

 

[newbury]

Yes, I had one of those, died after about 3 years of occasional use.
I just had to run the DeWalt 20v Corded/Cordless Air Inflator to pump a 15" trailer tire from 40lbs to 80 lbs. It took 12 minutes and the air hose was getting hot.
Hauled my mac2400 up from the basement (narrow stairs). I'd swear that thing has put on 20lbs over the last 5 years.
That can run all day.
I've had it for about 15 years or so.

 

[Tinhack]

I have two of these I bought a couple of years ago. (They were cheaper then) I use one at my mill and one at the lathe. They aren't too heavy to carry outside, and they'll run off a standard extension cord. I use one often rather than fire up the big compressor and deal with hoses.

Harbor Freight Fortress Compressor.

 

[timswi]

I have 2 Ryobi's I carry in a bag..Both 18v. One is a small tank compressor, the other is a digital inflator. Home Despot stuff. I'm pretty happy with them and they are fairly cheap.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I bought a little portable tire inflater to keep in my truck. Lowe's, I think, "Kobalt" brand. Can run on 12v or 110v ac. I mean it "works" and fills tires, but it's nothing to get excited about. No air tank and it won't run tools. But it will inflate a tire.

When I'm working my tractor on some remote field, I always bring my pancake compressor and my generator that stay in the bed of the truck. That way I can blow out radiators and coolers, etc.

When I'm home, I'm using my Quincy from the garage. Can run any tool and air up any tires pretty quickly.

 

[Joel/ak]

The battery power would be nice but I went with a viar. Hooks up to battery directly, no cigarette lighter.

After offroading in the dunes it airs up my 33x12.5s from 12psi to 60 in no time.

 

[cmyoung2]

I went with a double ViAir pump with 2gal tank mounted under the flatbed on my F250. Works good, wired to the battery, powers the air bags and external air for tires, cleaning, whatever. Expensive, but it works well. Can get up to 200psi. Really nice when needing to top off trailer tires at 110psi.

 

[paulsharvey]

Personally, I use an 8gal HF compressor; and would hate to go back to those 12v air pumps; BUT; for you use; I would recommend a jump pack-air compressor combo-back up power bank combo. Most of them charge with 12V or 120V; have good jump capability, good compressor ability, and as long as you don't go with the old style, lead-acid ones; they are light and store a charge for months.

 

[dstig1]

If you like the Dewalt but think it is dying, why not just get a new one of the same??

 

[newbury]

Personally, I use an 8gal HF compressor; and would hate to go back to those 12v air pumps; BUT; for you use; I would recommend a jump pack-air compressor combo-back up power bank combo. Most of them charge with 12V or 120V; have good jump capability, good compressor ability, and as long as you don't go with the old style, lead-acid ones; they are light and store a charge for months.View attachment 784388

When I started this thread last year that's the type of device I was looking for, but in a name brand.

If you like the Dewalt but think it is dying, why not just get a new one of the same??

I don't think it is dying, I just want a good backup.
I'd prefer to make the backup a stronger.
I like to keep a small one with each vehicle.
Just two days ago I grabbed a small compressor I had bought a few years ago from HF and stored in my dually. The blasted quik connect valve adapter broke. Grabbed another backup compressor from another vehicle, that was about 6 years old and that one wouldn't go over 10lbs. Had to use a "pancake" compressor.

So now I'll probably go for one like paulsharvey linked to.

 

[paulsharvey]

You've probably already seen this, but:

Project farm on YouTube tested a bunch of these kinda devices I think a Causeway (probably should double check) took top play. If you're not familiar with Project Farm; he buys and tests many products, and doesn't get paid by sellers. He probably does get Amazon affiliate link money, but he seems pretty straightforward.

Edit: It looks like the style he reviewed all have 120V power inverters built in; and all are fairly large, and weigh 15-20 lbs. The review is atleast a year old, so I don't know if the mini style ones like I linked 1st where available then. The small one I linked was about 1/2 the price, but it didn't include 120v power inverter.

 

[mikester]

If you need volume and pressure you need to get either a compressor that works off mains power 120/240VAC or a mechanical compressor run off your engine.

I bought one of these for portable and find it very quiet and good flow

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/husky-2-gallon-125-psi-1-hp-ultra-quiet-oil-free-electric-air-compressor/1001542914

 

[Hay Dude]

Dewalt makes a pancake style compressor that runs off 20/60v batteries that looked like it might work a little better than the box-type portables.
You could also use it for small nail gun jobs.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I have the DeWalt DCC020IB portable compressor:

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCC020IB-20V-Inflator-Bare/dp/B07H39S9JQ/ref=asc_df_B07H39S9JQ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309807921328&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5317780042814902670&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9058761&hvtargid=pla-523492815101&psc=1

It's great for wheelbarrow & bicycle tires or for topping off a larger one but it overheats when trying to fill a flat truck tire. It can be done but it takes a long time.

For raising the pressure in my truck tires after offroading, I switched to this Viair model:

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200750769_200750769?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Air%20Tools%20%2B%20Compressors%20%3E%20Air%20Compressors%20%3E%20Tire%20Inflators&utm_campaign=Viair&utm_content=78928&ogmap=SHP%7cPLA%7cGOOG%7cSTND%7cc%7cSITEWIDE%7cOOT%7c%7c%7c%7c168362036%7c8707133156&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi8KfBhCuARIsADp-A57YOTJrV_haGRZC1n3VDF7m9wuJotsWns5KPvCsLKyHqk97qSTANMgaAuKmEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

It's twice the price of the DeWalt but it refills the tires 20X faster. Yeah, you have to hook it up to the battery but I use this trailer wiring connector so I don't have to pop the hood and fool around with alligator clips:

https://www.amazon.com/Blade-Trailer-Wiring-Connector-Towbar/dp/B071NSGP6T/ref=asc_df_B071NSGP6T/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312126224579&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12542192679609619845&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9058761&hvtargid=pla-584876266723&psc=1

 

[jjeff]

When I was building my cabin I used my old porter cable pancake, 2x the pressure switch failed replaced it once 2nd time bought a DeWalt pancake compressor had it for almost 10 yrs no problems I did buy and install a better drain, ball valve definitely worth the extra 5-10 bucks verse the OEM screw type drains. I've run a framing and finish nailer off it never a problem, inflated car, tractor, trailer, and ATV tires often.

 

[Hay Dude]

I might just have to get that Vaiair unit

 

[jjeff]

For super portability I have a old tankless Coleman brand 12v tire inflator I store in my RV also has adapters to inflate kids water toys. Slower but does the job.

 

[Joel/ak]

Can't go wrong with viar. They work really well considering it's tankless. Worth the money

 

[newbury]

Can't go wrong with viar. They work really well considering it's tankless. Worth the money

That's what I was told. Mine died after about 3 years, topping off tires on my dually, me E350, my B7610. Total of 14 tires, usually less than 5 minutes per tire 2 or three times a year. Always kept in the truck.