Free air?

[MESSMAKER]

Getting next to impossible to find air in my area. Truck stop had hose at all the truck pumps until recently. Put in vending machine air which is slow and expensive if you need air in more than one tire. I find these machines at some of the fuel stations, but most don't work or are stuck in a corner as an afterthought where you have no shot of getting close with a truck and trailer. Most fuel stops have nothing. I have a 12v compressor that works, but takes forever. I have a large compressor at home, but I am not always near home when I need air. I have gone to the tire store and shot a guy a couple $$ for the use of his air hose. This only works 9-5.After hours, you are on your own. How do you guys handle this?

 

[diesel lover]

I too have come across this problem. I was working at a shop where I could air up my own tires but it can make it a lot of work just to do that. Sometimes it's not my vehicle I need to put air in the tires, some times it's my significant others car. During this winter I just had it!! We live by a truck stop, and 2 gas stations all a mile or two apart.

When it came to airing up my tires this winter I drove a mile to one gas station, same air machine is STILL out of order for weeks, went across the street and same story it's been weeks, went to the truck stop and it's also out of order. Myself growing up with a 8 gallon air compressor this was tough for me. Not being able to air up my own tires??

I thought about a 12 volt air pump but they burn out and also they are loud and take forever. My friend sold me a CH 2 gallon air compressor for 45 $. It fits my need because I'm still working to purchase a heated garage. I also tend to use an air inflation gauge to check my tire pressure while I air up my tires.

I'm not sure what you do daily but it sounds like you run different vehicles and not just one. With a semi truck, and an air line attached to the red glad hand you can fill your own tires all day long with the trucks air compressor and air tanks.

Honestly driving to the tire store may be the best bet for now. I know exactly what you are going through. I fear it is quite a hassle before a large trip and you want to air up your own tires. You could carry around a 5 gallon air compressor in your vehicle and power it with a large power inverter. Either way it just cost so much money to have something portable and reliable

 

[diesel lover]

By the way some of you may be laughing at my 1/3 horse power, 2 gallon air compressor by it works many times better than. A 12 volt compressor.

Maybe you should buy a portable 4 or 5 gallon air compressor for roofing etc. a pancake compressor would work well. It's just not very cost effective

 

[BrinkME]

There's a small chain in this area (Superior Tire) that still offers free air, even after hours. I also carry a portable air tank that I keep topped up and a cheap 115v pancake compressor and inverter just in case.

I'd check around the small mom and pop garages and tire stores, they may have a hose coiled up out front just waiting to attract customers to a friendly store

 

[3930dave]

Try a dual piston 12v compressor. Something like this (not the one I have, just an example) :

13006, Dual 30mm Piston Air Compressor

NOT suitable for cig lighter use, due to current draw. Keep an eye on the clamps/wires, as these suck a lot of current. Soldered my wires onto the clamps on mine, but I really should upgrade the wire to something heavier.

Rgds, D.

 

[smstonypoint]

This thread discusses some alternatives: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/294759-what-do-you-use-portable.html.

Steve

 

[BrinkME]

I've never asked, but I've been told before that some gas stations will turn on the pay-for-air compressor for paying customers.

 

[grsthegreat]

ya, the demise of the SERVICE STATION did away with free air. gas stations dont need a compressor. Service stations did.

I carry 12v units in all my rigs. most work good enough. Nearly every tire store in my town will gladly fill a tire for free...heck, they all repair flats for free. no matter whose brand.

 

[deerseeker001]

I have one tire on my car and a very slow leak,have to air up once in 3-4 weeks.i had to drive around to find Air not easy to find these today.

 

[dusty3030]

Yep. I be most folks under 40 have never even seen a full service service station. Where you pull up and as soon as you stop and shut off you reach down and pop the hood so they can check and top off your fluids.

 

[s219]

I have a big compressor at home. If I needed air on the go and had space, I'd probably get a small air tank and charge it up. Had a friend who used to keep one in his trunk years ago, and it was good for quite a few top offs.

 

[crazyal]

One of the local convenience stores has a vibrating box on a post with free air. It works for about 9 months of the year but it's free. It's the last non repair shop that I know of that offers free air. I've just gotten in the habit of checking the air while at home so I can just use my compressor.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have an air pig and just look for a truck with high pressure tires to "borrow" a bit of air. I'm sure they don't mind! Heck, I mean, AIR is FREE right, no one really owns it. Truckers are such helpfull folk. One of those clamp on chucks is a must have for this!

 

[smstonypoint]

Yep. I be most folks under 40 have never even seen a full service service station. Where you pull up and as soon as you stop and shut off you reach down and pop the hood so they can check and top off your fluids.

I believe it is still the case that self-service gas stations are not allowed in New Jersey and Oregon.

Steve

 

[MoKelly]

I have an air pig and just look for a truck with high pressure tires to "borrow" a bit of air. I'm sure they don't mind! Heck, I mean, AIR is FREE right, no one really owns it. Truckers are such helpfull folk. One of those clamp on chucks is a must have for this!

Oh no. So now in addition to locking gas caps we will need to buy locking valve stem covers!!!

MoKelly

 

[chad22]

Yep. I be most folks under 40 have never even seen a full service service station. Where you pull up and as soon as you stop and shut off you reach down and pop the hood so they can check and top off your fluids.

I'm 25 and There's A fuel Station in south hutchinson Kansas that has full service. I normally pump my own gas but decided to try the full service once as it was/is rare to see that these days and I never experienced it.

I gladly paid 10 cents more per gallon to try that. It was a great experience. They even have air still for free.

At my dad's shop that's an old service station we let people have air for free. Anytime they need it they can get it.

My sister always says why don't you go to a Dillons gas station so you can get a discount with the dillons card? I tell her I don't care about saving a few pennies. I'd rather pay those few more pennies and purchase from a small mom and pop service station.

And I also don't have to prepay there either.

Chad

 

[Loadstar]

Casey's general stores all have free air. Glad they are around since I refuse to pay for it. I always have 2k psi nitrogen bottles in my truck. I can fill a few tires off of them.

 

[Bird]

I believe it is still the case that self-service gas stations are not allowed in New Jersey and Oregon.

Steve

But my only experience in Oregon was that the "service" consisted solely of pumping the gas; absolutely nothing else.

 

[Bird]

By the way some of you may be laughing at my 1/3 horse power, 2 gallon air compressor by it works many times better than. A 12 volt compressor.

Yes, as long as you have access to an electric outlet. When we were full time RVers, the RV had a generator, and I carried one of those little 2 gallon compressors; very handy.