Sparky7 Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Hi all,What is the best tyre inflator to use to achieve 80psi? Which 12V and/or mains operated unit is the best? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Quite a few past threads on tyre inflators, see here: http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Tyre-inflators/46980/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 I got mine in Spain - works a treat. It looks the same as this one : link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/451719-12V-14A-Heavy-Duty-Volume-Air-Compressor-Car-Tyre-Inflator-140PSI-/292155757235?epid=1380504753&hash=item4405d712b3:g:6i8AAOSwHLNZRruT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 You need a fairly powerful motor to achieve a reasonably fast inflation rate and to achieve the requited pressure. This places a quite high demand on the battery, and is likely to mean that the dashboard socket will be inadequate for the required current. I therefore went for one of these in 2013. http://tinyurl.com/ya639tjr They seem to have gone up in price since then! Works well and seems very robust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 As Brian mentioned, you really need to power the more highly powered inflators direct from the starter battery. These can draw up to over 20amps, so not suitable to use a cigarette socket type connection. If the OP has a Fiat Ducato based MH from 2006 (X250), this has a convenient 12v outlet in the engine compartment where crocodile clips can be attached. Red clip to +12v outlet and Black clip to somewhere convenient on engine block, usually engine lifting hook. This does mean, however, that the inflator is located at the front of the van. To reach the rear tyres you really need a flexible (coiled) air-line as used on the Ring RAC900 (other similar inflators are available which include a coiled air-line). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 The choice of tyre-inflator will (or should) depend on what one wants to do with it. Brian has chosen a mains-powered inflator that should have plenty of ‘oomph’, but will need a 230V power-supply to operate. OK for home use or on a campsite, but not if a 230V supply is unavailable and you don’t have an inverter or generator. I’ve chosen a powerful T-MAX 12V inflator, but I need to connect it directly to a 12V battery due to the inflator’s high amperage requirement. I have two other 12V tyre-pumps - an ancient one that was never able to cope with the high pressure a motorhome tyre is normally inflated to but will still handle our car’s tyres, and a more recent Ring RAC-700 pump https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/reviews/accessory/31672-ring-rac700-4x4-air-compressor Nowadays my Ring inflator will blow a dashboard-socket’s fuse, but will still operate if directly connected to a 12V battery. However it also overheats if asked to pump above 60psi for any length of time, so it’s no longer any use for my motorhome. Cheap 12V inflators are marketed that have many of the features of much more expensive pumps (example here) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vehicle-12V-150PSI-Air-Compressor-Heavy-Duty-Car-Tyre-Inflator-Pump-High-power-/122793128420?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10 but the only way to confirm how well they work in practice (and how long they will last) is to buy one and use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I suffered a slow puncture on our recent foreign trip, was able to top the tyre up at a petrol station, drive to a garage and have the puncture fixed. If this had not been possible I could have rung my breakdown service and they would have sent someone to change the wheel. The 12v compressor I've had for over ten years and never used still hasn't been used. No idea whether it would actually do the job if necessary. It's one of the things I'm considering taking out of the motorhome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keninpalamos Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 Derek Uzzell - 2017-11-11 8:55 AM The choice of tyre-inflator will (or should) depend on what one wants to do with it. Brian has chosen a mains-powered inflator that should have plenty of ‘oomph’, but will need a 230V power-supply to operate. OK for home use or on a campsite, but not if a 230V supply is unavailable and you don’t have an inverter or generator. I’ve chosen a powerful T-MAX 12V inflator, but I need to connect it directly to a 12V battery due to the inflator’s high amperage requirement. I have two other 12V tyre-pumps - an ancient one that was never able to cope with the high pressure a motorhome tyre is normally inflated to but will still handle our car’s tyres, and a more recent Ring RAC-700 pump https://www.practicalmotorhome.com/reviews/accessory/31672-ring-rac700-4x4-air-compressor Nowadays my Ring inflator will blow a dashboard-socket’s fuse, but will still operate if directly connected to a 12V battery. However it also overheats if asked to pump above 60psi for any length of time, so it’s no longer any use for my motorhome. Cheap 12V inflators are marketed that have many of the features of much more expensive pumps (example here) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vehicle-12V-150PSI-Air-Compressor-Heavy-Duty-Car-Tyre-Inflator-Pump-High-power-/122793128420?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10 but the only way to confirm how well they work in practice (and how long they will last) is to buy one and use it. I have that double cylinder one under a different name, and has the gauge on top to give you a rough idea on pressure, German I think, anyway it comes with crocodile clips and instructions recommend you run the engine while connected I have used it once or twice on a 'van and tyre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky7 Posted November 11, 2017 Author Share Posted November 11, 2017 Many thanks everyone. I'll go for a mains operated inflator. I always carry a footpump so can top up with that if necessary whilst away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 Suggest you experiment with your foot-pump to see how easy it will be to raise the pressure in one of your motorhome’s tyres by, say, 2psi and how long it takes. (Might be wise to do this near a defibrillator...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 Derek Uzzell - 2017-11-11 6:01 PM Suggest you experiment with your foot-pump to see how easy it will be to raise the pressure in one of your motorhome’s tyres by, say, 2psi and how long it takes. (Might be wise to do this near a defibrillator...) Yep! :-D :-D :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard J Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I only use a cheap 12v compressor and had no problem pumping up to 80psi, but I would suggest you check your tyres should be 80psi as i found mine shouldn't be even though 80psi was quoted in the van manual. Well worth some research. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Richard But what pressure did you start from? If the tyre is already inflated to (say) 76psi, adding 4psi to raise the pressure to 80psi may well be within the capability of an inexpensive 12V compressor - though the process is likely to be slow. If the tyre’s pressure is (say) 15psi as the result of a slow puncture, raising that pressure to a point where it’s reasonably safe to drive the motorhome (say 40psi) will take a long time even if the cheap compressor is actually able to do this and survives the task. My T-MAX 12V compressor will raise the pressure of a 215/70 R15CP tyre from 65psi to 80psi in under 5 minutes and stays relatively cool doing this. Try that exercise with your compressor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Well I've had no problem using this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/451719-12V-14A-Heavy-Duty-Volume-Air-Compressor-Car-Tyre-Inflator-140PSI-/292155757235?epid=1380504753&hash=item4405d712b3:g:6i8AAOSwHLNZRruT in the standard cigar lighter socket of my van and car. I usually run the engine, not just to keep the battery charged but to increase the voltage and inflate the tyres faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve928 Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Do consider ditching your powered air compressors and replacing them with a good quality bike 'track' pump. I've been using a Specialized Airforce Team (an old model) for years now and it really does a good job taking about 2-3 effortless strokes per p.s.i. with a motorhome wheel. The current equivalent model delivers 350cc of air per stroke and is rated to 150psi. Pumping bike tyres to 150psi you do have to lean on it a bit but at the 60ish psi that motorhomes use it takes very little effort at all. I have a compressor too but never use it as this is just so easy. https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Air-Tool-Comp-Floor-Pump_110177.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billmars Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Steve928 - 2017-11-13 4:11 PM Do consider ditching your powered air compressors and replacing them with a good quality bike 'track' pump. I concur! Got a cheap one (I think £15) from Aldi and it has no trouble in achieving the higher pressures a motorhome needs. It's very well made (wooden handle and metal) although I've seen more recent ones in Lidl and Aldi which have been downgraded to plastic! It's also very useful for effortless pumping of bike tyres! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Same here, I ended up getting a track pump (more for tweaking the rear air assistors initially) but it could easily add a few pounds to the tyres, without much sustained effort.. (I did have/still got one of the circular Michelin 12v pumps and although it was okay, it was bit of a faff about having to keep re-routing the lead, and switching between the front and rear 12v sockets, and threading it through alternate windows, just so as it could reach each wheel! :-S ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 588 Posted November 16, 2017 Share Posted November 16, 2017 £16 worth 12 v from screwfix, does the job on motorbike , big 4 x 4 and moho! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.