Best Portable Air Compressor for RV Tires in 2025

Once we purchased our first Class A motorhome, a portable air compressor was not on our list of essential RV must-haves, however we shortly discovered how important an air compressor is for RV tires. If you happen to’re pondering “I don’t want an air compressor, I’ll simply use one on the fuel station.” Suppose once more!

Fuel station air compressors are designed for automobile tires which want round 35 psi (kilos per sq. inch) of stress. RV tires then again can have max pressures from 80 to 135 psi or extra! Sure, even these small camper vans have LT (gentle truck) tires which might be rated at 80 psi.

Think about our shock the primary time we went to inflate the tires on our Class A motorhome at a fuel station solely to search out out we had been shedding stress! After that have, we determined to spend money on a top quality moveable air compressor for RV tires.

However moveable air compressors can be utilized for a lot of different issues, together with winterizing your camper, which I’ll clarify the best way to do on this article.

Don’t have time to learn the complete publish on the perfect moveable air compressor for RV tires? This is the portable air compressor we own and love. VIAIR makes totally different fashions, which I’ll get to later on this article.

What’s a Transportable Air Compressor?

Transportable Air Compressors are smaller variations of the air compressors you may discover in an automotive or different sort of store however with out the big holding tanks. These smaller moveable compressors are available many differing types and kinds. For the aim of this text, I’ll be discussing 12 volt moveable air compressors. These are supposed to journey with you and run off of your automobile/RV battery or 12v outlet (aka cigarette lighter) in your automobile. Some are made for smaller automobile tires whereas others have the power to work on all the things as much as and together with semi-truck tires. 

One other sort of moveable air compressor is a scaled down model of their bigger counterparts and plug into an ordinary 120 volt family outlet. These are usually used on smaller development jobs or DIY tasks at house the place you want one thing small and moveable. They may run air instruments, paint sprayers and different varieties of instruments you’d discover on a development web site or in your storage that require compressed air. These moveable air compressors can be used to replenish car tires.

Nonetheless, I wouldn’t suggest the 120 volt air compressors for RV tires. They’re much bigger and heavier than the 12 volt moveable air compressors plus they require that you simply plug in to an ordinary 120 volt outlet. Whereas most RVs have these, chances are you’ll not have a big sufficient inverter or sufficiently big battery financial institution to run it. It additionally doesn’t do you any good if you wish to carry it alongside in your toad (towed vehicle) for an off-roading journey the place you’ll must air your tires again up and don’t have an inverter to make use of. 

Advantages of a Transportable Air Compressor

1. Capacity to Air Up Your RV’s Tires Anyplace

Earlier than we took off on our first journey in our Class A motorhome, I made positive to examine the air stress for all six of our tires. Our tire stress was low throughout however it was ok to drive to the closest fuel station to replenish. Once we pulled into the fuel station, I dropped 4 quarters into the air compressor and commenced filling up one of many entrance RV tires. After a pair minutes, I checked the tire stress once more and noticed that it had truly LOST 5 psi! We then seemed for a truck cease to go replenish at however, low and behold, there have been none the place we had been going.

Whereas some truck stops could have air compressors capable of air up bigger, excessive PSI tires, they don’t seem to be all the time accessible. An under-inflated tire may be harmful and result in a blow out, so having the ability to air up your tires each time it is advisable to is important. 

Having an air compressor with you means that you can make in-field tire repairs similar to a puncture or tear. Whereas we haven’t needed to make a restore within the area, we’ve been numerous locations the place we had been no the place close to civilization and the closest restore store was hours away…or we didn’t have cell service to name for assist.

Once we had our Jeep, we had to make use of the spare tire a number of occasions and guess what? Once I put the spare on and lowered the car, I discovered that the tire stress was very low. A couple of minutes later, I had our air compressor out and the tire again as much as the proper stress. 

We’ve additionally been capable of assist different folks on the highway who wanted to air their tires up however didn’t have a compressor with them. 

2. You Can Take It With You

Because the identify implies, these 12 volt air compressors are moveable. The VIAIR air compressors are available sturdy canvas carry baggage and are gentle sufficient for most individuals to hold (the 450P-RVS is the biggest mannequin and weighs in at 13 lbs). 

Once we towed a Jeep Wrangler behind our motorhome, we might take our moveable air compressor with us once we went off-roading. This allowed us to air the tires down on the path after which, once we bought again to the pavement, we aired our tires again up. That is the place the 12 volt air compressors shine over the 120 volt variations as a result of we didn’t have a option to plug-in a 120 volt air compressor within the Jeep.

I additionally desire the moveable air compressors over on-board air compressors which might be completely mounted to the car as a result of in the event you promote the car or want the compressor in a special car, the moveable compressor can go the place you do.

3. There are A number of Makes use of for a Transportable Air Compressor

Past simply inflating tires, a conveyable air compressor may be very helpful when tenting. You need to use them to inflate inflatable kayaks, paddle boards, balls and plenty of different belongings you may carry in your subsequent journey. When the climate will get beneath freezing, we’ve used ours to winterize our camper. I’ll clarify how to do that beneath. 

Transportable Air Compressor Options

As a result of there’s such all kinds of moveable air compressors, I received’t be capable of cowl all the totally different options however I’ll attempt to cowl a number of the most typical ones you ought to be conscious of. 

1. Max Working Strain, CFM, Responsibility Cycle and Extra

Pay shut consideration to the specs when purchasing for a conveyable air compressor. Max working stress was necessary for us once we had been buying. Our RV tires on the time had a max chilly stress of 110 psi, so we would have liked a compressor that had a max working stress equal to or larger than that. We additionally wished one thing that had a 100% responsibility cycle which suggests it could possibly run constantly for an hour. An air compressor with a 33% responsibility cycle can solely run for 20 minutes (33% of 60 minutes) after which it would want 40 minutes to chill between cycles. 

Smaller 12v pumps that plug right into a cigarette lighter (12v outlet) sometimes have a max working stress of 60 psi and have a brief responsibility cycle, 20 minutes @ 30 psi for instance. That is excellent for airing up bicycle, motorbike and automobile tires however can’t deal with even the smallest RV tire – the smaller tires on our Class B van are rated at 80 psi. 

CFM is one other specification which measures the cubic ft per minute of air circulate. Because the stress in a tire will increase, the CFM will drop as a result of it’s taking extra effort for the compressor to push the air into the tire. CFM will likely be a sign of how shortly you possibly can air a tire up and whether or not the pump will be capable of run air instruments. 

2. Equipment

Air Hose. Primary moveable air compressors will sometimes include an built-in air hose that’s 3-5 ft in size. Relying on how lengthy the facility wire is, chances are you’ll not be capable of attain your rear tires. Larger finish air compressors will include fast join fittings and air hoses. This lets you change out the air hoses if one turns into broken or in the event you want an extended/shorter hose. Our 450P-RVS got here with two 30 foot hoses so we’re capable of attain as much as 60 ft from the compressor! If we would have liked to increase even additional, we might add a 3rd hose. 

Chucks. A chuck is the nozzle on the tip of the hose that connects to the tire’s air stem. Normal, air compressors will include both the bike pump or fuel station model chuck. If the tip of the hose has a fast join becoming, you possibly can change out the chuck relying on what you want. Our VIAIR got here with a fuel station model air inflation gun, 90 diploma screw on chuck, 45 diploma chuck (for attain the internal wheel on a dually) and a number of inflation suggestions. We will additionally add different equipment that use the short join becoming. I sometimes use the screw on chuck because it’s the simplest to work with.

Inflation Gun. The inflation gun is, in essence, a valve. While you press the set off down, it opens permitting the air to circulate into your tire. I prefer to have one with a stress gauge constructed into it so I’m able to simply see the tire stress moderately than having to take away the chuck and examine the tire with a seperate gauge.

Carry bag. These are good, particularly in case you have a number of equipment, to maintain all the things in a single place. 

3. Automated Lower-Off

If you happen to’ve ever used a fuel station air compressor, you understand that when it activates, it retains working till the time restrict is up. Primary moveable air compressors function in the identical approach, they proceed working till you flip it off. If the compressor has a brief responsibility cycle, this may occasionally require you to run forwards and backwards to show it on and off each time you turn tires. 

Transportable air compressors with an automated shut off sometimes have a small holding tank. While you first flip the compressor on, it would run, filling up that tank. As soon as the tank reaches stress, the compressor will shut off till you start filling a tire with air. If you happen to take a break otherwise you’re achieved filling up the tire and the tank pressurizes, the pump will robotically shut off. 

4. In-Line Strain Gauge 

I feel an inline stress gauge is an important accent to have. Ours has one construct into the inflation gun and it permits us to see what the tire stress is with out having to take away the chuck and examine the stress with a separate gauge. 

Downsides of a Transportable Air Compressor

The draw back of 12v moveable air compressors is that almost all usually are not designed to run air instruments. The issue is that they will’t present a excessive sufficient CFM that an air software requires. Some compressors have small holding tanks which is able to give a fast burst of air if you first pull the set off however it’s solely sufficient to permit the software to run for a second or two however not a lot after that. 

In order for you or must run air instruments on the highway, my suggestion could be to take a look at 120v moveable compressors which have a bigger holding tank or get a seperate air tank that you could fill with you 12v air compressor.

Our Expertise with Transportable Air Compressors

A few years in the past, I had a pair cheap moveable air compressors that I stored within the storage for these odd occasions I wanted to pump up a tire. Inevitably, they’d work a pair occasions after which stop working. Whereas they had been low-cost to interchange, I didn’t wish to hold throwing my cash away and resigned myself to drive to the fuel station and replenish there. 

Once we bought the VIAIR I used to be skeptical at first, however I’ve since discovered to depend on them. Once we first bought it, we primarily used it to air up our RV tires. With our overland 4×4 truck camper, we might use it regularly to air our tires again up from being on an off-road path or simply replenish the tires as wanted. We additionally started utilizing it for issues like blowing out our water traces, serving to associates or utilizing it to blow the mud out of an air filter. 

We have now 34” tires on our truck and once we’ve taken it off-roading, we’ll air down the tires to round 25 psi. Once we air the tires again as much as 65 psi, it takes roughly 6 minutes per tire. 

We’ve used ours in all kinds of circumstances like in the course of the desert in 90 diploma warmth with blowing sand and by no means as soon as had a problem. 

Why the VIAIR 450P-RVS is the Finest Transportable Air Compressor for RV Tires

In brief, as a result of it really works for all RV tires from small Class Bs all the best way as much as massive Class A motorhomes. I even apply it to mower and motorbike tires. With a attain of 60 ft, you’ll be capable of attain these rear tires on a forty five foot Class A or a pull behind camper. 

The air compressor and all of its equipment match within the included heavy responsibility carrying bag and it’s sufficiently small to slot in most storage bays or cupboards.

With the usual fast join fittings, it means that you can buy extra hoses and different chucks or air weapons to fit your wants. We bought a blow gun for air compressor that works nicely for blowing mud and different issues out of an air filter. 

Whereas the VIAIR air compressors include a 1 12 months guarantee, we’ve not wanted to make use of it. 

It’s sturdy! After filling up the tires in our truck someday, I used to be distracted and forgot to place the compressor away. As I began driving away, I drove over one thing and once I bought out, I noticed that I had pushed OVER our compressor! Come to search out that whereas I’d bent the ft of the compressor and the alligator clips that connect to the automobile battery, all the things else was high quality. I spent a couple of minutes bending issues again into form and the compressor has been working high quality ever since. 

Which VIAIR Transportable Air Compressor is Proper for Your RV Tires? 

VIAIR has numerous moveable air compressors. The VIAIR RVS collection of moveable air compressors are particularly made for RVs, each motorized and towables. 

Class A motorhomes – VIAIR 450P-RVS

Class C motorhomes, truck campers and huge towables – VIAIR 400P-RVS

Smaller Towables – VIAIR 300P-RVS

Class B motorhomes and camper vans – VIAIR 89P-RVS

If you happen to additionally plan to make use of your moveable air compressor in your Jeep or off-road car, the VIAIR 400P is really helpful. 

Once more, my choose would nonetheless be the VIAIR 450P-RVS as a result of it could possibly do all the things besides run air instruments. 

What Different Choices are There for Transportable Air Compressors? 

The record is sort of infinite for the totally different makes and varieties of moveable air compressors for RV tires. If I used to be going to purchase one thing moreover the VIAIR, I’d search for one thing from a nicely established model that’s been utilized by off-roaders. I say that as a result of individuals who use an air compressor off-road, have a tendency to make use of them extra usually and in harsh environments. The compressors not solely have to face up to the surroundings however they have to be sturdy sufficient to be bounced round in a car for hours on finish and work each time. Within the backcountry, away from cell indicators and paved roads, your life could rely in your instruments, which incorporates your air compressor. 

My first selection could be the ARB High Performance Portable Air Compressor. Many off-roaders will set up these on-board their autos however this mannequin comes with in a tough carrying case in order that it’s moveable. The value is on-par with the VIAIR however lacks a number of the equipment which might be customary with the VIAIR. The ARB can be has a better CFM than the VIAIR and is rated to run air instruments with an non-obligatory 1 gallon air tank. 

In order for you one thing bigger to run air instruments, my suggestion could be a pancake style portable air compressor. They’re referred to as “pancake” due to the pancake formed air tank situated beneath the compressor. They’re all 120v so that you’ll both want an inverter and battery financial institution that’s massive sufficient to run this model of compressor out of your RV or be parked someplace like a campground the place you have got entry to an outlet. Whereas bigger and heavier than a 12v moveable air compressor, pancake model compressors like this Craftsman are a few third of the value of the VIAIR or ARB.

Lastly, if you’re on a funds and don’t plan to be out within the backcountry, I’d counsel looking Amazon for “12v portable air compressor” and discovering one in your value vary that has good critiques and the options you want in a conveyable air compressor. 

What’s the appropriate tire stress(s) in your RV? 

The right tire stress in your RV tires goes to fluctuate based mostly upon the the load of the car and whether or not you have got single or twin rear wheels. For instance, on our truck camper, the tires on the max chilly stress of 80 psi are load rated for 4,050 kilos. Earlier than you possibly can decide what the proper tire stress is, it is advisable to weigh your RV. This may be achieved at any truck cease that has a CAT scale. Merely drive up onto the size and comply with the instructions. They’ll offer you entrance, rear and trailer axle weights. With this data you possibly can lookup the inflation chart in your tires and decide what the proper tire stress is. Here’s an example of Truck Tire Load Inflation Tables from Bridgestone.

Appropriate tire psi, particularly on bigger motorhomes is a vital security merchandise. In case your tires are beneath inflated, that may trigger extreme warmth, put on and ultimately a blow out. We’ve had associates in bigger Class A motorhomes expertise a blow in and out one case they misplaced full management and totaled the RV and within the different, whereas they misplaced some management, they had been in an space with a large shoulder and had been capable of safely cease.

A technique to assist forestall tire blow-outs and monitor your tire stress is by putting in a TPMS (tire stress monitoring system) in your RV. Many new vehicles include these now however many RVs nonetheless don’t. They’re straightforward to put in and displays just like the TST or TireView include 4-12 sensors relying on what number of tires it is advisable to monitor. Here’s a hyperlink to the TST Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

Learn how to Inflate RV Tires

You need to by no means stand subsequent to an RV tire if you end up inflating it. RV and truck tires can explode when being inflated and annually, individuals are killed and significantly injured by them. Because of this, in the event you look in a truck tire store, you’ll see metal cages the place they set the tire earlier than inflating it. 

To start inflating your RV tires, begin your engine for the reason that compressor will likely be working off your automobile battery (you don’t wish to air up your tires solely to search out you’ve drained your battery). In case your compressor has an on/off swap, set the swap to the off place. Insert the 12v plug into the car’s 12v outlet or connect the  black (floor) alligator clip to the car – sometimes uncovered metallic like a bolt or nut on the facet wall inside your engine bay. Test your car’s homeowners guide to see the place to connect the bottom when leaping the car if you’re undecided. Subsequent, connect the optimistic (pink) clip to the optimistic terminal of your battery. While you’re prepared to start inflating your tires, flip the pump on if it’s not already and inflate every tire to the proper tire stress. Be certain to face away and off to the facet of the tire.

Another excuse I just like the VIAIR 450P-RVS is that it comes with a 90 diploma screw on chuck and twin hoses. To maintain myself protected, when I’m filling our tires, I connect the primary hose to the air compressor, then I join the air inflation gun between the primary and second hose and the 90 diploma twist on chuck will twist onto the tip of the tire valve after which I can stand away from the tire (as much as 30 ft) and safely fill the tire. The gauge on the tire inflation gun tells me when the tire has reached the proper stress after which I can take away the chuck and transfer on to the subsequent tire. 

Learn how to Winterize Your RV with a Transportable Air Compressor

Many individuals are acquainted with the pink RV anti-freeze that’s pumped by means of the water system of an RV to winterize it. Personally, I’m not a fan of these items. I received’t get into all of the the reason why however briefly I a lot desire to blow the water out of my camper’s traces. 

To do that, we used an air compressor and a blow out valve like this one.

Disclaimer: The directions beneath are how we winterized our truck camper and are supposed to offer you an thought of the way it’s achieved utilizing compressed air. These usually are not directions on the best way to winterize your RV. Each RV is totally different. If not achieved appropriately, compressed air might harm water traces, water heaters, pumps, valves and different parts of your water system. Be sure you learn your homeowners guide and phone your RV producer on the perfect course of to winterize your RV. 

1. Drain all water from the camper’s contemporary water tank, water heater, filters and low level drains. If there’s a tankless water heater, make certain to empty the water out of it as nicely. On our camper, I’ve discovered that if I open the drain valve on our water heater and activate the water pump, it shortly empties the contemporary water tank. 
2. Activate the water pump and open every scorching/chilly water valve (sinks/showers/bathrooms/and so on) to filter extreme water left within the traces. 
3. Set up the blow out valve to the contemporary water fill inlet and open the drain valve on the contemporary water tank. Start pumping air into the contemporary water fill and there ought to be air/water popping out of the drain valve. If there isn’t, cease instantly. Proceed till water is not popping out of the drain. 
4. Transfer the blow out valve from the contemporary water fill inlet to town water inlet. Open every water valve (sinks/showers/bathrooms/and so on) one after the other, cold and hot facet, after which blow air into the system. Have an individual contained in the RV monitoring every valve to make sure air/water are popping out. If it’s not, cease instantly. Proceed till no extra water is popping out of the valve. 
5. Repeat Step 4 with every water valve, cold and hot. I additionally like to return to the new water heater and open up the valve there once more and blow extra air to make sure it’s fully empty in addition to the contemporary water tank. 
6. Lastly, empty each gray and black holding tanks. 

When freezing temps are over, merely refill the contemporary water holding tank, activate the water pump and open the suitable valves to start getting water again into the system. 

Here’s a video of how we winterize our camper van:

Learn how to Restore a Flat Tire

Whereas I’d love to have the ability to clarify the best way to restore a tire within the area on this article, it’s just too in-depth. As you could have guessed nevertheless, one important software for repairing a tire within the area is an air compressor. The opposite is a top quality tire restore equipment. The one we personal is the Outback Extreme Ultimate Puncture Repair Kit. That is marketed to work on something from ATVs to semi-truck tires. 

An excellent useful resource to learn to restore tires within the area is the e-book Raising Your 4WD Vehicle Off-Road & In-Field Tire Repair by Bob Wohlers. I took Bob’s class and have this e-book. It’s a wealth of data and a must have for anybody venturing off the overwhelmed path. 

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A top quality moveable air compressor in your RV tires may be an costly buy however, as we’ve discovered, it’s nicely definitely worth the funding. Whereas we’ve had nothing however good experiences with VIAIR, there are a lot of different choices on the market. When you’ve got moveable air compressor you actually like, tell us within the feedback.