My thoughts on portable compressors:
1. Get a tool, not a toy. The compressors that use cigarette lighter plugs are toys.
2. Don't waste your money on an MV-50 or MF-1050. They are slow, loud, run hot, the reed valves are prone to failure, they are insufficient to air up 33" tires, and in the long run are no bargain. Yes, I know that many people like theirs but more don't and have upgraded to something else.
3. As for Harbor Freight compressors, see #2.
4. Choose a reputable brand that offers customer service. Viair and ARB are in that category; S*ittybilt is not.
5. Don't get hung up on duty cycle. If the compressor will air up all four of your size tires from your trail pressure to your street pressure before hitting the number of minutes in its duty cycle then duty cycle won't be an issue. As a general rule 12v continuous duty compressors have lower CFM numbers and take longer to air up a set of tires - that's the trade off for continuous duty.
6. Try to buy a portable compressor that uses standard hose couplers rather than some unobtainable British or Chinese size. That way you can ditch the plastic coil hose for something that works better and is easier to store such as a 1/4" or 3/8" Flexzilla hose with an open flow chuck.
7. You should choose a compressor rated to fill at least one tire size larger than you currently own. For example, if you run 31" tires buy a compressor rated to fill 33" tires, or if you have 33" tires buy a compressor rated for 35's. This allows for future tire upgrades, your compressor won't work quite as hard with your current tires, and you will have a tool capable of helping out a buddy on the trail with larger tires than you.
8. Register for price alerts for the compressors that interest you on camelcamelcamel.com. You will receive an email when the price on Amazon hits your target.
My opinion on the best value for a portable compressor:
The Viair 400P when it is on sale on Amazon.
As for storage:
I kept my Viair 400P in the foot well behind the driver seat and made back seat passengers get in through the passenger side (before I retired it and went with a Viair 400H compressor under the hood). If you need the entire back seat for two passengers then strap it above the wheel well if you don't want it behind the rear seat
1. Get a tool, not a toy. The compressors that use cigarette lighter plugs are toys.
2. Don't waste your money on an MV-50 or MF-1050. They are slow, loud, run hot, the reed valves are prone to failure, they are insufficient to air up 33" tires, and in the long run are no bargain. Yes, I know that many people like theirs but more don't and have upgraded to something else.
3. As for Harbor Freight compressors, see #2.
4. Choose a reputable brand that offers customer service. Viair and ARB are in that category; S*ittybilt is not.
5. Don't get hung up on duty cycle. If the compressor will air up all four of your size tires from your trail pressure to your street pressure before hitting the number of minutes in its duty cycle then duty cycle won't be an issue. As a general rule 12v continuous duty compressors have lower CFM numbers and take longer to air up a set of tires - that's the trade off for continuous duty.
6. Try to buy a portable compressor that uses standard hose couplers rather than some unobtainable British or Chinese size. That way you can ditch the plastic coil hose for something that works better and is easier to store such as a 1/4" or 3/8" Flexzilla hose with an open flow chuck.
7. You should choose a compressor rated to fill at least one tire size larger than you currently own. For example, if you run 31" tires buy a compressor rated to fill 33" tires, or if you have 33" tires buy a compressor rated for 35's. This allows for future tire upgrades, your compressor won't work quite as hard with your current tires, and you will have a tool capable of helping out a buddy on the trail with larger tires than you.
8. Register for price alerts for the compressors that interest you on camelcamelcamel.com. You will receive an email when the price on Amazon hits your target.
My opinion on the best value for a portable compressor:
The Viair 400P when it is on sale on Amazon.
As for storage:
I kept my Viair 400P in the foot well behind the driver seat and made back seat passengers get in through the passenger side (before I retired it and went with a Viair 400H compressor under the hood). If you need the entire back seat for two passengers then strap it above the wheel well if you don't want it behind the rear seat
