This would be a gift for my friend just so she could fill her car and bicycle tires and carry it along on trips. I'd like a decent one and haven't seen just what I want on line so far. So what I'm envisioning is one that can run on 120v or the car's 12v power outlet. Either the hose or 12v cord would need to be long enough to reach all 4 tires. If the hose is short an extension cord could be used in the garage for AC. Adjustable PSI shut off. Also decent volume for inflating an air mattress when camping. Any recommendations?

I have one of these & keep it in the glovebox

https://www.amazon.com/Airmoto...ressor/dp/B094DMH7ZM

Not sure if it would do an air mattress, and can only really do 1 truck tire on a charge. But works well otherwise.

VIAIR is the way to go!

Get this one --> https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-0...ressor/dp/B00CDWJRZW

The VIAIR 87P is powered directly from your battery (NOT the cigarette lighter!), and will inflate an empty tire effortlessly! It's duty cycle is exponentially better than the common/cheaper air compressors that are powered by 12V outlet in your car. The 87P is impressively robust and sounds like a precision 'well oiled machine' (even though it's an oil-free design). You (and she!) won't be disappointed

IF accessing the Battery is not desirable, I give you the VIAIR 85P with Plug-in Cigarette Lighter/12V Outlet Plug:

https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-8...ressor/dp/B0036E9VB6

All of my vehicles have accessible terminals to connect/power the 87P so it was a no brainer in my case, but realizing that some may not have the most accessible Batteries / Jump Start terminals, the 85P is the one for such applications and/or those that 'prefer' the plug-in configuration.

NOTE: The VIAIR 85P 'can' draw 15A and is Duty cycle rated for 20 min. runtime @ 30 PSI. The 12V power outlet in many (most?) vehicles only rated for 10A, and protected with a 10A Fuse! YMMV

Does she have any battery powered tools?
Most major tool manufacturers make inflators - then you just use the battery from the tools.
I have all Makita tools and batteries, so I bought their inflator; it works well.

Lowes have Kobalt and Craftsman models, different types from car outlet plug to battery.

This one is $39.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobal...-Source-Car/50137724

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
I have all Makita tools and batteries, so I bought their inflator; it works well.

Good to know - I bought one but haven't tried it yet. It's for trips in the sedan (around town, I'd just go to a gas station or AAA). I have a viair for the truck. And a CalAir for the garage.

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
Does she have any battery powered tools?
Most major tool manufacturers make inflators - then you just use the battery from the tools.
I have all Makita tools and batteries, so I bought their inflator; it works well.

I have the Ridgid brand, as that is what my cordless tools are. It works quite well.

The little ones that use the vehicle battery are low volume. Suitable for bicycles or motorcycles, not for automobile. If buying one that attaches to the car battery, be sure it is suitable for automobile tires.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
VIAIR is the way to go!

THIS.
I only use it for tires so not sure how long an air mattress would take. I do know that with length of the cord and hose reaching all 4 tires on my Tundra CrewMax is easy.
If she has readily accessible battery posts, this unit just flat out works.

I have an upper end VIAIR for portable, just used it on a deer hunt. Mine you clip to a battery.

Pro tip for air mattresses and larger: you want volume so shop vac, even a small one, with the hose on the exhaust port. Bonus points for using a leaf blower!

I have the VIAIR RV model in my truck. I pulled into my dad’s driveway on Saturday and topped off his truck, Corvette, and golf cart tires without moving the compressor. The RV model comes with two houses and will reach the tires on the 5th wheel with the compressor hooked to the truck. It only took my a year to realize I could just hook it up to the 5th wheel’s house batteries. It’s dandy for the 110psi tires on the 5th wheel.

I have a VIAIR 87 or 88 in the minivan and another in the GLI.

I also use a nail gun compressor up in MI.

I neglected to mention I don't really want a battery powered compressor, just 110v and 12V. She has no battery tools.

What nhracecraft stated
Viair is the way to go

I just purchased a new truck...no 12V outlet. Now I've either got to find some sort of adapter or purchase a new pump to replace the one I have that operates off 12V. Something to keep in mind.

Another vote for Viair. We keep one in the RV for the tires on the truck and RV. Keep another in the garage at home.

Will she be using it for her car ? If yes that could be a problem for someone who isn't up on proper auto tire pressure.

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
Does she have any battery powered tools?
Most major tool manufacturers make inflators - then you just use the battery from the tools.

+1

I've been on the Ryobi 18V ecosystem for 25 years. I added their inflator in the last year, and it's excellent. I caught it for $24.97 on sale (normally $39.97) and it's on sale for that again.

I like that it pumps to exactly the digital setpoint and it's so much handier than firing up the 10-gallon compressor and dragging hose.

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
VIAIR is the way to go!

Get this one --> https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-0...ressor/dp/B00CDWJRZW

The VIAIR 87P is powered directly from your battery (NOT the cigarette lighter!), and will inflate an empty tire effortlessly! It's duty cycle is exponentially better than the common/cheaper air compressors that are powered by 12V outlet in your car. The 87P is impressively robust and sounds like a precision 'well oiled machine' (even though it's an oil-free design). You (and she!) won't be disappointed

IF accessing the Battery is not desirable, I give you the VIAIR 85P with Plug-in Cigarette Lighter/12V Outlet Plug:

https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-8...ressor/dp/B0036E9VB6

It doesn't appear they have "set the psi and auto shutoff" and I know she would appreciate that.

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
Will she be using it for her car ? If yes that could be a problem for someone who isn't up on proper auto tire pressure.

Yes probably mostly in her garage where she could keep it plugged in to an outlet but also to carry in the car on trips. She had to deal with a slow leaking tire that was supposedly repaired before leaving on a holiday weekend but it kept leaking 3-4# per day and it was a hassle finding air for her.

quote:

It doesn't appear they have "set the psi and auto shutoff" and I know she would appreciate that.

No it doesn’t have that feature but it does have an extremely accurate gauge on the unit.
Checked against my handheld dial gauge, they are always the same.
If she needs help with factory pressure recommendations, have her look at the drivers door sticker.

A small pancake compressor will do the job nicely and is very portable. They often go on sale, especially around the holidays, occasionally with nice accessories.

I have one of these little guys

No she checks the tires pretty frequently and knows the pressure the CRV calls for.

She was telling me one of her tai chi friends TPS came on and she had a little inflator that she just set to whatever pressure it called for and said "a minute or so after reaching it, it just shut off, which was cool."

So while it wouldn't matter to me I think she'd like that feature.