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Fri Aug 05, 2016 9:42 am

I searched...I really did

I'm getting ready for a family trip up to the Leavenworth area next week, and we need a good 12v portable air compressor that can handle filling up multiple inner tubes for rafting. We're taking the Quattro for hopefully the last family trip (while my van undergoes a TDI transplant), but I would eventually like to permanently install whatever pump I buy into the van. Are there any recommendations for a decent mid-grade pump that folks have packed or installed in their vans?

Fri Aug 05, 2016 10:24 am

I use this. https://www.amazon.com/Master-Flow-MF-1050-MasterF...compressor

It is a low cost but high performance pump. It is far superior to similarly priced harbor freight or Autozone versions. It only has battery clips, not cigarette lighter attachment because it pulls a lot of juice. The quality is lower than a more expensive pump, but it works fine and has lasted. It will outperform pumps that cost up to 5 times as much. Really.

If you are mounting something under your van, this wouldn't do, but for occassional use, it is perfect. I use mine every pretty much every trip because I like the smooth ride of being aired down on dirt roads. The fast inflation becomes more important the more you use it. I can air up 2 vans before a more expensive Vair or Smitty Built pump has even finished one van. There are some comaprison test videos on youtube. Quick is good. For occassional use this one cannot be beat. I use mine so much, that I could justify a $300 unit for improved quality, but I doubt it would fill up my tires much faster.

Fri Aug 05, 2016 10:45 am

I recently bought and carry a VIAIR 85P. No need for the 120-250 psi as most of the other units claim as a feature. High psi just means low flow.
Only used a couple times, seems well built and good reviews. Likely pop the fuse on the stock cig lighter in a vanagon though.
-d

Fri Aug 05, 2016 11:02 am

Nice review Dave. Thanks.

In case your link doesn't work for others:
https://www.amazon.com/Master-Flow-MF-1050-MasterFlow-Compressor/dp/B000L9AD2U

I'll be using whatever I buy as a portable unit during our upcoming trip, but will be installing it under the bench seat in my van. The idea is to hardwire it to a dedicated fused circuit, and then plumb it to a manifold with quick release ports on either side of the van.

Fri Aug 05, 2016 11:03 am

If you want the convenience of on-board air in your van, try my on-board compressed air installation thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=641338

kourt

Fri Aug 05, 2016 11:13 am

You can get a cheap high volume, low pressure mechanical pump from Coleman for about $10. Thats the right tool for toy inflation. The only maintenance it needs is an annual lube of the internal gasket with Chevy AstroGlide, a GM lubricant

Fri Aug 05, 2016 11:17 am

I use this high volume / high pressure combo pump for my iSUPs and it works well: http://m.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-ONE-Dual-Function-Inflator-Deflator-Tool-Only-P731/203060297

Downside: Only operates off of Ryobi rechargeable 18v Lithium ion batteries. Buy the biggest ones and they have a built in LED charge gauge (and last much longer).

Upside: The same batteries power many other useful tools for us Westy owners such as - a really nice hybrid (18v/120v) fan, impact wrench (nice when you have a flat on the side of the highway), etc...

Fri Aug 05, 2016 11:28 am

A little backstory...

Earlier this year I carted my family plus my mom to an interment ceremony at the Tahoma National Cemetery. While waiting in a line of vehicles for the formal military burial ceremony, I was informed that my rear tire was flat. I'm in a suit, the spare is flat and I can't do anything about it until after the ceremony...meaning I had to drive on a flat tire until I could get out of the cemetery. I borrow a can of fix-a-flat and an el cheapo electric pump. Long story short, it was an embarrassing fiasco that I don't want to revisit. Since I'm currently setting the van up for road-tripping, I want onboard air for top-ups and occasional air-ups of accessory items. I don't want to sweat while making this happen

Fri Aug 05, 2016 12:56 pm

It is more convenient to have it in the storage bag. I leave it under the seat, but I have the option to bury it in the bottom of the closet or take it out and use it with my other car, or lend it to a neighbor. What I should do is install 12V posts so I don't have to access the battery directly. The cord is long enough that you don't need power on both sides of the van. Just saying.

Fri Aug 05, 2016 2:07 pm

I have two of these pumps and they are worth twice the money. I see they have upgraded them with a filter for the incoming air - wise.

If you have one of these and it malfunctions, odds are extremely high it is simply grit coming in the intake stuck in the delicate reed valve. Open it up, clear the valve, lube it and they run for ever.

Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:04 pm

The best upgrade for masterflow style pump is to cut off the screw on air chuck and get a open flow clip on air chuck.

There are many threads floating around the interwebs about what can be done to slightly improve that pump.

I have had 3 bouncing around different vans for years without issue, they are cheap and get the job done well.

Mon Aug 15, 2016 12:18 pm

I just got back from the family vacation to Leavenworth, and the Masterflow pump worked well. It's noisy as hell, and the carrying case is a cruel Chinese joke. It pumps up the tubes relatively quickly, but be aware that some tubes use a two-part fill port with a 17mm opening, so you'll need some kind of adapter to work with the supplied hose ends. I found a plumbing adapter piece at the local hardware store that allowed me to fill those type of ports.

After this experience, I'm more convinced than ever that I want the unit to be semi-permanently installed in the van. The alligator clips aren't springy enough to stay put when any kind of pull is applied, and the supplied hose is prone to getting tangled. Due to the noise factor, I was acutely aware that I was a conspicuous noise pollution point source in the parking lot at Lake Wenatchee state park, so I want it in a more muffled spot while I fill up stuff. I plan on using a Molex type connector that allows the alligator clips to be added back when there's a need for portability.

Thanks for the recommendation!

Mon Aug 15, 2016 1:21 pm

I purchased the Viair 40047 400P-RV a couple years ago. We do extensive off pavement driving and I wanted a reliable and fast way to re-inflate the tires after airing down.

This pump has been great and no issues at all. Here is a link to some testing that was done and what you need to think about when purchasing a compressor.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/product-reviews/1508-testing-viairs-400p-and-450-p-air-compressors/

One plus is that with the Warn Winch cables mounted front and rear I can hook the alligator clips to either one that is open to power up the compressor. I have thought about doing an onboard system with tank but have still opted for one that can be taken to another vehicle in distress if needed.

Mon Aug 15, 2016 2:34 pm

I have mine permanently mounted with a 2.5 gallon tank. So far I haven't had anyone not close to me need it. I can flip a switch before I get to the pavement and only takes a couple minutes to fill up with a reservoir full!

Mon Aug 15, 2016 2:51 pm

I have the compressor linked above (red one) it is still going strong.

I installed this Viair onboard air kit on my other van (it has air ride seats).

http://amzn.to/2aVcSB4

There are numerous kits available from this vendor depending on mounting and performance requirements. They seem to be a good quality, and mine has performed well. Having the resevoir makes it possible to blow out dust or run air tools for brief periods if needed. The compressors are small, so it takes a few minutes to recharge the 2 gallon tank on my rig.

I installed a quick disconnect by the rear bumper, and with a 30ft hose I have plenty of distance to work with.

Mon Aug 15, 2016 3:02 pm

They make some pretty decent jumper starter/compressors, so you get two tools in one. The better ones are pretty hefty though, both in price and weight.

Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:51 am

I think I have cabin fever so I spent some time researching 12V portable compressors. I still like my MV-50 but just day dreaming about an upgrade.

It was several years ago when you could get the MV-50 and the MF-1050 at crazy low prices like $29 or $39. But now that people are buying and recommending them, the prices are up more towards $70-80. I don't really need a new one yet but I'm thinking faster would be nice.

I watched a shootout between the ARB single and the Smittybilt 2781. The 2781 claims a 5.65 CFM rating but the 3 CFM ARB was 20% faster filling a tire. So much for CFM specs. Still the relative speed and lower price of the 2781 is impressive 2:30 seconds vs 2:00 for the $350 ARB vs. $160 for 2781.

ARB CKMP12 32amps 3.08 CFM $350 portable boxed kit - 50% duty 30min
Smittybilt 2781 45 amp 5.65 CFM , 40 min runtime

But ARBs quality reputation is well known. Smittybilt seems to exaggerate their specs but quality seems to be at least as good as the SuperFlow units.

It was interesting that many of the compressors look very similar. They either have a single piston on one end with the hose connecting to the other side of the handle, or the smaller units like the MV-50 have a smaller single piston, a noise suppressor and a gauge on top of the unit. The dual piston units also all kind of look similar to each other with a piston on each end of the motor.

If you compare specs of the Superflow units you see simlarities like max amp draw and max CFM. The dual piston units are a good value and do a lot better than the small single piston ones but the larger single piston ones seem to have the best performance. Looking at maximum amps is probably the quickest way to gauge performance, although the ARB seems to perform better on lower amp draw than all these other pumps.

MV-50 30 amps, 2.54 CFM around $70
Smittybilt 2780, 30 amps, 2.54 CFM, around $90, looks identical to MV50
MV-89 dual piston 45amps 3.1 CFM ~ $120, 40 min runtime
Mv-90 bigger single piston 45amps 3.7 CFM, ~ $150, 40 min runtime
Viair 400P - 30 Amps 2.3 CFM, 20 min runtime

The MV-90 design is the most common. It looks the same as the Smittybult 2781 and draws the same amperage. I think Smittybilt is exaggerating their CFM, no way is it pushing 5.65 CFM. It looks to be in the same class as the MV-90 though, which is still awesome @ 3.7 CFM.

The Viair 400P is another one that looks similar to the MV-90 with better build quality probably. It has the same specs roughly as the smaller MV-50 and probably fills about as fast as the MV-50. They may be more truthful with their specs but they only recommend a 33% duty cycle and 15-20 minutes of runtime per hour. So much for doing your buddy's tires.

I ignored all the smaller pumps. The only one that looks interesting to me is the Viair 88P which is cheap at around $70 and has the Viair quality. It is a slower pump for sure though and you might not finish airing up 4 tires before the recommended runtime.
Viair 88P, 20 Amps, 1.47 CFM, 15 minute runtime.

The Viair 300P is simlar enough to the 400P just a little less money and slower fill. And the 440P is on the other end. The 450P is different. It is set up for 100% duty cycle but they do that by reducing output which makes it only 23 amps and 1.8 CFM.

Except the ARB, these are all the mid level pumps, but much faster than the crap you see all over ebay and amazon for not too much more money. My next pump will probably be an MV-89 or MV-90. Now that I know they can last, I don't mind taking a chance at a higher price point. The quality of ARB is tempting though, despite the price.

I thought I would share this info if anyone is looking and when it comes time for me to get another pump, I don't have to redo all that research.

Sun Jan 21, 2018 12:41 pm

I just got a Viair 300P after having my MV-50 lock up and die. I used the MV for airing my Syncro tires up and down and I doubt I used it a dozen times before it froze up.

The Viair 300 is quieter than the MV and it also has a standard, male air-out fitting so you can use regular, store bought air hoses. (the hose supplied with my MV was a plastic-coil craptastic nightmare)

I don't know if the new MVs have standard fittings now but mine did not. The MV I had used a male-out fitting that not only does not fit regular U.S. air hoses, (it only fits the hose supplied with the compressor) but the threads on that male fitting are not the standard 1/4" NPT thread, so forget about just screwing in a standard male fitting into the MV so you can use a standard air hose.

I built a two-outlet "Y" hose with a digital gauge and ball valve so I can fill two tires at the same time. I tested it out a couple of days ago, and it works great. Definitely seems faster than my MV. There is a bleeder at the end of my hose that allows me to air down two tires at the same time as well.

As syncrodoka says - whatever hose you have, get rid of the screw-on ends and use a clip or push on fitting. I used these push-on air chucks when I built my hose: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01938M8MW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The quality of the Viair over the MV50 is pretty obvious with them both in front of you. I don't expect the Viair to last forever but it seems better built than my old MV so we shall see...

Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:15 pm

I agree. I have never had a Viair, but the quality reputation is pretty well established. The popularity of the SuperFlow pumps is purely due to price and how quickly they inflate tires. Most people really like them but only because they are cheap.

The MV-90 is the fastest portable compressor you can buy for $150. It tied the ARB CKMP12 in an inflation test which is $340. For faster inflation you would probably want an on board system and tank.

I don't think the Viair 300 or even the 400P are quite as fast as the MV-50 but probably close enough not to matter. The specs are pretty similar, they all pull 30 amps max. The 400 is about 10% faster than the 300 which is not that much. So at $120 vs. $160 the 300 might be a better value if that matters. What I don't like about them is the low recommended run times, 33% duty cycle. But they are probably just be more truthful than the others.

The problem with the faster higher quality brands is the price. When you get up to the 3.08 CFM Viair 440P at about $250, and the ARB CKMP12 portable at $340 you can make a better onboard system for the same $$ or less.

It comes down to Quality vs Speed for all these match ups.
For ~$60, you can get the Viair 88P or the MV-50. The SB2780 is ~$40 more.
For $150, you can get the Viair 400P or MV-90. The SB2781 is ~$30 more.
For $120, you can get the Viair 300P or the MV-89 dual piston.

Because I had good luck with my MV-50, I personally will keep my eyes out for a great sale on the MV-90 or MV-89. I really want the faster speed. My MV-50 I am pretty sure is as fast as the Viairs so I wouldn't really be gaining anything.

Sun Jan 21, 2018 8:17 pm

I’ve owned a MV-50 for several years and it served its purpose quite well. But I’ve always wanted to do the ARB CKMTA12 Twin on board air setup. So last spring pulled the trigger. Big investment but super fast, and the hum of that twin piston...

Fits like it was meant to go there.

Accessible quick connect behind license plate.

Switch inside behind the driver’s seat

I ended up getting a 25’ straight hose as it coils up smaller then the spiral hose and fits right up under the back cabinet. Been quite happy with the whole install and function. Super fast and functional.