Tire Inflation

[jmart273]

Getting ready to take the RV out of storage (first time using it) and wanted to check the tires and inflate if needed. How do you guys do this? The air pump I have has a cord long enough to do my truck tires, but no where near long enough for the RV. Help a brother out please! Thanks!

Josh

[Ken / Claudia]

I am a simple guy so, a couple of simple ideas. 1 if the tires are real low. To me that would be they look low. Get air to them before moving the trailer. I would park truck next to the trailer run the air hose the few feet over to them. Or get a 110v air compressor or air tank either can be 40 to 50 bucks. 2 If your talking about they just need topped off. Move the trailer out of the park spot to a location that will allow you to park the truck next to it. I have means to do all the above. During travel I pull truck next to the RV or boat trailer and use the 12v pump. I am guessing here that your using a 12v pump that plugs into power socket. You can get a longer wire connection for those. Maybe 10 to 15 ft longer if needed.

[notanlines]

What Ken ^^^^^said, plus keep in mind how many members there are on this site.....every one of us has a different way to handle your situation. We carry a pancake compressor, 16" tires are a little harder to air up because of the 100-110 psi.

[bsmith0404]

longer air hose, extension cord....even the 12 volt compressors have extension cords available for them, check best buy or amazon.

[sourdough]

^^^All of the above. We carry a pancake compressor with a 50' hose/AC extension cord, a ViAir 400 12v compressor with its 50' hose plus a 12v extension cord and a little 12v compressor for piddly stuff when I don't want to mess with the heavier ones.....and have a lot of time When you are running 80 - 100psi the 12v compressors struggle unless you pay at least a couple hundred bucks and even then they're nothing like a pancake unit. As was said in another thread "it's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it".

[SummitPond]

Would the 12V socket that is in the trailer's TV antenna connection (as found in our model, I assume it is in all of them) work for this?

[JRTJH]

The Winegard TV amplifier owner's manual has this warning:

"WARNING: Do not connect high current devices such as hair dryers to +12 volt receptacle on wall plate/amplifier. Maximum current ratings of this receptacle is 7.5 amps at +12 VDC."

Most "capable" 12 volt air compressors operate in the 15 - 30 amp range and aren't going to be capable of using the TV amplifier "cigarette lighter plug" for power.

To be sure, look at the 12 volt power requirement for the specific compressor and if the "input power requirement" is greater than 7.5 amps, then the answer will be NO, you can't use it with the TV amplifier plug.

[Tbos]

Oops, I'm guilty of using my 12 volt compressor with the cord out either a window or door sobI can reach my tires. Now I'll have to check and see if it has a label about the current it draws. All that being said it worked well when I couldn't get the truck near it and didn't have my home compressor with me.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2014 Silverado 1500 LT in Deep Forest Green

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by jmart273

Getting ready to take the RV out of storage (first time using it) and wanted to check the tires and inflate if needed. How do you guys do this? The air pump I have has a cord long enough to do my truck tires, but no where near long enough for the RV. Help a brother out please! Thanks!

Josh

I'm guessing you are using a 12v compressor that plugs into the dash? When I used one of those I ran a line (#10 automotive wire) from the camper battery (fused of course) back to the axle and T'd it off to each side. Just in front of the first axle on each side installed a weatherproof plug grounded to the frame. Came in handy for phone charger outside as well as a place to plug in a macerator pump on the driver side. The worst thing you can do is use a pre made extension cord as they are typically undersized in wire gauge for such a heavy load. Now, I have a compressor with a 3 gal tank in the bed of the truck for the air bags and air horn and use a 50' hose that makes that chore go much faster!

[TravlinOn]

I now have the 12v compressor with 50ft hose, but before I did, I would always take the emergency battery jumper out of our 2nd vehicle and put it in addition to the jumper in my truck. Connect one jumper to the 12 air compressor, the 2nd jumper to the first, then connect to the truck battery which had already been turned and parked as close to the trailer as possible.

No problem but I always watch carefully not to let any connection touch another and always placed something dry under the connections.

Cheap and easy, but always be careful.

[Tbos]

Originally Posted by flybouy

Now, I have a compressor with a 3 gal tank in the bed of the truck for the air bags and air horn and use a 50' hose that makes that chore go much faster!

How do you run your 3 gal compressor? Mine requires shore power.




2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2014 Silverado 1500 LT in Deep Forest Green

[jmart273]

Thanks for all the great replies. I just got permission from the boss and she's allowing me to buy a Viair 400PA off amazon and a 50 ft hose.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by jmart273

Thanks for all the great replies. I just got permission from the boss and she's allowing me to buy a Viair 400PA off amazon and a 50 ft hose.

The Viairs come with a coiled hose that are useless. I tried to extend mine on the first use. It kinked and that was it. It has a regular 1/4"? connection so I just fixed up a hose and that's what I use with it. The Viair is probably the best 12v compressor out there but you have to get the one that meets your needs....and they can get expensive when you get to onboard air storage etc.

[jmart273]

From what I've seen I agree that Viair looks like a great product. Every compressor I've ever bought (mostly hotdogs and pancakes) all come with that crap hose. They're almost worthless and never last long. So I just got the 50 foot one to start with, and will hook up the connections when it comes in.

[Alpine]

Yup... Viair 400P RV! I air up my Alpine's tires to 115lbs.

[CWtheMan]

Tires 20% below recommended inflation pressures are considered to be in a “run flat” condition and may not be serviceable. Overloaded tires don't have to be driven down the road to be damaged beyond use.

15 amp extension cords are reasonably priced at any big box department store.

[the sodfather]

I have one of these.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-12-...2120/204260884

Also have a tiny pancake compressor.

Different tools for different situations.

[flybouy]

[QUOTE=Tbos;222706]How do you run your 3 gal compressor? Mine requires shore power.
Most people use a Viair 12V compressor/storage tank. Mine is a Wolo brand because I found a great deal on it when I bought an air horn from them.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by jmart273

From what I've seen I agree that Viair looks like a great product. Every compressor I've ever bought (mostly hotdogs and pancakes) all come with that crap hose. They're almost worthless and never last long. So I just got the 50 foot one to start with, and will hook up the connections when it comes in.

X2 on the hose. I have several in the garage to choose from but they are heavy duty and bulky. One day while browsing in Wally World I found this light, economical ($15) hose - Campbell-Hausfeld PA117801AV 50' PVC Air Hose. Light weight and flexible. Just an FWIW.

[bsmith0404]

If you want a good quality/compact air hose that is durable, get the ones designed for construction sites to run air nailers. This is the one I have and love it.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hitachi-Pro...r-Hose/3033412