You may not think you need a portable air compressor, but if you keep an RV, you might want to rethink your options. It’s quite common for RVs to require tire inflation while parked.
This is because the weight of the vehicle and the moisture in the ground place pressure on the tires and cause them to lose air. That’s why it’s important to know which type of portable compressor is best for your needs, attachments included.
Here are some reviews of compressors that we think should be considered by someone who needs one. We will tell you our likes, dislikes and crown one of them as champion.
Why trust us? We review products daily for our devoted readers to help them with their buying decisions. They value our honest and unbiased opinions and we really appreciate them putting their trust in us.
What is the best portable air compressor? Read all the way through our review to find out!
COMPARISON CHART
1. VIAIR 45053 450P-RV
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2. VIAIR 40047 400P-RV
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3. TIREWELL 12V 150PSI RV TIRE INFLATOR
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4. PORTER-CABLE CMB15 AIR COMPRESSOR KIT
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5. EPAUTO 12V DC PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR PUMP
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Specification
BRAND | VIAIR |
VOLTAGE | 12V DC |
HOSE LENGTH | 60 FOOT TOTAL |
MAX PSI | 150 PSI |
UNIVERSAL FIT? | YES |
ITEM DIMENSIONS | 10.9 x 5.8 x 7.5 INCHES |
ITEM WEIGHT | 18 POUNDS |
WARRANTY | 1 YEAR |
The 450P-RV compressor was created for RVs traveling long distances and towable RVs.
It is extremely durable and comes with all the right features such as an accurate gauge, 60-foot hose (combined) length, 150 PSI max power, and lots more.
The only thing to add about this is that sometimes it’s hard to get one because of demand.
The kit comes in a very handy utility bag and includes great little items such as a tire pressure regulator, inflation tips, and other goodies.
One thing that we like about this compressor is that it’s very easy to connect to the RV tires. The kit even comes with one of those 45 degree extended chucks for those that use a dual tire setup.
At 18 pounds, it’s much lighter than some traditional air compressors with a hose, which can weigh 25 or more pounds.
But does it work as advertised? We would have to say yes. From the150 PSI output to the universal fit, the VIAIR 450P-RV has got your RVs back!
Even if you don’t need to air your tires but don’t have a compressor, you might want to give this one a try, as it can be used for a host of other duties.
WHAT WE LIKE
It’s a great, very portable, and affordable compressor that comes in a package that is very similar to other portable air compressors on the market. The 45053 compressor is a great option for anyone who needs an RV air compressor that’s compact and relatively lightweight.
PROS
- 60 FOOT (2 – 30 FOOT HOSES COMBINED) TOTAL HOSE LENGTH IS VERY NICE FOR REACHING NEARLY AND TIRE
- DEFLATES AS WELL AS INFLATES
- ANTI-VIBRATION MEASURES WORK VERY WELL
- COMES WITH THE 45 DEGREE CHUCK FOR DUAL TIRE SETUP
CONS
- COULD USE HIGHER QUALITY ACCESSORIES
- NOT THE FASTEST COMPRESSOR BUT IT CERTAINLY GETS THE JOB DONE
Specification
BRAND | VIAIR |
VOLTAGE | 12V DC |
HOSE LENGTH | 60 FOOT TOTAL |
MAX PSI | 150 PSI |
UNIVERSAL FIT? | YES |
ITEM DIMENSIONS | 10.87 x 5.83 x 7.48 INCHES |
ITEM WEIGHT | 10.75 POUNDS |
WARRANTY | 1 YEAR |
VIAIR makes some of the best RV aftermarket accessories around, and the 400P-RV portable air compressor is a great tool to have in your vehicle.
This unit is ideal for pumping air into your vehicle’s tires. The 400P-RV is equipped with a range of features including anti-vibration, a speed control, deflator, and many other features. It’s worth a look for any RV owner!
At only 10 pounds, we like how small it is when packed up for travel. We like that the kit comes with a bag to keep everything together and all the necessary fittings for attaching to the vehicle’s air system.
That said, we do agree with some buyers about the hoses becoming quite stiff and unmanageable when exposed to cold weather. Some of the accessories do feel a bit cheap or brittle, but we had no real problems using them.
WHAT WE LIKE
The most important attribute of a portable compressor is that it can operate for an extended amount of time. The design of the 400P-RV means that you will be able to use it for at least 40 minutes straight at max PSI before needing to let it cool down.
PROS
- STURDY DESIGN MEANT TO LAST A LONG TIME
- COMPLETE KIT, HAS EVERYTHING YOU’LL NEED
CONS
- SOME ACCESSORIES FEEL A IT CHEAP
- THE HOSES WILL BECOME VERY STIFF IN COLD WEATHER
Specification
BRAND | TW2003 |
VOLTAGE | 12V DC |
HOSE LENGTH | 16 FOOT TOTAL |
MAX PSI | 150 PSI |
UNIVERSAL FIT? | YES |
ITEM DIMENSIONS | 9.88 x 4.26 x 8.26 INCHES |
ITEM WEIGHT | 7.26 POUNDS |
WARRANTY | 30 DAYS ONLINE RETAILER, 3 YEARS CORE COMPONENTS |
We found the Tirewell Inflator to be a real trooper for us. Not only does it produce powerful compressed air, but it also has an aluminum housing that keeps the vibration down!
If you want to be able to check your tire pressures without having to lug the tires around or do it yourself, this is a good solution for you. It’s one of the best tools you can use to be sure your tires are properly inflated, and it’s pretty affordable!
The Tirewell has both a 12v plug and battery connectors which may come in handy if you need to use your generator or additional power to operate your compressor.
In addition, we found that the compressor didn’t seem to get hot during our testing, which is really nice. Other things like the built-in handle are a nice addition.
WHAT WE LIKE
This air compressor includes A screw-type universal nozzle tip, plenty of other tips for other devices, and everything you need to get your tires inflated. You get a lot of bang for the buck. This compressor comes with a one-year warranty and its price point puts it in line with high-quality compressor options on the market.
PROS
- FAST AND EFFICIENT
- UNIQUES DESIGN HELPS TO REDUCE VIBRATION QUITE A BIT
CONS
- POWER CORD CAN BE A BIT SHORT DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF YOUR RV
- DEVICE CAN BLOW THE FUSE ON THE 12V (CIGARETTE LIGHTER) CONNECTOR IF THE CONNECTOR IS NOT AT LEAST 15 AMPS
Specification
BRAND | PORTER-CABLE |
VOLTAGE | 120V, CORDED |
HOSE LENGTH | 25 FOOT TOTAL |
MAX PSI | 150 PSI |
UNIVERSAL FIT? | YES |
ITEM DIMENSIONS | 15.5 x 13.25 x 20.5 INCHES |
ITEM WEIGHT | 20 POUNDS |
WARRANTY | 1 YEAR |
When we checked out the CMB15 from PORTER-CABLE, we found the product to be a nice air compressor for RVs. It features easy-to-read pressure gauges for both tank capacity and regulated pressure, which is very convenient.
The compressor turns on and turns off automatically when it reaches the set pressure. We didn’t find the noise level annoying or anything like that, and the compressor does what it says it will.
Also, it has an attractive, sort of retro look that we think will appeal to RVers and travelers alike. Overall, the device is easy to set up and you can get started quickly.
This CMB15 is a corded device, which means you’ll need a wall socket to plug into. This will be no problem for RVs with this feature, but the car, truck, and SUV owners need to make sure your vehicle has a standard house-style outlet because you can never guarantee when you might need the air.
We would also recommend buying a very good quality extension cord for the device.
WHAT WE LIKE
The kit comes with a 25-foot long tubing that allows you to reach most tires without having to move the device around too much. The air canister has a very durable outer plastic shell, and a telescoping air hose that fits into a standard RV air intake valve.
PROS
- CAPABLE DEVICE THAT CAN DEFINITELY SERVICE YOUR RV TIRES
- DURABLE DESIGN THAT HAS NO PROBLEMS STARTING IN THE COLDEST WEATHER
CONS
- CORDED DEVICE, YOU WILL NEED A STANDARD HOUSE OUTLET FOR POWER
- POWER CORD IS ONLY AROUND 8 FOOT LONG, SO YOU’LL NEED AN EXTENSION CORD
Specification
BRAND | EPAUTO |
VOLTAGE | 12V DC |
HOSE LENGTH | 2 FOOT |
MAX PSI | 70 PSI |
UNIVERSAL FIT? | YES |
ITEM DIMENSIONS | 9.49 x 7.36 x 5.39 INCHES |
ITEM WEIGHT | 2.27 POUNDS |
WARRANTY | 2 YEAR |
This is one of the lightest compressors on the market today. It can fit any place within your RV while taking up very little room. With its non-skid feet, it will go securely around your RV and is great for the back of your tow vehicle.
As an additional benefit, you can use this compressor to hold any air hose you need to attach to the tire. This unit is great for most RV trailer owners.
The compressor has a very readable pressure display that you can easily see both day and night. It also has a very strong flashlight built into it.
We would say that as long as you know what you are buying, you shouldn’t be disappointed with it. With that said, you’ll need to ask yourself the following:
Q: Is the compressor powerful enough to inflate my RV tires?
A: Yes and no, leaning more towards NO! Why do we say this?
By the manufacturer’s own recommendation, the compressor “Does NOT Support truck tires, for instance: light truck tires (LT), heavy-duty truck tires or any truck tires.”
If your RV is actually the type you haul behind your car, we guess it might suit you. But if your RV is its own vehicle, we would say you’d be wasting your time with this compressor.
Even if you are hauling your RV with a truck or large SUV, we don’t see the sense in purchasing this device since you can’t service your (larger) vehicle tires with it. If you are servicing cars or a smallish trailer then you should be fine.
We really cannot recommend this compressor for the RV way of life unless you need it for lighter tasks.
WHAT WE LIKE
The EPAuto is easy to use with no struggle to get the air compressor to deliver the proper PSI and is perfect for RV owners on the go. We like the overall compact size of this compressor. It’s also easy to transport.
PROS
- GREAT COMPRESSOR FOR LIGHTWEIGHT DUTIES
- UNIVERSAL FIT AND COMES WITH ALL SORTS OF ADAPTERS FOR INFLATING DIFFERENT THINGS
- AUTO SHUTOFF FEATURE IS ALWAYS HANDY
CONS
- IF YOUR RV IS A FULL VEHICLE, THEN THIS DEVICE CANNOT BE USED TO SERVICE THE TIRES
- COMPRESSOR CANNOT SERVICE TRUCK TIRES OF ANY TYPE
- MAX 70 PSI OUTPUT WILL NOT BE STRONG ENOUGH FOR LARGE VEHICLES
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article about the best portable air compressor for RV Tires. Our top recommendation goes to the VIAIR 45053 450P-RV AUTOMATIC PORTABLE COMPRESSOR KIT.
The compressor has all the qualities and more importantly, the power to keep your tires inflated when you need it the most.