The 5 Best 12v Air Compressor Units

Why would anyone buy one of these Machines?

Well, if a three-year-old has just learned how to let down a tire and is polishing his skills on your car (this happened to me not long ago) that is one reason to buy a 12v air compressor.

They are also great for everyday flat tire roadside problems. They will maintain lawn-mower tires, bike tires, footballs and swimming pool floats of all kinds. If you like the outdoor life, far away from gas stations and repair shops, they can get you out of a hole you might not want to be in.

Even if you never stray more than a few miles from a gas station, they can save you the frustrations of finding quarters and then running from tire to tire with an air hose like a crazy person.

What Sets the Models Apart?

I can tell you now that the main complaints about these products are noise (some of them make you long for ear muffs), cable length and air hose length. Some of the very cheap models have poor build quality and should be avoided. So if you are selecting a product, these issues might be the things to think about. Apart from that, some models are made for normal car tires, some for truck size tires.

Models to Choose From

I have had great service from a Wagan but there are plenty of other models out there. I picked out the 5 best models based on user reviews by Amazon and Target buyers.

Amazon is a good place to browse these items even if you are not planning on buying online. The user reviews will tell you straight what the product is about. If someone bought a turkey they are not shy about letting the world know.

A couple of things worth buying with any Air Compressor

Pressure gauges in air compressors aren't always easy to read and often give a reading to no better than the nearest 2 or 3 psi, so it is worth buying an accurate gauge. If you over-inflate the tire a little you can let out air and use the gauge to get a perfect setting.

A standard wall outlet to 12v adaptor can be handy for garage use.

If you buy one of the cheaper air compressors you will probably need a cigarette lighter plug extension cable. The cables supplied are often no more than 12 inches long and the air cables equally short.

Slime COMP06 Pro Power Heavy-Duty Tire Inflator

Nobody has anything bad to say about this model (seriously- that makes it unique). It has a generous 16 foot PVC air hose with quick-connect cabling. Add that to an extension electrical cable (described above) and you will reach all the tires easily. The built-in pressure gauge is readable in increments of 2 psi. The permanent magnetic motor is durable and quiet. There are plenty of adapters for toys, balls etc.

It works up to 130 psi and will inflate 0 to 28 psi in about 3 minutes.

It is low vibration so no dancing away along the road while in use!

A bargain at around $50.00 online.

VIAIR Portable Compressors

VIAIR Portable 12V Compressors are some of the best performers on the market.

The heavy-duty VIAIR 00073 70P model is slightly cheaper than the Slime Pro-power above and is broadly comparable in its specification. It has a very generous 16ft power cable and a 4ft air hose. The stainless-steel braided air hose will last well and never get kinks. It will inflate a typical flat tire in about 4 minutes and can handle heavy-duty pickup and RV tires. The neat compact design is easy to carry and the bag supplied is sturdy enough to protect the unit in a trunk.

The VIAIR 450P (the large picture above) is the Rolls-Royce of air compressors and is powerful enough to inflate even a 37-inch tire in about 5 minutes from flat. Power is taken direct from the vehicle's battery with heavy-duty clamps to satisfy its appetite for juice without overheating issues. The pressure gauge is larger then most, easy to read and can be set to automatic for accurate topping off.

The only drawback is the price. It is around $300 online but with a list price of twice that. This is a unit that will last a lifetime, though.

Master Flow MF-1050 Tsunami High Volume Portable Air Compressor

This is not a cheap unit, but it is one of the most reliable and can tackle big tires like RV tires needing 150 psi. It has alligator clip connectors so there is no problem with overheating plugs. The cables and air hose are big enough to get around any ordinary vehicle. The unit is quiet and it doesn't vibrate like crazy. Some people are critical of the air hose- it is hard to replace if you need a new one for any reason.

Campbell Hausfeld RP3200 with Work Light

This unit will vibrate and it can take off on its own if you not holding it down! At the same time it, will get the job done and it has a tough construction that will resist the knocks these units get in a car trunk.

It has a powerful work light and even a flashing hazard light for night emergencies.

There is also a built in pressure gauge and different nozzles for bicycle tires and inflatable toys.

Slime COMP03 12-Volt Air Compressor with Gauge and Light (300 PSI)

Very lightweight and compact, this is one of the best cheap models. It's a good choice for keeping around for those flat moments on the the road when help is far away and you don't want to change a tire. You should expect plenty of vibration and noise though.

It will take 4 or 5 minutes to inflate the average tire from flat. It claims to work up to 300 psi but I wouldn't buy it for an RV.

Build quality is an issue so don't buy this if you are looking to use it too often. Cables and air hose are short, so it will need the extensions mentioned above.

Black & Decker ASI500 12-Volt Cordless Air Station Inflator

This is a versatile machine. It can operate on its internal batteries or from a cigarette lighter outlet in your car. On batteries only, it will pump up four standard car tires from flat on a full charge. It has a low pressure setting for air mattresses, balls etc. The pressure gauge is more sensitive than many and is accurate to 1 psi- though some people complain it is small and hard to read. The battery needs a 4 to 5 hour charge to bring it up to full capacity.

Black & Decker VEC026BD Electromate 400 Jump-Starter with Built-In Air Compressor

This machine will jump start your car if the battery is flat and pump up your tyres if they are flat- expect up to 15 minutes a tire, though. It also has two standard AC outlets to run a laptop or charge a cell phone. Useful in any emergency or for camping or fishing trips. Just don't expect to run a coffee maker!

A few useful links

If you are interested in Slime automotive products for tire-care including their compressors, this page is a good start: Slime 12v air compressor

Black and Decker Tire inflaters can be found on this page: air-inflators compressors

Wagan have a page of their tire inflaters here: www.wagan.