Air Compressor:
Craftsman 2-gallon Portable Air Compressor or similar 0.5 HP, 2-3 gallon air compressor
Recommended Accessories:
- Tire Inflator With Gauge
- 1/4″ Air Hose (25 feet recommended)
- Quick Coupler and plugs
- Blow Out Plug With Quick Connect
To perform tire maintenance and winterize your trailer, you will find an air compressor is an invaluable tool. While the little electric tire inflators say they will go to the 80 PSI needed for truck and trailer tires; after several tries, I found they just were not able to inflate trailer and truck tires to these pressures. I have found a small tank (2-3 gallon) portable air compressor is needed to inflate trailer and truck tires to the higher pressures needed.
While I bought a 3-gallon Briggs and Stratton Portable Air Compressor at Walmart while on the road, this Craftsman 2-gallon Portable Air Compressor should also do the job as well. The smaller tank will make it easier to store and transport, but it may have to recharge more when filling tires; especially if they are more than few pounds low after sitting at the storage lot between trips.
In addition to having a high enough pressure to inflate the tires, I wanted an air compressor that could run off a single, 1800-Watt generator. I had been using a 20-gallon air compressor to inflate the tires and blow out the water lines, but the 1.8 HP motor drew too much power on start-up for a single, 1800-Watt generator to handle; so, I couldn’t use this air compressor at the storage lot. Not that I wanted to haul this big air compressor around either. At 0.5 to 0.67 HP, a single, 1800-Watt generator can easily handle the startup power and run these compressors allowing me to use the air compressor at the storage lot or on the road.
Another option is a cordless, battery-operated air compressor like the Dewalt Flexvolt 2.5-gallon Air Compressor. This air compressor has the convenience of not needing a generator while at the storage lot or on the side of the road, but it is also much more expensive. Since I already have a generator for boondocking and most of the time there is power at the campground or home; I am fine hauling the generator to the storage lot to check tire pressures or perform quick winterizations. I also addresses my fear that every time I would go to use a battery-operated air compressor, the battery would be dead.
In order to use the air compressor to inflate your tires, you will need to buy a tire inflator and, if not included with the air compressor, about 25 feet of air hose. The 25 feet or more of air hose is so you can walk to the other side of the trailer or RV without hauling the air compressor around. Also, depending on the tire inflator, you will need to buy quick connect plugs for use with a quick connector on the air hose. Having quick connects on your air hose and air tools makes it a lot easier to set up and change tools.
In addition to inflating the tires, I use the air compressor to blow out the freshwater lines before adding antifreeze in the winter (or for a quick blowout for late/early season freezes during camping season). To connect the air hose to the freshwater system, you will need a blowout plug to screw into the city water connection. I have the blowout plug with the quick connect so it is easy to connect on/off the hose and to switch between the tire inflator.
With the pressure set to 25 psi to keep from damaging the water lines; the 3-gallon air compressor is more than sufficient to blow out all the lines in the trailer. Since the 3-gallon air compressor is sufficient, I am assuming the Craftsman 2-gallon Portable Air Compressor will also work well, although it may need to recharge the tank during the process. This smaller air compressor is a lot easier to work with than the 20-gallon air compressor I use to blow out the household sprinkling system.
I wish I had found and bought a smaller, portable air compressor as one of the first things when for the travel trailer and tow vehicle. The passenger car tire inflators just can’t handle the pressure and volume of these tires. I use this compressor all the time to check tire pressures and to blow out the freshwater system; including on long trips, I haul it with me to check the tire pressures along the way.
– @sowewentdad
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