Air inflator choices

Posted by jdmjaydc2@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 21 comments

Looking at a few options to top off my tires in the truck and wanted to see what other owners are using.

Met another car hauler and he saw me taking years to top off all mine using air line from the truck and let me use his milwaukee

Is this Bauer one any good? I have one of the Amazon ones for my car and it works great as well not sure on this larger one. Maybe it wouldn't get too hot being bigger

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scottiethegoonie@reddit

Get the cheaper inflator but run it on genuine Milwaukee M18 batteries only.

It eats batteries but might be quicker than running the gladhand line. Both are slow as shit.

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SumyungNam@reddit

M18 milwaukee if you hack it its like $112

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Ornery_Ads@reddit

Buy this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-High-Output-Starter-Kit-with-Two-6-0-Ah-Battery-and-Charger-48-59-1862S/315426486

Get this "free":https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Electric-Portable-Inflator-Tool-Only-2848-20/320022879

When you look at them in your cart, you'll see that they are actually charging you for each item at a discounted rate.

Once you receive them, you can return the batteries and keep just the inflator for the $120 (plus tax). Obviously that's only useful if you don't need batteries.

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hotdog11inch@reddit

Air hose to the glad hands why would you use anything else

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Ornery_Ads@reddit

The tire inflator is much faster to set up, pack up, and to fill the tire.

The big one for me is that you can walk away. You set it to the psi you want and hit go. If the tire explodes, you're far enough away that it can't get you.

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Mindes13@reddit

Having to pull out hose, drag it around, wait for compressor to build up pressure, wind house back up and put away.

Truck compressor typically isn't set high enough to do steers at their cold psi

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I’ve never had to wait to build pressure. It just works instantly. While you do have to take the hose out and put it away, I don’t see how that’s significantly more cumbersome than taking out a whole air compressor and hose.

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hotdog11inch@reddit

I have never had any issues airing up any tires using the trucks air

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Ornery_Ads@reddit

Milwaukee all the way.
I have not seen a better/more versatile unit for the money.

Also, they have by far the best grease gun.
While you're buying tools, the M18 1" impact is really good.

Oops, no money left

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MostOriginalNameEver@reddit

Doesn't make sense at all to use these. Get the FLEXIBLE hose that connects to your trucks glad hands. Why put batteries and the device over heating into the equation?

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jdmjaydc2@reddit (OP)

It takes too long imo The milwaukee had it topped off in a minute or so

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Saikotek@reddit

I use the M18 on a regular basis. It'll kill a small battery to inflate a single from flat to be able to drive on. My 8ah can handle it with a little extra juice. For top ups from 60 or so psi, it works pretty well. You may want to have a couple batteries still if you're doing several tires.

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Efficient_Ostrich_54@reddit

Blocked

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Dual-use@reddit

I just have an air line that hooks up to the trailer supply line. Probably the cheapest option of them all

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PeakNo6892@reddit

I have used the m18 and it's great but eats through batteries fast.

Now I'm using the air hose that hooks up to your glad hands

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PeakNo6892@reddit

air hose

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teadybearlemonbutter@reddit

When in doubt, project farm!

https://youtu.be/kWNYjkh-JyI?si=xFHmXt62hTVYHzVh

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jdmjaydc2@reddit (OP)

I love his stuff but not sure if his tests will answer my needs as I will be topping off multiple tires and his tests are usually inflate a car tire from empty but worth a 2nd watch

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teadybearlemonbutter@reddit

I think he covers how hot each inflator gets, and he pushes to max psi with each. As much as I love harbor freight, I’ve heard that m18 is killer. Home Depot usually has a combo battery/tool deal. If efficiency is your concern, I’d shoot for the Milwaukee m18 if you can afford it. For my personal vehicle I have the little m12 and it gets the job done pretty quickly too