On-Board Air Compressors: A Handy Tool for Your 4x4

How many of us have aired our tires down for the trail, and then creep slowly to the service station afterward to pay them for their compressor use? I know I have, and so have most all of my trail buddies. Have you ever considered installing a mini-compressor right on the rig? Not only will it save money and time, but it can also be of great value when out on the trail.

These units range greatly in price, from just a few dollars to over five hundred for the best quality compressors. Which one is right for you? In my opinion, stay away from the twenty to thirty dollar ones, they are horrible and WILL break on you after just a few uses. For the occasional wheeler who likes a scenic trail now and again, I recommend spending at least fifty or sixty dollars on a compressor from an auto parts store.

For the trail lover who is in the sticks every weekend, I recommend spending a couple hundred dollars on the compressor. It will have a higher volume, a 100% duty cycle, and will be there when you need it, every time. Why let a flat tire get in the way of your good trip? Throw a plug in it and air it back up! A high quality compressor also fills up big, beefy off-road tires quicker, so at the end of the trail you won't have to stand around as long.

For the hardcore or competition trail runner, I recommend a very high-volume compressor with a tank. The tank is able to store a much higher volume of air, allowing the use of air-tools or even reseating a bead should a tire actually spin off of the rim due to low pressure. These setups are in the three to five hundred dollar range, but when every second counts in a competition, or when running a nasty trail two or three rigs in your group break and are in need of an air-ratchet or impact gun, your compressor is there and ready for use.

Depending on the size and shape of each particular compressor, mounting can be done any one of a thousand ways. I have seen the big full-size trucks run them on their fender wells in the engine bay or right in the bed, I have seen the Cherokee crowd mount them in the rear cargo area, and have seen Wranglers mount them just about everywhere except the driver's seat. Just remember to keep the wiring and air lines safely out of the way!

There are also engine-driven compressors, which basically transforms your air conditioning unit into a high-volume air compressor. These are a super cool item to have on the trail, and have the ability to fill things up FAST. Kits are sold to convert your current AC unit, or they can be purchased as complete, ready-to-go compressors. There are alternatives, such as filling up a separate tank with air or CO2 before you leave home, and using just that reserve for the trail. These tanks can be very efficient and fill up quite a few big tires, but I still prefer having a compressor on board. There's just something cool about firing it up at the end of the trail and asking other, less prepared off-road enthusiasts if they would like some air.