tire inflators at all the gas stations are closed down?

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

People get all excited about the Milwaukee and other cordless inflators. Why? You have a battery waiting to go flat dead or be a fire hazard and leave you stranded and in a bad situation unless its charged.
Get a GOOD quality 12V lighter compressors for your car. If you don't have 12V you are not going anywhere anyway and that way you can stash it in your car and not worry about battarey charge.

 

[IndyIan]

We have a bike floor pump in each car. They always work. Usually we have a kid around to run it too. Mostly I use them for adjusting the tire pressure on the mountain bikes, but it seems the trailer always needs a few psi added for a big load.

 

[Tdbo]

Spend more (like $50) to get one that isn't going to overheat and melt the internal seals.

I spent $50 for one that pulled enough amps that it blew the fuse to the 12V outlet in the Accord, every time it was used.
Did the same thing as Elkins, except I cobbled my own together with supplies that I happened to have handy.

 

[zzyzzx]

I spent $50 for one that pulled enough amps that it blew the fuse to the 12V outlet in the Accord, every time it was used.
Did the same thing as Elkins, except I cobbled my own together with supplies that I happened to have handy.

So, replacing the fuse with one made in China wasn't an option?

 

[zzyzzx]

We have a bike floor pump in each car. They always work. Usually we have a kid around to run it too. Mostly I use them for adjusting the tire pressure on the mountain bikes, but it seems the trailer always needs a few psi added for a big load.

Just try inflating a completely empty vehicle tire with one of those.

 

[Tdbo]

So, replacing the fuse with one made in China wasn't an option?

No, it wasn't.

 

[IndyIan]

Just try inflating a completely empty vehicle tire with one of those.

As long as the bead is still seated, you can blow it up. 5 sets of 30 pumps does move some air, and gets some burn going in the triceps, but still only takes 3-4 minutes. I guess if you have a big LT tire you need to get to 80 psi, that would take a while! But you would need a pretty decent 12V compressor too, as the cheapies will melt down before you do even one of those tires....
I think the most I've put in a Passenger tire was something like 120-150 pumps and the first 60 are pretty easy as the pressure was very low.

 

[Thebigm]

A while back I had a leaky tire that I usually added air via my 60 gallon quincy at home. Anyways, I forgot one day and I was like oh well I'll just stop at the gas station and use one of those pumps. I went to four different gas stations, didn't matter what station it was, everyone had a bag over their inflation station. A year later, I noticed the same thing. These pumps are still blocked off. Why??? Did something happen with these? How is someone supposed to inflate their tires? I keep a 10 gallon portable air tank in my truck at all times, so it's rarely an issue for me. I just think it's weird that every pump in a 20 mile radius is closed off.

$1.50 in NYC

 

[Elkins45]

Just try inflating a completely empty vehicle tire with one of those.

I used to inflate my boat trailer tires with a hand pump back in the day, and I still carry one in addition to the Air Station. While it’s certainly not my first choice it’s nice to have the manual option. I just have to remember to oil it occasionally so the seal doesn’t dry out.

 

[Rmay635703]

Even a very busy Kwik Trip had the hose chopped off the tire inflator (went to top off my Hondas one leaky rim but no dice.

Was surprised because KT usually keeps one running air pump.

 

[Dave Hess]

I bought this for $45 on Amazon and I really like it.
I charge the battery with AC wall power, not the cigarette lighter outlet.

AVID POWER Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor, 20V Cordless Car Tire Pump, Rechargeable Battery Powered Air Compressor w/12V DC Adapter, Digital Pressure Gauge​

 

[D60]

People get all excited about the Milwaukee and other cordless inflators. Why? You have a battery waiting to go flat dead or be a fire hazard and leave you stranded and in a bad situation unless its charged.
Get a GOOD quality 12V lighter compressors for your car. If you don't have 12V you are not going anywhere anyway and that way you can stash it in your car and not worry about battarey charge.

I guess because some of us handle several Milwaukee batteries a day. I think ahead if a big trip and check it.

But IME a Milwaukee battery will hold a charge at 3 to 4 dots (75 to 100%) for YEARS. I keep checking the 5.0 on my emergency impact wrench.

As for the fire thing, meh I've got bigger concerns. We are sitting over 20+ gallons of extremely volatile fluid anyway.

But YES, once you've exhausted a battery you're SOL unless you have a spare. I keep a 12.0 in mine and if you need enough air to pull a 12.0 down more than one dot, you're stranded anyway.

It's not an inexpensive proposition and a cigarette lighter unit is certainly way more affordable

 

[ragtoplvr]

I have a friend with 5 convenience stores. It is vandalism. Between that and theft he wants to sell them all.

Rod.

 

[Rmay635703]

I have a friend with 5 convenience stores. It is vandalism. Between that and theft he wants to sell them all.

Rod.

Be like the old days where there isn’t a bathroom without keys, and everything is behind the counter with a wall of glass around the attendant.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

I bought this for $45 on Amazon and I really like it.
I charge the battery with AC wall power, not the cigarette lighter outlet.

AVID POWER Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor, 20V Cordless Car Tire Pump, Rechargeable Battery Powered Air Compressor w/12V DC Adapter, Digital Pressure Gauge​

View attachment 237359

YES, real nice.

I found those about 12-18 month back on Amazon and it seems they dropped the price some , so thats good too. I liked the one I got so much , I then ordered and had one shipped to each of my sons to place in their vehciles. When I get a chance I plan to get two more. One for each of my daughter in laws vehicles.

They are so fast and easy compared to all the others I have accumulated that only came with the 12v battery adapter. Plus you get the whole kit, a charger + battery, plus the 12v plug in option and durable carry case. I cant find a flaw with them. So far I have only used the battery that I keep charged.

I find when folks have an easy to use tool (safety-related) that encourages one to use them and not just wait for emergency. Such as checking and pumping up at home now and then so one does not get caught needing to do that in a parking lot or on side of the highways.

 

[Donald]

Wherever you go, you need to bring your own air gauge.