5+ Best Air Compressor for RV {2024 Updated}

Imagine you are traveling with your RV and in the middle of the way you feel that there is less air in the tire. And incidentally, if you can’t find a gas station near you, you could be in big trouble.

So to avoid this situation you must have an air compressor for RV so that you can use it at the right place when needed.

Apart from the tire inflation air compressor also can be used for winterizing the whole RV during the winter session.

So in this article, we have provided the list of the 6 best air compressors for RVs. So that you can easily choose any one of them without wasting time in research.

But if you have any confusion or you are a beginner about air compressors then we have also provided a comprehensive buying guide to choose the perfect air compressor according to your requirement.

So without any further delay let’s get straight into it.

List of Top Compressors for RV

If you do have not enough time to read the whole review then here we have prepared a list of all the top air compressors with their specifications so that you can easily select one as per your requirement.

Image Name Max Working Pressure Required Air Flow Price
  VIAIR 450P-RV Silver Automatic Portable Compressor Kit 150 PSI 1.80 CFM at 0 PSI Check Latest Price
  Viair 40047 400P-RV Automatic Portable Compressor Kit 150 PSI 2.3 CFM at 0 PSI Check Latest Price
  GSPSCN Silver Tire Inflator (Air Compressor) 150 PSI 70 L/min at 0 PSI Check Latest Price
  TIREWELL 12V Tire Inflator-Heavy Metal Pump 150 PSI 2.12 CFM at 0 PSI Check Latest Price
  ARB (CKMTP12) 12V Twin Motor High-Performance Portable Air Compressor 150 PSI 6.16 CFM at 0 PSI Check Latest Price
  Metabo HPT “THE TANK” Pancake Air Compressor (EC914S) 200 PSI 4 CFM at 90 PSI Check Latest Price


Buying Guide for Best Inflator/Air Compressor for RV

Buying Guide to Choose the best portable compressor for RV
Buying Guide to Choose the best portable compressor for RV

So if you have any confusion or if you are a beginner about air compress terms then we have described everything here so that you can easily choose the best compressor or inflator according to your need.

PSI and CFM

PSI stands for Pounds Per Square Inch it is the air pressure that an air compressor can deliver. So to know how much PSI rating is required for your RV? First, you need to know the required PSI for your RV tires, then select the compressor that can deliver more than the required PSI. For eg:- If you need 45 PSI for your tire then you need a compressor that can provide more than 45 PSI of air pressure.

CFM Stands for Cubic Feet Per Minute it’s an airflow that a compressor can provide at a given pressure level. If a compressor has a high CFM rating then it can provide more air and as a result, your RV’s tire will fill up quickly.

Duty Cycle

The duty cycle is represented by the time which an air compressor can run continuously run upon one hour multiplied by 100.

So if a compressor is rated for 33% of the duty cycle then within one hour it can run continuously for only 20 minutes. If a compressor has a 50% duty cycle then a compressor can run continuously for 30 minutes.

So The higher the duty cycle, the better.

Length of Hose

A large vehicle has 4 or more wheels but not all the wheels are present in the same place. That’s why you need a long air hose to easily inflate all the tires of your vehicle. So that you can easily inflate all your tires without any hassle.

Length of Cord and Type

Generally, Inflators or 12V air compressors have two types of electric connection one is through battery alligator clip and another one is through cigarette lighter port so make sure that which connection is available on your compressor. And also make sure you get a good length of the power cord.

Other Inflating Equipment

With these small air compressors or inflators, you also get much other essential equipment. Which makes it very easy to inflate. So during your buying journey make sure that the multiple inflation tips, pressure gauges, canary bag, Battery alligator clip, air hose, and other RV attachments are available.

Voltage Requirement

Large Air compressors required voltage ranges between 120V or 240V but the small air compressor required voltage ranges from 12V and 24V. 

But in RVs or any vehicles have 12V of DC power supply so 12V of air compressors are more convenient to use on RVs.

Weight

Lightweight air compressors are easier to carry and more convenient to use. And generally, 12v air compressors are light in weight which makes them easy to use during road trips.


RV Air Compressor Reviews

But if you have enough time to read the whole review then here we have provided the in-depth reviews of all selected compressors with their pros and cons. So that you can get a better idea about all the products and choose the best out of them.

1. VIAIR 450P-RV Silver Automatic Portable Compressor Kit

This is the most powerful inflator is available for heavy-duty RV tires with a duty cycle of 100%. Which makes it different from all the other compressors available on this list. So let’s discuss its features in detail.

Key Specifications

  • Maximum Working Pressure:- 150 PSI.
  • Power Cord Length:- 8 ft.
  • Air Hose Length:- 60 ft.
  • Duty Cycle:- 100%.
  • Required Voltage:- 12V.
  • Free Flow at 0 PSI:- 1.80 CFM.
  • Package Content:-  3 pc inflation tips, RV attachments, Air hose, and a Carry Bag.

This air compressor is the most powerful is equipped with a permanent magnet motor that is enough powerful to operate with a maximum pressure of 150 PSI.

It can deliver an airflow of 1.80 CFM which is quite low but due to this low CFM, it can be operated continuously for 1 hour at 100 psi without cooling. So we can say this is a 100% duty cycle air compressor or inflator.

This is a 12 Volt inflator so you can easily operate this device with the RV battery. It also comes with the alligator clamps with a cord length of 8 ft so without any trouble you can connect this compressor with the battery.

A long 60 feet air hose is also present which makes it more convenient. Apart from that it also comes with a tire inflation gun with an inline 150 PSI pressure gauge. So you can easily maintain the right tire pressure.

To reduce the vibration during running it is also equipped with a diamond plate stand tray which provides more stability.

3 Pieces of inflation tips are also available. So no matter what the situation you are in, you can easily inflate your tires with these three tips.

Because it comes with multiple pieces of equipment so to carry all the equipment in one place it also comes with a carry bag where you can easily put all the equipment in one place.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Super powerful inflator.
  • 100% duty cycle.
  • Good for heavy-duty tires like RV tires or heavy-duty truck tires.
  • Multiple inflation tips are also available.
  • A super long air hose is available.
  • Auto shut-off function is available for safety.

Cons

  • Expensive.

Why should you buy this?

So if you need a super-powerful air compressor to inflate your RV tires and you have a high budget then this is the best viair air compressor for rv available in the market.



2. Viair 40047 400P-RV Automatic Portable Compressor Kit

This is the best-selling Viair inflator but it’s less expensive and delivers a high airflow rate. So let’s see all of its functions with its pros and cons.

Key Specifications

  • Maximum Working Pressure:- 150 PSI.
  • Power Cord Length:- 8 ft.
  • Air Hose Length:- 60 ft.
  • Duty Cycle:- 33%
  • Required Voltage:- 12V.
  • Free Flow at 0 PSI:- 2.3 CFM.
  • Package Content:-  Inflating gun and pressure gauge, RV accessories, Inflation Tips, Air Hose, and a Carry Bag.

This also comes with a powerful motor that can provide the maximum air pressure of 150 PSI with ease. And it also has an auto shut-off function So when the tire pressure reaches the optimum level the motor will automatically shut down.

It can deliver the higher CFM rating of 2.3 and because of the higher CFM rating, it can continuously run for 20 minutes at 100 PSI. So it has a duty cycle of 33% which is lower than the above Viair compressor.

A 60 ft of lengthy air hose is also available which makes it more convenient to use. So that you can easily inflate all the tires without any trouble.

An inflating gun and 130 PSI of pressure gauge are also available so you can easily inflate the tires with the right pressure levels.

A mounting plate is also available on this device which helps to reduce the vibrations and provide better stability.

Because it’s a 12V inflator so heavy-duty dual battery clamp so you can easily connect this with your vehicle’s battery and to enhance the safety inline fuse is also available.

Multiple inflation kit like 90-Degree Twist-On Chuck and 45-Degree Extended Reach Chuck is also available so you can conveniently inflate all types of tires.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Multiple inflation kit is also available.
  • Pressure gauges are available.
  • High CFM rating.
  • A long air hose is available.
  • A special carry bag is also available.
  • Auto shut-off function is available.

Cons

  • Less duty cycle as compared to VIAIR 450P.

Why should you buy this?

So if you need a Viair air compressor in a little low price range then this is also the best inflator available in the market. This also comes with all the advanced functions so you can also choose this one.

Read More: Viair 300p vs 400p Comparison.


3. GSPSCN Silver Tire Inflator (Air Compressor)

This is also one of the best-selling air compressors present with lots of advanced functions in a very affordable price range. So let’s see its all types of features in detail with its pros and cons.

Key Specifications

  • Maximum Working Pressure:- 150 PSI.
  • Air Flow:- 70 L/min.
  • Power Cord Length:- 11.5 feet.
  • Power Cord with Battery Clamp:- Available.
  • Air Hose Length:- 3.5m.
  • Required Voltage:- 12V.
  • Package Content:-  3 Inflation Tips, Air Hose, Power Cord with Alligator Clip, and a Carry Bag.

This is a double cylinder direct drive pump and because of the two-cylinder, it can compress the air much faster. And the direct drive motor requires low rotation speed which makes it more reliable.

100% pure copper motor which is enough powerful that it can provide the maximum working pressure of 150 PSI with the maximum airflow f 70L/min. So it can inflate the tire quickly and efficiently.

11.5 feet of long air hose with 11.5 feet of the power cord is also available which makes it more convenient to use. And with these lengthy cables, you can easily inflate all the tires present in this compressor.

Because it’s a 12V air compressor so you can easily connect this with your car battery or cigarette liter port. And for easy connectivity, it also comes with a cigarette lighter power cord with a battery alligator clamp. So for the connection, you can use one of them.

An inbuilt pressure gauge is also available so that you can easily measure the pressure levels of the tires.

This inflator is also equipped with rubber feet which enhances its stability and reduces the vibration and noise from the air compressor.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Much affordable price range.
  • An in-built pressure gauge is available.
  • Multiple inflating tips are available.
  • Lengthy cable and Hose.
  • Faster compressor.
  • Faster inflating just in 1.5 minutes.

Cons

  • It can continuously run for 20 minutes then require cooling down.

Why should you buy this?

So if you have a low budget and you want a powerful air compressor for RV tires then this also can be the best option available. But remember that its duty cycle is quite low.


4. TIREWELL 12V Tire Inflator-Heavy Metal Pump

This is also one of the best budget air compressors for RV. Which is also equipped with all the advanced functions. So let’s discuss all of its functions with their pros and cons.

Key Specifications

  • Maximum Working Pressure:- 150 PSI.
  • Power Cord Length:- 11.5 ft.
  • Air Hose Length:- 16.5 ft.
  • Required Voltage:- 12V.
  • Free Flow at 0 PSI:- 2.12 CFM.
  • Package Content:-  Inflating gun and pressure gauge, RV accessories, Inflation Tips, Air Hose, and a Carry Bag

In this inflator, a double cylinder direct drive pump is used to get enhanced performance. So both the cylinder used here to compresses the air faster and the direct drive technology ensure its reliability and long-lasting performance.

This compressor can be operated with a maximum working pressure of 150 PSI. And it can deliver a high airflow rate of up to 2.12 CFM which is why it can inflate standard tires just in 2 minutes.

This has 4 rubber feet which effectively reduces the vibration and the noise level to provide better stability.

With this compressor, you will get a 16.5 feet air hose which is long enough to help in the inflation process.

It’s a 12 V compressor so it also comes with a battery alligator clip with 11.5 feet of cord. So you can easily connect to the battery or plug the power cord into the cigarette lighter and start to operate.

An inbuilt pressure gauge is also available on this inflator. So you can easily maintain the right air pressure on the tires.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Compresses the air faster.
  • Highly reliable and durable.
  • Comes with a special carry bag.
  • High airflow rate.
  • Take less time to inflate the tires.
  • Multiple tire adapters are available.
  • Much affordable price range.

Cons

  • No good for large tires.

Why should you buy this?

This compressor is good enough for small RVs which have standard-size tires but not good for large tires. So you can also choose this one for SUVs or small trucks but not for large ones.


5. ARB (CKMTP12) 12V Twin Motor High-Performance Portable Air Compressor

This is the best onboard air compressor for RV. Because it a high-performance compressor has lots of functions. So let’s see all the functions of this compressor with its advantages and disadvantages.

Key Specifications

  • Maximum Working Pressure:- 150 PSI.
  • Power Cord Length:- 8 ft.
  • Air Hose Length:- 60 ft.
  • Duty Cycle:- 100%.
  • Required Voltage:- 12V.
  • Free Flow at 0 PSI:- 6.16 CFM.
  • Package Content:- Waterproof case, twin compressor, air tank, canvas organizer, 20 feet air hose, inflator, and blowgun.

This air compressor comes with a dual motor with a twin-cylinder pump. And because of this twin-cylinder, it can provide a high airflow of 6.16 CFM at ) PSI and 4.65 CFM at 29 PSI.

An integrated Aluminium air tank with a brushless fan is also available on this compressor which helps to reduce the heating effect to enhance its efficiency.

This compressor has a 100% duty cycle. From which we understand that you can do it without stopping for a long time. So it’s a highly powerful and super efficient compressor.

To protect it from any electrical damage it is also equipped with heavy-duty in-line maxi fuses which provide individual circuit protection for long-lasting performance.

The best thing is that it comes with a waterproof case which comes with an IP55 rating. Which provides better protection from water and makes it more reliable.

This air compressor also supports dual voltage. So you can operate this compressor with a 12V or 24V electric connection. So according to your convenience, you can use one.

The full kit also comes with a Waterproof case, twin compressor, air tank, canvas organizer, 20 feet air hose, inflator, and blowgun. Which makes it even more comfortable to use.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Super powerful compressor with a small design.
  • A waterproof case is available.
  • 100% duty cycle.
  • High CFM rating.
  • An aluminum tank is available.

Cons

  • Very expensive Expensive.

Why should you buy this?

So if you have a high budget and you want an onboard air compressor for your RV then this is the best air compressor available in the market with lots of advanced functions. And you should choose this one.


6. Metabo HPT “THE TANK” Pancake Air Compressor (EC914S)

This air compressor is also a portable compressor that comes with a large tank. So, apart from inflating the tire, you can use it for other things like winterizing an RV. Because of its larger tank.

Key Specifications

  • Horsepower(HP):- 1.3 HP.
  • CFM Rating:- 4 CFM at 90 PSI.
  • RPM:- 1730
  • Maximum PSI:- 200 PSI.
  • Tank Size:- 6 Gallon.
  • Pump Type:- Oil-Free Pump.
  • Noise Level:- 73 dB.
  • Voltage Requirement:- 120 Volt.

This list of air compressors has the largest tank size of 6 gallons which makes it also perfect to do different types of operations apart from inflating. But the problem is that it requires a 120V rater than 12V of power supply.

It is equipped with a powerful oil-free 1.3 HP rated motor. And because of this oil-free motor, it’s easy to maintain.

It can deliver  4 CFM at 90 PSI so it gives almost 30% more airflow than other pancake compressors. So it can inflate tires in just a few minutes and you can also use this for winterizing your RV.

This air compressor has a large 6 gallons of air tank which can withstand a load up to 200 PSI. Which is also 25% more than other pancake compressors.

A dual pressure gauge with a regulator is also available to maintain and measure the right pressure for right operations,

This pancake design provides an amazing design with better stability to reduce the noise of the compressor.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Large tank.
  • Good for inflating as well as winterizing.
  • High CFM rating.
  • Powerful pump.
  • Required less maintenance.
  • Portable.

Cons

  • Required 120V of current.

Why should you buy this?

So if you want the best portable air compressor for an RV with a large tank and you have the supply of 120V then let me tell you that this is the perfect option available in the market.


FAQs for Best Compressor for RVs

FAQs for best air compressor for RV tires
FAQs for best air compressor for RV tires

1. What size air compressor do I need to inflate RV tires?

It completely depends on the size of your RV tires so here we can not tell you the right size but if you want to select an air compressor for your RV tires then first check the required PSI and go with the compressor which is rated for higher than. For eg:- If tires require 30 to 35 PSI then choose a compressor that is rated more than 35 PSI.

2. What is the best 12-volt compressor for RV?

So, there are so many options available in the market but if you want my opinion then:-
This VIAIR 450P-RV Silver Automatic Portable Compressor is the perfect option available with a 100% duty cycle.

3. Which is the highest CFM 12-volt air compressor?

If you want the high CFM rating 12 Volt compressors then I would like to recommend ARB (CKMTP12) 12V Twin Motor High-Performance Portable Air Compressor.

Conclusion: Best Air Compressor for RV Inflating/Winterizing

In This article, we have included everything so that you will select the best air compressor for RV so that you can choose according to your requirements. 

So Which air compressor can fulfill your requirements? Let me know in the comment box.

Still, if you are facing a problem with finding the best portable air compressor for RV then you can also choose our top picks:-

VIAIR 450P-RV Silver Automatic Portable Compressor Kit

So guys If you liked this post don’t forget to share.

By the way, thanks for visiting.

Hi. This is Subhadip. I am a Mechanical Engineer and I have been working in mechanical Industries for more than 3 years. I have expertise in several kinds of Mechanical Devices and Air Compressor is one of them. So I am here to help you find the best air compressor for your desired need.

2 thoughts on “5+ Best Air Compressor for RV {2024 Updated}”

  1. VIAIR is a wonderful high-pressure tire air compressor/inflator. I used my digital handle/gauge with male quick connect rather than the supplied analog. Once plugged in and turned on, it automatically activates and off to take care of high 125150 pressure. This makes it easy to maneuver around each tire without manually changing the unit or running it continuously. Air my fat 65-80 LT tires at about 1 psi every few seconds. I aired 4 large LT tires and filled 4 trailer tires in an exceedingly mostly continuous run of about 10 minutes. it’s warm enough but it doesn’t break because of the warmth. you would like to attach it to the battery thanks to the high current draw. The case is generously sized and extra items are easily inserted.

    Reply
  2. Thanks so much for sharing! I really like your post as well as its content. It is useful for me to make a decision to buy a new one for my RV. I have no reasons to stop following your other article.

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