If you are starting to get into four wheel driving, then a 12 volt air compressor will soon become a requirement for you. The reason for this is one of the first things you’ll learn particularly in Australia is when you are driving in either sand or mud or actually basically any uneven terrain you need to let your tires down. Letting your tires down in sand and mud improves traction by expanding your tires surface area. Once you leave the off beaten path like sand or mud trail then its very important you re-inflate or air up your tires with an air compressor. The reason for this is not only safety but also driving on deflated tires on the pavement isn’t good for your tire’s health. Unfortunately, it is becoming less and less common, but most service stations do offer stationary air compressors that will inflate your tires. There are negatives of airing up at a service station as opposed to using a portable air compressor. The first negative is that a service station isn’t right next to the beach track or mud track like a car air compressor can be thus it does require bear it may be a short distance but a distance none the less of driving on the pavement with your deflated tires. The second negative of a service station over a 12 volt air compressor is the wait. Particularly on a Sunday after noon at somewhere like bribe island every man and his dog is leaving the Island around the same time and thus the waiting line for air at a service station is normally huge. Whereas with a portable air compressor there’s zero wait, simple grab it out hook it up and you are good to go.

Now that you know air compressors are a great tool to have you should probably learn how to use one. Before you even start get all the things out of the air compressor bag. Then first step making sure the power switch is turned off you can then connect the red and black alligator clips to the battery. Red is positive so it’s a plus symbol and it goes to the red plus symbol on your battery.  Black is negative so it’s a minus symbol so it goes to the black minus symbol on your battery. So now your 12 volt air compressor is connected to the battery, its time to connect the air hose and inflator.  Using the quick connect fittings screw on the air chuck and then connect it to your tire. Now that your portable air compressor is good to go start your vehicle and turn it on.  If your air compressor doesn’t come with an inflator deflator gauge, you’ll have to physically turn it off to make sure the tire pressure is right. However it’s a good idea to get a 12 volt air compressor that offers a inflator deflator gauge so you can use the handle to turn the air compressor off and on due to the built-in pressure cut off switch.

So, you know why a portable air compressor is a good idea, but you also now know how to use one. So now it’s time to learn what to look for when purchasing one.
If you have huge four wheel drive tires on your vehicle its extremely important you get a quality and capable air compressor that offers fast inflation because no one likes sitting around in the hot sun waiting for their tires to finish airing up. A great unit of measure is 300 liters per minute that will give you the power you need just check it has sufficient piston size to back it up something above 50 millimeters would be ideal. To be capable of pushing psi levels over 120 you will need a 12 volt air compressor that is constructed with alloy pistons and block heads. An easily overlooked but also the most important factor is hose length. Having to readjust your portable air compressor to reach all tires is so annoying. So, make sure it comes with a sufficient hose length, anything above seven meters would be good. Rather than having to check your pressure physically and constantly by turning the air compressor off and on. Look for a brand that offers the option of a 3in1 ultimate air tool. These tools allow you to use the handle to effortlessly begin and end the portable air compressor to easily check your tire pressures. A helpful luxury feature is a handle to carry around the air compressor as they can get warm, but the more superior models offer a handle that also folds down to keep a compact sleek design when packed away. As well as having a long air hose for your 12 volt air compressor it’s also a good tip to look for a brand that offer a sufficient length of cable for the alligator clips. That way you can place the air compressor on the ground rather than awkwardly balancing it in the engine bay. To reduce dust, moisture and dirt from entering the cylinders look for a portable air compressor that is designed with twin layer air filters. To reduce noise and vibrations look for a 12 volt air compressor with a design that has rubber mounts between the compressor and the base plate.

In summary portable air compressor are an essential tool if you are getting into four wheel driving. They will allow you to quickly and efficiently air up your tires without waiting in pesky lines or having to reduce your tire life by driving on bitumen with deflated tires. After reading this guide you should know how simple 12 volt air compressors are to use. Not only that but I hope this guide will help you purchase a fast inflating air compressor that is high quality, capable and has all the desired features.