Hello everyone.
I volunteer with the local MS bike ride each year. This year I will be driving one of their SAG vans to support the riders. I am looking for a 12 volt air compressor that can provide the required high pressure needed to inflate the bicycle tires. I plan to carry a floor pump that can deliver the high pressure needed, but was looking for a compressor that I could use on the side of the road that could quickly get a cyclist back moving again.
Does anyone here have experience with a 12 volt compressor that they would recommend?
Thanks.

I use The craftsman inflator. It is probably the most used bike tool that I own. A digital gauge on the back let's you control the air pressure. I put a longer hose and upgraded the pump head.

I just bought a new steel bike air pump. However, I really like the idea of having something like that. It looks to be quite compact, a real plus!

I bought into the Ryobi line of battery powered tools and now have a few batteries that are interchangeable. I have used my inflator at bike events before and only once ran out of power in the first battery, was glad that I had a back up. For that matter bring a floor pump or two just ion case. Andy

I'd just bring a regular bike pump. It takes about 15 seconds to pump up a bike tire. What's the advantage of a compressor?

Way back when I was working in an shop full time we would support several charity rides. Normally we would provide the start area support, but occasionally we do SAG as well. We used our shop truck, an IVECO box truck when we setup the repair booth at the start area, and tried several different 12V compressors. Usually we killed them and resorted to the Silca pumps, although 1 air compressor managed to kill the truck battery. We had 4 Silcas in the truck and they never failed us, other pumps and compressors usually would.

About the only air compressor we found that worked reliably was one loaned to us by a customer, and it was a gasoline powered job site compressor. The event organizers usually hated us for having that thing running, but it got the job done.

I know after I left that shop they did put a 12V compressor from Extreme Outback products but I don't know the specific one. Even after they added the compressor the mechanics told me they still depended on the Silca pumps. The 12V compressor would run for a while, then get too hot and shut-off, so they used the hand pumps while waiting for it to cool down.

Another vote for the Ryobi Inflator. Will fill a 700x25 from flat to 90psi in about 30 seconds, no exertion required. A floor pump sounds great until you have to use it a few dozen times in a day.

I have a perfectly serviceable Park floor pump that has not been used a single time since I bought the Ryobi.

If you want quick, use a tank. I have one similar to this.



https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...air-tank-5-gal

Some of the roads along the route have no shoulders. I am looking for something that I could use in the back of a cargo van if needed to inflate a tire. Not sure about you, but most people can't stand straight up inside a van in order to use a floor pump properly.

I was thinking about taking my tank with me but I'm also trying to keep as much room in the van for riders and their bikes. If it comes to it, I pay take the tank with me.

The battery powered pumps are an option but I'm hoping to find something I can plug into a 12 volt outlet. Then I don't have to worry about charging a battery.

Just search for 12V inflators on Amazon. There are lots of them.

The little battery or 12v operated compressors work pretty well on fat tires. Compressors with tanks should be used with caution because the rate of delivery can be too high. For my part, I never use my compressor for our bikes. Only my kid's bike has schrader valves (I did not buy it for her). I have an old Zefal frame pump set up for schraders that I use for that. For the other bikes, I have a 35-year-old Silca Pista floor pump. Silca still makes parts for them.

I never thought to get one for my bikes. I use Dewalt tools and there is one for $79. I've spent a lot more on tools that I don't use, and this I would use on both bikes and cars. For that matter I have a compressor/nail gun combo and maybe I could set that to work? Don't want to blow out tires.

Does the tank have a pressure gauge? If so you could power (or drain) it until it hits the desired pressure, then turn it off and fill the tire. If you don't trust the gauge or the compressor tank is small enough that filling your tire makes the pressure drop, some back and forth with a pressure gauge on the bike tire (or however you usually judge) should work.

Or you can just leave the compressor high and iterate with a push on nozzle, like one typically does with the hose urban bike shops often run outside as a public service.