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Essential Overland Gear: Air compressor
NOCO Boost Air AX65
Sometimes all of us feel a little flat. That’s true of your tires as well.
It used to be every gas station had air compressors in their parking lots and if you didn’t have an air gauge, the friendly station attendant would loan one.
Those were the days of free air.
Now, if you are lucky, the station will have a pay station to fill your tires, but it almost always requires a credit card and in most cases the compressor is in poor repair.
So what’s a driver to do? You have two choices:
Drop by your favorite Discount Tire that has locations across the west. Discount offers tire checks and free air.
Or you can purchase a lithium battery charged portable air compressor. You can find some on sites like Amazon for less than $30.
A cheap, charged air compressor with a built-in gauge can help keep your tires safely inflated even after a cold-overnight at camp. For fun while camping, save your breath and use it to quickly fill air mattresses, balls and small flotation devices.
Overlanders sometimes lower the amount of air in tires on dirt roads to improve traction and to smooth the drive. If you plan on deflating for the ride, invest in a more powerful ultrafast compressor. The one I have is fine in emergencies, but takes an extended amount of time to deflate/inflate all tires.
I keep mine plugged in to the USB port or cigarette lighter in my vehicles so it is always ready to go. The air compressor in my camper van is a combo inflator/jump charger with enough power to jumpstart a diesel and top off all four tires. It can also be used to charge USB devices and as a flashlight when needed. The NOCO Boost Air AX65 is currently priced around $290. Just don’t lose any of the cables.
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— Donn Friedman/Journal Outside
