Air pump for filling tires

A 12v pump won't hurt your batteries so long as you use it with the Car in ready mode. My old work Prius sat for hours powering my laptop (mobile office), a pump might run for 5 to ten minutes maximum. Save the calories, use the pump & don't sweat it.

 

Do you have the alloy wheels? My bike pump has a universal head, quite large, and it just barely fits, but it makes it with the hose oriented in one direction only, toward the hub.

But I agree with the above--if you have access to a 12V pump, use it! My bike pump needs 40 or 50 strokes to get a couple of psi and that gets old after five tires.

 

I use this set up it's worked perfect for me for inflating my tires or jump starting my own vehicles or others for years now. You just plug in your tire pump into the battery jumper (The front light comes out so you can plug in your tire pump via the cigarette lighter)


Jump-N-Carry JNC300XL 900 Peak Amp Ultraportable 12V Jump Starter with Light
by Clore Automotive
$64.95


Viair 00073 70P Heavy Duty Portable Compressor
by Viair
$39.98

 

Jump N Carry by Clore Automotive, makes top quality hardware.. In addition to the JNC units shown above they make this unit which I've had for years.

Doing for the Prius what I have in my 4x4 vehicle (2nd battery, onboard air compressor built in), on long road trips in the Prius, I want the ability to not only pump up tires, but also have the ability to jump start the vehicle..

Tires and 12v battery are the two highest probability failures likely to strand you..

The jump and carry unit shown above is a top quality, reasonably high volume air compressor with internal cooling fan to do the equivalent job.. Highly recommend. It goes in the Prius for any long cross country trips..

 

I use a 12V pump similar to the ViAir you listed with the car in READY mode. No problems for me. It takes a little while, but it's worth it to me to avoid the gas station pumps.

If I were going to do it all over again, I'd probably get a JNC jumper/compressor combo for the space savings, but it's a bit more pricey.

 

That's why I use the dual combo. Most importantly if the more expensive JNC jumper/compressor dies you have no air to fill up your tires. This way if one stops working I still have the other plus it's more compact. Just my two cents!

 

I have a Jump-N-Carry 660, a jump starter sans air pump, I like the line, though I'm having a somewhat maddening odyssey trying to find a decent replacement battery for an older one I have. (Yes, I have two of 'em.)

But for emergency air for tires, I'd really like to find a good, solid, easy-to-use hand (or foot) pump. Battery powered pumps concern me, I'd prefer something that's not going to run out of juice. I've currently got a Schwinn bicycle pump, looks like this:



It's actually not bad, but a little bulky, and the valve connecting component can be very difficult to push on. That's it's main drawback for me.

 

We carry these in our trucks in addition to jumper cables for anything and everything as well as a power inverter to recharge on the go. They've been used in 106 degrees to pump tires, jumped cars in below freezing temps and can't even count how much they get abused...worth the cost imo

Fone ?

 

There's two main types of valves. The Schwin pump I have accommodates both the regular, and the slimmer valves on some bicycles. It's definitely not easy to push the connector on tho. You need to push the connector down on the valve stem, with some force, and simultaneously lift up on a lever to lock it. It's not an easy act, lol.

 

If it's a Schwinn, there's also the trick two way valve. There's an internal (some would say infernal) mechanism that can flip-flop, one way for inflating balls with the needle attachment, the other for tire valves. There's a trick for flipping the mechanism, if you google I think you'd find it.

Also, as far as the effort needed to push on the connector, I found it took a LOT, just lean on it with one hand, then sneak up the lever with the other hand, without letting up on the pressure.

 

Foot pump is by far my preferred option. However, does anyone know where to get a quality foot pump?

I had used foot pumps for years -- the major advantage is they are light and have no need for a power source, other than your foot!.

But, in the 1990s, I bought one, and it promptly broke, another one did the same. I tried some four or so different pumps (different brands, etc.) and all were junk. I finally broke down and bought a "Tailgate Tools" 120v tire inflator. A piece of junk, but it lasted some 20 years -- having just broke down a few days ago.

I replaced it yesterday with the Home Depot Husky brand tire inflator for $29.xx. It is also a piece of junk -- took a very long time to put seven pounds of air in the Prius tire, but it works -- so far. They are selling a 12v/120v Husky brand tire inflator for around $35 -- it looks to be the twin of the one I bought, except for the 12v capability.

However, once again, if I could find a quality foot pump I would buy it. Much easier than the "hand/arm" bicycle pumps.

 

I have been using a 12V pump with the start button in accessory mode. Is this bad? When you say in ready do you mean apply the brake like you're starting the car or just in "ready" without pressing the brake? Anyone?

 

accessory mode doesn't allow the 12 volt to be charged. you risk damaging the 12v by drawing it down too far. under the wrong circumstances, it might not be able to start the car.

yes, step on brake push button once. the 'ready' light will come on, the engine will run if needed, everyone is happy.

 

Thanks, Bisco

 

no harm, if it draws too much you'll blow the fuse. even toyota is now including 12 volt air pumps instead of spare tyres in some models.

 

When I use the outlet with my thermoelectric cooler, the connector gets very warm and that is at 4 amps.

JeffD