Nothing is worst than a flat tire.
Except when you are far from home and help is hours away. In today’s post we are going over one of the Best Portable Air Compressor for Truck Tires.
Yes, it also a great portable air compressor for car tires too.
Now for the reason for this review. The dreaded TPM light “tire pressure monitor” light on the dashboard on a Monday morning.
Truck Tire Repair Kit and Portable Air Compressor
A while back I purchased a heavy duty tire plug kit and portable air compressor just to keep in my Toyota Tacoma. In addition to having to plug a tire on a previous vehicle and helping plug a few tires for friends I figured it would be good insurance.
Sure enough, one Monday morning I was greeted with the Tire Pressure warning light and after checking the pressure in each tire found this…
A big screw positioned on the outer edge of the tread.
Many experts advise that a tire should not be repaired if it is located on the sidewall of the tire. Since this is close we are going to test out of the tire repair kit and portable air compressor to see how they do.
*Always consult with a professional tire repair shop before performing this type of repair if you are not sure
Plug a Truck Tire using the Heavy Duty Tire Repair Kit (how to)
To get started lets take a look at the Heavy Duty Tire Repair kit by Boulder Tools.
This tire repair kit features a metal reamer along with a metal handle to set the plug. (Much better than the plastic tools found on lower end kits)
In addition to the metal tools this kit includes 30 plug strings, pliers, valve caps, razor, plug lube and a hard-shell case.
Up until now, this kit has been riding with me but has never been used, here we go.
Step, 1 – Remove the object from tire
For this task we will use the pliers included with the tire repair kit.
Step, 2 – Clean the hole with Reamer Tool in preparation of the tire plug
With the screw removed from the tire, use the spiraled tire reamer tool to clean the hole. This step is important to prepare the tire for the plug.
Clean the hole by inserting the tool in and out a few times while twisting.
TIP, Leave the reamer tool in the tire while preparing the tire plug, this will help prevent air from escaping from the tire.
Step, 3 – Prepare the plug
Take a new plug from the kit and thread it though the eyelet on the plug tool. Position the plug so there is about 50% on each side (centered)
This tire plug kit also includes a small canister of “plug lube”. With the plug inserted into the tool I decided to apply a small amount to the tip of the tool, this lube is designed to help make it easier to drive the plug into the tire.
Step, 4 – Remove the reamer tool, Insert the plug
With the plug prepared it is now time to remove the reamer tool and insert the plug into the tire.
Remove the reamer tool from the tire and quickly insert the plug into the tire.
Drive the plug into the tire until only an inch or so of the plug is left exposed on the outside of the tire.
Step, 5 – Remove the plug tool to set the plug
The plug tool in the kit includes a metal cap to hold the plug in place. (not found of cheaper plug tool kits)
With one hand holding the cap on the plug, grasp the plug tool tightly in your other hand and pull directly up on the tool.
Since the plug tool has a slit on the tip, the goal here is when you pull the tool out the plug will remain in the tire.
Ready, Set, PULL!
Step, 6 – Success! (trim plug as needed)
Once the tire plug tool has been removed we are left with the plug set in the tire!
To clean up the job we will use the razor supplied in the kit to cut the plug flush with the top of the tire.
Best Portable Air Compressor for Truck Tires, cont.
Now that we have the foreign object removed and the plug set. The final step is to air up the tire and check for any leaks.
For this we will break out our Air Boss portable air compressor and fire it up.
After reading many reviews we decided that the Air Boss was one of the Best Portable Air Compressor for Truck Tires…and it comes in a nice plastic case.
In addition to the protective case this model includes a harness to directly connect the compressor to the + and – terminals of your battery.
By connecting the compressor directly to the battery you don’t have to worry about blowing the fuse on your cigarette outlet if the compressor overloads the circuit.
With the compressor connected to power, screw the hose onto the valve stem on the tire.
Turn the switch to ON and the compressor will begin to inflate the tire.
The screw-on hose design is a nice feature as this allows you to connect the compressor to the valve stem and walk away as the portable air compressor does its job.
Keep in mind this did take a few minutes to fully air the tire up to the recommended tire pressure for the Toyota Tacoma (32psi). While there is a built-on pressure gauge, I still decided to double check the progress with a Digital Tire Pressure gauge.
How to determine the correct tire pressure for your vehicle? Check the inside of the driver side door, it should be printed on a sticker for both the front and rear tires (may be different)
In my case, the recommend tire pressure for the Toyota Tacoma is 32psi, which means we’re back in business!
Best Portable Air Compressor for Truck Tires (conclusion)
Overall I am very happy with both the Heavy Duty plug kit and Portable Air Compressor by Air Boss.
The metal tools included with the tire repair kit are a huge improvement over the cheap tire repair kits. Not only am I satisfied on this repair. I am confident the tools will last for many years to come.
If you find yourself off the beaten path frequently, don’t cheap out. Pick up one of the Bolder Tools tire repair kits for your truck or car.
Onto the portable air compressor for cars and trucks
The 12VDC travel air compressor by Air Boss did a good job to return the tire back to recommended specs. In about 3-4 minutes the tire was back to the factory specs.
For the size and price it is hard to beat. Not only did it air up the tire, it stows in a small package.
Features of the Portable Air Compressor
• Plastic travel case included
• Direct battery connection cables included
• Built in Pressure Gauge
• Built in light (would be handy at night)
In conclusion I hope you enjoyed the article going over a tire repair and portable air compressor review. Again, please consult with a tire professional for any tire repair needs. A tire that fails at high speeds due to an improper repair (or any reason) can be deadly.
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That’s cool that it would be possible to have an air compressor that is portable enough to bring with you in your truck. I like the idea of being able to repair a flat tire right on the side of the road. sop that sounds pretty good. I should consider getting one of those so I could make sure I am prepared while on the road.
Since this article, I now carry an air compressor in each of our vehicles and have used them several times. Paired with a tire repair kit and a bottle of slime, I feel this setup will save you from most (minor) tire related issues. It is also nice to be able to top-off a low tire at your own convenience instead of having to hunt down a working air compressor at a gas station. Worth the small investment to save a big headache. Thanks for stopping by.