12V portable air compressors are a must-have accessory for almost any vehicle, but is especially useful for off-road vehicles and ATV campers. These 12V portable air compressors have a number of uses, not the least of which is an emergency air supply for flat tires with slow leaks or for re-inflating flat tires that have been patched on the trail. For campers, having an air compressor to inflate air mattresses can be very useful. For fisherman, having an portable air compressor for float tubes and inflatable boats would be especially useful.
 70P Portable Air Compressor Price: $54.95 |
 85P Portable Air Compressor Price: $59.00 |
 90P Portable Air Compressor Price: $89.00 |
 300P Portable Air Compressor Price: $229.00 |
 400P Portable Air Compressor Price: $249.00 |
 Onboard Air System for UTVs Price: $259.00 |
 400P-A Portable Air Compressor Price: $319.00 |
 400P-RV Portable Air Compressor Price: $369.00 |
 400PA-RV Portable Air Compressor Price: $359.00 |
 440P Portable Air Compressor Price: $359.00 |
 450P-A Portable Air Compressor Price: $369.00 |
 Tire Repair Kit Price: $17.95 |
12V Portable Air Compressors
There are different sizes of 12v portable air compressors available, so you will want to get one that will handle the tasks you need it for. I actually have two, a small one that I carry on my ATV and a larger one I carry in my truck. When deciding on the right air compressor there is a term you need to understand and that is Duty Cycle.
Duty cycle refers to the amount of time a compressor can be operated in a given time period, at 100 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch), at a standard ambient temperature of 72° F. Duty cycle is commonly expressed in percentage format as:
Compressor On Time ÷ (On Time + Off Time) = Duty Cycle %
For example, a compressor that is rated for 25% duty cycle means that the unit can be operated for:
10 minutes on and 30 minutes off =
10 min. ÷ (10 min. + 30 min.) =
10 min./40 min. = 25% duty cycle
The duty cycle of a compressor is assigned at the factory and is the factory recommended operating parameter for the unit. Continuous operation above the recommended duty cycle will shorten the life of the unit. Trying to inflate large truck tires with a small unit with a 10% duty cycle will either take all day or overheat the compressor.
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Duty Cycle: 100PSI @ 72°F
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Max. Run Time / Min. Rest Time
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| 10% Duty Cycle | 3 Min. On / 27 Min. Off |
| 15% Duty Cycle | 6 Min. On / 34 Min. Off |
| 20% Duty Cycle | 8 Min. On / 32 Min. Off |
| 25% Duty Cycle | 10 Min. On / 30 Min. Off |
| 30% Duty Cycle | 13 Min. On / 30 Min. Off |
| 33% Duty Cycle | 15 Min. On / 30 Min. Off |
| 100% Duty Cycle | Continuous Duty @ 100PSI @ 72°F |
CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) refers to the flow of air past a point of reference in a minute’s time. The higher the number, the faster the compressor is pumping air, which results in faster tire fill & tank fill rates. It is recommended that you always operate 12V portable air compressors within the factory recommended parameters and with a vehicle’s engine running, providing charging voltage to the compressor for best performance.
Check out our line of quality Viair 12V portable air compressors and don’t get stuck under inflated again. Click on any 12V portable air compressor image on this page for more information. Let us help you Properly Equip Your ATV for your next ATV Camping Adventure.