A tire-puncture in the middle of the highway can be plain catastrophic.  Therefore, before buying a rig, the discerning motor home buyers should take note of the fact that it’s the owner’s lackadaisical attitude toward tire-checking that causes majority of the blowout incidents. In most cases it is not the over-inflation, but the low tire pressure that causes your RV tires to burst.

Too little air pressure causes the rubber to expand beyond its elastic limits. The temperature of the tires gradually rises as you drive on. It ultimately reaches a point, where the rubber loses its bond to the internal fabric and steel cord reinforcement. This is when the tire fails. Most RVers understand the importance of maintaining optimal tire pressure throughout their trip, and in order to achieve this, you need to check air pressure frequently. What if you could have a spot-checking system on board? Well, a portable air compressor system offers you just that.

Now that you know the reason for investing in an air-compressor, you should aim at finding one that meets your needs. Here are the basics that will help you sail through your selection process.

Rating

As far as air compressors are concerned, you have to evaluate a unit on the basis of three different criteria – horsepower (HP), Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) and Pounds per Square Inch (PSI).

• HP refers to the rate at which the unit completes its job. Different air compressors come with varying HP ratings. However, don’t buy a product only because it has got a higher HP.  If you are using a 6 HP-rated system, which runs on 120 volts, you will have to plug the compressor into a standard 15 amp, 120 volt circuit. In that case it would only produce about 2HP.
  
• The CFM refers to the volume of air output the unit can deliver within a given time. However, CFM varies with atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity of the air. The actual performance tends to vary with all these criteria, so before buying a unit, keep your travel destinations in mind.
  
• As its name suggests, pounds per square inch (PSI) refers to a unit of pressure resulting from one pound of force applied to an area of one square inch. Different types of vehicles and their tires have recommended levels of PSI. The manufacturers of air compressors offer CFM ratings at a specific PSI. While shopping for an air-compressor for your large-sized rig, you should ideally opt for a product capable of delivering about 4 CFM based on the real HP rating at 90 to 100 PSI.
  
  

Compare Different Brands to Find the Best Fit

While comparing the force, velocity, and rate of different air compressor brands, you might notice a good amount of variation. Then the figure mentioned varies with the actual performance, as actual performance depends on the circumstances under which it is being used. The key to finding the right product is to compare it to gas mileage.

Ideally, every motor home buyer should consider investing in a portable air ... to ensure that the tires are inflated to the recommended PSI. The tires are what carry the entire load on the road, and it’s extremely important to keep a constant tab on their health. A portable air compressor can come handy whenever you are in doubt about your tire’s inflation pressure and address the fault then and there. Remember, failure to maintain good air pressure may prove detrimental to your rig’s health, as well as to the overall safety of your vehicle, so never forget this item while shopping for essential RV tools.