JACO 4X4 TrailPro Heavy Duty Portable Air Compressor - 3.5 CFM (12V/33A) | On x Off Road Tire Inflator Kit

Just got my air compressor, and I'm extremely impressed! I'll list out my categorized favorite/least favorite things but TLDR:Build Quality 9.5/10Performance 9/10Overall 9.5/10The Great:High air output - I have 33 inch AT's on my 4Runner and this inflated my tires impressively quickly. I'm used to car plug in ones being extremely slow, this was fast enough inflation time isn't a worthwhile disadvantage of using versus stopping at gas station or using pancake compressor in the garage.I inflated 3 tires about 3lbs but one I deflated intentionally to inflate about 15 lbs.Deflator - The built in deflator with gauge is perfect. Simple to use, and simple to make, but a very welcome addition to an off-road air compressor package. Due to how it works you can use it without even getting out the compressor if you like, which is perfect for airing down before off roading. The built in pressure gauge lets you see what pressure you're going down to (only while not deflating but that's fine). And it being built into the line means you can air down instantly and easily if you put too much in while inflating.Low noise - It's not overly loud. It's quieter than my old cigarette lighter one was, especially because of the soft touch base and heavy weight keeping it from vibrating noise. (I'd say listed 72 db is accurate)Quick connect - I actually had their v1 quick connect hose and the 90 degree angle on the one that comes with this one is a big improvement, super easy to connect, especially on awkward tire stems (my motorcycles can be a pain behind the rotor). It's also super easy to disconnect without losing air (not an issue on cars, but again, on motorcycle or bicycle it can be)Hose - Having a long reach coiled hose that takes up little space in the vehicle, but makes inflating the tires a breeze is night and day compared to most car compressors. Typically a car compressor is just in case, but for off-roading it's used often this is a must for an off-road compressor.The Good:Built in pressure gauge is great to have. Mine reads a few pounds high while inflating (not sure that's avoidable) and about a pound low when not inflating. The issue here is just the lack of trigger associated. Having a long hose is fantastic but not if you have to run over to the compressor 10x to switch it off and back on. Probably best bet is to figure out how high it reads while inflating so you know when to disconnect instead of repeatedly flipping off to check.Case/Bag - Comes with it, is nice that it has separate compartments for the hose as well as the compressor. It's snug, but not too tight that getting it back in it is a hassle. And it offers it scratch protection which is all I need to keep it in the back of my 4Runner.The Bad:Battery connectors only - This isn't a big deal, if you're buying an off-road compressor you should expect this, and few off road vehicles that don't have onboard air, have a battery that is hard to access. But this *could* be a pain under the right/wrong circumstances. I'm nitpicking here to have something bad to say which is a good sign.Obviously I just got it, if I have any issues I'll be sure to update review to include issues and resolutions, but with warranty and build quality, I'm not worried.

This is my first quality mobile tire inflator, and I'm pleased. It compares and performs comparably to a Viair 300P; I have a buddy with one of those. I timed inflating my 265/75-16 tires from 15 to 30 psi and it matched the published 300P performance almost exactly. I saved a little dough with this model. Seems high quality, and I just LOVE the air chuck...it really is the best I've used.As is common with this type, you have to shut the compressor off to read the pressure in the tire, which is inconvenient unless the unit is next to you. It might be better if the gage was on the compressor end of the hose. If the electrical cable was a little longer you could easily have the compressor near you in most situations; I might make that mod, using wire that is one gage heavier than the 10' cable supplied since it draws a lot of current. Also, you can't install a pressure regulator on the end that will only allow, say, 35 psi into the tires; the compressor doesn't have a pressure switch, so in that case, once the tire is at 35 and the regulator shuts down it would spike the pressure until something bursts. This was confirmed with Jaco and is typical of this class.The only thing I don't like compared to the Viair is the cooling fin arrangement on the cylinder head. At first glance it looks identical to the Viair, but that's just a plastic cover compared to the actual fins on the Viair. Under that cover is an air gap and smaller fins. The smaller fins can't cool as fast, and despite the air gap I would think the plastic cover must trap heat. That said, in my test I did all four tires in rapid succession and had no problems, but it was not hot outside at the time. On the flip side, the plastic cover does offer burn protection when the head is good and hot.I'm pleased overall. For me it's mainly for emergency use since we take our 4x4 Xterra towing a Casita trailer into the back country. I might use it for trail air-down and pump back up, but don't often do that hard core of 4-wheeling.

In the past I purchased compressors similar to this, at a third of the cost. But those lower cost compressors failed prematurely, making strange noises, not inflating, not reaching advertised psi, etc. This unit started exhibiting the same exact symptoms. I do not want to be the owner of a $160 paperweight, again. So I've just returned it. All of these brands that use Chinese build houses to manufacture their products need to have Stricter Q&A, higher tolerances, and make darn sure they are not selling junk.