Which tire inflator

[teethdood]

Seems like a good thread to ask, so here we go:

I have a full Core spare wheel + tire, and I've ordered a $99 tire bag + D-rings from RPM Tesla.

Although I have a full-size jack, wrench, etc. at home... I'm looking for a travel bottle jack and possibly an inflator? I see decent bottle jacks via Amazon for about $45 and of course $20 travel wrenches.

Recommendations for a corded inflator?

I got this 21" lift bottle jack/stand.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GJJZ5NI?th=1
I went with this model because some people mentioned the regular 18" jacks are too short. Also having a jack stand built-in for safety sounds great to me. More importantly, the base is wide enough to lessen chance of sinking into the ground (off-road need).

I also got both a cheap $20 telescoping lug nut wrench to remove and a torque wrench to tighten to spec. I intend to drive home with the spare tire instead of just to the tire shop, so "tight enough" is not good enough for me.

Also picked up a 21mm impact socket with sleeve protector.

I'll leave the inflator recommendation out because you can read the pros/cons of each system in this thread.

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[turns2stone]

I got this 21" lift bottle jack/stand.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GJJZ5NI?th=1
I went with this model because some people mentioned the regular 18" jacks are too short. Also having a jack stand built-in for safety sounds great to me. More importantly, the base is wide enough to lessen chance of sinking into the ground (off-road need).

I also got both a cheap $20 telescoping lug nut wrench to remove and a torque wrench to tighten to spec. I intend to drive home with the spare tire instead of just to the tire shop, so "tight enough" is not good enough for me.

Also picked up a 21mm impact socket with sleeve protector.

I'll leave the inflator recommendation out because you can read the pros/cons of each system in this thread.

Perfect! What kind of puck/saddle goes on top of that jack to fit in the CT lift points?

 

[teethdood]

Perfect! What kind of puck/saddle goes on top of that jack to fit in the CT lift points?

I don't see a need for a puck. A folded up rag or paper towels to prevent scratching if you want, but it's a non-issue for me.

 

[mjezzi]

@Hookalakupua @dLux

I bought the TC-BL and then saw these posts and the Fanttik and decided to try both side by side and see what I like.

Although I like the TC-BL having 120v and not having to worry about a battery failing, it failed at inflating a single tire, even at 50% power mode (the psi shoots up and it auto shuts off). Also, having to unwrap and rewrap a four-way hose is more complicated than it needs to be.

The Fanttik is actually very quick, auto-stops at the right pressure, takes a couple of minutes per tire from 36psi (Tesla’s floor off-road psi spec) to 50psi, and there’s no four-way hose to unwrap, rewrap, and store (space is at a premium when camping). I was able to inflate all four tires with a quarter of the charge (3/4 charge was left).

My only concern is the battery fails early. I would buy it in a 120v if it existed.

Bonus: the Fanttik can also inflate my cybertent with an auto shutoff at 8psi, which the TC-BL can’t do.

In the end, the Fanttik won because it’s more compact, more versatile, simpler, and still quick enough to inflate all four tires after off-roading.

Before I discovered the TC-BL, I bought the AltroAI tire inflator based on someone’s recommendation. FYI: it took me 45 mins to inflate all four tires from 36 to 50psi. That was painful. It’s a good backup though for both tires and my cybertent in case the Fanttik fails while out in the middle of nowhere.

Hope this helps someone else reading the thread.

P.S. I have a four-way hose I now need to sell because it’s past the return window. DM me if interested, I’m in Boulder, CO.

 

[Hookalakupua]

@Hookalakupua @dLux

I bought the TC-BL and then saw these posts and the Fanttik and decided to try both side by side and see what I like.

Although I like the TC-BL having 120v and not having to worry about a battery failing, it failed at inflating a single tire, even at 50% power mode (the psi shoots up and it auto shuts off). Also, having to unwrap and rewrap a four-way hose is more complicated than it needs to be.

The Fanttik is actually very quick, auto-stops at the right pressure, takes a couple of minutes per tire from 36psi (Tesla’s floor off-road psi spec) to 50psi, and there’s no four-way hose to unwrap, rewrap, and store (space is at a premium when camping). I was able to inflate all four tires with a quarter of the charge.

My only concern is the battery fails early. I would buy it in a 120v if it existed.

Bonus: the Fanttik can also inflate my cybertent with an auto shutoff at 8psi, which the TC-BL can’t do.

In the end, the Fanttik won because it’s more compact, more versatile, simpler, and still quick enough to inflate all four tires after off-roading.

Before I discovered the TC-BL, I bought the AltroAI tire inflator based on someone’s recommendation. FYI: it took me 45 mins to inflate all four tires from 36 to 50psi. That was painful. It’s a good backup though for both tires and my cybertent in case the Fanttik fails while out in the middle of nowhere.

Hope this helps someone else reading the thread.

P.S. I have a four-way hose I now need to sell because it’s past the return window. DM me if interested, I’m in Boulder, CO.

Just an FYI, but the reason it was shutting off, is because you had the slide valve on your 4 way hose in the wrong position during set up. Change that and you won’t have any issue. Same thing happened to me the first couple of times until I realized what I was doing wrong. 50+ inflations and deflations since and not a single issue.
The 4 way hose is definitely an art when it comes to packing it up but once you get it, it’s a piece of cake!

PS… Go Buffs! (I was born in Boulder)

 

[mjezzi]

Just an FYI, but the reason it was shutting off, is because you had the slide valve on your 4 way hose in the wrong position during set up. Change that and you won’t have any issue. Same thing happened to me the first couple of times until I realized what I was doing wrong. 50+ inflations and deflations since and not a single issue.
The 4 way hose is definitely an art when it comes to packing it up but once you get it, it’s a piece of cake!

PS… Go Buffs! (I was born in Boulder)

That's possible. That thing slides back and forth so easily and I'm not sure if I double checked it. I like how the hose kit in the video stores flat. If it wasn't for having a low PSI auto shutoff to inflate the cybertent too, I may have kept the TC-BL.

 

[Hookalakupua]

That's possible. That thing slides back and forth so easily and I'm not sure if I double checked it. I like how the hose kit in the video stores flat. If it wasn't for having a low PSI auto shutoff to inflate the cybertent too, I may have kept the TC-BL.

Correct. Down is closed and forward is open. Glad you found something that worked for your arrangement and looking forward to pictures with the cybertent.

 

[dLux]

@Hookalakupua @dLux

I bought the TC-BL and then saw these posts and the Fanttik and decided to try both side by side and see what I like.

Although I like the TC-BL having 120v and not having to worry about a battery failing, it failed at inflating a single tire, even at 50% power mode (the psi shoots up and it auto shuts off). Also, having to unwrap and rewrap a four-way hose is more complicated than it needs to be.

The Fanttik is actually very quick, auto-stops at the right pressure, takes a couple of minutes per tire from 36psi (Tesla’s floor off-road psi spec) to 50psi, and there’s no four-way hose to unwrap, rewrap, and store (space is at a premium when camping). I was able to inflate all four tires with a quarter of the charge.

My only concern is the battery fails early. I would buy it in a 120v if it existed.

Bonus: the Fanttik can also inflate my cybertent with an auto shutoff at 8psi, which the TC-BL can’t do.

In the end, the Fanttik won because it’s more compact, more versatile, simpler, and still quick enough to inflate all four tires after off-roading.

Before I discovered the TC-BL, I bought the AltroAI tire inflator based on someone’s recommendation. FYI: it took me 45 mins to inflate all four tires from 36 to 50psi. That was painful. It’s a good backup though for both tires and my cybertent in case the Fanttik fails while out in the middle of nowhere.

Hope this helps someone else reading the thread.

P.S. I have a four-way hose I now need to sell because it’s past the return window. DM me if interested, I’m in Boulder, CO.

Thanks for testing!

I have bought 2 Fanttiks actually and each of them are definitely good enough for 2 tires from 30-50 that's for sure. Not sure about 4 tires, but I think it may be just enough for that. I wish it had a 120V input.

 

[mjezzi]

Thanks for testing!

I have bought 2 Fanttiks actually and each of them are definitely good enough for 2 tires from 30-50 that's for sure. Not sure about 4 tires, but I think it may be just enough for that. I wish it had a 120V input.

I filled four tires on one charge 36 to 50 psi. It was somewhere around 3/4 charge left on the battery. I could probably inflate the tires three times over on one charge. It takes a couple of hours to charge back to 100% using the center console usb-c port.

 

[hemiarch]

That's possible. That thing slides back and forth so easily and I'm not sure if I double checked it. I like how the hose kit in the video stores flat. If it wasn't for having a low PSI auto shutoff to inflate the cybertent too, I may have kept the TC-BL.

Wait what? How do you do that? I have a whole separate standup paddle board pump for the cybertent.
talk me through your process, what adapter do you use? How long does it take etc?

 

[teethdood]

I filled four tires on one charge 36 to 50 psi. It was somewhere between a half to a quarter charge left.

I have the TC-BL, still within the return window. Based on what you're saying, the Fantiiks aren't going to cut it for me with the low battery capacity. When going off-road, sometimes I hit multiple trails on the same day, requiring multiple air ups/downs. Battery power isn't going to cut it if you have to air up more than once.

 

[mjezzi]

I have the TC-BL, still within the return window. Based on what you're saying, the Fantiiks aren't going to cut it for me with the low battery capacity. When going off-road, sometimes I hit multiple trails on the same day, requiring multiple air ups/downs. Battery power isn't going to cut it if you have to air up more than once.

Sorry, I misspoke. I meant to say I had around a 3/4 of charge left. I bet I could inflate the whole set of tires 3 times over (36->50psi) on one charge.

 

[EWELON]

I have the TC-BL, still within the return window. Based on what you're saying, the Fantiiks aren't going to cut it for me with the low battery capacity. When going off-road, sometimes I hit multiple trails on the same day, requiring multiple air ups/downs. Battery power isn't going to cut it if you have to air up more than once.

can the tc/bl run air tools? it could run a blower for sure, right?

that would be a plus for me.

 

[teethdood]

can the tc/bl run air tools? it could run a blower for sure, right?

that would be a plus for me.

Or a dental drill! I can do dentistry by the side of the road. India-style. Back-of-the-truck dental services.

Yeah it can definitely run air tools. I'm only going to use it for car detailing, blowing out dust from the inside. Going to do it for the first time at lunch today actually.

 

[gregr]

Haven’t seen anyone mention it here, but I’m using the EGO inflator:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/EGO-POWER-Li-ion-Air-Inflator-Power-Source-Battery/5016743695

It‘s definitely not the fastest, but totally fine for garage use - if I recall correctly, going from 47 to 51 psi took maybe 1:30 or so. Using it for off-road use might require some patience, although it’s possible it goes faster at lower pressures.

On the bright side, the digital reading on the inflator matches whats on the dash exactly. And doing 4 tires used somewhere between 10-20% of a 2.5Ah battery.

if you’re starting from scratch, not sure I’d recommend it, as it would be fairly expensive - but if you already have EGO batteries, it’s more reasonable!

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