How to Inflate Your RV Tires The Easy Way

No matter what type of RV you have… Class A, B or C, 5th wheel, travel trailer or pop-up camper… they all have one thing in common: tires.

To stay safe on the road, every RVer needs to be vigilant about their tire pressure, age, care and overall condition.

As the air pressure needs to be checked and adjusted while the tires are cold – as in before they’re driven – it’s not always convenient to add air to your tires at a gas station or tire shop, unless you spend the night in their parking lot!

Because diesel pushers have air suspension and brakes, they have the advantage of carrying their own built-in compressors.

But if you’ve seen our previous videos about adding air to high-pressure RV tires here and here, you know that using the on-board compressor isn’t as simple as it sounds.

Besides the problem of the pressure cycling up and down below our required tire pressures as part of the compressor’s normal operation, we also try to avoid idling our engine more than absolutely needed. We hate being an annoying neighbor by polluting campgrounds with diesel exhaust and noise just because our tires happen to need air.

Not only does our new air solution make us a better neighbor, but it applies to any type of RV, so this tip isn’t just for owners of large motorhomes.

Not every RV requires the high air volume and pressure that we do, so an inexpensive portable air compressor might work just fine for some RVers.

But after trying one of those cheap units several years ago, we found out that they can’t handle large volume or high pressure tires.

We’re all about finding cost-saving techniques, but sometimes a top-of-the-line solution is the way to go.

Watch the video to see how we’re keeping our tire pressures where they belong.

You can get the VIAIR 400P here. We spoke with a marketing manager at VIAIR and this is what he had to say about their other air compressors for RVs:

“If the tires you’re planning to service need 90 to 120 PSI, I recommend looking at the 300P or larger.

The 300P is actually capable of building 150PSI and it will do the job faster than the 88P.

If you have more than 4 tires to top off, then you should choose a compressor within the 400P series.

If you are going to inflate rear duallys, the 400P-RV is the best option. 

The 88P is a great affordable compressor for trucks with 33 inch tires or smaller and can inflate up to 120PSI.  

It can also inflate the occasional flat.  However it is the smallest compressor designed for truck tires and RV tire inflation.”