I'm pretty new to off roading, at least with 4X4's. I carry a small 12 volt compressor with me on my dual sport motorcycle to air up when getting back on pavement. It obviously won't work with the tires on the monty. Is there any decent, cheap way to air up after off roading (often there is no gas station for a long ways)? I don't want to drop hundreds on a nice 12 volt compressor. I'm going to harbor freight today for some other things, let me know if there is anything there that I should look at. Thanks.

12v will work fine. Just will take a little longer. You have four choices, Buy a empty air tank and fill it before you go, use the slow 12v pump you have now, drive on them flat, or blow really really hard. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Well I bought a 5 gal air tank today for the measly sum of 16 dollars, but I tested it and I don't see how it will inflate 4 tires from 25 to 35 PSI. It might do two, if I'm lucky. I guess I will return it and try to find a better 12 volt pump. the one I have for my motorcycle takes about 1 minute per PSI in my 30 inch BFG tires. that's 40 mins for 4 tires <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

CO2 is the way to go. You don't have to spend a bundle on a "4x4" rig. Just go to your local welding supply store and buy a 5, 10, 15, or 20 pound cylinder (mine is just a 5 pounder) and regulator. The regulator that I have is for beer/soda gas. Air hose is just that cheap plastic stuff you can get at wal mart.
My 5 pound cylinder airs up a bunch of 32+inch tires from 10 to 30+ psi in seconds. It lasts a good number of trips in the woods, and refill swaps are $11.00.
________________

Yep CO2 works well for me also.
Conner

CO2 is the way to go. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

FWIW, I have a cheapo pep boys compressor (use as backup), I have an ARB off road compressor, & I have a home built 10lb CO2 tank.

From my experiences...
Versus a decent 12V compressor a CO2 setup will cost more but you pay that over time. Versus a normal pep boys compressor you pay more but the convenience of a quicker fill up may be well worth it.

Compressors
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> My $200 ARB compressor can air up 2-3 sets of 33" tires before shutting off.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> This provides some time to talk with your buddies at the end of the trail and relive some of the day over again.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> My ARB would probably cut that time in half (15psi to 32psi) but it just
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ARB compressors do fail over time.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> But the wear item is a $2 reservoir O ring <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" />.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> A compressor cost a bit more (up front) unless you buy a $20-40 cheapy.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Cheaper compressors may overheat and shut themselves off (if they have built in thermal protection) when airing up one set of tires or more.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> Worse yet, some really cheap compressors don't have thermal shut off's. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> My $40 cheapy compressor (pep boys) was able to air up my 4 33's but would shut off when trying to air up 2 sets.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> My $40 cheapy compressor would take probably 20 minutes per tire (15-32 psi)

CO2
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> CO2 uses Liquid CO2 purchased usually at a welding or beverage supplier. Beverage place being the least expensive.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> A CO2 setup doesn't have any possible overheat problem.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> CO2 setup will fill a tire in less than a minute.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> A CO2 setup does have a potential hose freeze problem. When the liquid CO2 turns into a CO2 gas, the reaction is EXOTHERMIC and absorbs energy turning objects immediately around it cold. With a cheap poly/plastic hoses (yellow ones), there may be a potential that it will freeze, become brittle, and break. With Urethane hoses, they seem to handle the cold freezes better (still plyable).
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> CO2 setup will require a bottle, regulator, associated meters, & constant refills at $9 or more per refill
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> If you run out of CO2, you're done until you can refill the bottle & sources for more CO2 aren't readily available on the trail or even at nearby towns.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> A leaking CO2 bottle can obviously kill you by displacing the oxygen. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />
HTH <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

CO2 sounds goos to me.

-Talk? Who wants to talk to those guys! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />



Oxygen?? Is THAT what that is?!! Stupid oxygen! Always trying to corrode my truck....and turn my half eaten apple all brown... bleh to you, oxygen! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

The other thing to worrry about when using co2 is that it will cause your tires to rot faster than if you are using air or nitrogen. The moisture in the co2 will go after the rubber.