Tyre pump

Can anyone recommend a pump that is suitable for topping up the tyres on the van.  I’m talking about general maintenance checks and top ups, not completely flat. 

I tried to research it online first, but the advice was really conflicting. Some say foot pumps won’t work for that, then some say they will. Some say they might work but you have to be a circus strongman to use them. Some say electric pumps won’t work for top ups, some say they will. Plus I’m not sure if the cable will reach the tyre. 

So any advice from anyone who’s got a specific make and model that they know works (and is a practical option) would be most appreciated.

Sally

Personally I found it easier to nip into any garage for a top up. I have however used one of the 12 v pumps when I had my car and found it to be really good, but only until I got to a garage.

We will check our tyres before setting off, if they need a top up it’s done whilst fuelling

I bought a 12v pump from either Lidl or Aldi. The cable was too short to reach from the 12v outlet on the dash to the rear wheels. I connected an additional length of suitable cable. I also tried using it from a 12v outlet in the habitation area. Whilst the van's electrics were up to the job, the pump's own fuse blew and had to be uprated.  It's best to connect using the jump-start terminals in the engine bay, but they need croccodile clips rather than cig-lighter plug....

In fact, I very rarely use the 12v pump. At home I have a mains pump by Ring, which is happy to cope with the high pressures of the rear tyres. I don't bother to take that on hoiday.

Bikeralw's device seems ideal .... if a bit heavy to cart around?
Cymro

A 12v pump will be fine if its man enough for the job. It has to be capable of reaching the pressures in our van tyres without being on its limits of operation.Look for the pressure it is capable of producing,mine is 275psi and works with no issues,suggest 150 psi as minimum and approaching 300 as more than adequate.Sorry i cannot suggest a model,there are plenty out there but mine (interdynamis truckair 275) is on amazon but not available a mo.It is convenient to be able to check and adjust at home.
I will add that the lead on mine reaches all four corners from the cab 12v socket,may want to check out length of supply cable.

Sally, you are right, there is a mass of contradictory advice out there on the Forums. For what it is worth, I use garage air-lines where possible, but for top-ups I have a Joe-Blow track pump (from Halfords) it easily copes with the pressures, but is quite hard work).

The big thing with me is to have a connector which will connect and disconnect without losing too much pressure as I get the connector on and off the valve: the Joe-Blow does this easily.

Spospe wrote:The big thing with me is to have a connector which will connect and disconnect without losing too much pressure as I get the connector on and off the valve: the Joe-Blow does this easily.

 Yes, that can be a pain, especially on the Peugeot alloys if you don't have an extension valve. I used to lose a lot of air whilst connecting and disconnecting, until I squirted some silicone spray into / onto the pump's connector and worked the locking lever a few times. It became an easier task to disconnect from the tyre, especially if pulling the connector off the valve at the same time as opening the lever - it just pops off, with no air loss.

[Likewise, I occasionally spray inside the connectors at the end of the mains hook-up lead, so that it slides into, and from, the van without too much tugging.]

Cymro

I use a stirrup type manual pump for topping up the cycle and van tyres.  Simple to operate and store it goes everywhere with me.
Rich..

I use the 12V Halfords rapid digital tyre inflator.
It works off the 12V cigar lighter socket, included cord can reach all 4 corners of my Warwick. No idea if it is the absolute best available but it does work and I feel much beter having it in the van at all times.

Well there’s certainly plenty to go on there.  Methinks I’ll have to check some of these out.

Thank you to everyone who has responded.

I use one of these and have done for many years.
Got one in the M/H and one in the car.

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PB

If the answer was a foot pump, you didn't understand the question!!
Many 12v cigar lighter plugs will do all you need, BUT you may need an extension cable to reach all 4 wheels, AND, don't forget the spare, I always keep mine at 80psi, you can always lower the pressure, but much easier than trying to increase in in the dark, raining , on a Frogg motorway!!

bikeralw wrote:

Cymro wrote:Bikeralw's device seems ideal .... if a bit heavy to cart around?
Cymro

Quite right Cymro, the power station is definitely for home use! But if that's all the OP intends to do regarding checking the tyres it is an ideal solution, no trailing wires/cables/airlines or fuses to blow, plus it has lots more uses. There are cheaper ones on the market, mine has a built-in inverter for 240 volts.
I've had many of the under a tenner 12 volt compressors in my time and all were rubbish, either getting red hot and burning out after 5 minutes use or melting the puny cables. In fact I think the instructions say not to run them for more than a few minutes before letting them cool for 10/15 minutes, it would take all day to put a few psi in each of five tyres.. Only good for cycle tyres in my opinion.
Al.

I won’t be using it at home, as the van is always in secure storage or on holiday!  So it’s to take with me to the storage location for a pre-trip check, or ideally to be carried in the van for use as and when/if I need it.

Paid a tenner for a mountain bike  pump in Halfords about three years ago to top up the Alko air top suspension. I now use it for absolutely everything, including the van tyres. Only a little strenuous from about 65psi upwards but so far so good...no messing with silly little compressors plugged into the ciggy lighter and chundering away endlessly.
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Same as Postman. Ground located bicycle pump. Hand operated and with a long stroke, essential for inflating at the higher pressures Has a reliable pressure gauge and is light to carry.
Keith

I always used to have a power pack as it far more uses that just to blow up tyres. In fact its use on that role was very limited as it was very slow.

At home I have a jump start trolley (a sack barrow with a battery on it :) ) and one of these

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Hi
   I have a Ring RAC900 compressor not cheap best price Amazon £79.99 free next day delivery. It is a heavy duty compressor with a long hose which will reach all wheels with no difficulty, It has crocodile clips for direct connection to the battery as it draws to much current for a cigarette lighter socket It has a built in gauge. the air hose screws onto the valve. the only downside is that the gauge is at the tyre end and on on/off switch is on the compressor.I would recommend it
Alan

The Ring RAC900 gets a thumbs up from me too, it’s an excellent bit of kit.

Kingham wrote:The Ring RAC900 gets a thumbs up from me too, it’s an excellent bit of kit.

I like the look of the RAC900, but I wonder if it’s overkill for topping up a few psi every now and then. I also wondered how much of a bother it is attaching it to the main battery, which I think is located under a panel in the passenger footwell. 

It’s currently a choice between that and a topeake joe blow manual pump, which is simpler, but more manual and may actually be harder to store. 

I tell you something, I’m more decisive buying Jimmy Choos, but then I know exactly what I’m trying to achieve!

There should be a positive jump start connection point under the bonnet you can use.

PLOUGHLIN wrote:There should be a positive jump start connection point under the bonnet you can use.

There is!  I remember the dealer showing it to me when I bought it.  I hadn’t realised that you could use it for things like this. 

Thank you for that. Every day’s a school day as my Gran used to say 

Hi Sally
     I Know the RAC 900 is a bit over top but I all ways read the reviews and in my view on Amazon it could not be faulted
Regards
Alan

One last question hopefully. I have just realised that I have a Ring RAC630 in my car. I checked online and it is rated up to 80psi.  If I use this temporarily, if it wasn’t powerful enough and ‘blew’, would it just damage the pump, or am I in danger of damaging or blowing something in the van. It runs off the 12v thing, so if I was in no danger of harming the van, I could use this temporarily until I get the one I want. 

Thanks for all the help
Sally

It depends on how it connects. If using a cigarette adaptor then that has a fuse in the fuse box. It would at least be advisable to check where that is, what type and its value to get a spare. Mine is a blade type but there are at least 3 sizes and 15A

Directly clipped to the battery then there should be a fuse in the line.

Either way the van should be protected if the unit itself fails. The closer you work it to is maximum design pressure the longer it takes to raise the pressure and the hotter it gets. Some motors have an internal thermal fuse that fails before it actually burns out but once that happens it is scrap.