Compressors: Patton philosophy?

[eric1115]

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week." - George Patton

Next thing on my list is OBA. Realistically (I'm on a limited budget) I can do an MV50 now and have it to use all season, or I could wait and do a Puma or Viair or something similar, probably late fall or next spring (it's got to wait its turn in line with the rest of the stuff vying for my money).

Thoughts? Those of you with the MV50, do you dread airing down because it takes SO long to air back up? Puma owners, do you wish you had gone ahead and done OBA a long time ago, even if it would have been at the expense of a little speed?

Tires are also an item on the "replace, pronto" list, and I'm waffling between the 235/85/16's on it now, and going to a 255/85/16, so I'm not (nor will be in the forseeable future) running a huge volume tire.

[kjp1969]

I'd go with the MV50 now. Mine works very well, and faster than some more expensive setups. Later, if you upgrade, the MV50 can be a spare/backup.

[ccarm]

I'd go with the MV50 now. Mine works very well, and faster than some more expensive setups. Later, if you upgrade, the MV50 can be a spare/backup.

x2

This little guy (MV50) has an absolute cult following. You don't get to that status by having a cruddy setup. Works great for what we use it for: airing up tires.

[theksmith]

i used an MV50 for several years when i had an XJ with 31" x 11" R16 tires and it worked flawlessly.

i then hard mounted 2 of them in my WJ and that really worked well for about 9 months on 33" x 11.5" R17 tires. then they both died within a month of each other.

so just don't expose it permanently to the elements and it should last you plenty long and be fast enough. that said, the PUMA one is considerably faster

[ert01]

I have an MV50 and so does my brother... they worked well for us both so far. I've had mine over 2 years and he's had his a little less then that.

Only problem I ran into once was that the air filter broke and a piece of plastic worked its way into the head and broke one of the reeds. It was an easy fix... all I did was get a feeler gauge that was the same thickness as the reed that broke and cut it to size and bolt it in. I've been running it that way ever since. I also re-tapped the head to accept a regular NPT thread so I could put a different (metal) air filter on there.

I like this compressor, but there are still times I would prefer something hard-mounted that has a bit better output for my 33's.

[slomatt]

I used a Puma for about 6 years and have used an MV50 for the last 4 or so. Both work just fine on 32" and 33" tires, anything much larger will take quite a while to fill with the MV50 and it will get pretty hot since it is not rated for 100% duty cycle.

For me the big benefit of the MV50 is that it is compact and easy to hard mount, I have it stored behind a panel in my 4runner where it takes up no cargo space. The downside is that the MV50 requires a good amount of hardware (pressure switch, piping, tank) to hard mount where as the Puma comes with all of that. Both have proven to be very reliable on the trail and have never failed.

If I ever decide I need more air I'll probably get around to installing the York compressor that's been sitting in my garage for years.

- Matt

[PV Hiker]

I have the MV-50 and mine has worked smooth and quiet. I thought I needed a Backup and for filling a second vehicle faster. I bought a second one like the first one from Amazon. It came last week and turned it on and WOW, this one sounded like it was going to explode from the inside and boy was it noisy. It went back the next day.
I bought a Puma and will get it and find a spot for it while using the good MV-50 as a backup. Puma is more expensive but how many times do we buy cheap over and over only to end up paying the same as a Puma or better in the long run? Looking forward to having both.

[off-roader]

MV50 works great even for 35's. Just keep the filter on it or the dust will eat it alive.

[TwoTrack]

I have the MV-50 as well. I have 31's and to get all 4 tires from 15psi to 35psi only take around 15 minutes total. Not bad in my opinion for a $50 compressor.

[eric1115]

I have the MV-50 and mine has worked smooth and quiet. I thought I needed a Backup and for filling a second vehicle faster. I bought a second one like the first one from Amazon. It came last week and turned it on and WOW, this one sounded like it was going to explode from the inside and boy was it noisy. It went back the next day.
I bought a Puma and will get it and find a spot for it while using the good MV-50 as a backup. Puma is more expensive but how many times do we buy cheap over and over only to end up paying the same as a Puma or better in the long run? Looking forward to having both.

Thanks folks, I was inclined to agree with the General already, and you've got me convinced now that the MV50 now (and maybe a Puma down the road a ways if I really feel the need) beats a faster, burlier compressor later. I'll try not to install it too violently. Now off to shop for fittings!

Eric