Product Review: Foot Pumps and 12V Air Compressors

Disclosure: I received free samples from Ring Automotive for this review but purchased the Michelin pump myself. I did not receive any payments and was not required to write a positive review by either firm.

Tyre pressures for motorhomes are a lot higher than those for cars, thanks to the greater weight of most motorhomes. One consequence of this is that some portable tyre pumps, designed (cheaply) for car tyres, are not man enough for the job of inflating tyres up to 50-70psi, the range typically necessary for large van (i.e. motorhome) tyres.

Of course, some pumps are well up to the job – both foot pumps and portable 12V compressors. I’ve recently reviewed a few that have inflated my Transit’s tyres up to 54psi without any problem at all – I’m confident they could all go a bit higher, too.

Michelin Single Barrel Foot Pump

The Michelin is my personal choice of foot pump and one I bought with my own money. High quality construction, an accurate gauge and easy to fix on to tyre valves.

Ring Automotive Single Barrel Foot Pump

Another good quality foot pump, but the Michelin has the edge in terms of build quality. The Ring foot pump inflates tyres faster than the Michelin but is slightly more fiddly to connect to tyre valves and requires more effort to pump.

Ring Automotove RAC630 Digital Compressor

For those who are not keen on foot pumps, a 12V compressor makes sense. The RAC630 has a digital display that allows you to preset the required tyre pressure. The compressor will then inflate the tyre correctly and automatically switch itself off.

The only problem with the RAC630 for motorhome use is that the power cord, which must be plugged into a cigarette lighter socket, is only about 3m long. This is fine for cars and small vans but probably not long enough to reach all four wheels on a coachbuilt motorhome.

The cordless RAC650 might be a better option – but cordless devices need to be kept charged to be of any use.

Final Thoughts

All of these devices are available for £20 or less. Whatever your choice of technology, I would strongly recommend that you always carry some kind of tyre inflation device on board your motorhome.

You never know when a slow puncture or flat tyre will strike and a pump could make the difference between needing to call for help and getting on the road again unaided.