When you get into four-wheeling, you begin to realize that little things can make a big difference. For example, the amount of air in your tires can affect the traction you get in different terrain. Changing the amount of air in your tires is easy as long as you are trying to take air out, but putting more air back in gets problematic. There are several options for choosing a portable air compressor, and the features of each one will affect your ride in different ways. 

Stand-Alone Models

You can buy some air compressors that will come as a package that you can move from vehicle to vehicle as needed. Most of these will have a power converter that plugs into the cigarette lighter in your jeep. If you have more than one vehicle, then a stand-alone model might be a good idea. On the other hand, it will take up cargo space in your vehicle and might be damaged by other cargo in your car. Furthermore, you may misplace your compressor and/or leave it behind. While these models offer a good option, they are not the only choice. 

Bumper-Mounted Models

If you are serious about four-wheeling, you will likely need a wench. When you are mud-bogging, a wench can help you to get unstuck, and when you are rock-crawling, a wench can help you to get up dangerously steep inclines. A wench is typically mounted to your front bumper, and you can find bumper-mounted air compressors either as a separate unit or as a combo with a wench. Not only will a bumper mounted model be hard to lose, but it will be hard-wired to your car. This means that you don't have to worry about the wiring getting damaged and rendering your compressor useless when you need it most. The one disadvantage of a bumper-mounted compressor is that it can make it can interfere with your approach angle, making it difficult to clear some obstacles. 

A stand-alone air compressor will usually be cheaper than a bumper-mounted model. Not only is the compressor itself cheaper, but you don't have to worry about the labor involved in installing it on your bumper. Thus, you might want to start with a stand-alone compressor and then build up to a bumper-mounted model. For serious four-wheelers, adjusting the quality of your traction will allow you to go places and clear obstacles that taunt weekend warriors. The right compressor will allow you to adjust your traction as needed.

To learn more about jeep accessories, contact a company near you. 

Share