Of course those batteries don't last forever, maybe 5 years if you're lucky thus requiring the purchase of another unit.
I had a couple of those. A ChinaMart (Harbor Freight) brand and a Coleman (also Chinese ****). One had a built-in compressor and the other one did not. Neither lasted three Winters before the batteries were toast.
In theory they could be a lifesaver though. Another drawback was their weight. A friend had one go flying around in his trunk and it dented the rear quarter panel. Nice! I secured mine with a tarp strap an it froze and leaked on the trunk liner tray. No harm, just hit the car was and the 55-gallon trash can.
I've been back to 4-gauge jumper cables and the kindness of strangers for a few years now...and yes, I had two $125 batteries take a **** on me in last Winter's insane cold and snow!
One died in the driveway and the other crapped out just as I left the driveway at zero dark thirty and turned onto the road!!! I had to coast the Jeep off the road and into a 3' deep snow drift. The Jeep had been started and warmed up for 20 minutes! Talk about ****** off! And when I got back with a new battery in hand I had to stand in that deep snow in MINUS SIX DEGREE air with a wind chill that is too painful to remember and swap batteries. FML!
The Black & Decker AirStations (they make several models) are going to be Mexican or Chicom junk, too. No lifetime investment, for sure. But, they are compact and light weight. I, too, currently have the $15-$20 Menard's Chicom 12V cigarette lighter compressors. Cheap, compact, slow to inflate, but very nice to have when Mr. Inside Air decides to take a hike.
