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dennislanier's avatar
dennislanier
Explorer
Oct 17, 2015

Airless tire valve extensions

I have used this forum many times in the past, usually being the one ASKING questions concerning some minor or major catastrophe I was having. I have learned a lot and been helped many times.

In today's episode I want to pass on some information that may help someone else. The subject is airless valve extensions for dual rear wheels. I realize this subject has been discussed before but wanted to add my experience as well.

I had new tires installed on my Class C a couple of months ago. At that time I purchased the braided valve extensions from CW and had the tire store put them on when mounting the new tires. In preparing for a short trip last week I checked the air and found that one of the inner tires was completely flat. I aired it up and kept checking it for a few days after and it was OK. We took our trip and got ready to come home yesterday and I found the same tire flat again. I had to drive several miles with one flat tire to a garage in the area and have it checked. He removed the tires and did a complete check and discovered the extension was the problem. Cost me $40 which was reasonable considering the time and labor

The bottom line is the extensions were not installed correctly. They were apparently too tight and caused a leak. Evidently these things must be adjusted precisely to work. Too loose and you cannot inflate them. Too tight and they will leak.

So if you are heaving tire problems check the extensions first and it may save you a lot of trouble. These extensions do NOT have a Schrader valve and just use a push pin to activate the actual valve on the tire so that is why they need to be precise. Sorry for the long post but hopefully it will help someone later on.
Class C
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Oct 17, 2015
    Thanks for the info. I did not know they would leak if too tight.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Oct 17, 2015
    I guess it makes sense. The Airless has a "pusher" that runs from the outside end to the inside end. When you push the air gauge onto the outside end, that pusher piece depresses the core on the actual tire valve. Over tighten the pusher can push without any pressure on the outside end.

    NOT that I have any personal experience, but there's a prank where one puts a little pebble inside the tire valve cap then slightly tightens the cap. This presses the valve core and slowly lets the tire down.

    Dennis, I trust you have metal valves on your tires. Don't use any extenders with rubber valves!

    I'm sorry this happened, congrats on being thorough enough to check those tires.

    I'm also all the more glad I went to custom BORG valves on our duallys. I added airless caps to them. Also on the front stock metal valves. Tire checking takes literally minutes. Takes longer to crouch down (and get back up!) than any other part of the evolution.
  • Robocop's avatar
    Robocop
    Explorer
    Oct 17, 2015
    Similar personal experiences with low pressure and also a flat as a result of the valve nut coming loose from the constant adjustment of the valve extender. New tires and one piece extended valves as well in the near future should create less anxiety.
  • Bordercollie's avatar
    Bordercollie
    Explorer
    Oct 18, 2015
    There is an on-going mystery as to why RV chassis and/or housebox manufacturers don't install solid metal tire valves that protrude through "beauty disks" and make checking tire pressures easy. Must be some legal mumbo-jumbo otherwise they would mention these as a bonus feature.

    Using Screw-on valve extender devices, added to rubber valve stems, can result in tires deflating and coming apart with damage to underside parts of rig and possible loss of control.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Oct 19, 2015
    I'd guess that Ford and Chevy buy their wheels with valves in them, maybe even tires mounted and balanced. Maybe they go every-which-way and some end up on Class C chassis. So that's how the RV builder gets them.

    The valves SHOULD be part of the "RV Prep Package" that should also include caster bushings and better sway bars...and...

    RV builder to pull tires and wheels, dismount, etc... highly doubtful.
  • dennislanier's avatar
    dennislanier
    Explorer
    Oct 21, 2015
    This is a follow-up to my original post. When I had the RV tires checked, I had the technician remove the extension completely from the inner wheel, and had him place it on the OUTSIDE when he re-mounted the tires. It has now been 4 full days since he did that, and the tire is still holding at 80 pounds. Proves to me that the extension was definitely the culprit. I am now trying to figure out which choice to make regarding Borg, Tire Man or simply leaving off any kind of extension and using a truck-type gauge and air chuck.

    The old tires I had removed prior to buying my new tires also had the braided extensions and I had no trouble with them. I think it is mainly a matter of finding a "happy medium" when screwing the extensions on. As mentioned before, too tight means loss of air pressure, too loose means you cannot check pressure or inflate. Not a good choice either way.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Oct 21, 2015
    Borg and Tire Man, equal products and good service at similar prices. I saw Borg first and went with them. Also found out there was a way to get them at a better price than stated on their packaging and web page. The pricing advantage has pretty much gone away. Then I needed a valve replaced and Bill "Borg" (last four letters of a longer last name) went miles out of his way to get me taken care of. So, I still recommend Borg aka Duallyvalve. Here's info from their webpage

    Have Duallyvalve Questions?? ... Contact Us!
    Email: support@yourtireshopsupply.com
    (818) 481-2817 (800) 300-2674 Fax: (818) 352-8119
    Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm PST M-F
    OR
    Email: borgsupply@hotmail.com
    (818) 352-8717 (800) 300-2674 Fax: (818) 352-8119
    Ask For Bill Falkenborg - Hours: 9:00am - 3:30pm PST M-F

    Tire checking is now foolproof and I rarely have to add air. By that I mean not for months at a time.

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