An inner dually flat story FYIAfter 8 yrs of no flats, we had an inner dually go flat about 30 mi from home and 6 mi from the destination cg Turning from one two lane state road to a parish/‘county’ lane, we noticed a higher pitched sound that Martha thought was wind leaking in, and I thought a pavement sound difference.At cg, I scoped it out to find inner dually curbside had no air. We were just out for a noon-noon 1 day trip and a lot of nature for dog walkingCalled Safeco at 1:30 pm, and they came up w/ two services who both backed out ‘cuz of dually. This entailed many automated status calls for the ETA of the several bailed service providers. Safeco was trying for quick response, I guess, but not distinguishing RV from regular auto (at least, not as well as possible). DGMR, I like Safeco.We weren’t 50 mi from home, and we had the contact name of TCI, the national truck center for big rig tires ‘n service. They put the Laredo tires on 2 years ‘n 8000 mi ago.Safeco apologized for things and I told then I’d spoken w/ the TCI guy and if they could get w/ him, I’d be happy to pay the difference between replace w/ spare and fix tire on spot (at most $50). Safeco seemed happy to pay in full. They got together, a TCI guy came to the state park at 9 am the next morning, discovered the valve stem was bad (maybe from magic beads as balancers), replaced rubber w/ metal stem, remounted, and all is well.This could have been SO bad in 93 degrees on a freeway shoulder and 3 dogs and me going anxiety crazy… We ended overall w/ quite a normal park dog walk and it was really no big prob in this set of circumstances.I wrote this as I feel there are many issues this story might raise for RV emergencies.

Now THAT was Providence!Rubber Valve Stem?

j-d wrote:Now THAT was Providence!Rubber Valve Stem?Yes, because these Trail-Lites are fairly light, they come from the converter with load range "D" tires and rubber stems suffice for the maximum of 65 PSI. That is why most replacement tires should be load range "E" and change of the stems to steel.burlmart - Glad everything turned out okay for you. Your experience proves the point of having the tools and tire for fixing flats with you. The responder can then provide the necessary service.

My first camping trip with our new to us Conquest I drove about 400 miles. When I got home my Son in law was checking the rig out and noticed the left inner dually was flat. No Idea how long I was driving on only one tire. It was a braided steel/rubber valve stem that did it. Tire shop replaced it with a metal stem and checked all the tires.Our next trip was 300 miles, after which I went back to the tire shop to re torque the tire and they noticed the right inner dually was flat. Same problem same fix.Just dumb luck I didnt blow the remaining tire. Again no idea how much of the 300 miles was on only one tire. I dodged that bullet twice!If you dont have metal stems I highly recommend having them installed or its just a matter of time.

Wow.TCI, a big truck outfit, replaced my OEM Laredo load range D w/ new Laredo Es and put new black stems (OEM were black also) and aired them to 70 of 85psi max.As Gene said, for our little TL rigs, the tire chart says about 55psi is OK (sure a nicer ride). I air them to 65psu and months later check that they are above 50psi. The air loss I had was probably at 54psi.I wonder why he didn't put metal as replacement stems - he seems a pro who wants it right. I am a bit concerned. However, never had an issue w/ the OEMs for 6yrs and 33k miles.

Although I'd rather have metal, the "rubber" (probably some synthetic material) kind are probably OK IF IF IF IF we don't add extensions/extenders and other gadgets. The metal ones can require snugging of their retainer nut once in awhile while the rubber ones should be maintenance free till replacement time. Rather have metal, even on a light rig.

Issues raised for discussion w/r our flat | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

burlmart
Explorer
Sep 24, 2013
Looking more at inner duallys. Not sure I want TPMS, and the screw-on inflaters may pose more issues than I want to deal with.

I just did a careful look at my dually valve stems (one rubber/plastic shrader style, and the other new aluminum one with a smaller diameter thread, but also shrader, I guess, since me regular inflator chuck worked on it).

I now see and understand why a straight (0 degree angle) inflator chuck should line up with both inner dually valve stems and you just push straight along one line.

Any recommendations for a straight stem inflator w/ a good air pressure guage that fits snugly, easily would be very helpful.

On edit...this type looks better if the chuck will grip the air valve and free my hand from holding it.

C H same as my compressor
burlmart
Explorer
Sep 23, 2013
This may be the ticket. There seems enough room for me to reach in and screw something onto the valve stem threads - quickly, I hope.

My new issue is I need one regular female and one smaller dia female threaded end thanks to my new aluminum stem (the guy scratched out metal stem on the bill and wrote alum). Is this maybe related to another thread where some metal stems may have issues right now?

Where is best place to look. We have a harbor freight and some RV places. NAPA or Auto Zone?

Thanks, Gene. I can't go thru another marathon tire air up.
Gene_in_NE
Explorer III
Sep 23, 2013
burlmart wrote:
Could I screw this on the inner dually, add air, and remove??
Sure!

There are two reason the extenders are frowned upon. The centrifugal force applied to the extender when the wheel is turning at 65-70 miles per hour pulls on the stem and can fracture it. Second, because most extenders depress the internal shrader valve inside the valve stem you loose the security of having the tire pressure act directly on the shrader valve. The secondary seal at the end of the extender is being flopped around in the breeze. (That description is my way of describing why that is not as good as the valve stem in the rim.) :B

There have been reports of extenders tearing off the valve stem or leaking connections.
burlmart
Explorer
Sep 23, 2013
Could I screw this on the inner dually, add air, and remove??
burlmart
Explorer
Sep 23, 2013
after well over an hour w/ trying to hear if I have the inflator on well over the constant running of my tiny pancake compressor, they all have 70psi, and 65psi in the load range D spare.

Please, someone direct me to a great air compressor inflator tool that works well within chevy dually tight space. One that makes a sure tight fit (I think an old-style screw on would possibly do it)> The oddly curved openings, my huge hand, and the fixed double-sided inflator (and separate similar pressure guage) are HARD to work.

Also, my new metal stem has a smaller diameter thread, but the inflator worked, so I matched the inner pressure dually to that of the outer from the dial guage on the compressor. My air guage worked on the outer dually.
burlmart
Explorer
Sep 23, 2013
I will for sure be paying attention to tires more. The deflated tire stayed attached around beads, and even gave the appearance of still having air, but I think it was well restrained thus felt stiffer. The bottom bulged out and rubbed the other, but hopefully no prob.

If I recall, load range E can take 2600 lb, and the TL delivers around 1600 lb per wheel, so for 6 mi at maybe 40 mph, the outer dually was 25% overloaded (also underinflated for that load). I see how overstress could occur – may need to keep tires between 65 and 70 for future.
Airstreamer67
Explorer
Sep 23, 2013
You might watch the tire next to the one with the flat closely. It had to carry much more weight for several miles with its twin being flat. There have been reports of later tire failures which were suspected resulted from such overload.

I would recommend you consider a tire pressure monitoring and alarm system to alert you as soon as you lose air pressure. I know my PressurePro system has saved me from problems several times.

Regarding the balencing beads, I doubt they had anything to do with the valve failure. The only way they might affect the valve is when checking the air pressure, some times a bead might get into the valve core and prevent the valve from closing. If this happens, you would notice the air rushing out when you remove the pressure gauge. This problem can be resolved by a shot of air into the valve to blow away the bead from the valve. Dynabead sells special valve cores that have a filter in them to prevent this from happening. I bought a set, and ironically they gave me problems and I installed the original cores with no further issues.
burlmart
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
One thing to note is that car insurance companies that do RVs as well are not well set up for getting the right service person, as happened here where two different services were set up and both cancelled when the realized it was a RV w/ duallies.

What was interesting is when a Safeco rep apologized and I said I had spoken w. a capable service only 40 miles away, she asked for his info and called back saying it was all set. I offered to pay the difference between just putting on my spare and fixing the flat tire, and because of the delay, I guess, they paid it all.

I’m not sure if they are all as flexible as Safeco was here – then again, I guess a fast, capablr service from an experienced RV roadside assistance group is preferable if you are in a bad spot. But geez, it is already being charged to you in the RV insurance policy, so another $100/yr for a separate roadside assistance???
j-d
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2013
Most of us who have installed metal valves have had a shop do it. There were two exceptions I remember.

1. An OP bought a set of new tires and what looked like a very light duty manual tire "machine." Got the set, valves and all, installed a home. I was awed.

2. Another OP took one off at a time and used the base of his bottle jack against the tire bead against the weight of the RV. Broke enough bead down to get inside the tire and install the valve.
G_and_D
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
I was also told that the rubber stem seat on the inside of the rim can get distorted by the stresses and high psi which can cause them to leak.

The tire shop that did the metal stems also specializes in 18 wheelers and seems to really know their stuff