EMD360
Feb 14, 2022Explorer
Tire Valve Disconnect Flat
First night out on the road about as far south in Colorado we could get when we pulled into our campsite with a flat outer drivers side duallie! First I tried to reinflate it thinking I didn’t get a TPMS warning. But it would not inflate so I called Good Sam Roadside. I’ve had this insurance since 2009 and used it just once before. When they separated the tire coverage I added it. So the claim rep was very well spoken and had a little humor which I appreciate. I got a call back from a dispatcher almost immediately. Their job is to contact a local vendor and locate the replacement tire. We obviously ran it flat. About a half hour later they called back saying a tech was on the way. Would arrive in about an hour. It was getting dark and the temperature was dropping. The man who showed up a little more than an hour later was very nice. He had to use hand tools to remove the tire and it was about 20° and dark so he worked with his truck headlights and phone flashlight. I sat in the warm cab and checked on him as he worked. The valve had come loose from a good tire. I just had the RV in the shop in January and got a bill of health for the tires but I’ve read that an extender can get caught and pull off the valve. First time for everything right?
So my Good Sam coverage really came in handy last night. I could have called around and tried to get someone out after dark on a 20° night or I could have Good Sam do it for me. I prefer the latter. And the TPMS? I forgot to turn it on in the hubbub of leaving home. Quite an oversight. On the other hand I’m glad we got to a campsite. Better than waiting on the highway for help. But what if I had known earlier? May not have destroyed the tire.
So my Good Sam coverage really came in handy last night. I could have called around and tried to get someone out after dark on a 20° night or I could have Good Sam do it for me. I prefer the latter. And the TPMS? I forgot to turn it on in the hubbub of leaving home. Quite an oversight. On the other hand I’m glad we got to a campsite. Better than waiting on the highway for help. But what if I had known earlier? May not have destroyed the tire.