Trailer has been in storage lot in Florida for 3 months, want to leave the state tomorrow so yesterday I checked systems out and was pleased to learn that all 4 trailer tires were still at 50# as required and didn’t need inflation. When I was putting the plastic valve cap back on it seemed like I turned it too far and popped the top of the cap...I did not move the trailer at all yesterday. When I went down this am to hook up, that tire was flat. (Just wanted to emphasize that the trailer and tire was NOT moved yesterday). I have reinflated the tire twice and it slowly leaks. I have done the soap suds routine and there is no evidence of leaking (bubbling air) through the valve stem. I don’t have the jack to change the tire myself and haven’t been able to get any road service to come out...needless to say we won’t be leaving Florida tomorrow morning as planned. Just wondering if any readers can help me diagnose the likely source of the air leak.Thanks.

You may have pinched the valve stem just enough to crack it. If you can, apply a solution of soapy water on the stem and look for bubbles. If that's not it, you can do the same to the rest of the tire to find the leak. I always carry a kit to repair tubeless tires. I fix them myself in 2 minutes.

You don’t need a jack with tandem axles. Build yourself a ten dollar wooden ramp. Remove the tire, inflate and submerge. Push the stem different directions.

Do the soap trick again but this time lightly flex the valve stem back and forth. Its probably leaking where the valve stem meets the wheel. Also make sure to form a soap bubble over the top of the valve stem and watch closely. I slow leak will take a couple seconds to spot. My guess is that checking the tire pressure upset the valve stem. Either leaking at the base or the shradder valve itself is leaking. Also your vehicle should have a jack that is strong enough to lift the axle enough to get the tire 1 inch off the ground. While the manufacture does not recommend jacking up the axle its the method i see tire dealers use. I dont see any difference in driving the trailer onto a driveway.

Your valve stem went bad, probably from no fault of yours. My pickup has been sitting since Thanksgiving weekend, and suddenly early March it had a flat tire. I thought that was strange, so I filled the tire back up. Next day it was flat again, so I put some air in it and then wiggled the stem and sure enough I could hear air leaking. I had a metal stem put in it, as this isn't the first time this has happened in that last couple years.

I also suspect the vale stem is cracked. You may still have stems from the old recall where they are prone to cracking. Keep spraying the soap on everything until the leak is found. You may need to remove the wheel.

Any hints about why my tire leaking? | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Mar 22, 2020
I also suspect the vale stem is cracked. You may still have stems from the old recall where they are prone to cracking. Keep spraying the soap on everything until the leak is found. You may need to remove the wheel.
dieseltruckdriv
Explorer II
Mar 22, 2020
Your valve stem went bad, probably from no fault of yours. My pickup has been sitting since Thanksgiving weekend, and suddenly early March it had a flat tire. I thought that was strange, so I filled the tire back up. Next day it was flat again, so I put some air in it and then wiggled the stem and sure enough I could hear air leaking. I had a metal stem put in it, as this isn't the first time this has happened in that last couple years.
wopachop
Explorer
Mar 22, 2020
Do the soap trick again but this time lightly flex the valve stem back and forth. Its probably leaking where the valve stem meets the wheel.

Also make sure to form a soap bubble over the top of the valve stem and watch closely. I slow leak will take a couple seconds to spot.

My guess is that checking the tire pressure upset the valve stem. Either leaking at the base or the shradder valve itself is leaking.

Also your vehicle should have a jack that is strong enough to lift the axle enough to get the tire 1 inch off the ground. While the manufacture does not recommend jacking up the axle its the method i see tire dealers use. I dont see any difference in driving the trailer onto a driveway.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Mar 22, 2020
You don’t need a jack with tandem axles. Build yourself a ten dollar wooden ramp. Remove the tire, inflate and submerge. Push the stem different directions.
jdc1
Explorer II
Mar 22, 2020
You may have pinched the valve stem just enough to crack it. If you can, apply a solution of soapy water on the stem and look for bubbles. If that's not it, you can do the same to the rest of the tire to find the leak.
I always carry a kit to repair tubeless tires. I fix them myself in 2 minutes.

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Any hints about why my tire leaking?

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