Dually valve extension issue, question
..In order to allow me to easily keep (rear dually) tires inflated properly, I use the braided valve extension for the inner dualies, and 160 deg. U shaped solid extensions for outer duallies. This has worked great, for almost a year now. Have heard that the braided ones can leak, but I've watched tire pressures closely (check them before every trip), and they have never lost any pressure.
Ironically, its the solid, U-shaped ones that just caused a problem for us this last trip, not the braided flexible ones. :(
Well, we were out camping this weeekend, at a nearby state park ('bout a 50 mile drive). Got to the campsite, found that driver side outer tire was COMPLETELY flat. Never noticed it on the road driving, amazingly. Handling wasn't realy affected. Guess thats one of the great things about having duals.
After looking closer at the (flat) tire, found that the solid U shaped valve extender, had turned 360 degrees, and worked loose, letting all the air out. Arrrgh!
Either it was not on tight to begin with (doubt it, I always check them before every trip and this was no exception), or some debris from the road came up and hit it at just the right place, to make it turn and work loose.
Anyway, I carry a portable air compressor, and could have just re-inflated it and moved on. Fearing that the tire may be damaged from running flat who knows how many miles, I chose instead to use our Good Sam ERS, and had them send out a mobile tire service (Wingfoot). Kudos to both Good Sam ERS and Wingfoot, BTW, for quick, excellent service. They saved the trip. :)
Well, the tire service guy from Wingfoot took the wheel completely off, removed the tire from the rim, and examined the tire closely, inside and out. Wanted to make sure it hadn't been damaged by running flat. This must have just happened in the last mile or two, because tire still looked like brand new, inside and out.
He re-mounted the tire on the rim, put it in a cage and re-inflated it (after making sure everyone was standing a good ways back from it, haha!). Then put the valve extender back on (using lock jaws to get it on REAL tight this time), put the tire back on the MH, and we're good. He says tire is fine, I got lucky. Came home yesterday with it, all seems fine.
He had brought another tire with him that was same brand, size I have (Goodyear G670, 245/70R19.5) in case I needed it. Real glad I didn't, as that tire would have cost over $500!!
Anyway, this brings up some serious questions/issues I have, with using those U shaped, solid extensions. The tire guy said the braided ones I use on the inner dualies, are not a problem - they are flexible, and cannot be knocked loose. They rarely see those have an issue. The solid ones, though, are apparently a bigger concern, as debris can fly up, hit it in the right place and turn it, loosening it. He said better solution is to use a flexible, braided extension on outer dual as well, and just turn it around in a 'U' as well, and have it come out one of the holes in the rim.
Whats everyone's thoughts on this? I thought the solid valve extensions were safe and not a problem, is that not the case? Was this just a case where I did not get those extensions on tight enough, or should I ditch those extensions? Would a flexible, braided extension turned around in a U shape be better for the outer dual tire? That seemed like a strange idea to me.
On another note: I have to say, changing these tires and working with them is nowhere near as difficult with our MH as I was led to believe by some posts on here. I am NOT in very good shape at all, and I was able to move that tire around without too much difficulty. The lug nuts only require 165 ft-lbs of torque, not 450 ft-lbs like is apparently the case on some big DPs. The guy from Wingfoot was telling me I can buy a 12V powered impact wrench for around $50 that will handle this just fine, and work off the MH batteries (and I confirmed, they do make 12V impact wrenches in that price range that will put out 280 ft-lbs of torque).
Anyway, I guess the lesson to be learned is, if you use solid U shaped valve extensions on outer duallies...Make darn sure they're on as tight as you can get them! Might also suggest a good reason to get a TPMS of some kind as well, which I just might do, too.
Ironically, its the solid, U-shaped ones that just caused a problem for us this last trip, not the braided flexible ones. :(
Well, we were out camping this weeekend, at a nearby state park ('bout a 50 mile drive). Got to the campsite, found that driver side outer tire was COMPLETELY flat. Never noticed it on the road driving, amazingly. Handling wasn't realy affected. Guess thats one of the great things about having duals.
After looking closer at the (flat) tire, found that the solid U shaped valve extender, had turned 360 degrees, and worked loose, letting all the air out. Arrrgh!
Either it was not on tight to begin with (doubt it, I always check them before every trip and this was no exception), or some debris from the road came up and hit it at just the right place, to make it turn and work loose.
Anyway, I carry a portable air compressor, and could have just re-inflated it and moved on. Fearing that the tire may be damaged from running flat who knows how many miles, I chose instead to use our Good Sam ERS, and had them send out a mobile tire service (Wingfoot). Kudos to both Good Sam ERS and Wingfoot, BTW, for quick, excellent service. They saved the trip. :)
Well, the tire service guy from Wingfoot took the wheel completely off, removed the tire from the rim, and examined the tire closely, inside and out. Wanted to make sure it hadn't been damaged by running flat. This must have just happened in the last mile or two, because tire still looked like brand new, inside and out.
He re-mounted the tire on the rim, put it in a cage and re-inflated it (after making sure everyone was standing a good ways back from it, haha!). Then put the valve extender back on (using lock jaws to get it on REAL tight this time), put the tire back on the MH, and we're good. He says tire is fine, I got lucky. Came home yesterday with it, all seems fine.
He had brought another tire with him that was same brand, size I have (Goodyear G670, 245/70R19.5) in case I needed it. Real glad I didn't, as that tire would have cost over $500!!
Anyway, this brings up some serious questions/issues I have, with using those U shaped, solid extensions. The tire guy said the braided ones I use on the inner dualies, are not a problem - they are flexible, and cannot be knocked loose. They rarely see those have an issue. The solid ones, though, are apparently a bigger concern, as debris can fly up, hit it in the right place and turn it, loosening it. He said better solution is to use a flexible, braided extension on outer dual as well, and just turn it around in a 'U' as well, and have it come out one of the holes in the rim.
Whats everyone's thoughts on this? I thought the solid valve extensions were safe and not a problem, is that not the case? Was this just a case where I did not get those extensions on tight enough, or should I ditch those extensions? Would a flexible, braided extension turned around in a U shape be better for the outer dual tire? That seemed like a strange idea to me.
On another note: I have to say, changing these tires and working with them is nowhere near as difficult with our MH as I was led to believe by some posts on here. I am NOT in very good shape at all, and I was able to move that tire around without too much difficulty. The lug nuts only require 165 ft-lbs of torque, not 450 ft-lbs like is apparently the case on some big DPs. The guy from Wingfoot was telling me I can buy a 12V powered impact wrench for around $50 that will handle this just fine, and work off the MH batteries (and I confirmed, they do make 12V impact wrenches in that price range that will put out 280 ft-lbs of torque).
Anyway, I guess the lesson to be learned is, if you use solid U shaped valve extensions on outer duallies...Make darn sure they're on as tight as you can get them! Might also suggest a good reason to get a TPMS of some kind as well, which I just might do, too.
