Flat Rear Tire

[Audioa_fan]

My first trip in our 2001 HR Ambassador wasn't the smooth experience I had hoped for. I wanted to put some air in the tires on out way out of town since its cold. My first problem was finding a place with enough air pressure to accomplish that. As I was checking the passenger side outside rear tire I realized it was completely flat and loose on the wheel. I had momentary panic not knowing what in the world I was going to do.

I checked a couple of places that couldn't work on it. Then I tried the Farmer's CO-OP. I don't know why I didn't think of that first. They have to work on every type and size of tire imaginable. They took it off and there wasn't anything in the tire. He inflated it up to 120 pounds and put it back on and lowered it back down and it stayed up. He inflated all the tires up to 120 pounds, most of them were between 85 and 90 pounds due to the drop in temperature.

We drove nearly 4 hours and camped at an RV park for 4 days and drove back home. The tire is still fine. I have no idea what happened to it but something apparently broke the seal. I learned where to get tires checked and repaired locally. I also discovered the importance of "kicking the tires". I do that now at every stop on the road.

I told the previous owner that I will need to make every mistake possible until I understand everything in complete detail. I think I am making good on my promise.

[stripit]

As others have said investigating a tire pressure monitoring system should be on your list of things to do. I use the HereAlso I would suggest finding a scale where you could weigh each axle, better yet would be getting each tire position weighed and setting the correct tire pressure to the tires using the tire inflation guide for your tires. Should improve the ride quality and maybe the handling too.

[wny_pat1]

Audioa_fan wrote:
As I was checking the passenger side outside rear tire I realized it was completely flat and loose on the wheel. I had momentary panic not knowing what in the world I was going to do.
............ They took it off and there wasn't anything in the tire. He inflated it up to 120 pounds and put it back on and lowered it back down and it stayed up. He inflated all the tires up to 120 pounds, most of them were between 85 and 90 pounds due to the drop in temperature.

If it was that flat and loose on the wheel, you have overloaded the tire beside it, and need to get it checked by a reputable tire shop. Having been overloaded like that, it is likely you ruined it by driving on it. And get the flat tire checked also.

And this is why many RVers have a emergency road service like CoachNet or Good Sam. They will come and fix your tire for you so that you don't have to drive on it and ruin it!!!

[Bobbo]

My father was an OTR bus driver. He kept a ball peen hammer in his grip that always went with him. He never got into a bus to drive it without using it to hit every tire. You can tell a 10 pound difference in tire pressure by the sound/rebound of the hammer. Precise? No. Good enough for his purposes? Yes. Would it have found your flat tire? Definitely.

[pitch]

Kicking tires is an excellent way to check for problems,(well not kicking but bouncing a bar off them)
No you are not going to notice 107 vs 110, but with a bit of experience 85 vs 110 sure will stick out.
Buy all means check your pressure first thing in the day, but unless you have been having problems a good thump will suffice for a quick pitstop check.

[Jay_Pat]

Kicking tires is a very poor way to check tire pressures.
It does not reveal the real tire pressure. Or, any tire pressure.
Use a tire pressure gauge.
Better yet, get a tire pressure monitor system.

Some mistakes can cost you a lot of money. Many here have discussed their problems in the past. Read the forums often to learn about many items to save your money.

Welcome to the forum!!

Hope this is helpful!!!
Pat