Nope, not the trailer... A FLAT TIRE!Looks like I drove the better part of 90 miles with a flat inner dual last Friday. My only indication was that the truck seemed to be down on power. Everything was fine when I left home.When I stopped at a gas station to top off the tank and fill my generator gas can, I thought the right outer rear looked pretty soft. Reached in, grabbed the inner tire, and it went "wubble-wubble." Stuck the pressure gauge on it, and got "ambient." Not even a slight PSSHT! Stone. Dead. Flat.Turns out the valve stem got ripped off, probably by a stone caught between the wheels or age and fatigue.Put the spare on, and it was like a whole new truck again.That one valve stem means 6 new tires, unfortunately. These are the original tires on the truck, and even though they're not worn out, it's probably for the best to replace them.

I think that I'd fix the one that was flat... a new stem... less than $5.00Check the $1200 worth of tires that you seem to be bent on buying... they may have 6 year old dates or older on them,If I had to replace the tire that was run flat it would be with a used tire that is in about the same condition as your other tires.Thinking like this has made retirement unbeliveaby good... we can afford to travel as much as we want... Good luck

Wow, glad it didn't cause any damage or get you injured. I don't own a dually and the ones I have driven always had inflated tires. I can't imagine not being able to feel a flat on a DRW....kinda scary.Do you think those tire monitors are worth the money ? It seems like it might not be a bad idea on a DRW truck ... if they really work. tire pressure monitor

Don't forget, I'm only hauling a 1600lb camper that might weigh 2000 loaded, and a trailer with maybe 400lb of tongue weight. Hardly stressing things.There are advantages to overkill.sleepy, the tires are 12 years old, don't have a whole lot of tread on them, and are starting to show their age. Plus the rims are rusty and need to be cleaned and painted. I'm not getting all six at once. Probably two at a time, because I have two spare rims to clean and paint while the truck remains drivable.

I didn't interpret someone as being "bent on buying new tires"In a similar situation, if the tires are as old as someone else mentions (12 yrs old), I'd replace them too. At a minimum, I sure wouldn't "replace the valve stem" and call it good on the failed inner dual - that tire took a beating being run flat. It's carcass is likely compromised.When buying new tires, insist on ALL METAL valve stems, not the OEM style which are a metal base with a rubber stem.I've had the hybrid stems fail too.

Didn't know it was back there! | Good Sam Community

deltabravo
Nomad
Jul 15, 2014
I forgot to mention: My previous truck, a 2002 2500HD with 6.0, blew a rubber valve stem too on I-90 east of Ritzville while towing my Desert Fox back in 2006. It was the rear tire.

The only two flat tires I've ever had were both failed rubber valve stems.

I really need to replace the TPMS monitor! I tow a lot more now than I did before, and not just with the dually and truck camper. I have two other trucks.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jul 15, 2014
OEM tires are Load Range D, with rubber valve stems.

New tires will be Load Range E because that's what's available, and will have metal valve stems for sure.
bka0721
Explorer II
Jul 15, 2014
Reddog1 wrote:
bka0721 wrote:
... they were starting to show stress cracks and more. (Sold them on Craigslist ... ... but my life, others on the road and being in remote locations is not worth the risk, IMHO. ...
Actually, you may have increased the risk. Do you believe a new owner reduces the risk?

I don't meant to pick on you, just expressing a thought.
Heck no, Wayne, no worries. You know me, always worth discussing.

If you are referring to the person that purchased the tires (actually he was purchasing the rims with tires) I pointed out the issues I had with him, the cracking, and my concerns. These are issues I have often found with those that buy used tires.

Yep, anyone can sue anyone for anything, so anytime you sell something you have that risk. But, my risk is my risk and that is why I went with a new set of tires, after only 20+k miles on them, as well as a new set, and larger, rims.

Plus, he has to find me. As some have learned, that can be challenging. :B

b
thetroutman4
Explorer
Jul 15, 2014
I agree with the all metal valve stems. We lost a rubber stem on the inside dually of our old MH and also didn't notice till the next gas stop. Put spare on and got to a repair shop and had new stem installed and replaced tire/wheel in the original location. Tire had total blowout later that same day. Sad part is that we bought six new tires Saturday morning, lost stem later that day, repairs (stem) done Sunday morning and final blowout was that same afternoon. Won't do that again. Good choice on buying new tires. It often is more than just the tire that blows.... of my last 2 blowouts, one removed my brand new exhaust system and the other 'removed' all my drain plumbing on both my full holding tanks. Yuck. Looked in my mirror to see my towed getting a 'bath'.
deltabravo
Nomad
Jul 15, 2014
Jfet wrote:
I have six brand new M608Z on my Isuzu but if I ever get a flat on the rear I think I will nurse it to a wide pulloff and unload the camper or at least raise it up a few inches to take the load off the truck while working on the tires. I should look into those tire monitors though...

I had a flat on the inner dual once. Something felt fishy so i pulled in to a rest area. Outer tire looked low on air, then I figured out the inner was flat. Same problem as the OP - busted valve stem.

The valve stems on my dually are the same length as any other valve steam a tire shop would install. There's enough gap between the tires that there's no way a rock would get in there and cause a problem, unless I was abusing the truck and camper off the beaten path, which isn't happening with nearly 12,000 lbs of mass, and a wide load.

I have new tires and all metal valve stems now. I still need to replace the remote display unit for my TPMS system, which I smashed by accident when I closed it in the ramp door of the cargo trailer when I was changing the flat truck tire!

When I changed the tire, I lifted the weight of the camper off the truck bed. I didn't feel comfortable lifting the weight of the truck and camper with the jack I had.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Jul 15, 2014
bka0721 wrote:
... they were starting to show stress cracks and more. (Sold them on Craigslist ... ... but my life, others on the road and being in remote locations is not worth the risk, IMHO. ...
Actually, you may have increased the risk. Do you believe a new owner reduces the risk?

I don't meant to pick on you, just expressing a thought.
ab257
Explorer
Jul 14, 2014
We use TireTracker TPMS on our dually. Also gives a indication of tire temperature. Need to change the batteries on the sensors every year, but it works pretty good, and gives some peace of mind.
vern_kelly
Explorer
Jul 14, 2014
Watch out for rubber valve stems on high pressure load range E tires. I had two fail (luckily in the driveway). After the second one I replaced them with metal valve stems and the problem stopped many years ago. I hate how the rubber ones flex when you put air in or take a reading. Both failed at the rim throughput area on the rear rim tires.
Jfet
Explorer
Jul 14, 2014
Super_Dave wrote:
I'm just glad I have roadside assistance. Not looking forward to ever having to remove duals on the side of the road while loaded.

I have six brand new M608Z on my Isuzu but if I ever get a flat on the rear I think I will nurse it to a wide pulloff and unload the camper or at least raise it up a few inches to take the load off the truck while working on the tires. I should look into those tire monitors though...
Super_Dave
Explorer
Jul 14, 2014
I'm just glad I have roadside assistance. Not looking forward to ever having to remove duals on the side of the road while loaded.