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Tire Information and Help

We left CampFT yesterday with our new to us 2004 U270 3610. We were there six days. Most of the time was waiting for new tires to arrive and be installed. The new tires were part of the purchase agreement.
Upon leaving FOT with the new tires I never inspected the tires or the installation. That was a mistake. We left at 4:20 Pm with Jeremy (position unknown) and Drew Pierce (Service Director) walking us to the door of the coach.
Upon arriving at our storage space in Pflugerville, Texas I took the time to look at the tires. To my surprise, the rear tires, all four of them, did not have valve stem caps. And, the outside tire's valve stem was turned in facing the inside tire. And, the inside tire's valve stem was facing outward toward the outside tire, but the valve stem was so far inside the rim that I could not even touch it by reaching thru one of the holes in the outside tire's rim.
Now for the rest of the story. The salesperson, Paul, had told me that the new tires would have the valve stems facing outward and would be easy to reach for the purpose of putting air in the tires.
Could someone please tell me what I should do to make the valve stems accessible for servicing, i.e. putting air in the tires.
Thanks.
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #1 –
Quote from: LTG –
To my surprise, the rear tires, all four of them, did not have valve stem caps. And, the outside tire's valve stem was turned in facing the inside tire. And, the inside tire's valve stem was facing outward toward the outside tire, but the valve stem was so far inside the rim that I could not even touch it by reaching thru one of the holes in the outside tire's rim.

Could someone please tell me what I should do to make the valve stems accessible for servicing, i.e. putting air in the tires.

The valve stem configuration on our duals has the ones for the outer duals facing in, inner duals have longer stems that stick through the holes in the outer rims and are stabilized with a rubber grommet.

Here is a photo from one of Dave M's posts showing the grommet in the outer dual that supports the inner valve stem (note the "cap" is a Pressure pro sensor in this photo)

Wheel damage from Presure Pro sensor

For airing up/checking pressure on the outer duals, you use a truck-style chuck and tire gauge that you "pull" onto the valve stem (there will be both a standard "push" and a "pull" connector together on the end of the air chuck and the pressure gauge.

It sounds like they didn't put on the longer inner dual stems (or have the support grommets - I thought those were standard when the coach was new; ours were).


Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #2 –
Hi Terry and Larry,
Welcome to the Foretravel family.  They are installed correct from what I understood.  The inside valve stem should face out whule the outside tire faces in.  You will need a gaige that you pull toward you to check the outside tire and push it on the inside tire.  There should be a rubber plug that goes around the hole that the inside wheel valve stem comes thru.
Hope this helps.  If not write back.
Jerry
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #3 –
I used the 8" inner stems so they would extend thru the outer hole so the gromment fit as in the pix and the outer rim, had the stems turned 90 degrees, so they are very easy to service.
Like most things, if they are installed correctly, no problem, sloppy installation will have leaks that are a pain, just beware and make sure they are snugged proper.
Somewhere on the forum, there is a place to order the 8" stems for the steel inner rim, was mentioned a few months ago.

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #4 –
I had new dust caps installed during the new tire install. These dust caps do not need to be removed to air up or check tire pressure. The inner dually has no valve extension & the outer tire's valve is facing outward for easy airing and pressure checks.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #5 –
i found one of these dust caps. Attached are a couple of pictures.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #6 –
Jerry,
My post was not clear. The inner tire valve stems do not come thru the outer tire's rims. The inner tire valve stems are so short they cannot be touched and require a flashlight to seem them.

Peter and Beth,
Thanks for the pictures of the dust caps.

Larry
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #7 –
Some one dropped the ball.  But easy solution in a Google search for "valve stem extensions"

Google,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49784469,d.aWM&fp=207553671a39bb01&biw=1014&bih=481

Camping World shows 2 pages of options to solve almost any problem.

I would hope that someone in sales or service will see to it that you are made happy.  I would add the extensions to bring the inner's out thru the holes in the outer wheel, and add the rubber grommets as mentioned.  You might also want to look at the air system for the valve stems that links the two tires together, and had the visible check marker.  Sure can make the checking and adding air so much easier.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #8 –
Quote from: LTG –
Jerry,
My post was not clear. The inner tire valve stems do not come thru the outer tire's rims. The inner tire valve stems are so short they cannot be touched and require a flashlight to seem them.
That sounds like mine.  I have Crossfires Crossfire Dual Tire Pressure Equalization System so filling isn't an issue.  The Crossfires I have now are getting very old and I think I get a new set.
I think the photo in Michelle's link has a Pressure Pro installed so it looks longer.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #9 –
@LTG that's exactly how mine are set up. You just need a truck tire chuck to inflate them.

see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #10 –
While the extensions will cure your problem and help you gain access to check and air inner tires keep in mind every additional connection is another place for a leak.  If convienent I would think the installer should correct the issue with longer valve stems.
Jerry
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #11 –
If you go the long extension route for the inner tires, make sure you do the rubber grommet support thing! Our coach didn't have these supports when we bought it and the primary valve stems fatigued due to the extension's weight flopping around. The primary valve stems cracked at the base of the thread, the tire went flat (new tire came to $561) and we learned a valuable lesson!!
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #12 –
Your installation is similar to ours, except you don't have long stems on the inner wheels. Add extensions to the inner wheels and add the support grommets. We've use that setup for three years and it has been satisfactory. Try to get the extensions and grommets from a good dealer. Good quality longer stems are probably a better option, but the extensions can be added without removing the tire from the wheel.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #13 –
Thanks to everyone for responding to our request for information and help.
We have ordered a tool that we believe will allow us to install and remove the valve stem caps on the recessed valve stems on the inner wheels.
We have also ordered valve stem caps. Our new tires came without valve stem caps.
Larry
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #14 –
I agree with Jerry,
I would be on the phone with the salesman and get it on the record (in an email) that you want the tire shop to install the correct length valve stems with the grommets the next time you are in town. Extension will work but that's just a patch to fix something done incorrectly in the first place. They owe you one!
Do it right, no worries in the future.
John Duld
1995 U320C SE 40'

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #15 –
Quote from: Dave M –
I used the 8" inner stems so they would extend thru the outer hole so the gromment fit as in the pix and the outer rim, had the stems turned 90 degrees, so they are very easy to service.
Like most things, if they are installed correctly, no problem, sloppy installation will have leaks that are a pain, just beware and make sure they are snugged proper.
Somewhere on the forum, there is a place to order the 8" stems for the steel inner rim, was mentioned a few months ago.

I think this is the place Your Tire Shop Supply | Supplies for Tire Shops
The selected media item is not currently available.Bill&Doris 97 U270 36'
University of Parris Island Class of 66
Semper Fi  Build# 5174 MC#17094

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #16 –
I have cat's eye pressure system on mine. Single point filling of duals and alert when one dual is 5 lbs lower than other. Isolates tires at approx 10 lbs low. Most OVR Trucks have this system or cross fire system. Works great for me. Can be bought at several different pressure that would suit your coach
Bill ^.^d ^.^d
Wild Bill Colston
1997 Class A Towing 2016 ford F150 XLT extended cab with Golf cart in 8 ft bed or a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Retired Aircraft Maint Tech A&P Line Crew Chief
Pilots lisc--------Commercial and Multi Eng

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #17 –
Larry:  Just curious if Foretravel installed your tires or if Powers Tire on North Street did the installation.  If Powers did it,  Foretravel would have to had supplied the extensions they will not "just put them on".  I have found that Powers is a great tire shop but you have to tell them exactly how you want tires installed.  They normally do truck tires.  Dan
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650
 

Re: Tire Information and Help

Reply #18 –
Dan,
Foretravel removed the tires/rims and took them to Herman Power tire. Herman Power installed the new tires on the rims and returned the tires/rims to Foretravel. Foretravel then put them on the motorcoach. You are correct that Foretravel did not order the valve stem extensions so Power Tire did not put them on. I know this because I called and talked to Mr. power. I also talked to the service manager at Foretravel and he told me the issue of extensions/no extensions has been an ongoing question at Foretravel for sometime. Some coaches have them, some do not. At this time, some new coaches do not have valve stem extensions and are short like mine.
I have decided to make do with the short valve stems.
Larry
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'