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Topic: Tires: Valve stems and valve extensions. What's availlable? What is best? (Read 1160 times) previous topic - next topic

Tires: Valve stems and valve extensions. What's availlable? What is best?

As most of you know, we recently had a tire problem.  It was caused by a valve stem that was not adequately tightened when installed 3 months ago.  Along the way, many of you commented on valve extensions. I am less than thrilled with that product.  Is there anything else?

Is there a one piece valve that is long enough to go from the inside tire to the outside tire so that these problematic valve stem extensions do not have to be used?  If there is, I want to get them and not have to mess around with the extensions.

If you can, please supply sources for what you recommend.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing what you all have to say.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Tires: Valve stems and valve extensions. What's availlable? What is best?

Reply #1 –
George:
You mention that you HAD a tire problem.
Were you able to get it resolved?
If so, what was the EXACT cause of the problem?
You indicate that it was RELATED to the valve stem.
In WHAT way was it related?
Regards,
JON TWORK KB8RSA
Full Time RVer (10+ Years) & Dedicated Boondocker
Retired, Unemployed, Homeless Transients
1996 Foretravel U270-36 w/24' Timberwolf Trailer
I firmly believe that tomorrow holds the possibility for new technologies, astounding discoveries, and a reprieve from my remaining obligations.
Welcome to WeRV2 (Under Construction)
Find Jon: Via Satellite Tracker Datastorm Users
The Second Amendment is in place in case they ignore the others.

Re: Tires: Valve stems and valve extensions. What's availlable? What is best?

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Jon Twork –
You mention that you HAD a tire problem.
Were you able to get it resolved?
If so, what was the EXACT cause of the problem?
You indicate that it was RELATED to the valve stem.
In WHAT way was it related?

This thread 

http://foreforums.com/index.php?topic=10189.0

And specifically, this post

http://foreforums.com/index.php?topic=10189.msg46961#msg46961
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: Tires: Valve stems and valve extensions. What's availlable? What is best?

Reply #3 –
Hi George,
    My coach has single, long valve stems on the inside duels that reach out through the cut-out in the outside
duel.  There is a rubber grommet that that fits into the cut-out to be used, with the valve stem protruding through the grommet.

Good luck,
LynnD
'01 GV

Re: Tires: Valve stems and valve extensions. What's availlable? What is best?

Reply #4 –
George,

On a previous "other brand" coach with steel wheels and tires several years old, I added the TST sensors. We had two grommet failures during about 8,000 miles of traveling. I took the TST sensors off after the second grommet failure. I am convinced that extra weight worked the grommets enough to cause failures.

The 1997 U295 we bought in April came with Pressure Pro. I had new tires put on in Nacogdoches. One of tires deflated at MOT. Herman Power fixed it, but I am not sure why it lost pressure. That tire had an extension with the stabilizing grommet in the outside wheel. I pulled the Pressure Pro sensors and put them in a box. The tire that had failed had a bent pin on the core and was difficult to fill or check. I went to a local tire shop, pulled the core from the extension, and straightened the pin. It has worked fine since then.

We are about 2,000 miles into our first significant trip on the U295. I weighed the coach, and set the pressure to be sufficient for an appropriate cold reading for the lowest temperatures we expected on our trip. Almost every time we stop, I used a big breakover wrench to thump the tires and verify that they all feel about the same. I have checked various tires every few days when cold to verify that pressure in that tire is within my specifications.

There problems that the TST system detected were caused by the TST. I got false alarms. Sensors quit working in freezing temperatures. I briefly tried some of the Pressure Pro sensors that came with my coach, and was not confident that they added any comfort or safety factor.

I have plain short valve stems on all "outside" tires. It takes some dexterity to remove/replace caps for adjusting or checking pressures, but it is not very hard to do and the results are very reliable. On the "inside" tires, I have short extensions that are easy to service. Each extension is braced by a rubber grommet in a hole in the outside wheel.

I am a relatively newbie, but have already gained some experience with remote pressure sensing and valve stem issues. Fortunately, bad experiences have only resulted in inconvenience and experience.

As always, your results may vary.

Your questions expose a wealth of accumulated knowledge via the forum.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Tire testing

Reply #5 –
Please note the title of this topic

I am not interested in the ancient art of tire thumping.

For those of you who believe in tire thumping, I suggest you read the article that George Hatfield links us to in his recent response here.  Thank you, George.  Like you, I prefer to use a more scientific and accurate method of insuring our tire safety when driving.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Tires: Valve stems and valve extensions. What's availlable? What is best?

Reply #6 –
My coach appears to have the same extensions LynnD has.  They probably came factory installed.  I like them.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Tires: Valve stems and valve extensions. What's availlable? What is best?

Reply #7 –
I use commercial valve caps that allow pressure checking without removal.  They cost about $1 at commercial tire centers.  I recommend them.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Tire testing

Reply #8 –
Quote from: George Stoltz –
Please note the title of this topic

I am not interested in the ancient art of tire thumping.

Tire testing posts have been moved to the original thread discussing tire problems since they apply more to that discussion.  :)

Hope I did the split and merge correctly...

Michelle
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: Tires: Valve stems and valve extensions. What's availlable? What is best?

Reply #9 –
George, We put new tires and Alcoa's on our SOB at Les Schwab in Junction City, OR. Unfortunately it was just before we bought our FT.  ::)
They did not put extensions on the inner duals, but did use stems long enough and aligned well enough to reach them with a straight double foot truckers type gauge. The angled gauge I had would not work. They also used the commercial caps mentioned above. Those stems did not extend through the gap between the duals. Sometime over the years I was told that stuff can get up between the duals and break those extensions off.
This Les Schwab does a lot of motor home business. You can contact them at (800) 257-8430. I dealt with Paul.
Dick, '03 U320 40' Tag, 2 slides, Coach #6075
Full Timers
2009 Honda CR-V
 

Re: Tires: Valve stems and valve extensions. What's availlable? What is best?

Reply #10 –


I decided to go to the wheel experts and went to the Alcoa website.  I sent a message asking if they make or supply a single piece valve that would extend from the inner dual tire, through the opening in the rim of the outer tire.  I had  little hope that I would hear back from them any time soon.  Fifteen minutes later the phone rang.  It was Alcoa.  How about that?

Joe said:  "Sorry, I have bad news for you.  We don't make stems that long."  I mentioned that someone on a forum of Foretravel owners said they had them.  Joe responded:  "I've been in this business for a long time and I've never seen them.  Chances are what they perceived as a single piece stem actually has a valve extension attached to it." 

I asked Joe if he knew of one brand of valve extension that is better than another?  He said: They are all pretty much the same."

There is a Les Schwab dealer here in Deer Lodge, MT where I bought two 6 inch valve extension.  I screwed one onto my new tire valve, slid the rubber grommet over it,  attached the Pressure Pro and got a reading.  No Teflon tape.  We are good to go.  The other one I am keeping as a spare.

George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.