Just purchased a Winnebago VIA, our first motor home. I know that maintaining correct tire pressure is important for safety, correct tire wear, and economy. My problem is that I can't figure out how to check and inflate the dual rear tires on this motor home. The manual is not much help and the dealer suggest that I take the vehicle to someone that specializes in truck tires and have extensions put on the valve stems. I'm not sure this is the best solution. Does anyone have any other suggestions or recommendations for dealing with this issue?
TRAILERKING said
05:01 PM Feb 12, 2014
If you're having problem with accessing the stems.....Then yes you will need to put extensions on. Make sure source very good ones for you application and not some junky universal kit that leaks. The best thing is custom long stems rather than extensions.
lindy said
06:06 PM Feb 12, 2014
You'll also need an air chuck that is double ended, one end pushes on the stem extension from the inner tire, the other side will pull over the outer tire valve stem. Any auto zone, or Walmart will have one.
Terry and Jo said
07:12 PM Feb 12, 2014
lindy wrote:
You'll also need an air chuck that is double ended, one end pushes on the stem extension from the inner tire, the other side will pull over the outer tire valve stem. Any auto zone, or Walmart will have one.
To illustrate Lindy's comment, those air chucks are called "dual foot" chucks. That "style" is available in both the air chucks themselves and on the air pressure testers. There are 3 or 4 different styles of dual foot air chucks, but these are the most common. One thing to add is when buying an air pressure tester, be sure and get one that will be sufficient for the highest tire pressure needs on one's RV. For instance, our Mobile Suite's trailer tires require 125 psi in the tires. I don't think Walmart has one that goes that high. It is a personal opinion, but I also prefer the Milton brand on air chucks and testers.
-- Edited by TRAILERKING on Thursday 13th of February 2014 12:42:27 AM
kb0zke said
08:20 PM Feb 16, 2014
When we decided on a DP I knew that I would need some new or different tools, and didn't want to buy everything at once, so I bought a tire gauge at Wal-Mart. The "business end" is shaped like the top picture in Terry's photo. It will easily measure more pressure than I need, but I actually need one with straight ends, not an angled one. I'll have to do some additional searching.
MarkS said
08:41 PM Feb 16, 2014
You are likely to need both a tire gauge and a chuck like the second one on Terry's post. If you can't get to the stems on the inner tires, they are not mounted properly. The stems should be 180 degrees from the outside rims. I replaced all my stem caps with caps that you can put the air chuck and gauge on without removing them. It makes the task easy and keeps dirt out of your stems. The stems should not stick out. I don't like extensions either.
kb0zke said
08:41 AM Feb 17, 2014
The stems are 180 degrees apart, but the angle and opening in the wheel are such that it is difficult to get the angled head on the stem properly. Anyway, one of these days I'll get a tire gauge and air chuck with a straight head and see if that makes it any easier. Couldn't possibly be my vision, trying to see inside that dark hole. Hmmm, wonder if any of those things come with little LED lights on them.
-- Edited by Clay L on Thursday 20th of February 2014 10:04:20 AM
MarkS said
10:20 AM Feb 19, 2014
On that website they have "double sealing valve caps" replace all your caps with those and you never have to remove a cap again. Add the straight/angle chuck and gauge and you are ready to roll. Most truck stops are equipped with the right chucks and the have the tire gauges In stock.
-- Edited by MarkS on Wednesday 19th of February 2014 10:21:16 AM
LandL Partners said
11:44 AM Feb 19, 2014
Our Damon already had valve extensions when we purchased it but I love the idea of the "double sealing valve caps". We also have the high pressure chucks but we prefer to check all the tire pressures from the truck stop (usually Flying J) where they have an RV island with a high pressure air hose to inflate tires.
Does anyone use one of the RV tire pressure monitors which monitors pressure and temperature? Are they worth the $$?
Clay L said
10:07 AM Feb 20, 2014
I don't use the double seal caps because I have tire pressure sensors on the stems. The Dually Valves come with a rubber stabilizer that fits in the hand hole the rear dual stem comes out through. That provides support for the stem and sensor.
Just purchased a Winnebago VIA, our first motor home. I know that maintaining correct tire pressure is important for safety, correct tire wear, and economy. My problem is that I can't figure out how to check and inflate the dual rear tires on this motor home. The manual is not much help and the dealer suggest that I take the vehicle to someone that specializes in truck tires and have extensions put on the valve stems. I'm not sure this is the best solution. Does anyone have any other suggestions or recommendations for dealing with this issue?
To illustrate Lindy's comment, those air chucks are called "dual foot" chucks. That "style" is available in both the air chucks themselves and on the air pressure testers. There are 3 or 4 different styles of dual foot air chucks, but these are the most common. One thing to add is when buying an air pressure tester, be sure and get one that will be sufficient for the highest tire pressure needs on one's RV. For instance, our Mobile Suite's trailer tires require 125 psi in the tires. I don't think Walmart has one that goes that high. It is a personal opinion, but I also prefer the Milton brand on air chucks and testers.
Terry
http://www.alcoa.com/alcoawheels/north_america/en/info_page/accessories_hd_valve_stem_ext_stabilizer_kits.asp
http://www.dickmantires.com/Tire_pressure/Duallyvalve/dually_valves.html
Here's a few good quality items.
-- Edited by TRAILERKING on Thursday 13th of February 2014 12:42:27 AM
Go HERE http://yourtireshopsupply.com/category/796/dually-valve-kits and see if they have a solid stem kit for your tires. I put Dually Valve stems put on a few years ago and they are great.
-- Edited by Clay L on Thursday 20th of February 2014 10:04:20 AM
On that website they have "double sealing valve caps" replace all your caps with those and you never have to remove a cap again. Add the straight/angle chuck and gauge and you are ready to roll. Most truck stops are equipped with the right chucks and the have the tire gauges In stock.
-- Edited by MarkS on Wednesday 19th of February 2014 10:21:16 AM
Does anyone use one of the RV tire pressure monitors which monitors pressure and temperature? Are they worth the $$?