Dually valve stems 180 degrees apart? Not on the new Fords.
RonC said
08:29 AM Aug 26, 2016
I've read that, on duallys, the valve stems should be 180 degrees apart. On my brand new 2016 Ford F350 dually they are aligned with each other, came that way from the factory. Salesman said they did that to make it easier to check pressures ... almost like it was a "feature". 180 out make sense to me from a wheel balancing point of view, but "generally" the factory knows what they are doing and I'm not sure I should go against their design. Thoughts? Do other Ford owners have the same situation? What about Ram and Chevy ... what do you guys have? It would be easy to change, just curious about this difference between conventional wisdom and what I have.
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 26th of August 2016 03:13:53 PM
RonC said
09:39 AM Aug 26, 2016
I found this on the Diesel Stop website.
"The outer aluminum wheel has 5 holes. The inner steel wheel has 4. You can't get them lined up 180 degrees apart because there's no hole there in the outer wheel!"
Need to go look at mine to see if this is true ... but it could explain the alignment.
Cummins12V98 said
09:49 AM Aug 26, 2016
My RAM's both came with them aligned. They can be offset 180. It really does not matter if they are aligned you can air them just fine that way. Balancing has nothing to do with it since each tire is balanced separately.
Neil and Connie said
10:02 AM Aug 26, 2016
Our F450 had the two stems on adjacent holes in the rims…on the 5500HD one is adjacent and the other they're apart although I'm not sure if it's opposite or just offset without walking out to look. I never heard that before…and if the individual tires are balanced I don't think the stem locations on the axle make any difference.
RonC said
08:23 PM Aug 26, 2016
The reason I mentioned stem location is if a TP monitoring system is added, the 180 degrees apart thing would seem to be better than if the two monitors were mounted on the same side of the tire.
Cummins12V98 said
08:43 AM Aug 27, 2016
RonC wrote:
The reason I mentioned stem location is if a TP monitoring system is added, the 180 degrees apart thing would seem to be better than if the two monitors were mounted on the same side of the tire.
Your truck does not have a tire monitoring system?
RonC said
09:38 AM Aug 28, 2016
Nope. My 2014 just had a light that would come on if a tire was low ... then you had to go find the one with the problem. I have seen the DRW monitoring system on the RAM and it's very good. I know it shows pressure, but not sure if it shows temps. Not sure why, but all the DRW Fords I have looked at all have "tire pressure monitoring system delete" listed.
This is an area where Ford could definitely improve. Maybe the new 2017's will fix it. In the mean time, I will either try to add to my TST 507 flow thru system that I have for the trailer, or just rely on the infrared heat gun to shoot all the tires whenever we stop. Truck tires aren't as problematic as trailer tires, so not a huge deal, just something I think about.
Cummins12V98 said
10:14 AM Aug 28, 2016
RAM shows no temp, just pressures. I just give all my tires the hand touch at every stop. I just recently bought a Fluke 62MAX gun so I will start using that.
I don't and won't have a monitoring system on my RV GY "H" tires. Only two or three failures on those tires I have ever heard of and that was the center cap came off and there was no tire pressure loss.
RonC said
07:41 PM Aug 28, 2016
When my GY G614's get replaced I will likely upgrade to the GY H tires (which will require new wheels) and if possible a simultaneous upgrade to MorRyde IS suspension. But my trailer only weighs 15,000 lbs and 3,000 of that is carried by the truck. My rig's 7,000 lbs axles are carrying 6,000 each and the G rated tires replaced E rated tires and give me a pretty big margin at each corner (500 lbs or more). The H's would be bullet proof no doubt, but I'd still use TP monitoring system (nails, screws, other road hazards still exist).
Cummins12V98 said
10:36 AM Aug 29, 2016
RonC wrote:
When my GY G614's get replaced I will likely upgrade to the GY H tires (which will require new wheels) and if possible a simultaneous upgrade to MorRyde IS suspension. But my trailer only weighs 15,000 lbs and 3,000 of that is carried by the truck. My rig's 7,000 lbs axles are carrying 6,000 each and the G rated tires replaced E rated tires and give me a pretty big margin at each corner (500 lbs or more). The H's would be bullet proof no doubt, but I'd still use TP monitoring system (nails, screws, other road hazards still exist).
IMHO not a good idea! You only have 3K average on each tire the GY "G" tire is a GREAT tire and is the perfect tire for your RV. IS is a great option!
RonC said
07:54 PM Aug 29, 2016
So your thoughts are stick with tires I have, since they have plenty of carrying capacity for my load, and go to the IS when able?
RonC said
11:32 AM Aug 30, 2016
This morning I re-torqued all my truck's lug nuts per Owner's Manual recommendations (after first 500 miles re-torque all lug nuts to 165 lbs/ft). And while I was at it, I checked all the tire pressures. MAN, what a workout!! Just getting the lug nut cover off the rear dually's was a chore ... I had to invent a tool for heaven's sake. Shouldn't be that hard. Then the inside dually tire pressure is a GIANT PITA!! Checking the pressure was no big deal, but getting air into the tires requires flexibility, special tooling/attachments and oh by the way ... it's pretty dark in there ... so feeling around was better than trying to see anything. In order to see anything, I had to put my bifocals on upside down to see upward ... I should have shot video of this little exercise, because this certainly would do well on YouTube in the comedy section. Although I can report, Mission Accomplished ... I'm pretty sure Discount Tire will be doing all Tire Pressure checking from here on out!!
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 30th of August 2016 11:43:47 AM
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 30th of August 2016 11:45:15 AM
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 30th of August 2016 05:07:53 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 31st of August 2016 03:20:57 PM
Cummins12V98 said
07:22 AM Aug 31, 2016
RonC wrote:
So your thoughts are stick with tires I have, since they have plenty of carrying capacity for my load, and go to the IS when able?
Absolutely!
Cummins12V98 said
07:31 AM Aug 31, 2016
Ron C this is what you need, and an air chuck that looks the same. Zero issues inflating or deflating. Also a brake adjuster with a rag works great for removing hub caps.
i.imgur.com/o9F58MBl.jpg">
i.imgur.com/CcgDcy5l.jpg">
-- Edited by Cummins12V98 on Wednesday 31st of August 2016 07:31:53 AM
RonC said
03:24 PM Aug 31, 2016
On my way to Northern Tool Co. to find Air Chuck. I have one that is too short.
I've read that, on duallys, the valve stems should be 180 degrees apart. On my brand new 2016 Ford F350 dually they are aligned with each other, came that way from the factory. Salesman said they did that to make it easier to check pressures ... almost like it was a "feature". 180 out make sense to me from a wheel balancing point of view, but "generally" the factory knows what they are doing and I'm not sure I should go against their design. Thoughts? Do other Ford owners have the same situation? What about Ram and Chevy ... what do you guys have? It would be easy to change, just curious about this difference between conventional wisdom and what I have.
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 26th of August 2016 03:13:53 PM
"The outer aluminum wheel has 5 holes. The inner steel wheel has 4. You can't get them lined up 180 degrees apart because there's no hole there in the outer wheel!"
Need to go look at mine to see if this is true ... but it could explain the alignment.
Our F450 had the two stems on adjacent holes in the rims…on the 5500HD one is adjacent and the other they're apart although I'm not sure if it's opposite or just offset without walking out to look. I never heard that before…and if the individual tires are balanced I don't think the stem locations on the axle make any difference.
Your truck does not have a tire monitoring system?
This is an area where Ford could definitely improve. Maybe the new 2017's will fix it. In the mean time, I will either try to add to my TST 507 flow thru system that I have for the trailer, or just rely on the infrared heat gun to shoot all the tires whenever we stop. Truck tires aren't as problematic as trailer tires, so not a huge deal, just something I think about.
I don't and won't have a monitoring system on my RV GY "H" tires. Only two or three failures on those tires I have ever heard of and that was the center cap came off and there was no tire pressure loss.
IMHO not a good idea! You only have 3K average on each tire the GY "G" tire is a GREAT tire and is the perfect tire for your RV. IS is a great option!
This morning I re-torqued all my truck's lug nuts per Owner's Manual recommendations (after first 500 miles re-torque all lug nuts to 165 lbs/ft). And while I was at it, I checked all the tire pressures. MAN, what a workout!! Just getting the lug nut cover off the rear dually's was a chore ... I had to invent a tool for heaven's sake. Shouldn't be that hard. Then the inside dually tire pressure is a GIANT PITA!! Checking the pressure was no big deal, but getting air into the tires requires flexibility, special tooling/attachments and oh by the way ... it's pretty dark in there ... so feeling around was better than trying to see anything. In order to see anything, I had to put my bifocals on upside down to see upward ... I should have shot video of this little exercise, because this certainly would do well on YouTube in the comedy section. Although I can report, Mission Accomplished ... I'm pretty sure Discount Tire will be doing all Tire Pressure checking from here on out!!
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 30th of August 2016 11:43:47 AM
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 30th of August 2016 11:45:15 AM
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 30th of August 2016 05:07:53 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 31st of August 2016 03:20:57 PM
Absolutely!
Ron C this is what you need, and an air chuck that looks the same. Zero issues inflating or deflating. Also a brake adjuster with a rag works great for removing hub caps.
i.imgur.com/o9F58MBl.jpg">
i.imgur.com/CcgDcy5l.jpg">
-- Edited by Cummins12V98 on Wednesday 31st of August 2016 07:31:53 AM