Community Forums

rwp48 · 03-25-2014, 05:46 PM

So I was putting around on our new-to-us Winebago Sightseer the other day and decided to check the air pressure in the tires. Front tires-OK. Outside rears-OK. Wait a minute...where are the stems on the inner tires? Finally after crawling around for a while I found that they are on the inside of the inside tires.
Is this common? Is it unsafe? At the very least it's a huge PIA. What is involved is changing them? Cost?

rwp48 · 03-25-2014, 08:23 PM

I was tinkering around recently on our new-to-us Sightseer 30A. I decided to check the air pressure in the tires. Front tires-no problem. Rear outer tires-no problem. Rear inside tires-Whoa! Where are the darn valve stems? After crawling around a bit I found them...they are on the inside of the inside tires.
My questions are:
Is this common?
Is this safe?
How important is it to change them?
Cost?
At the very least this will be a PIA.

KIX · 03-25-2014, 08:32 PM

IMHO checking your tire pressure is important. If it's a PIA it will become less important until you belatedly realize you should have checked anyway. So, my best guess is that it will probably cost you about $25 a wheel at a truck stop or big tire store.......may even try a mobile guy. Then plus the new valve stem to extend the cap into the outer wheel at 180 degrees frim outer wheek stem. BTW, use solid metal stems and not the flexible braided ones.

Profleetone · 03-25-2014, 08:44 PM

Ford does not supply valve stem extensions on the F53 chassis inner dual tires and I am not aware of any motor home manufacturers that install them either. I believe the Sightseer 30A is built on a 22K chassis which will have the 22.5" aluminum wheels. Adding a valve extension that protrudes through the hole in the outer aluminum wheel is easy enough, the problem is adding an extension stabilizer that keeps the extension in a fixed position in the hole. I believe the hole size in the aluminum wheel that Ford specs is not a size that most valve extension suppliers carry a rubber stabilizer plug for. You can check with some of your local tire shops. You might get lucky.

gruelens · 03-25-2014, 11:55 PM

I found them...they are on the inside of the inside tires.
My questions are:
Is this common? NO
Is this safe? NO
How important is it to change them? VERY IMPORTANT
Cost? CHEAP COMPARED TO CONSEQUENCES
At the very least this will be a PIA. SO IS AN ACCIDENT OR COACH DAMAGE FROM TIRE FAILURE

Yes I am shouting because it is important to operate with all tires at correct air pressure. The consequences of not doing so can be large. It is a shame that the previous owner put you in this situation. The good news is you know the problem and how to fix it.

Skip426 · 03-26-2014, 12:32 AM

Not common, at all. Not unsafe except for, they would not get checked as often as they should. Would require replacing the rims , with ones with the stem hole in the proper orientation .
Is your coach on a Workhorse chassis?

Hikerdogs · 03-26-2014, 06:33 AM

Keep in mind the metal valve stems can be rotated allowing the open end to face in any direction. The ones on the inner duals of our 2013 Adventurer were facing outward, but not where I could reach them with a tire gauge. I had to slightly loosen the nut and rotate them so they faced the center of the hole in the outer wheel.

Even then I couldn't get a tire gauge or inflator on them properly because of the smaller hole in the outer aluminum wheel. Rather than add valve stem extensions or change out the stems themselves I modified my Milton 506 inflator gauge to reach through the outer wheel and fit the inner valve stem.

Milton Window Inflator Gage, Dual Head, Model# S-506 | Air Chucks Gauges| Northern Tool + Equipment

Milton also makes a 516 inflator gauge. In our case I needed the forward facing angled foot of the 506 to make contact with the inner valve stem.

Milton Window Inflator Air Gauge — Dual-Head Straight Chuck, 1/4in. Inlet, Model# S-516 | Air Chucks Gauges| Northern Tool + Equipment

I replaced the 6" brass tube between the foot and flexible hose with a 12" piece of 5/16" brake line and a couple adaptors to fit the 1/8" pipe threads. Then I made a slight S bend in the tube to allow it to fit through the wheel and seal against the inner wheel valve stem.

I could have added valve stem extensions or gone the dually route, but it only took about 1/2 an hour to make the modification to the inflator. I don't have to deal with extensions or find a way to support them or the dually stems. Also I have a compressor at home and one in the motorhome so I keep the modified inflator with the motorhome.

As a side note your rear inner duals should be identical to the fronts if you have steel wheels. If you have aluminum outer duals and front wheels the valve stems on the inner duals should be facing the same direction as the ones on your front tires. I'll bet someone at the dealership rotated the rear inner dual valve stems to a position where they could reach them rather than add extensions or modify their gauge.

twn454 · 03-26-2014, 06:52 AM

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AUPOP · 03-26-2014, 06:54 AM

Weekend trip tp Savannah GA, pulled in to get a bite to eat and noticed my psgr rear outside tire low, when I looked closer, the supplemental had come loose. The braided extension had pulled the needle valve out of the stem completely. After 2 hours we finally got back on the road, luckily no damage to brand new michelin, less than 500 miles on the set. RV is back at tire store, removing the braided extenders and installing new steel valve stems....I checked the tires before we left, lucky there was no more damage than that. Being a newbie, we seem to be learning everything the hard way.