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TexasSprinter · 10-10-2015, 07:02 PM

Just had the valve stems replaced on my Sprinter 3500. What in the world were Mercedes and Winnebago thinking? You couldn't get a gauge, much less an airhose, to the inner wheel. The kit was relatively inexpensive, as was the install. For less than $200, I can actually check the tire pressure now.

BTW, Winnebago just did a 'recall' that changed the recommended tire pressure on the new Eras.

Old Crows · 10-10-2015, 07:38 PM

Winnebago can't mess with the chassis due to the strict upfitters guidance from Mother Benz. It's a surprising issue. But understandable if you consider Mother provides chassis cabs and "vanilla" vans to hundreds of upfitters of hundreds of different applications and has no idea where they go.

Curious... What's the TP change?

'14 View Profile

Also in Kerrville.

TexasSprinter · 10-11-2015, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Crows

Winnebago can't mess with the chassis due to the strict upfitters guidance from Mother Benz. It's a surprising issue. But understandable if you consider Mother provides chassis cabs and "vanilla" vans to hundreds of upfitters of hundreds of different applications and has no idea where they go.

Curious... What's the TP change?

'14 View Profile

Also in Kerrville.

From 54 front to 61 front. Not sure if it was just the vans or all Sprinter chassis. And it made a surprising difference in the handling, from the limited experience so far.

Also in Kerrville? Small world.

Old Crows · 10-11-2015, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasSprinter

From 54 front to 61 front. Not sure if it was just the vans or all Sprinter chassis. And it made a surprising difference in the handling, from the limited experience so far.

Also in Kerrville? Small world.

Neil,

My 3500 chassis and yours is GVWR 11,030#. My placard says 61 F and 61 R(s) for max GVWR. No doubt it will handle better.....

Get your RV loaded for a trip. Full fuel, full water & WH; empty gray and black tanks. Dogs, cats & wife .... To over to the land fill off the Loop and get it weighed. Nothing fancy. Just total weight. I think it cost me a buck and change last time. That way you have an idea about where you are weight wise. I think mine comes in around 10,100 something all up. But I'm a Class C. Yours should be less I think.

Camper Ken · 10-12-2015, 11:17 AM

After loading and weighing my Navion, I emailed Continental Tires asking for a load/inflation chart for the Vanco Four Season tires. They said they don't have a chart, but asked me to provide weights. (I sent them 4-corner weights). They replied 50 lbs front, 55 lbs rear. I run them at 52 front and 57 rear.

Dropping the pressure down from 61 lbs improved the ride and the handling feel.

Mr_D · 10-12-2015, 11:30 AM

I'm betting the valve stems were set up like normal truck dually stems. They just take a different setup to check and add air to them. Probably a trip to Harbor Freight or a truck stop would have found the correct equipment and not required a change in the stems.

Camper Ken · 10-13-2015, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

I'm betting the valve stems were set up like normal truck dually stems. They just take a different setup to check and add air to them. Probably a trip to Harbor Freight or a truck stop would have found the correct equipment and not required a change in the stems.

Because of the very small access hole(s) on the inner Mercedes steel wheels, even with a dual chuck pressure gauge/inflator, it's very difficult to service the valve stem on the inner tire. I stress "very difficult".

I had dually valves installed on my rear wheels. Not cheap, but a very worthwhile investment.

TexasSprinter · 10-13-2015, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camper Ken

Because of the very small access hole(s) on the inner Mercedes steel wheels, even with a dual chuck pressure gauge/inflator, it's very difficult to service the valve stem on the inner tire. I stress "very difficult".

I had dually valves installed on my rear wheels. Not cheap, but a very worthwhile investment.

And actually, it was even a little worse than that. I'm not sure if it is an MB thing or an Winnebago thing (I suspect that latter), but the outside wheel is aluminum and the inside wheel is steel. The location of the inside stem was almost directly behind one of the "spokes" on the outside wheel. You could barely get a dual head chuck in there, and no way could you get a standard fill chuck in there and put the pressure on it to add air. Now the inside wheel has a long, steel stem through one of the outside openings, and the outside wheel has a 90 degree stem pointing out. Much better.