Air chuck above and next to generator question.

[skippy67]

I am curious about the air chuck I was told about. The previous owner said I could use it to top off the tires. Can it also be used if your motorhome needs to be towed to keep the brakes from locking up? Thanks in advance.

[Dutch Star Don]

Its specifically there for towing the coach, by releasing the brakes with air pressure from the tow truck.

As a secondary use, you can use it to inflate bicycle and maybe car tires. It's inadequate for filling the coach tires, it doesn't have enough volume. It would require that the engine be running and tricking the system into filling the tank to max pressure, over and over again to fill a 22.5 tire.

Many will tell you how it works for filling the tires by using this gadget or that. They forget that many of us own DP's and know it doesn't work. It's also annoying if you have to have the engine running in a campground. Buy a good compressor that runs on 12 volts or off your generator if necessary.

[tomato]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Its specifically there for towing the coach, by releasing the brakes with air pressure from the tow truck.

As a secondary use, you can use it to inflate bicycle and maybe car tires. It's inadequate for filling the coach tires, it doesn't have enough volume. It would require that the engine be running and tricking the system into filling the tank to max pressure, over and over again to fill a 22.5 tire.

Many will tell you how it works for filling the tires by using this gadget or that. They forget that many of us own DP's and know it doesn't work. It's also annoying if you have to have the engine running in a campground. Buy a good compressor that runs on 12 volts or off your generator if necessary.

What 12 V compressor do you use? I bought a Cat brand 3in1 from Costco that was supposedly capable of 120 psi. It failed the first time I used it when trying to top off a tire to 105.

[scotttkd]

Viair makes an rv specific model, 12volt but I put it in the chassis battery compartment of coach with easy access to 12 volt power sufficient to top off all coach tires (130psi max) in minutes. It is also very quiet compared to many compressors I have tried. Pricey, but it works and is tiny in size.

[powerboatr]

Originally Posted by skippy67

I am curious about the air chuck I was told about. The previous owner said I could use it to top off the tires. Can it also be used if your motorhome needs to be towed to keep the brakes from locking up? Thanks in advance.

if its a freight liner chassis its not to add air to the system, it has a check valve to prevent such actions. it is only for a a port to use to air up a tire or some other item.
i went round and round with F/L over this a few years back trying to air up suspension using this port... its a one way
on my chassis its directly above and just on the passenger side of the firewall

only way on my chassis is to air up at the air purifier schrader port


you can change the port to receive air, but it wont be clean air as i was instructed by F/L , which can cause problems in the chassis air system

[mahdi]

I agree with DS Don. I had to have the coach towed one time and they used the air connection in the generator compartment. Also agree with powerboatr since I had trouble starting the engine and tried to air the system with my Viair and failed to achieve any increase in height. I have a Viair RV model which I recommend highly as it is able to top all my tires without getting hot and give 130 psi easily as well as large air volume/minute. You do however have to have the engine going as it can deplete the batteries. I usually connect it to the towed vehicle and start that for the 12 volt power when using it instead of starting the coach engine.

[tomato]

Originally Posted by powerboatr

if its a freight liner chassis its not to add air to the system, it has a check valve to prevent such actions. it is only for a a port to use to air up a tire or some other item.
i went round and round with F/L over this a few years back trying to air up suspension using this port... its a one way
on my chassis its directly above and just on the passenger side of the firewall

only way on my chassis is to air up at the air purifier schrader port


you can change the port to receive air, but it wont be clean air as i was instructed by F/L , which can cause problems in the chassis air system

My FL actually has 2 air connections - see pic. I have used the quick connect and an air hose for bike tires before. Is the other one with the valve stem for the brakes when being towed???

[Dutch Star Don]

This has been a very popular compressor that many have used. I've had one for over 10 years. Its 110 volt. I installed a lock on chuck. I timed it once, it will add 1psi about every 13 seconds.

The only issue is that's its bulky. Last year, I mounted a Viair compressor and auxiliary tank to the frame rails, with ports on both sides of the pass thru bay. The Viair struggles to top off the 22.5's

When at home, I still use the Porter Cable. The Viair is for other uses whole camping, but can still be used for filling the tires.

https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-...s%2C130&sr=8-2

[JerseyRV]

I have owned a 2005 Newmar Kountry Star since 2010 that has the air chuck up front. I have used it flawlessly since 2010 to air up my coach's front tires to 110 and rears to 95 and my 2018 F150 toad as needed. I simply carry a 50' hose with quick connects and it could not be any more convenient. When we're ready to leave our current location simply start the coach and by the time I get the hose out and connected I hear the spit (as I call it) when the engine's compressor release valve tells me its reached it's max air pressure and I begin my walk around with a high quality air gauge and the hose. Then I check each tire and add air if needed. Why would you carry a compressor (viair or any other brand) that takes up valuable basement space, needs to be hooked up electrically to a source and adds more weight to the overall weight of the coach? I get it that some of my fellow RVers don't agree with. But in the case of my coach, just carrying a hose connected to a built-in, high volume air source is an amazing convenience I would never live without. Safe travels.

[hewebb]

I was surprised to read that it was not sufficient to air up the coach tires. My older coach doesn't know that and has been successful airing up coach tires.



Beware of some 12V pumps. Many of them cannot run log enough to air up a coach tire and will self destruct. (Don't ask me how I know that)

[USMCRET]

I also had an ‘05 KSDP and initially used the on-board compressor to top off tires. I found it to be a bit of a PITA as the air pressure has to cycle down to certain psi before the compressor kicks back in. The kick-in pressure is less than the pressure I was putting in the tires, so there was a lot of waiting around kicking rocks while the pressure built back up.

After a couple of years of this, I discovered Viair and have used it ever since.

[Randy125]

I’ve used my engine driven air compressor for 10 years to air up my tires, works great.

[Tigerfan1]

Originally Posted by JerseyRV

I have owned a 2005 Newmar Kountry Star since 2010 that has the air chuck up front. I have used it flawlessly since 2010 to air up my coach's front tires to 110 and rears to 95 and my 2018 F150 toad as needed. I simply carry a 50' hose with quick connects and it could not be any more convenient. When we're ready to leave our current location simply start the coach and by the time I get the hose out and connected I hear the spit (as I call it) when the engine's compressor release valve tells me its reached it's max air pressure and I begin my walk around with a high quality air gauge and the hose. Then I check each tire and add air if needed. Why would you carry a compressor (viair or any other brand) that takes up valuable basement space, needs to be hooked up electrically to a source and adds more weight to the overall weight of the coach? I get it that some of my fellow RVers don't agree with. But in the case of my coach, just carrying a hose connected to a built-in, high volume air source is an amazing convenience I would never live without. Safe travels.

The answer to your question why would you carry a compressor is that on board compressor maxes out at 130 psi, my front tires require 125 psi. Takes forever for the onboard to top off the tires, plus I have to run the engine. The Porter Cable has 150 psi which accomplishes the task much quicker.

[powerboatr]

Originally Posted by tomato

My FL actually has 2 air connections - see pic. I have used the quick connect and an air hose for bike tires before. Is the other one with the valve stem for the brakes when being towed???

thats what i thought about installing, i was under impression the two air chucks valves were to air up suspension, until i tried to use them

so i could air up from there , vice from under neath

i had to do an annual in the garage one year and needed to air up the chassis to check for leaks and had to use the schrader valve on the air purifier port