Community Forums

Jim.A · 05-14-2012, 08:21 AM

Last week I took my dually in to have the tires rotated. They found that the inside wheel had a masonry nail in it and was flat, flat, flat. Now I'm concerned about it. No good getting a flat when I'm pulling and not having a way to know about it. Seems I might lose two tires that way.

So, what are you doing? My friend uses a TPMS and I'm wondering if it's both adjustable and reliable. It sure is pricey - about $500 for 10 tires.

How do you reach the *%#(^% valve stems? Both of mine are on the inside! I tried the extender set sold by Camping World but it didn't fit my rig. How about the "thumper" method used by truckers? I bought a 12v tire inflater and it's really cute in it's little bag and all. I could just check and fill every tire before each pull if I can get to the valve stems.

It's my first dually and I'm open to ideas and suggestions.

Jim

Ramblin · 05-14-2012, 08:30 AM

Prior to towing, and each time I stop, I smack each of the tires on my dually and trailer with a big screwdriver to get a feel for their inflated-ness. (I use the handle end to smack em) You will get an immediate feel for whether a more accurate measurement method is necessary. The rebound and the sound give you the clues.

BFlinn181 · 05-14-2012, 08:34 AM

Have you tried flexible stem extenders? Here's one at Amazon, but they are available in different lengths. It brings the inner tire stem out to where you can access it.

Amazon.com: Pacific Dualies 18000 7 Inch Braided Stainless Steel Valve Stem Extension System - Set of 2: Automotive

BCooke · 05-14-2012, 08:39 AM

You actually need to check the pressure in the tires and they need to be the same.
As for getting at the stems on the Ford dually, I do not know if it helps at all but there are some choice words that seem to help relieve the frustration.
I have the valve caps that let you fill through the caps and a truck gauge that has a bleeder on it that I over fill, once I get the .... connected, and then bleed it back to the appropriate pressure.
I perform this each time before I go (weekend warrior). I do not know a full timer with dualies to find out how they do it, maybe one will chime in.

KU9L · 05-14-2012, 08:55 AM

Jim, we used the TPMS for the last two years on our Chevy & 5er, saved our butt several times including the same problem you had, also a slow leak to one of our coach tires that alerted us to stop in time before the tire was ruined. Our current truck has aluminum wheels that don't allow my big fat hands to fit into the three elongated holes, so am going to get valve extenders.

I am emailing the folks who sold us our TPMS system for specific advise, will let you know of any relevant answers. We intend to add 2 more sensors so we can keep track of our Firestone Airbags. When we take our truck camper with us we have unequal pressure in them to adjust for the weight of our super-slide. It only takes 60 seconds to reprogram a TPMS sensor to the new pressure setting. Our airbags lose air randomly, we are still trying to find the cause which my guess is dirt in the valve stem.

Dave

BCooke · 05-14-2012, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramblin

Prior to towing, and each time I stop, I smack each of the tires on my dually and trailer with a big screwdriver to get a feel for their inflated-ness. (I use the handle end to smack em) You will get an immediate feel for whether a more accurate measurement method is necessary. The rebound and the sound give you the clues.

I beg to differ. But you could be the exception to the rule.
http://www.truckinginfo.com/hdt/arch...6/085a0606.asp
It is an older article. In my case I would probably be 10 lbs off if they found professional drivers were greater than 5 pounds off.

The Intermodal Association of North America lists a tire greater than 20% under recommended inflation to be removed from service and OSHA and others consider it as flat.

I will have to look up BFlinn181's link.

Ramblin · 05-14-2012, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCooke

I beg to differ. But you could be the exception to the rule.
PRESSURE'S ON TO PERFORM SIMPLE TIRE MAINTENANCE
It is an older article. In my case I would probably be 10 lbs off if they found professional drivers were greater than 5 pounds off.

The Intermodal Association of North America lists a tire greater than 20% under recommended inflation to be removed from service and OSHA and others consider it as flat.

I will have to look up BFlinn181's link.

We will have to agree to disagree. The vehicle in question is a dually pickup truck, not a big rig. I did not mean to suggest that smacking your tires with a screwdriver is a substitute for checking their pressure with a gauge. I suggested that smacking them is a quick and easy method to check for DIFFERENCES between the tires that will alert you to potential problems that need further investigation. In the case of the OP's scenario, following my method would have absolutely alerted him to the inside dual being flat LONG before it bacame a safety problem.

Periodic testing with a gauge is absolutely necessary. In between, thumping is a quick/easy way to check for a tire that needs attention.

BCooke · 05-14-2012, 10:59 AM

Ramblin, I guess if you had started with checking the pressures and then thumped you would have a reference point on the sound. As long as the tires were more solid (of course as they heat and the pressure raises) the next time you thumped them it sounds good.

chief02 · 05-14-2012, 11:29 AM

Jimbo,
Call Dan Covington at TST (google it) Turck Systems Technolgy. We will give you the scoop. I have there TPMS and love it. It's a must have when you and Liz hit the road FTimg.

Ramblin · 05-14-2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCooke

Ramblin, I guess if you had started with checking the pressures and then thumped you would have a reference point on the sound. As long as the tires were more solid (of course as they heat and the pressure raises) the next time you thumped them it sounds good.

Again, the thumping is not to be able to guess at the PSI in an individual tire, it is to alert you to a DIFFERENCE between adjascent tires, indicating the one that sounds or feels different than the others do may have a leak or other problem you need to investigate further.

It is a fast easy check that is absolutely not a substitute for gauging them, but is far better than ignoring them and assuming they are OK because they look that way.

Jim.A · 05-14-2012, 12:47 PM

Thanks, guys. Good info here. Ramblin, you're right. Just thumping alone would have alerted me to a total flat. And I think will go ahead with the TPMS, also. If I lose a tire while driving I could lose another before I get to a stopping point. Two ruined tires would cover the cost of the TPMS, so it seems like a prudent investment. And thanks Bob for the link to the valve extenders. Looks like a good place to start my search.

Anyone have a particularly strong opinion about Hopkins, for or against?

chief02 · 05-14-2012, 12:59 PM

TST...

chief02 · 05-14-2012, 01:46 PM

Jim Go here. They now have a "fill through the sensor" model

507 TST Tire Pressure Monitoring System Installation - YouTube

Mr_D · 05-14-2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramblin

Prior to towing, and each time I stop, I smack each of the tires on my dually and trailer with a big screwdriver to get a feel for their inflated-ness. (I use the handle end to smack em) You will get an immediate feel for whether a more accurate measurement method is necessary. The rebound and the sound give you the clues.

On of the trucker magazines did a test using about 50 OTR professional drivers. Only TWO could accurately tell a dangerously underinflated tire (20% low). A normal person MIGHT be able to find a completely flat tire that way and then again maybe not.