Community Forums

**JohnRR** · 10-16-2018, 06:14 AM

I did my extenders differently I used a good quality stainless steel flex hose, two big flat washers either side of the rubber hand hole insert and tightened the male end down. Easy access to air up the inner dual.

RV2traveler · 10-16-2018, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sbrownstein

From the picture, it appears to be an airless extender, which will be totally defeated by a TPMS sensor since it will permanently depress the Schrader valve when installed...and make it a conventional extender.

The valve core shown in the photo is why I don't think it is Airless. You'd only need the valve to keep air in. A simple plunger is all that an airless extender would need.

hypoxia · 10-16-2018, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperGewl

Have the valve stems replaced with the steel extra long one for the inner wheel and then you won't have that issue.

Sue46 · 10-16-2018, 06:57 AM

We have wanted to do that but no one ever has the long stems. Know where we can buy them?

hypoxia · 10-16-2018, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue46

We have wanted to do that but no one ever has the long stems. Know where we can buy them?

I let the tire shop know a few days in advance and they ordered them and installed them with the new tires. I believe they are 9"

BigLar368 · 10-16-2018, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biggcrisp

75 mph and a valve stem extender is the problem...

I was thinking the same thing

Sue46 · 10-16-2018, 07:25 AM

We are due tires in 2-3 years I was going to ask when we order the tires and see what happens.

I was hoping to get some extenders now to have them in hand and just stop at a truck place on the road to have them installed.

PanJH · 10-16-2018, 07:39 AM

Yes- get rid of the extensions and put in 1 piece valves of the appropriate angle and length.
I did have a similar situation with a failed extension . I lost enough pressure that the bead lost it's seal and the compressor I had didn't have enough volume/pressure to reseat the bead. I removed the wheel/tire, put it in the toad and drove to a tire shop. They did a cursory examination and proceeded to fill the tire. The bead seated fine... then as it was reaching necessary pressure, the sidewall zippered. The bang was deafening and the blast blew the tech across the parking lot. Be careful.

cataska · 10-16-2018, 08:15 AM

My thought also ^

Sue46 · 10-16-2018, 08:20 AM

When we had a tire removed and refilled the tire was put in a "cage" before filling, I assume for protection.

AFChap · 10-16-2018, 08:21 AM

I ran 3" solid extenders for 10 years, and have now run 4" solid extenders for 5 years, both using the rubber donut stabilizer. I have run over 100k miles and never had a problem with them. I wouldn't use flexible extenders if you paid me!! Just goes to show you that we each choose our own poison for our own reasons ...

The pictured failure is very curious to me ... how the threaded portion of the extender could be broken off. My strongest suspicion is that something went between the duals and caught the extender, knocking it out of place. How it came off the valve stem without tearing up the stem (& no other visible damage to the stem) would be the biggest mystery.

alank · 10-16-2018, 09:39 AM

After looking at the picture and reading the OP comment, I think the extension was broken after it came off the wheel stem. The left end (in the picture) is what screws onto the wheel stem and it isn't damaged, nor is the wheel stem damaged, the OP aired the tire back up with it and the tire still had some air in it. The broken end is where the stem cap (sensor) screws on and is what sticks out through the outer wheel. I think the whole extension was loose and started leaking air as it unscrewed from the wheel stem, finally coming off and becoming lodged between the wheels where the OP found it. When it came completely off the wheel stem, some air was left in the tire as the OP described and kept the tire seated on the wheel. That little tip end that is broken off is, I assume, the portion that was screwed into the TPMS sensor. Possibly the stem was partially cracked and the weight of the sensor finished the break, or it could have been broken after the extension unscrewed.

What happened to the sensor? The OP didn't mention.
Possibly a little attention to the tightness of the extensions, not just looking at them, would have prevented this. I have extensions and will check them on a regular basis.
One last scary thought as to what would unscrew the extension, loose lug nuts and movement between the wheels?

dennis45 · 10-16-2018, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue46

We have been looking for a solution to the rear duals for years now. We had tried the braided extenders a few decades ago and were very unhappy with them. Have they improved? Can anyone recommend a brand, style or whatever? We are ready to try them again and when looking the prices are all over the place.

We do have a TPMS system on all tires.

Thanks

If you get the correct ones for your application and properly installed the flexible extenders work fine.
Nine years and close to 50,000 miles and not one problem on my old Dutchstar.

iluvuk · 10-16-2018, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alank

After looking at the picture and reading the OP comment, I think the extension was broken after it came off the wheel stem. The left end (in the picture) is what screws onto the wheel stem and it isn't damaged, nor is the wheel stem damaged, the OP aired the tire back up with it and the tire still had some air in it. The broken end is where the stem cap (sensor) screws on and is what sticks out through the outer wheel. I think the whole extension was loose and started leaking air as it unscrewed from the wheel stem, finally coming off and becoming lodged between the wheels where the OP found it. When it came completely off the wheel stem, some air was left in the tire as the OP described and kept the tire seated on the wheel. That little tip end that is broken off is, I assume, the portion that was screwed into the TPMS sensor. Possibly the stem was partially cracked and the weight of the sensor finished the break, or it could have been broken after the extension unscrewed.

What happened to the sensor? The OP didn't mention.
Possibly a little attention to the tightness of the extensions, not just looking at them, would have prevented this. I have extensions and will check them on a regular basis.
One last scary thought as to what would unscrew the extension, loose lug nuts and movement between the wheels?

The extender was still tight on the inner stem and sealed at that end. The broken piece on end tip of extender and valve were what were jammed just slightly off center of the hole on wheel under the edge. When it broke it looked like it made it just short enough to somehow jam back there. The Tpms was still on the end of the small broken piece and it was about 3/4 broken off at the time I discovered it. My extenders were tight and in place. I had to use a wrench to remove it. I think judging by a wear hole in the extender metal it was rubbing with vibration on the sharp edge of the aluminum wheel hole. In either case, had I not had extenders, I would not have had the problem which is in agreement with the tire tech who said we never recommend them. No problem on my prior two rvs with them. Learned my lesson here though.