Checking air pressure on dually

[DEickhoff]

This will be the first dually truck I have ever owned and just thought of something I will need to be checking. How do I check the air pressure of the inner tires in back? Is there an easy way of doing so and also how can you adjust the tire pressure without taking off the outer tire?



Thanks



Dawna

 

[CPersing]

Genosgarage.com sells tire valve extenders for dual rear wheels. I have a set and they make it easy to check and adjust tire pressure.

 

[DEickhoff]

Thanks. I'll give them a call and order a set when to have on hand when my truck arrives.



Dawna

 

[Grizzly]

I had the extenders on my 95 DRW and I had problems with them holding air pressure. One of them, inside rear, broke off on the highway with my camper on the truck and let out all the air. I now have a double headed, long stem, trucker's air pressure gauge and a double headed extended air chuck. I use the farthest head to check the inside tire and the nearest head to check the outside tire. On a long trip, such as last years trip to Alaska with the 05 DRW, I left all my wheel skins and caps at home so that they wouldn't get full of rock dings and so that it would be easier to check air pressure.

 

[B.G. Smith]

I'm with Grizzly, the extenders are just another way to have a flat tire when you least expect it. The good truck type air gauges are available at most truck stops and some hardware stores, about twelve to fifteen dollars around here. Just remember if you rotate the tires or have the rears off for any reason, be sure you can access the inner valve stem(align it with one of the holes in the outer wheel) when you put them back. bg

 

[abrankod]

Add another one to the list of the super extenders sucking. I got both the ones with a hose for the inners and the U shaped ones for the outers from genos and they are not all they're cracked up to be. The U shaped ones spun around and lost air, and the long inners were thrown around by the force of the spinning tire, one of which tore off a valve stem.

I use a metal 1. 5" valve extension with an "alligator" dual stem sealing valve at the end. screwed TIGHTLY to the factory stems. It extends it just enough to get the double-headed gauge on there. I have had no issues in the past 6000 miles with this setup.

At my next tire change I will be upgrading to solid metal stems that double nut onto the rims themselves like real trucks have. I have no idea why anyone would spec these stupid rubber stems on a dually setup anyway... It makes it SO hard to check and adjust tire pressures.

-Dan

 

[Cattletrkr]

On my stock rims I cut out part of the simulators so I could fit my hand in there. Kinda sucky looks-wise and the plastic sims didn't hold onto the chrome after cutting, but it's better than not being able to check the tires. Lousy design on DC's part.

I would NOT recommend doing that if you care about looks cause it more or less ruined the sims.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

Dually valve stem extenders.

I had extenders on my last dually. One of them came out of the little bracket that holds them and the wheel threw the extender and valve stem out. No air, ruined tire. No more extenders for me.

 

[JRMora]

This will be the first dually truck I have ever owned and just thought of something I will need to be checking. How do I check the air pressure of the inner tires in back? Is there an easy way of doing so and also how can you adjust the tire pressure without taking off the outer tire?



Thanks



Dawna

Back to your original question, Dawna, the rear valve stems have a cap that you don't need to remove to check or add air. You will need a dual truck type tire chuck.



http://www2. northerntool.com/product-1/35729.htm



One side is used to check the inner tire, (push the chuck on the inner valve stem), the other side is used to check the outer tire (place the chuck over the outer valve stem and pull towards you).



Easier than it sounds.



If you rotate the tires (or get them rotated), be sure they put both caps on the rear tires and they should be aligned together when remounted on the truck. It's a pain to remove them once they are back on the truck. The fronts are just like any toher car/light truck.



Hope this helps.



Juan

 

[RAlberg]

dually air pressure

I recently visited the tire store because I was having the same trouble. A few observations noted were a: the truckers tire gauge is essential. b the plastic inserts were removed to gain access to valve stem. c: the valves are suppose to be offset 180*(a lot of expletives on this point, one wasn't) when rears are mounted. I had the air pressure dropped to what was being recommended here and experienced fantastic ride improvement!! Went from buckboard to regular truck when driving empty

 

[Grizzly]

Back to your original question, Dawna, the rear valve stems have a cap that you don't need to remove to check or add air. You will need a dual truck type tire chuck.

Milton Dual Chuck Truck Tire Gauge | Air Chucks + Gauges | Northern Tool + Equipment

One side is used to check the inner tire, (push the chuck on the inner valve stem), the other side is used to check the outer tire (place the chuck over the outer valve stem and pull towards you).

Easier than it sounds.

If you rotate the tires (or get them rotated), be sure they put both caps on the rear tires and they should be aligned together when remounted on the truck. It's a pain to remove them once they are back on the truck. The fronts are just like any toher car/light truck.

Hope this helps.

Juan

Those are good, but I still like the long stem trucker's tire pressure gauge better. See Post # 4.

 

[B.G. Smith]

QUOTE: c: the valves are suppose to be offset 180* On the 99 I had I believe the wheels had six cutouts and you could run the valve stems 180* apart, on the 06 I have now, the wheels have five cutouts an iif you put the stems 180* apart you can't see the inside one (I tried it). I just put them together so I can access both through the same cutout. bg

 

[MMeier]

Just replace the regular rubber valve stems with metal ones, makes them more solid and less likely to fail when you least need it.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I use this tire gauge and air chuck to air up my dually tires: #ad




I replaced the rubber valve stems the first week I owned my truck... been there done that with rubber valve stems. I use the steel valve stems and the OEM plastic extenders which works for me.

#ad




Bill

 

[monkeyman]

I have a 2002 3500, I don't get out of my truck to check my tires I flip down my sunvisor! Mounted on it is a Doran Pressure Pro, which measures each tire with a wireless transmitter on each tire valve, acurate within 1psi. Diagram on receiver shows location, can handle trailers also. Beeps if pressure drops on any tire, and yes its not real cheap!

Rick.

 

[MMeier]

I have a 2002 3500, I don't get out of my truck to check my tires I flip down my sunvisor! Mounted on it is a Doran Pressure Pro, which measures each tire with a wireless transmitter on each tire valve, acurate within 1psi. Diagram on receiver shows location, can handle trailers also. Beeps if pressure drops on any tire, and yes its not real cheap!

Rick.

How about a link or more info on your set up.

 

[Blu-meanie]

Tire Pressure Monitoring System | Doran PressurePro

 

[LRundberget]

Tire Pressure Monitoring System | Doran PressurePro

Nice system and I have one for the trailer, but it is not usable for a dually. You have to take the tires off to put more air in the tires with these on since the holes in the rim are too small to reach in with fingers to spin on these devices, of course you could use extenders, but the monitors weigh a few ounces and that is just a disaster waiting to happen with extenders and then adding weight on top of that. Much easier to just use a dual head chuck on the duallies or use the solid metal trucker extenders.

 

[Grizzly]

I have a 2002 3500, I don't get out of my truck to check my tires I flip down my sunvisor! Mounted on it is a Doran Pressure Pro, which measures each tire with a wireless transmitter on each tire valve, acurate within 1psi. Diagram on receiver shows location, can handle trailers also. Beeps if pressure drops on any tire, and yes its not real cheap!

Rick.

You say it's accurate to 1 psi, but how reliable is the system? A bit spendy at $475 for six wheels.

 

[monkeyman]

Doran PressurePro Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems : Doran Manufacturing LLC

another way to make yourself lazy!

RickOo.