Dual rear tires and valves

[NETim]

I'm new to the world of trucks with training wheels. I've had my 3500 for a week now.



I went to check my tire pressures today and couldn't get a good seal on inner rear tires to check pressure. It turned out that the plastic valve extensions were cracked, chipped, broken and basically shot. I took them off and checked and aired up the tires.



I don't like the idea of leaving the valves exposed, but it appears that these plastic valve extensions have a rather limited life span. I bought the truck with 17K on it.



Any better solutions out there?



Thanks!



Tim

 

[BIGDIG]

STAY AWAY from the extentions that bring the valves to the outside. Heading home from S. C. going through N. J. . ran over a piece of a blownout re-tread off of a trailer,well the piece went between my rear wheels and tore out the extention. Truck handled well for the size and the speed I was going. did I say 80mph. naaaaaaah:-laf

 

[BillGotthelf]

At a local Camping World (on the internet also) I bought some stainless steel hoses that extend the inner dual valve stem to one of the wheel openings on the outer wheel. They use a SS c-shaped strip that uses compression from side to side to hold it in opening. Air fill (valve stem) is in center. I've been running the for 6 years and never had a problem. Easy to check pressure and add air. Ordered a new set for the 2003 dualie I ordered 3 weeks ago.

 

[TowPro]

Does your 96 have steel bolt in type valve stems or the rubber ones they pull through the rim? I have the rubber, and was told to keep away from the extenders as they will/can rip the rubber stems out of the rim.

Originally posted by BillGotthelf

At a local Camping World (on the internet also) I bought some stainless steel hoses that extend the inner dual valve stem to one of the wheel openings on the outer wheel. They use a SS c-shaped strip that uses compression from side to side to hold it in opening. Air fill (valve stem) is in center. I've been running the for 6 years and never had a problem. Easy to check pressure and add air. Ordered a new set for the 2003 dualie I ordered 3 weeks ago.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by NETim





I don't like the idea of leaving the valves exposed



Tim

Tim ran exposed on my 2000 and now on my 2002. No problem. Stay away from extenders like the others have mentioned.

 

[BillGotthelf]

Towpro-I stopped running the rubber valve stems years ago when I lost two tires due to cracked stems. The heat from Fla and heavy towing makes the valve stem dry out and get brittle right where it goes into wheel. Now I run metal/rubber valve stems on my dualie.

 

[jrollins]

i have run the metal valve stem extenders on a couple trucks for a few year. never ran them on this dodge but i never had any leak with rubber or metal stems.

 

[Big White Beast]

Had the rubber stems......

And the braided extenders. Never leaked but one blew off once. Kept a close eye after that. After the new tires I had them put on the steeel stems and I used the braided extender form the inside only. On the outside wheel I used a solid extender that curves around to the front. Neither leaks.



Garrett

 

[Henderson]

Valve stems

I used to run the rubber valve stems but changed to all metal ones because the rubber broke down to fast and it was hard to check air pressure. When I put the metal ones on I also Bought a 2 inch metal extender for the inside dual wheels now I can check pressure without pulling the tire off.

 

[NETim]

Thanks for the responses. I hated to start a thread on such a mundane subject as valve stems, but I was curious what others were doing.



In a remarkable feat of foresight, I bought a combo air chuck/pressure gauge for the truck. This gadget makes it much easier to air up the tires and simultaneously check pressures. It has a 6" rigid extension which allows me to get on the inboard tire stem. An 8" or longer exension would be better though.



The truck appears to have come with metal stems from the factory. If they were rubber, I don't think I could fill the tires. They'd deflect too much to get a good seal on 'em.



I used an electronic pressure gauge for the 2500 with its easy access stems, but no way will it work on the dually. The new pressure gauge seems accurate enough, though I like the digital display of the electronic one.



Thanks again,



Tim