Pace Trailer Spare Tire & Dually Tire Valve Extensions

[LesStallings]

Hope someone can point me to a reasonable cost source for a spare wheel/tire for my triple axle, 15,000# Pace gooseneck trailer (2004).



I have not checked yet, but I expect buying a spare from the local Pace dealer is not the best price!



I have followed the advice elsewhere on the forum and have the tire changing ramp, torque wrench/extension/sockets, and the Campbell Hausfeld Cordless Air Compressor. Oh, also a grease gun for the center lubricating wheel bearings.



I still need valve stem extensions for the CTD dually... any suggestions?



I truly appreciate everyone sharing their experiencies and recommendations. It certainly helps my confidence knowing I am increasing my chances for successful runs.

 

[HBarlow]

Les:



Try http://www.southwestwheel.com.



Harvey

 

[ropinfool2]

I would not under any circumstances use that grease fitting in the hubs. If your grease seal fails, you are going to put grease into the brakes and then you'll really have problems. The local tire shop should be able to get you a wheel and tire, might not match but it's just a spare, right? Good luck. John

 

[LesStallings]

Sliced Bread

Thanks Harvey. Now I have a mail order price to compare against.



Pace seems to think the externally greasing wheel bearings are the best thing since sliced bread...



They do say to disassemble the hub/bearing and manually grease annually. I understand the problem of getting grease past the seal and into the brake drum... That would not be good...



Anyone been sucessful or not with the new style grease fittings on torsion axles?

 

[Ron Bissett]

Oo. you do not need extension for the duel wheels best to use a long stem air chuck that has a two way head Push pull (push on inside wheel pull back for outside ) works fine and no throw out of the wheel do to the weight of the rig and cost of the hose/clips . Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY P. S do get a IR temp guage about thirty dollars at Radio shack to check tires,bearings , hubs ,Eng ,and any thing you can think of.

 

[HBarlow]

Les,



I didn't think about this when I read your initial post the first time.



Someone who I can't remember now gave me a good suggestion right after I bought my truck, my first dually. On his advice I visited a tire store specializing in truck tires and bought a 4" straight, rigid steel valve stem extension. I carry it in the driver's door pocket. When checking the inside dually tires I shine a flashlight into the slot, screw on the 4" extension, check or inflate the tire, remove the extension, and move around to the other side and repeat the process. That way I don't have any hardware hanging permanently on the rear tires and don't cause imbalance.



Harvey

 

[LesStallings]

Harvey,



Perfect suggestion! I like the idea of avoiding the added weight and potential liability of a permanently attached extension.



Now about the gease fitting... I'm tempted to give them a go, pull the drums off and inspect. Maybe for a few years the seal will hold up if I don't get too jealous on pumping in the grease.

 

[HBarlow]

Les,



I don't have any personal knowledge or experience with spindle grease fittings. I have heard for years that they were only used on boat trailers which were routinely submerged when launching/recovering boats and that the seals would leak or blow out and fill the brake cavity with wheel bearing grease. I accepted that as gospel.



I wonder if the manufacturers have improved the design? I notice the cargo/car hauler trailer industry proudly proclaims spindle grease fittings as a big advantage now and I think some RV trailers also offer them. Maybe used sparingly they work? I don't know. I suppose an owner could squeeze his grease gun a couple times on a zerk then disassemble the wheel and inspect the results. It would be a time and labor saver if they do work but I'm a little skeptical like you.



Harvey

 

[RustyJC]

Grease fittings? We don't need no steenking grease fittings!!!



The new 5th wheel (see signature) has Nev-R-Lube bearings that are supposed to be good for 100,000 miles. We'll see!



Edit - and I don't use the valve stem extensions, either, although I have on past duallies. I have a good dually air pressure gauge and air compressor inflation nozzle. A piece of rubber fuel hose will slip over the valve stem cap on the inner wheel to remove and replace the valve cap.



Rusty

 

[LesStallings]

I know you are trying to torture me...



I can find 3" or 5" rigid tire valve extensions but not 4". So tell me that the 5" I just ordered will be OK.



I will only use it to check pressures and not leave it installed. Thanks for the tip about using rubber hose to screw on and off the valve stem cap.



I believe I can get this effort to be a little more graceful now with all the help you guys are giving me. Thanks!

 

[HBarlow]

Les,



I see no reason why either a 3" or 5" extension won't work for you. The 5" might even be more convenient than my 4" stem extension.



Harvey

 

[LesStallings]

Hope someone can point me to a reasonable cost source for a spare wheel/tire for my triple axle, 15,000# Pace gooseneck trailer (2004)...

Update: Southwest Wheel turned out to be cheaper that what my brother in-law could do, and he is a district sales rep for a major fleet tire supplier. I got an exact match white modular wheel and radial, mounted, for $130 delivered from Dallas to Nashville in three days. I even avoided the huge TN sales tax.



Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[HBarlow]

Les,



I'm glad SWW was able to help you. They are the cheapest source I've found for anything they carry related to trucks, trailers and towing equipment. Their labor prices are also very reasonable for welding, fabrication, repair, replacement axles, trailer brake and bearing service, and other services and they are friendly and helpful. They've made me a loyal customer.



Several years ago I was searching for a brake magnet for a vintage Airstream TT. I asked a friend who has has worked on them since the 1960s where I could find a matching magnet. He told me to just buy new backing plates and suggested SWW. To my surprise I was able to buy two complete new brake backing plates with shoes, magnets, retract springs, hardware, etc. for less than $100. A single magnet is priced at about $35 from an RV retailer. I've been a customer since that day.



BTW, was it you Les who told the forum a couple months ago how to create the degrees symbol on the keyboard? If so, please tell me again. I can't remember what I did yesterday let alone a couple months ago.



Harvey

 

[LesStallings]

Degree Symbol:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1088275#post1088275

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks Les.



I remembered the 248 sequence but had tried to perform the function with the "control" key instead of "alt. " Maybe my feeble brain will remember this time.



Harvey

 

[ramtifosi]

Dually extensions have caused me more grief than their worth! I have had two tires deflate due to the extensions over the years (overnight while on the road with my MotorHome). Failures both times were due to the extension hoses (stainless steel braided lines). Just get yourself both a set of dual sided valves (one a pressure reader and one an inflator), you will be much happier in the long run. My 2 cents.

 

[LesStallings]

Dually extensions have caused me more grief than their worth! I have had two tires deflate due to the extensions over the years (overnight while on the road with my MotorHome). Failures both times were due to the extension hoses (stainless steel braided lines). Just get yourself both a set of dual sided valves (one a pressure reader and one an inflator), you will be much happier in the long run. My 2 cents.

I agree. I'm not using the extension for anything but checking tire pressure or filling it. I'm taking the extension off and replacing the valve cap. The weight of the extension is significant and I'm sure would unbalance the wheel.



Using someone's suggestion about a short piece of tubing to push over the valve cap to unscrew and replace the cap is working great.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I'm driving my fourth dually. The first thing I do after purchasing a dually is take it to my friendly local truck tire shop and have the rubber valve stems replaced with steel. I learned the hard way about rubber valve stems!



Also check out the TDR Magazine, Issue 44, page 55, right-hand column, for tips on inflating and checking air pressure in the rear dually tires on the 3rd gen trucks.



Bill

 

[LesStallings]

Bill,



I don't have that issue and it is not listed in the sample articles on the site. If you have the time, could you summurize the information or possibly scan it, pdf, etc. and make it available to the group?



Thanks!



-- email address removed --

 

[Bill Stockard]

Bill,



I don't have that issue and it is not listed in the sample articles on the site. If you have the time, could you summurize the information or possibly scan it, pdf, etc. and make it available to the group?



Thanks!



-- email address removed --

Unfortunately, I've replaced my computer since I wrote that article. I didn't "back up" that document and no longer have it available to post.



Bill