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Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Yahoo Message Number: 10653
There are days I wish I still had my little gasoline-powered coach.
A lot less to learn or worry about with it. However, the tire pressure, etc is one issue common to both types.
My question: What do you use to check the air pressure? I've heard people talk about needing a special gauge. Where can I get one? I currently stop periodically to have the air pressure checked at tire shops, but that is getting old. I must learn how to do it myself even though I hate getting down on my knees in the dirt. LOL

If you end up needing air in your tires, how do you add air at a campground? Do you have a compressor or do you use an attachment to the coach and use that air? (Aside: while at the factory this spring, we attended a class and were told this is not advisable because the air in the coach has condesation in it and the water might hurt the tires.)

I will not be offended if your response starts at the beginning as that is where I feel I am with this issue. Step 1, step 2,etc would be helpful. 8-)

Thanks.

Carol

'04 Inspire
'03 Explorer
Fulltimer

Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10654
There are days I wish I still had my little gasoline-powered coach.
A lot less to learn or worry about with it. However, the tire pressure, etc is one issue common to both types.
My question: What do you use to check the air pressure? I've heard people talk about needing a special gauge. Where can I get one? I currently stop periodically to have the air pressure checked at tire shops, but that is getting old. I must learn how to do it myself even though I hate getting down on my knees in the dirt. LOL

If you end up needing air in your tires, how do you add air at a campground? Do you have a compressor or do you use an attachment to the coach and use that air? (Aside: while at the factory this spring, we attended a class and were told this is not advisable because the air in the coach has condesation in it and the water might hurt the tires.)

I will not be offended if your response starts at the beginning as that is where I feel I am with this issue. Step 1, step 2,etc would be helpful. 8-)

Thanks.

Carol

'04 Inspire
'03 Explorer
Fulltimer

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10655
Dear Carol;
1. Buy yourself a foam pad to kneel on while performing your tire pressure work. It's hard for me to focus on doing this job right when I have a rock digging into my already bad knees causing great pain.

2. The Country Coach aluminum wheels have a very small hole as compared to some other brands. This makes using a standard truck gauge virtually impossible. I wasted money on several different ones before I found out that Les Schwab sells a special gauge that is designed for Country Coach. It costs about $25 but it makes the task much easier. It has a double head with a straight back return for checking the outside dually and tag tires. The angled return you find on almost all other brand of gauges doesn't work on a Country Coach.

3. Have your coach 4 point (or 6 point if you have a tag) weighed so you know the right amount of pressure for each tire.

4. I bought a 50 air hose that I connect to the air chuck in the bay under the driver's seat. That connection has plenty of pressure to air up most coaches. If you happen to need more than 110 pounds in any tire, you're probably not going to get that from your coach air, but will need to stop at a truck stop to air up those tires. I run 100 in the front and 80 in the rear and tag. These air pressures are based on my exact coach weight, so don't use them, but figure out what is right for your coach. The air from your coach goes through an air drier, so moisture should not be a problem if your properly checking and bleeding your air system occasionally as you should.

5. And whatever you do, don't buy valve extenders for your inside dually tires. Just learn how to use the Les Schwab gauge and it is simple and easy to safely check your inside dually tire pressures.
Extenders are a very common cause of rapid pressure loss and tire blowouts. There are some that are better than others, but why waste the money on extenders when a good gauge like the one Les Schwab sells makes checking the inside dually so easy. Just be sure to use that foam knee pad to keep the rocks from digging in to your knees.

6. While your down on your knees checking tire pressure, rub your
hands all the way around each tire and check for unusual wear patterns and nails or other unusual items in the surface of each tire. You'll get dirty, but it sure is better than finding out that you've ruined an expensive set of tires because you didn't catch an easy to detect problem sooner. I check my tires and pressures every time we move the coach (and I use Smartire too).

That's what I do. Others may have other opinions, but this process works great for me.

P.S. The foam pad I use doubles as I stadium and canoe seat cushion.

Regards,

Bob Kumza

Quote from: jennylindca
There are days I wish I still had my little gasoline-powered

coach.

Quote
A lot less to learn or worry about with it. However, the tire > pressure, etc is one issue common to both types.

My question: What do you use to check the air pressure? I've

heard

Quote
people talk about needing a special gauge. Where can I get one?

I

Quote
currently stop periodically to have the air pressure checked at

tire

Quote
shops, but that is getting old. I must learn how to do it myself > even though I hate getting down on my knees in the dirt. LOL >

If you end up needing air in your tires, how do you add air at a > campground? Do you have a compressor or do you use an attachment

to

Quote
the coach and use that air? (Aside: while at the factory this > spring, we attended a class and were told this is not advisable > because the air in the coach has condesation in it and the water > might hurt the tires.)

I will not be offended if your response starts at the beginning as > that is where I feel I am with this issue. Step 1, step 2,etc

would

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10656
Thanks Bob! I'll be shopping this weekend so will find the best kneepad I can buy. Bad knees are a hazard of being over 29, I think. LOL

I'll have to check Les Schaub's website...or maybe call the shop in JC to get the gauge. At least now I will know what to ask for when I do call.

The coach was weighed in JC when I had it in for service and the weight is just about the same as it was when I was there...not overweight, just on the cusp and I still have too much stuff. They gave me the pressures necessary for both the front and back tires.

After all the horror stories I've heard about valve extenders, I decided against them already, but thanks for that advice.
I'm washable, so getting dirty isn't a problem. The major issue for me is bad knees and back. LOL

Thanks again for your help.

Carol

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10663
From: "rvrobert2003" rkumza@...>

(snip) > 2. The Country Coach aluminum wheels have a very small hole as compared to some other brands. This makes using a standard truck gauge virtually impossible. (snip) I solved that problem by sticking the gauge in my fence corner post and slightly bending the gauge in the area between the handle and head. Works great now!

I also wrapped the handle with tape to facilitate checking pressure in the rain (my hand kept sliding off the handle while checking the outside duals!).

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10665
Quote from: Dick Campagna
> From: "rvrobert2003"

(snip) > 2. The Country Coach aluminum wheels have a very small

hole as

Quote
compared to some other brands. This makes using a standard truck > gauge virtually impossible. (snip) > > I solved that problem by sticking the gauge in my fence corner

post and

Quote
slightly bending the gauge in the area between the handle and

head. Works

Quote
great now!

I also wrapped the handle with tape to facilitate checking
pressure in the

Quote
rain (my hand kept sliding off the handle while checking the

outside

Quote
duals!).>

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97
Talked to Les Schwab staff today and they will be at the Class Reunion. Will buy a guage there and find someone to help me learn good habits...how to check the air in my tires. I've checked the air myself in tires oh..maybe one time.
Will shop for the cushion for the knees..a big fat one! and be ready to get into this good habit.

Thanks for your input, Dick (& Geri)

Carol

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10672
I, too, bought several tire gauges before someone on this list told me to get one from Les Schwab. Worth the $$$ anyday.
Something else to get from Les Schwab--can probably get them elsewhere.
That is valve stem covers that you don't have to remove to check the air.
They put them on for me last year and it makes it much easier to check the air.

A problem with getting the air checked at a dealer is that they don't follow instructions and put too much air in. I have had mine checked at Beaudry in Tucson and last week at Evergreen in New Braunfels, TX. Both times I told them how much air to put in/showed them the weight papers. Last week my SmartTire kept telling me that there was a problem. I called Evergreen to see how much they put in. The service manager told me 90 & 105 like I told him. But the next morning when they were cold, I checked them---110 all the way around. BAHHH!!!

Ree

Owning an RV is not a money saving decision
its a life style decision.

Current location---Tijeras, NM--just outside of Albuquerque

2003 Allure 30852

Home is www.eldoradoranch.com near www.sanfelipe.com.mx

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10676
Quote
Something else to get from Les Schwab--can probably get them

elsewhere.

Quote
That is valve stem covers that you don't have to remove to check

the air.

Quote
They put them on for me last year and it makes it much easier to

check the

Quote
air.
Thanks, Ree. I'll put that on the Les Schwab shopping list. I don't have smarttire on my rig and am not sure if adding it as an aftermarket addition is a good idea. That's the biggest reason I need to get into the habit of checking the air myself.

Carol

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10678
Carol:

SmarTire is great if you want a constant warm fuzzy particularly while driving. I wouldn't be without it. In fact I had one installed in my toad so I could monitor the toad tires from the coach --- saved my Okole twice!!

Chuck

03 Intrigue 11673

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10679
Quote from: cpenque@a\.\.\.

Carol:

SmarTire is great if you want a constant warm fuzzy particularly

while

Quote
driving. I wouldn't be without it. In fact I had one installed in

my toad so I

Quote
could monitor the toad tires from the coach --- saved my Okole

twice!!

Quote
Chuck

03 Intrigue 11673
Hmmm...constant warm and fuzzy with SmarTire or an Internet Satellite dish?? Darn! Decisions, decisions. LOL Thanks for your input, Chuck.

Carol

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10683
By the way....yesterday I bent my air gage and my air inflation tool like someone suggested a few days ago. That was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks for the tip. How come I didn't think of that?....I am an engineer.
Mike

'95 Intrigue

Quote from: jennylindca
Quote from: cpenque@a...
> Carol:
>

> SmarTire is great if you want a constant warm fuzzy particularly > while

> driving. I wouldn't be without it. In fact I had one installed

in

Quote
my toad so I

> could monitor the toad tires from the coach --- saved my Okole > twice!!
>

> Chuck

> 03 Intrigue 11673

Hmmm...constant warm and fuzzy with SmarTire or an Internet > Satellite dish?? Darn! Decisions, decisions. LOL Thanks for

your

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10684
From: "faa_engineer" m.brundage@...>
Quote
By the way....yesterday I bent my air gage and my air inflation tool
like someone suggested a few days ago. That was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks for the tip. How come I didn't think of that?....I am an engineer.

You're welcome ... it was me. Since I'm not an engineer, I was able to think "out of the box!" Actually, I was too cheap to buy a different type of gauge and inflation fitting.
Now all you need is a Raytek MiniTemp or (cheaper) Radio Shack or Sears infrared thermometer to check coach and toad tire temps each time you stop.
If one tire's temp is much higher than others on the same axle, it could easily indicate low pressure, giving you time to do something about it before a traumatic incident occurs.
Or, better yet, you could install a tire pressure monitoring system.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10685
Carol:

Can't live without the Motosat either!!! "Interneting" when not watching the SmarTire.

Chuck

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10686
Quote

Now all you need is a Raytek MiniTemp or (cheaper) Radio Shack or

Sears

Quote
infrared thermometer to check coach and toad tire temps each time

you stop.

Quote
If one tire's temp is much higher than others on the same axle, it

could

Quote
easily indicate low pressure, giving you time to do something

about it

Quote
before a traumatic incident occurs.

Or, better yet, you could install a tire pressure monitoring

system.

Quote
>

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97
Thanks, Dick (& Geri),have added the infrared thermometer to my shopping list. That I may be able to do before I leave Minnesota.
Looking at the tire pressure monitoring system, but wonder if I want it first or the internet satellite dish first. LOL

Carol

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10687
Quote from: cpenque@a\.\.\.

Carol:

Can't live without the Motosat either!!! "Interneting" when not

watching the

Quote
SmarTire.

Chuck
LOL, Chuck! So far I'm using a Verizon Air Card most times and WiFi when I can find it, phone lines in the office as a last resort unless I find a campground with phone hookups. The Motosat will probably come in a couple of years - after the cost goes WAAAAY down.

Carol

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10688
From: "jennylindca" jennylind2000@...> (snip) > Thanks, Dick (& Geri),have added the infrared thermometer to my shopping list. That I may be able to do before I leave Minnesota.
Looking at the tire pressure monitoring system, but wonder if I want it first or the internet satellite dish first. LOL Sometimes it's easier to make a decision if you make believe that it's YOU giving advice to your children. Which would YOU recommend that your children buy first? I bet I know the answer!

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10690
I am seriously considering internet satellite. It will have to be an automatic system, no room to carry the dish, and would not mess with setting it up half the time. Question---I know I can use a WiFi card with a DirectWay--can I use it with the MotoSat? I have a little house in Mexico and would use the WiFi card while in the house.
The rig next to me has DirectWay, so I am using the WiFi card tonight :)

Ree

Owning an RV is not a money saving decision
its a life style decision.

Current location---Tijeras, NM

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10691
Carol,

Go for the SmartTire. Safe is better than fun! I may upgrade my SmartTire so that I can monitor the toad. Had a blowout last year--a car passed me and waved and pointed to the car otherwise who knows how much more damage would have been done. There was over $800 damage to the car as it was.

Ree

Owning an RV is not a money saving decision
its a life style decision.

Current location---Tijeras, NM

2003 Allure 30852

Home is www.eldoradoranch.com near www.sanfelipe.com.mx

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10693
Chuck

Did you install a second SmarTire in your toad - with a second monitor on the dash of the motorhome or did you purchase the newer model which (I understand) can monitor both coach and toad?

Tom

2002 Intrigue

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10695
Have you spoken with Bill Adams? If not you MUST.

Tom

2002 Intrigue 36' - about to add the Motostat unit.

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10697
Quote from: Thomas Sims
Have you spoken with Bill Adams? If not you MUST.

Tom

2002 Intrigue 36' - about to add the Motostat unit.
Who is Bill Adams?

Thanks for the advice Ree...I probably will get the SmarTire instead of the satellite for now. Last decision was Shawn Davis desk or satellite...desk won out.

I've tried to use WiFi when I was close to people with internet satellite dishes, but they had me locked out. LOL

Carol

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 10704
Tom:

The newer model wasn't available last summer when I had the toad system installed. So, I have two monitors in the coach, one for the toad and one for the coach. I wish it monitored the tags, but it doesn't. I think the newer model may do that, too.

Chuck
 

Re: Tires, Tire Pressure, Gauges

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 11553
Quote from: jennylindca
There are days I wish I still had my little gasoline-powered coach.
A lot less to learn or worry about with it. However, the tire > pressure, etc is one issue common to both types.
> My question: What do you use to check the air pressure? I've heard > people talk about needing a special gauge. Where can I get one? I > currently stop periodically to have the air pressure checked at tire > shops, but that is getting old. I must learn how to do it myself > even though I hate getting down on my knees in the dirt. LOL >

Thanks.

Carol

'04 Inspire
'03 Explorer
Fulltimer
There should be no condensation in the coach tanks and certainly not in an '04(there is a drier). That said, I find it convenient to carry a 150psi pancake compressor in the roll-out bay. It fills quickly and easily. The coach compressor will be time consuming when filling over 110 psi
Michael
'04 Inspire

'04 Grand Cherokee