First night camping

Ran into the valve issue with my rig.  The pressure gauge I brought along just would not work.  I finally found one that would work at a Pilot truck stop.  They also sell one that has ends to fit both kinds of valves.

The one that works with the Phoenix extensions has a flat brass plate in the end.  The one that does not work has a metal pin on a spring in the end.

I also found that not all air chucks will work.  At one place we stopped for air the chuck would not make a good connection, so no air.

Are they using a solid valve stem or extenders?

Can you give a mfg & P/N for the guage you are using? (I am having trouble visualizing the description)

What I am about to share won't help with a valve stem issue, but since we are talking "tire pumps".....

Some years back now, I bought a Slime brand compact tire repair kit from Walmart which includes a small 12V tire pump.  I bring it along on every trip.  It stays in the tow vehicle to support both vehicles in an emergency roadside on-vehicle tire repair.  I have never used the kit in any fashion.  I really should try the pump and see if it will work well enough to get me out of a pinch.  In the case of the motor home, a plug-repair is not something I would consider a permanent solution, but hope would work well enough to address the repair properly at the next practical opportunity.

Here is the Slime tire repair kit.  7-8 years ago, it cost me around $60.  I think they are still sold today.  I don't endorse it, only because I have never used it.  One thing certain, it is very compact and offers me peace-of-mind.

What I am about to share won't help with a valve stem issue, but since we are talking "tire pumps".....

Some years back now, I bought a Slime brand compact tire repair kit from Walmart which includes a small 12V tire pump.  I bring it along on every trip.  It stays in the tow vehicle to support both vehicles in an emergency roadside on-vehicle tire repair.  I have never used the kit in any fashion.  I really should try the pump and see if it will work well enough to get me out of a pinch.  In the case of the motor home, a plug-repair is not something I would consider a permanent solution, but hope would work well enough to address the repair properly at the next practical opportunity.

Here is the Slime tire repair kit.  7-8 years ago, it cost me around $60.  I think they are still sold today.  I don't endorse it, only because I have never used it.  One thing certain, it is very compact and offers me peace-of-mind.

Ron... and all

Those tire repair kits are NOT recommended anymire.  In fact, tire places are not permitted to use them anymore.

The only permitted way to repair a tubeless tire by DOT is a patch on the inside.  The "plug" style repairs damage the (usually steel) belts in a tire and can cause them to fail, resulting is a true blowout and/or total failure of the tire.

Are they using a solid valve stem or extenders?

Can you give a mfg & P/N for the guage you are using?

It looks like they are using metal valve stems and then metal extensions.

I cannot find any part numbers on the gauge I got but here are some pictures.  First one is the gauge, I got it at Pilot.  But not sure the brand matters, look at the inside of the tip and you can see the difference.  The second picture is the end that works, the third picture is the old style that will not work on these extensions.  Or at least not on mine.  The shoulders of the 'pin' are too broad and do not allow the gauge to go far enough to achieve a seal, so air just blows out and no reading is made.  A different brand with a thinner pin or pin shoulder might also work.  But I tried two different ones with the end like in the second picture and they both work fine so that's what I'm going with.

Thanks! Interesting and useful info!

jatrax, thanks for the words of encouragement. We pick up our PC  a week from today! Elation has just turned to paranoia.
But seriously thanks for your post. Hopefully a lesson learned by one is a lesson learned by all.
By the way, VERY entertaining reading!
Wish us luck!

garump - hope you are coming after it warms up a bit.  I picked mine up but I am sitting at the fairgrounds in the snow.  Not what I had in mind but all are safe here.  Since I have to go back to PA I need to wait for the snow storm over there to pass also.  Then I have to figure out where to park this when I get back since the back drive at the house will be buried in snow!

Catsaplenty--Good to know you are safe at the Fairgrounds with all that crazy weather.  I guess you've had plenty of time to test all the systems.  How has everything checked out?  How is it working out camping in sub-freezing weather?  Keeping warm enough?  I hope!
And Jatrax, I agree with Garmp--your post was extremely entertaining.  You certainly have the attitude part of things down pat!

What would you recommend we do on the first night at a campground: get full hook-up or fill and dump?
We're thinking about going with the full hook-up and if all is well, moving on our way home, stopping at a state park along the way and trying the fill & dump route.
Pros & cons to my logic?

Quote

Are they using a solid valve stem or extenders?

Can you give a mfg & P/N for the guage you are using?

It looks like they are using metal valve stems and then metal extensions.

I cannot find any part numbers on the gauge I got but here are some pictures.  First one is the gauge, I got it at Pilot.  But not sure the brand matters, look at the inside of the tip and you can see the difference.  The second picture is the end that works, the third picture is the old style that will not work on these extensions.  Or at least not on mine.  The shoulders of the 'pin' are too broad and do not allow the gauge to go far enough to achieve a seal, so air just blows out and no reading is made.  A different brand with a thinner pin or pin shoulder might also work.  But I tried two different ones with the end like in the second picture and they both work fine so that's what I'm going with.

Your 3rd picture doesn't appear to have a rubber seal in it... if true, no wonder it's leaking.  If it does have a rubber seal, make sure the Schrader valve (the thing inside the tire valve) is screwed in all the way.  They have been known to be only inserted a few turns... and can easily leak if not seated properly.  Any walmarts, Ace Hardware or bike shop should have a $3 tool to tighten them.

Well Carol, I have not tested the air conditioner!  Actually since the high temps are still below freezing, can't really test the heat pump either.  Earl walked thru the macerater at the factory so have not felt compelled to try to work with that in the cold though I will dump at least the gray tank before I hit the road.  Having a problem with one of the jacks.  Some odd little things.  A couple seem to belong to the company that did the painting.  But after the exchanges from stuff missed that we could see in the pictures, they really did work to get those items together before I got there.  I had arranged a ship to store at Walmart for a small ceramic heater that I picked up in Elkhart when I got here.  That has been a big help. It does confirm my plan to follow the weather once the house is sold!  Not fond of the cold.

Quote from: ron.dittmer on March 11, 2017, 09:42:27 am

What I am about to share won't help with a valve stem issue, but since we are talking "tire pumps".....

Some years back now, I bought a Slime brand compact tire repair kit from Walmart which includes a small 12V tire pump.  I bring it along on every trip.  It stays in the tow vehicle to support both vehicles in an emergency roadside on-vehicle tire repair.  I have never used the kit in any fashion.  I really should try the pump and see if it will work well enough to get me out of a pinch.  In the case of the motor home, a plug-repair is not something I would consider a permanent solution, but hope would work well enough to address the repair properly at the next practical opportunity.

Here is the Slime tire repair kit.  7-8 years ago, it cost me around $60.  I think they are still sold today.  I don't endorse it, only because I have never used it.  One thing certain, it is very compact and offers me peace-of-mind.

Ron... and all

Those tire repair kits are NOT recommended anymore.  In fact, tire places are not permitted to use them anymore.

The only permitted way to repair a tubeless tire by DOT is a patch on the inside.  The "plug" style repairs damage the (usually steel) belts in a tire and can cause them to fail, resulting is a true blowout and/or total failure of the tire.

I did not know that DOT does not permit the use of a plug, but I can believe it.  If you are not careful, the steel belts can be damaged from the repair.

Where I volunteer, we still use plugs, but there is a real trick about it.  If not done right, you can bugger up the tire pretty well.  It's all about the screw or nail that made the puncture in the first place.  You have to be very careful to pay attention to the angle at which the debris is removed, and insert the plug at that same angle to follow the puncture.  You don't want to create a second puncture and questionable steel belts.  A nail that gets bent up when forced into the tire, plugging them comes with risk.  At the same time, if you saw the tires we patch, you'd say "the tire has bigger problems".  We'll patch bald tires most often to buy the owner the time it takes til their next paycheck.

With our PCs, I don't suggest to plug a tire and consider it a done deal.  But rather as a substitute for messing with the spare (or if you don't carry a spare).  This all of coarse assuming it is a clean puncture and you know what you are doing with the repair process.